How to clean warm-tick valve lifters on 2007 F-150 5.4L?

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May 13, 2025 at 4:38 pm #1275 Reply
Cheryl
2007 Ford F-150 truck, 8-cylinder engine, 5.4 Triton engine, 4-wheel drive, 200k miles

Question: How to clean dirty ticking valve lifters/valve lashers?

Background:
The engine valve lifters/valve lashers, have a ticking sound once the engine gets warmed up…but fortunately doesn’t make that ticking noise when the engine is cold.

I’ve seen YouTube videos of metal worn grinded up lil wheels on the valve lashers. I’m assuming that this grinded up kind of damage would result in a CONSTANT ticking sound from the valve lifters/valve lashers (…whichever of these two parts it is that makes that ticking sound) when the engine is running …meaning, from the time when the engine is started up from a cold start, and continuing the ticking sound even as the engine warms up. That’s just my assumption, I don’t know if that’s a correct assumption.

My engine ONLY has the valve lasher/valve lifter ticking sound ONLY once the engine is warmed up, and NO ticking sound when the engine is cold. So does this mean that the valve lashers/valve lifters ONLY are dirty and NOT grinded up, and so they’re NOT in need of replacement, and they only needs cleaning? If so, what’s the best method to clean the valve lashers/valve lifters?
May 13, 2025 at 4:38 pm #1276 Reply
Jon
Start by using the proper viscosity engine oil, and a genuine Motorcraft oil filter. Go to the dealer to make sure you get the latest updated filter. Aftermarket filters can cause issues.

IF you don’t find metalic particles: Once you removed the old oil filter, you can cut it open and investigate the element pleats… you’re looking for metallic particles. Hopefully you won’t find any.

Sludge & varnish buildup can also create these issues. There are specific cleaning agents to alleviate this problem. I recommend BG Products ‘EPR’
May 13, 2025 at 4:39 pm #1277 Reply
Matthew
Cheap engine oil and thebwrong engine oil can cause that.
May 13, 2025 at 4:39 pm #1278 Reply
Everett
The 5.4 is well known to have a combination of problems.

Since the oil path goes from one head to the other, any loss in pressure can result in lifter noise.

But lifters aren’t the only possible culprit. As it could be chain tension. Phasers. The oil pressure dummy switch won’t illuminate the warning light until the oil pressure drops below 12 psi. So your gauge will remain halfway till then.

Yet the engine can tick around 16-20 psi.

The test is to see if the oil pressure maintains above 16 psi.

First check hot oil pressure At idle.
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How to clean warm-tick valve lifters on 2007 F-150 5.4L?

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