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?
03-11-2012, 06:52 PM
#91
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if anyone is looking for a set of cam phasers and valve cover gaskets i have the whole set OEM phasers and fleetpro gaskets for well below OEM price, let me know if anyone is interested.
03-16-2012, 09:01 PM
#93
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I have the same vehicle with 63K miles on it and was quoted at the dealer for $2140.42 to make the repairs. They quoted replacing the timing chains (which almost never go bad), cam phaser, tensioner, sensors, gaskets (which are reusable), and a few other small items I'm not totally familiar with. $960 in parts and about 14 hours labor at roughly $1180.
03-18-2012, 05:49 PM
#95
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really at a lost now
I am really at a lost now. I started trying to diagnose my truck again today. I had it idling and sprayed starting fluid on all vaccum lines and no sign of a leak, I started unplugging my fuel injectors one at a time starting with #1. From 1 to 4, no change in motor but with 5 threw 8 a definit idle change. So I done the same with the coils and the same with the coils. It is as if there is nothing going to the passenger side of the motor. I know if there is no fire to #1 threw #4 then there isnt going to be a difference becuase the fuel cant fire so that doesnt mean the injectors are bad, so Guess I have to find out if the coils are bad or what may be the problem as to why they are not firing. I wish FORD would just own up to this problem and fix it. There are enough people just on this forum with the same issuse and at no fault of the owner. Fords are good trucks or we would not own them but I wish I would have never traded in my 2000 F-150.
03-25-2012, 05:56 PM
#97
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well, because of mileage and the fact that they consider it to not be a safety issue. But I am sure that every one that is having this problem would see it the same as I. If you are doing 70 mph on a highway with children in your vehicle and traffic out the butt all around you and all the sudden you vehicles losses power and drops to 30 to 40 mph all the sudden you are at risk of being in an accident. But I guess until that happens FORD will not see it that way. It is very dissapointing on Fords reputation in my eyes.
03-27-2012, 10:00 AM
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OK, my turn....
2008 5.4 expedition.
134k miles.
Bought it from a friend that had it as a company lease vehicle for him self. We got it for next to nothing and it had just started the dreaded knock a month before we purchased it.
Got it home and changed the oil to 5w30 and put a Ford filter on it.. Knock was gone. Also changed the plugs.
Drove it for roughly 4k miles and the knock started to come back. It was up for an oil chance so I went back to 5w30 but this time the shop put a Napa filter on it. Knock is still there.
In addition, the entire time I have had the truck [roughly 5 months and 4500. miles] it has always had a rough idle and a miss between 1500-2000rpm. Beyond 2000rpm is runs smoothly.
From the research I've done, I think the phasers were redesigned in 2006 and are less prone to breaking. That leads me to believe it the VCT's BUT if I unplug them the knock is still there.
I come from a drag racing background and refuse to throw parts at a motor until it's fixed. Something is causing this issue and I want to understand what and why before I spend $$ on parts.
As I said, the knock was completely GONE after the first oil change then slowly came back at the end of the oils life. This leads me to believe it's an oil pressure issue. Yet it was NOT fixed with the second oil change. I plan on adding a ford filter to the current "fresh" oil change and see it it changes anything.
Has anyone run higher viscosity oil in their personal vehicle for long periods of time? I've read in countless places that only 5w20 should be used but I can't believe that thicker oil could hurt these motors. I'm in South FL so cold temps are NOT an issue.
Has anyone actually fixed this issue in a 2006 or newer motor?
2008 5.4 expedition.
134k miles.
Bought it from a friend that had it as a company lease vehicle for him self. We got it for next to nothing and it had just started the dreaded knock a month before we purchased it.
Got it home and changed the oil to 5w30 and put a Ford filter on it.. Knock was gone. Also changed the plugs.
Drove it for roughly 4k miles and the knock started to come back. It was up for an oil chance so I went back to 5w30 but this time the shop put a Napa filter on it. Knock is still there.
In addition, the entire time I have had the truck [roughly 5 months and 4500. miles] it has always had a rough idle and a miss between 1500-2000rpm. Beyond 2000rpm is runs smoothly.
From the research I've done, I think the phasers were redesigned in 2006 and are less prone to breaking. That leads me to believe it the VCT's BUT if I unplug them the knock is still there.
I come from a drag racing background and refuse to throw parts at a motor until it's fixed. Something is causing this issue and I want to understand what and why before I spend $$ on parts.
As I said, the knock was completely GONE after the first oil change then slowly came back at the end of the oils life. This leads me to believe it's an oil pressure issue. Yet it was NOT fixed with the second oil change. I plan on adding a ford filter to the current "fresh" oil change and see it it changes anything.
Has anyone run higher viscosity oil in their personal vehicle for long periods of time? I've read in countless places that only 5w20 should be used but I can't believe that thicker oil could hurt these motors. I'm in South FL so cold temps are NOT an issue.
Has anyone actually fixed this issue in a 2006 or newer motor?
Last edited by Gamble1; 03-27-2012 at 10:11 AM.
04-12-2012, 07:15 PM
#99
Mine is a 2010 FX4. When it started to tick, it was very light noise, about 7000miles.
I was told they run the tolerances loose on these new trucks.
15,000 miles and the noise is louder...I complain about the ticking at all temps and all speeds. They find nothing.
20,000 miles and I hear the ticking/rattling all the time, even driving at 50mp/h.
I got the, 'It's the injectors' or 'it's normal, it is the cam adjusters' speech.
This noise is NOT normal. How can a ticking noise loud enough to hear inside your cab at all speed even driving on the highway be called normal.
pisses me off
Up here in Canada Eh! Some dealers are telling and using Lucas Oil products to make things a little quiet for the customer.
I was told they run the tolerances loose on these new trucks.
15,000 miles and the noise is louder...I complain about the ticking at all temps and all speeds. They find nothing.
20,000 miles and I hear the ticking/rattling all the time, even driving at 50mp/h.
I got the, 'It's the injectors' or 'it's normal, it is the cam adjusters' speech.
This noise is NOT normal. How can a ticking noise loud enough to hear inside your cab at all speed even driving on the highway be called normal.
pisses me off
Up here in Canada Eh! Some dealers are telling and using Lucas Oil products to make things a little quiet for the customer.
04-12-2012, 09:22 PM
#100
What I am hearing is on this 5.4 change oil every 3-5k max & using motor-craft oil filter only . so far I changed The oil in my 2010 xlt at 5k & now again at 10 k if I hit 15k with ticking I will prove or disprove this theory. Hope I dont end up pissed off-