Hey all, newbie to this board. I have a '97 5.0 XLT that I've had for about 6 months. I bought it with 60K on it, around 72K I started noticing the engine getting louder and having a slight tick to it. Luckily I had bought the Ford Extended Warranty.

Since then, I have had the Exhaust Manifolds Completely Replaced, a whole new set of lifters installed, a new Cat to Muffler Gasket installed and had to have the Collector pipes tightened down (because of having the exhaust manifolds).

The frustrating part is I'm still having problems. Since I got the X back the last time, I have noticed a nice Metal pinging sound from the engine about 2K RPM when under a load (even a slight load). The noise continues up the RPM range until about 4K which the engine is so loud it drowns out the sound. The best I can explain the noise is as a cross between normal Pinging and what a squeaky bicycle chain sounds like, and it matches the RPM of the engine.

I have changed spark plugs and wires and have checked anything I can think of. I am just worried that metal from the lifters caused more damage to the engine. I am planning on taking it in to Ford (for the 6th time, literally in the last 2,000 miles) but I am just trying to see if I can figure out a way to figure out the problem before I take it to them, because they always give it back saying there's nothing wrong. To which I reply... "It sounds like there's screws loose in the engine, and it didn't make that sound when I bought".

Any suggestions with this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Sorry, I didn't read the important message about this section, can a sys admin please delete this post? I tried to and don't have access. Thanks, and sorry for any inconvenience everyone.

Welcome to the site Steven. I've never heard of a common pinging problem in the 5.0 that wasn't exhaust manifold related. Mine did the same but a set of headers fixed that. :D It sounds like you have a deeper problem though. For the most part the 5.0s on here are pretty trouble-free. Sounds like yours isn't. I'd just see what the dealer has to say and hopefully they can fix it/replace it (outta their pocket :D ). Good luck with this and don't worry about deleting this post. A mod can come along and move it into another section and hopefully someone else who has maybe seen this problem will reply! :D

Well, good news. I took it to Ford and they found the problem. Evidently one of the main hoses connected to the DPFE (or it may have been the actual DPFE itself) were bad. They are replacing it tomorrow (didn't have any in stock) and I should have it back tomorrow afternoon. At 75K is it also a good idea to clean the EGR or anything else? I just don't want a repeat.

What is a DPFE?

Differential Pressure Feedback Sensor. It is an integral part of the smog system (its what sends the signal that actuates the EGR).

Mine ended up just being the hoses, but I have heard that its not uncommon for them to go out.

I replaced mine as well. I should have paid Ford to replace it with the pain iin the rear.