I bought this car a month ago and have had several strange occurances.. First thing I did was change the oil (nasty..looking goop). Then I put engine treatment (slick 50) with full synthetic oil change. Put in fuel system treatment, Transmission flush and anti friction, etc.. etc... The transmission seems to be doing better but now I am getting engine pings between 3500 and 5500 rpms at full throtle. I do not remember getting these right after getting the car? Did I do this with all my engine treatments? I am running 89 octane..........this tank has 104 octane boost in it. Its seems to get worse?

I am thinking timing? but I have also had someone say an exhaust leak will casue this also? I never heard of that but am willing to listen to anything. Anyone have any ideas..........The car has not been tuned up so it may be something minor (I hope) but any ideas would be appreciated........................

thats the last year of the 5.slow, um if you are getting a ticking noise, Id look at the lifters first, they wear out and bleed down to fast you get that ticking.


Octane boosters do absolutely nothing to your gas. Infact they can and have chewed up gaskets and caused more problems then they are worth.

Try 1/2 quart of ATF and see if that helps at all, it might, it did work somewhat for me, but I had to change the lifters because that tick was annoying.

Run 93 or 91 whatever you ccan get at the pump in premium, dont put additives in anything, they dont do dick.

I bought this car a month ago and have had several strange occurances.. First thing I did was change the oil (nasty..looking goop). Then I put engine treatment (slick 50) with full synthetic oil change. Put in fuel system treatment, Transmission flush and anti friction, etc.. etc... The transmission seems to be doing better but now I am getting engine pings between 3500 and 5500 rpms at full throtle. I do not remember getting these right after getting the car? Did I do this with all my engine treatments? I am running 89 octane..........this tank has 104 octane boost in it. Its seems to get worse?

I am thinking timing? but I have also had someone say an exhaust leak will casue this also? I never heard of that but am willing to listen to anything. Anyone have any ideas..........The car has not been tuned up so it may be something minor (I hope) but any ideas would be appreciated........................


The Rpm range you are talking about it seems to me it's floating clatter from bad lifters. If you have anyone local that you can ask to take a listen to the engine I would do that. I am unsure if I can explain to you how to check the lifters, it can be a fairly involved process for someone new to it. But to me all signs point to the lifters. What weight oil are you running? you might want to also try actually running premium fuel in that car if it is a detnoation ping. If it is a lifter. There will be a definte mechanical clatter noise.

I am running 10w 30............I also have an additive in it (slick 50). The car did not do this when I purchased it so that is why I am concerned........Should I try a different weight oil? Detroit (up above) has said to try ATF? tell what you think..........I am not getting in to lifters since I have never messed with them before.

I hear ya........A bunch BS for 5.00 a can. I may try the ATF if anything or different weight oil. I do not even know what weight they recommend for that year 5.slow........

dont use alot like MAYBE 1/3 quart and use dexron/mercon not type F.



That is the only additive that actually works and its not even an additive.

Thanks. I will do that first and see if it works. It has to be worth a try.........

Thanks. I will do that first and see if it works. It has to be worth a try.........
run it for a week, change the oil out, and do it again but leave it in this time.

I got rid of 20k miles worth of sludge with 1/2 quart of ATF to 4 quarts of 10w30.

Im willing to bet its a lifter with a rapid bleed down.



You can also take a screwdriver, wrap your hand around the handle( long scredriver) and put the closed end of your fist to your ear, you can then locate internal engines noises, free.

I cant hear them on idle but I have not tried reving the engine to hear them. Like I said, it is only under full throttle but starts at about 3500 and last till it shifts (5200). Sometimes it carries through the shift then stops? It has me perplexed but I put 91 (just couldnt find 93?)octane in it this week and will see what it does when I run it. I will also throw in the ATF and see what happens.

If anything.........getting that engine cleaned out (it had some serious nasty oil when I bought it and found a little gasket material in the oil, not much but enough for me to see when I filtered it) so a good flush would help it regardless. thanks for the info and I will let you know what happens!

Can you do the work yourself? You could throw a new cam and lifters in for under 300 bux.

No days.......I screwed up the last install I did on a 350 chevy and it was OUT the car........I have a local speed demon who said he would cange the cam and lifters when the time was right////

I have a 2006 F-150 King Ranch with 5,000 miles. I always noticed a valve clatter type noise that could be heard from listening from the front wheel wells or if you are standing 5-15 feet from the truck with the hood down. I just recently took it to a new dealership "The Ford Store" in Gilroy California where my confidence level is low from early service experiences.
The technician said they had a bulletin regarding a cam sensor located under the valve cover. I was convinced they new what was wrong so I authorized the repair. When I got my truck back the noise was still present without any change. What do you think this could be?