01-22-2015, 03:49 PM
Last edit by: IB Advertising
Issue: Is your F-150’s engine idling loudly?
The eight cylinder engines are notorious for this due to the cam phasers. For the unaware, cam phasers are responsible for adjusting the camshaft position to improve fuel injection into the cylinders, which leads to better fuel efficiency when idling and the ability to draw power from the engine more quickly. However, after anywhere from 60,000-100,000 miles, they also cause rough, loud idling due to wear and tear.
While the cause can typically be linked to the cam phasers, solutions to the problem vary widely. Some of the top recommendations include:
Read the full thread to find out which of these solutions is best for your truck.
The eight cylinder engines are notorious for this due to the cam phasers. For the unaware, cam phasers are responsible for adjusting the camshaft position to improve fuel injection into the cylinders, which leads to better fuel efficiency when idling and the ability to draw power from the engine more quickly. However, after anywhere from 60,000-100,000 miles, they also cause rough, loud idling due to wear and tear.
While the cause can typically be linked to the cam phasers, solutions to the problem vary widely. Some of the top recommendations include:
- While the noise is annoying, the cam phaser itself isn’t actually breaking. If you can live with it, your F-150 will be fine.
- If the truck is under warranty, bring it to the dealership.
- It’s possible they may need to either replace the cam phasers, or even the cam phasers and camshaft as well.
- Install a coil spring behind each cam phaser to reduce the rattle as it moves.
- Swap the cam phasers from a larger engine so that it sits more tightly, reducing the rattle.
Read the full thread to find out which of these solutions is best for your truck.
5.4L cam phasers.. What goes bad?
08-16-2011, 09:09 PM
#41
crush a little car today
It's cheaper for a company to have you fix the problem. There's a lot of aftermarket parts that can be used. If I swap to a 3 valve it gets this issue fixed before it goes in.
08-26-2011, 12:24 PM
#42
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i have a 2008 f150 fx4 with the 5.4 with 60500k on it . started to hear the tick but everyone told me thats the way they all sound. always use synthetic oil 5/20 or 0/20. well it started making some horrific knocks when engine warm and only at low rpms and low idle-like when stopping and changing into reverse etc. the engine sounded so bad like it was going to fall apart-like a lifter was going to pop right through the block! at the same time this knock was happening(more like a bang!)the engine sounds like its going to stall-a few times it did-but a soon as you raise the rpms you hear a click and it goes right back to normal--the truck runs fine otherwise and has lots of power--dealer said it was the cam phasers and is replacing them now--
08-27-2011, 02:55 PM
#43
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08-30-2011, 11:38 PM
#44
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I signed up to be a member right after I bought my 2008 FX4. I've never posted anything. My truck had 59,450 miles on it when it started to act up. It was the noisey, chuggy, knocking sounds everyone else has been getting. It also would start acting up when it was warm and truck was slowing down to a stop in forward and reverse on occasion. It would almost die and motor sounded like it was letting go. I would put it in neutral and rev it up and it would go back to normal. I did a lot of research on this forum andf ound out just like everyone else it was the cam phazers. I took it to the dealer last Thursday and got it back today and it sounds like a new truck again. They replaces both cam phazers, vct solonoids and the valve cover gaskets. Here's the best part, Ford paid for it. It was covered under the powertrain warranty. They also replaced one of the exhaust manifolds too. It was starting to make noise when cold, and warranty covered the manifold also. I just want say there must be a warranty god for me. I'm glad it happened when it did, because I was just about out of warranty. I was expecting the worst and to my suprise everything worked out perfect. I also inquired about the noisey lifters right after starting the truck and they told me about the aftermarket oil filters. I had them change the oil and use the motorcraft filter and it fix the lifter problem instantly.
09-20-2011, 03:05 PM
#48
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knocking noise
All, I have the same problem with my 2008 F150. Loud knocking noise when in idle speed after driving. Sounds like no oil in engine. Took to mechanic checked "cam phasers" . Both tested ok. Mechanic contacted Ford mechanic suggested cam phasers and this was over the phone. Took to another mechanic who took engine apart checked everything. Phasers, rods, etc. all ok. Tension chain comes loose at times after driving as mentioned causing knocking noise.. Mechanic wondering why? He is now thinking it's the oil pump. After testing oil pressure it was below 30. around 18. So, he is going to replace oil pump which he thinks the problem is instead. I should know something tomorrow. Any feedback or suggestions?? Like I said it's not the cam phasers causing the problem.
09-28-2011, 02:15 AM
#49
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Hi all. First post here. Great site and informative.
My wife's 2005 Expedition with 78k miles seems to have the same cam sensor problem as many of your 5.4 equipped Fords. I have a question but with several twists. So here goes.
Last January the Expedition sounded like it was diesel as well as some other issues the truck had. We took to dealer and they said it was a cam phaser issue. We decided to get all the other work done on it to the tune of $1600 and would come back later when we had more money and replace the Phasers. Besides the diesel sounds when we would drive the truck at approx 40 mph or higher and going up a very slight incline the engine would run rough and kind of shutter. If I let off the gas completely or stomped on the gas the engine shuttering would go away. Said shuttering would only happen when light gas pedal pressure. Nothing when pulling from a stop light or around town.
So two weeks ago we decide to finally take the Expedition to the dealer to get the Phasers replaced. The give me the runaround for a week with very little work done on the truck. I caused a big stink with the service dept for, well, lack of service. They are now coming back to me saying that they can't find any codes or issues with the cam Phasers. I ask what is wrong and they told me this. Three cylinders have low compression, there are three spark plugs that are bad ( im not 100% sure how they are bad) and I have minor scoring on the #3 rod bearing. I walked myself back to the service bay where the truck was and saw the bearing cap laying next to the truck and it had some minor, very minor blemishes on it.
Now they are telling me that all these contribute to the diesel sound at idle and the shuttering at certain times while driving. I said, OK, if you replace all the spark plugs will the shuttering go away since the plugs will them be new and firing properly and they said yes. OK, fine.
Next question I had for them was (I am no expert so this is my train of thought) if the Phasers are bad it will throw off the timing of the engine thus holding the valves open or closed, to some degree, at the wrong time thus not allowing the proper compression to be read when doing the compression check and having low pressure readings in three of the cylinders. Is my thinking correct here? They didn't really have an answer for this question other than saying that they found no cam phaser issue.
The dealership said from what they found, as I mentioned above, that they recommend a new long block install. They said that my engine is just worn out. My wife drives it and only puts about 12k miles a year on it and that it was services regularly. He agreed it was very early to have such a big issue. I told them that I should have to need a new engine with a 6 year old car and only 78k miles on it. The conversation got quite heated and he knew I was quite hot at this point after he told me that this repair/new engine would cost me $7500+ tax. He did seem to have a bit of sympathy, or he was a good actor. He said that he is unable to make the initial contact with Ford customer care but gave me a phone number to file a complaint. He said when I called the number the lady took my all my info and truck info. The service manager I was dealing with said they would then contact him in the next day or so and he would try to get the ball rolling with an After Warranty Repair. The SM said that Ford will sometimes pay nothing, some or all of the repair. He did say that my truck is a good candidate for such a repair being paid for by Ford.
To me, this has got to be a cam phaser issue. How do younger them to check and do a repair if it is not throwing a code? Is my train of thought correct about this issue? Thanks for any impute.
My wife's 2005 Expedition with 78k miles seems to have the same cam sensor problem as many of your 5.4 equipped Fords. I have a question but with several twists. So here goes.
Last January the Expedition sounded like it was diesel as well as some other issues the truck had. We took to dealer and they said it was a cam phaser issue. We decided to get all the other work done on it to the tune of $1600 and would come back later when we had more money and replace the Phasers. Besides the diesel sounds when we would drive the truck at approx 40 mph or higher and going up a very slight incline the engine would run rough and kind of shutter. If I let off the gas completely or stomped on the gas the engine shuttering would go away. Said shuttering would only happen when light gas pedal pressure. Nothing when pulling from a stop light or around town.
So two weeks ago we decide to finally take the Expedition to the dealer to get the Phasers replaced. The give me the runaround for a week with very little work done on the truck. I caused a big stink with the service dept for, well, lack of service. They are now coming back to me saying that they can't find any codes or issues with the cam Phasers. I ask what is wrong and they told me this. Three cylinders have low compression, there are three spark plugs that are bad ( im not 100% sure how they are bad) and I have minor scoring on the #3 rod bearing. I walked myself back to the service bay where the truck was and saw the bearing cap laying next to the truck and it had some minor, very minor blemishes on it.
Now they are telling me that all these contribute to the diesel sound at idle and the shuttering at certain times while driving. I said, OK, if you replace all the spark plugs will the shuttering go away since the plugs will them be new and firing properly and they said yes. OK, fine.
Next question I had for them was (I am no expert so this is my train of thought) if the Phasers are bad it will throw off the timing of the engine thus holding the valves open or closed, to some degree, at the wrong time thus not allowing the proper compression to be read when doing the compression check and having low pressure readings in three of the cylinders. Is my thinking correct here? They didn't really have an answer for this question other than saying that they found no cam phaser issue.
The dealership said from what they found, as I mentioned above, that they recommend a new long block install. They said that my engine is just worn out. My wife drives it and only puts about 12k miles a year on it and that it was services regularly. He agreed it was very early to have such a big issue. I told them that I should have to need a new engine with a 6 year old car and only 78k miles on it. The conversation got quite heated and he knew I was quite hot at this point after he told me that this repair/new engine would cost me $7500+ tax. He did seem to have a bit of sympathy, or he was a good actor. He said that he is unable to make the initial contact with Ford customer care but gave me a phone number to file a complaint. He said when I called the number the lady took my all my info and truck info. The service manager I was dealing with said they would then contact him in the next day or so and he would try to get the ball rolling with an After Warranty Repair. The SM said that Ford will sometimes pay nothing, some or all of the repair. He did say that my truck is a good candidate for such a repair being paid for by Ford.
To me, this has got to be a cam phaser issue. How do younger them to check and do a repair if it is not throwing a code? Is my train of thought correct about this issue? Thanks for any impute.
09-29-2011, 09:38 AM
#50
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I just had mine replaced. The inner gear on the cam phaser had partially separated from the outer gear. I could shake the phaser and reproduce the rattle. Mileage went from 13.9 to 16.2 mpg.