1998 Ford F150 Loud noise coming from valve cover

1998 FORD F-150

12,700 MILES • V8 • 4WD • AUTOMATIC

TRENTTASTIC

MEMBER
1 POST

Engine has been clicking for about a week, I could barely hear it, While eating lunch today, I was parked with the truck idling. A few seconds after finishing the wopper jr, the engine made some funky noises "pop, bang"! Engine started running rough, with a loud chugga chugga that increased with the rpm. Pedestrians wipped their necks around as the wounded machine landed in my driveway!
I am not a mechanic, but the noise seems to be coming from one of the back valve covers! I know that the truck can't be driven like this and thought u might have some good advice for me!

Thank you,
Trenton Douglas

Mar 28, 2010 at 11:17 PM

CJ MEDEVAC

✓ASE Certified Mechanic
11,004 POSTS

See my profile, I don't know your rig well.

I would definitly snatch/ or have snatched, my Valve cover and investigate.

It may be as simple as a rocker arm bolt wasn't tight and worked its way out. This would account for skipping, due to valve not operating now.

If the rocker bolt (post) broke off, happened to me once, I stuck my thumb against the part broke in the head and unscrewed it right out (no need for EZ out or bolt extracter)

Other things may have happened, like bent pushrod, stuck valve, etc.

Your EZist and least expensive route would be GET A MANUAL, and investigate, might just cost you a BOLT, A VALVE COVER GASKET............and the manual you should have bought and read a long time ago!......Just to KNOW your rig better!

After-which you come back here (to this post), and let us know what you've got.

We'll either tell you GOOD JOB!.....or continue to assist you......COME BACK EITHER WAY!

Love, Turddog

Mar 29, 2010 at 12:07 AM

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