What's this sound like?

[Six_Sloww]

So my tired 6.4 knocks from time to time, it's a high pitched knock, and the strange thing about it is it goes away completely.

Sometimes it only knocks under light load and a snappy rev, sometimes it does it while idling and sometimes it just sounds like a happy little engine.

Here's a vid:
http://youtu.be/crr_q60Bg08

 

[jimdawg185]

Rocker.... Can't really tell.

 

[Six_Sloww]

When I looked up videos of worn rockers they seemed to make a lower pitched popping sound. This is almost like a slap or a knock.

Fwiw, I think my injectors are going bad. I'm not getting contribution codes but it does miss a lot

 

[Six_Sloww]

The more videos I watch the more I notice this being considered "normal" sorry if this has been beat to death, I just thought it was odd this "normal" noise comes and goes as it pleases..

 

[Powerstroke Man 6.4]

The more videos I watch the more I notice this being considered "normal" sorry if this has been beat to death, I just thought it was odd this "normal" noise comes and goes as it pleases..

All my 6.4's do that when you rev it up and let off.

 

[Six_Sloww]

Thanks for confirming... 251k and counting!

I think I need to man up and put a 5" on this thing so I can stop over analyzing every little engine noise

 

[Spatel23]

I cant really tell and Im certainly no mechanic but that IS NOT normal

Someone more experienced will chime in shortly

 

[Six_Sloww]

Here's the tsb that describes the noise really well:
http://www.powerstroke.org/forum/6-4-motor-problems/201412-knock.html

It's possible that this noise is greatly exaggerated due to 230k miles of oil dilution.

 

[webb06]

Definitely sounds like rocker arms to me. Have you had the valve covers off to inspect them?

 

[Powerstroke Man 6.4]

Thanks for confirming... 251k and counting!

I think I need to man up and put a 5" on this thing so I can stop over analyzing every little engine noise

80,000 on the F-350 CCSB DRW 253,000 on the F-250 lariat and 261,000 on the F-250 FX4 still going.

 

[Six_Sloww]

Definitely sounds like rocker arms to me. Have you had the valve covers off to inspect them?

No, and I'm sure if I inspected them they would show a lot of wear.

It seems odd that this "normality" is different from motor to motor. I'm not ruling out other possibilities, but it seems like there's a lot of 6.4's out there making this same noise.

 

[webb06]

I changed rockers today on a 6.4 that had 120k on the engine. It's been deleted for some time as well. It was a work truck so I'm sure it had a lot of idle time and regeneration time before being deleted. The swivel balls on the rockers were completely flat on all of them.

 

[Six_Sloww]

I changed rockers today on a 6.4 that had 120k on the engine. It's been deleted for some time as well. It was a work truck so I'm sure it had a lot of idle time and regeneration time before being deleted. The swivel balls on the rockers were completely flat on all of them.

Either mine have been replaced or they will likely be falling off soon here.. My truck had a dpf until 230k.

Is it worth trying to get to the rockers cab on? Or even possible for that matter? Tough to find a hoist I can tie up around here. Unfortunately there's no money to pay someone to do it

 

[webb06]

Rockers are cake cab on. They aren't like a 6.0 where they are secured by the head bolts. Remove valve covers, injector jumper lines, fuel rail, then the rockers and pedistal. It's cheaper if you buy the full assembly for each side. Somewhere around $250. Plus the new injector line kits. Might also have to replace the valve bridges if they're pitted.

 

[Six_Sloww]

Rockers are cake cab on. They aren't like a 6.0 where they are secured by the head bolts. Remove valve covers, injector jumper lines, fuel rail, then the rockers and pedistal. It's cheaper if you buy the full assembly for each side. Somewhere around $250. Plus the new injector line kits. Might also have to replace the valve bridges if they're pitted.

Well that's good to know.

 

[Stroked777]

Rockers are cake cab on. They aren't like a 6.0 where they are secured by the head bolts. Remove valve covers, injector jumper lines, fuel rail, then the rockers and pedistal. It's cheaper if you buy the full assembly for each side. Somewhere around $250. Plus the new injector line kits. Might also have to replace the valve bridges if they're pitted.

I'll be doing my rockers here soon, how long did it take you and what did you take off the top of the motor to make it easier to do? I looked and the pass side looks the easiest, just not sure what I have to take off to get the driver side accessible

I got my rockers from sunrise ford for $380.96 for both sides. But it got here and all the clips were broken

 

[webb06]

I'll be doing my rockers here soon, how long did it take you and what did you take off the top of the motor to make it easier to do? I looked and the pass side looks the easiest, just not sure what I have to take off to get the driver side accessible

I got my rockers from sunrise ford for $380.96 for both sides. But it got here and all the clips were broken

Probably 4-5 hours. I work on power strokes everyday though. Passenger side is cake. Remove the intake and the valve cover is right there. Probably wanna pull the coolant hose going to the heater core off as well. Be careful with the plastic part of the line. Drivers side, remove the battery and drain the coolant and remove the reservoir. Remove the turbo "U" pipe and fuel cooler as one assembly. Then the valve cover.

Ya the rocker assembly I received didn't have any broken clips but a few were laying loose in the package.

 

[boggerr]

If you have a stock air filter take off the cover and listen for any popping thru there. Mine had that tick too and slight popping thru the intake.
I made the mistake of watching videos and hearing " that's what 6.4s sound like". Well, that left me on the side of the highway with a broken rocker arm.

 

[Stroked777]

Well as Webb said, pass side valve cover is easy enough to take off, why not remove it take a peek, if the look bad on one side, I bet you a donut they are bad on the other

 

[Six_Sloww]

Well as Webb said, pass side valve cover is easy enough to take off, why not remove it take a peek, if the look bad on one side, I bet you a donut they are bad on the other

Yep that's what I'm gonna do