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?
09-29-2011, 12:32 PM
#51
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Jspec,
Maybe they have. From what I read in the FORD Service bulletin, the cam phaser problem is centered around 2004-2005 F150/Expeditions with the 5.4L engine...they might be a few 2006 stragglers out there from what the Ford house service adviser told me a while back but that is all I have of being affected. What do the 2007-and up have that the others don't? Or is it that these 07-and up don't have the miles yet to cause this problem...
Maybe they have. From what I read in the FORD Service bulletin, the cam phaser problem is centered around 2004-2005 F150/Expeditions with the 5.4L engine...they might be a few 2006 stragglers out there from what the Ford house service adviser told me a while back but that is all I have of being affected. What do the 2007-and up have that the others don't? Or is it that these 07-and up don't have the miles yet to cause this problem...
My 07 did this from around 34,000 miles until I traded it with 90,000. Dealer told me it wouldn't hurt anything so I never messed with it.
10-01-2011, 07:49 PM
#52
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Cam phaser noise, I think!
I have the same truck and the same issues. Just haven't the time to tackle it yet.
I recently bought a 2005 F150 SCrew with the 5.4L. The cam phasers are clearly bad as the engine sounds like a Powerstroke at idle when warm. Noise goes away with speed or when the engine is cold. 123K miles. Really like the truck but I can't stand the noise at idle.
Anyway, I've read varying reports that some people that have had their phasers replaced had the noise come back whereas others said new phasers fixed it alltogether.
My question is has anyone actually looked at a "bad" phaser and tried to figure out what failed or wore out to make all the noise? Does anyone have a "bad" phaser(s) they'd like to get rid of?
Anyway, I've read varying reports that some people that have had their phasers replaced had the noise come back whereas others said new phasers fixed it alltogether.
My question is has anyone actually looked at a "bad" phaser and tried to figure out what failed or wore out to make all the noise? Does anyone have a "bad" phaser(s) they'd like to get rid of?
10-24-2011, 08:06 PM
#53
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you guys are going to laugh at me but I solved this problem after building 20 or so 3v's and that act like this after warm up,Drop the oil pan as far as you can unscrew the pressure releaf valve and insert 4 or 5 washers to hold the valve open then re assemble this boosts oil pressure in the top end making the phasers work correctly!enjoy
10-25-2011, 02:24 PM
#54
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you guys are going to laugh at me but I solved this problem after building 20 or so 3v's and that act like this after warm up,Drop the oil pan as far as you can unscrew the pressure releaf valve and insert 4 or 5 washers to hold the valve open then re assemble this boosts oil pressure in the top end making the phasers work correctly!enjoy
I have been researching this heavily as I am about to buy a used 08 expo 5.4 from a friend. Within the last month it has started to tick and slowly gotten much louder.
@ Jamie Marshall.... did adding the washers resolve the issue without replacing the phasers that were clacking or did you replace them and then shim the preasure relief valve to keep it from happening again.
Also was this a one time occurrence or have you fixed the problem on multiple motors using this method?
I REALLY appreciate you input on this!!!
10-25-2011, 02:34 PM
#55
you guys are going to laugh at me but I solved this problem after building 20 or so 3v's and that act like this after warm up,Drop the oil pan as far as you can unscrew the pressure releaf valve and insert 4 or 5 washers to hold the valve open then re assemble this boosts oil pressure in the top end making the phasers work correctly!enjoy
10-26-2011, 06:29 PM
#56
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It's an allen headed bolt 8mm i think just drop the oil pan as far as you can in the rig then look up in there its at the front of the engine on the bottom of the oil pump add 4 or 5 washers between the spring and the allen head then reassemble I have personally done this to over 15 3v's and it has worked every time for me,I also have added thicker oil (20-40) to solve this problem also sometimes it will fix the existing phaser other times you have to replace one of them(the one that's making noise)its not real often you see them both **** the bed hope this helps
10-27-2011, 08:10 AM
#57
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It's an allen headed bolt 8mm i think just drop the oil pan as far as you can in the rig then look up in there its at the front of the engine on the bottom of the oil pump add 4 or 5 washers between the spring and the allen head then reassemble I have personally done this to over 15 3v's and it has worked every time for me,I also have added thicker oil (20-40) to solve this problem also sometimes it will fix the existing phaser other times you have to replace one of them(the one that's making noise)its not real often you see them both **** the bed hope this helps
What kind of oil pressure numbers are you seeing once you have shimmed the relief valve?
Thanks for your help! I'm going to give this a try BEFORE I order up the phasers.
10-27-2011, 12:42 PM
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yes it has fixed phasers making noise,but you need to find out if your phasers are junk because of somthing inside of them or if there acting up from lack of oil pressure you can do this by removing the oil galley plug on the rear of the driverside head and hooking up a manual oil pressure gauge there should be atleast 33 psi at the head when the engine is at running temp.
Another situation I have come across is one phaser is stuck open stealing oil pressure from the other one making it make the loud noise.Most of the time the phaser making noise is acually still good but the one thats not making noise is the bad one
Ive also seen the screens in the sensors that stick up through the front of the valve covers get plugged up they have a very fine screen in them somtimes taking them out and givin them some brake clean works
Ive also seen the clearances be to big on crank/cam shafts causing oil pressure loss mostly on the front cam caps
Another situation I have come across is one phaser is stuck open stealing oil pressure from the other one making it make the loud noise.Most of the time the phaser making noise is acually still good but the one thats not making noise is the bad one
Ive also seen the screens in the sensors that stick up through the front of the valve covers get plugged up they have a very fine screen in them somtimes taking them out and givin them some brake clean works
Ive also seen the clearances be to big on crank/cam shafts causing oil pressure loss mostly on the front cam caps
Last edited by Jamie Marshall; 10-31-2011 at 09:05 PM.
11-02-2011, 12:56 PM
#59
Ryan
I've read pretty much this whole thread and I've got a question..
I've got a 2006 5.4L and it makes some ticking when its warm, but you have to either really listen for it in the cab with the radio/fans turned off, or stick your head under the hood or in the fender well to hear it..
Ford says some ticking is "normal" cause of the VCT solenoids/camphasers/fuel injectors firing, I just want to know how loud it should be? How can I tell if mine is normal or going bad?
Also, just for everyone's benefit, GM has this same problem. The cam phasers in the trailblazers will tick and rattle if the oil passages get clogged up too..so it's not JUST a Ford problem!
I've got a 2006 5.4L and it makes some ticking when its warm, but you have to either really listen for it in the cab with the radio/fans turned off, or stick your head under the hood or in the fender well to hear it..
Ford says some ticking is "normal" cause of the VCT solenoids/camphasers/fuel injectors firing, I just want to know how loud it should be? How can I tell if mine is normal or going bad?
Also, just for everyone's benefit, GM has this same problem. The cam phasers in the trailblazers will tick and rattle if the oil passages get clogged up too..so it's not JUST a Ford problem!
11-02-2011, 01:33 PM
#60
Senior Member
Go to this website and look for the video on 5.4 VCT operation. They will explain what normal cam phasers should sound like.
http://www.flatratetech.com/content.php?pageid=9
http://www.flatratetech.com/content.php?pageid=9