Jan 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?
Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Milliken, CO
Quick couple of questions for you guys on this issue.
1. My truck (05 Screw 5.4 86K miles) started the ticking noise a few weeks ago and is definitely on the passenger side.
2. it's worse when it's cold, but stays there at idle even after it's warmed up.
3. once it's warmed up, it kinda goes away but when I give it gas (as the RPM builds) the ticking is there and noticeable but once the RPM levels out it goes away (this is all while sitting in park)
4. I have an Edge Evo and with the stock, towing, and extreme tunes it's slightly different but when I have the Cam timing displayed on it, you can see when the timing is changing is when the noise is there once it's warmed up.
5. #4 leads me to believe that it is indeed the phaser on the passenger side that is the source of the problem.
So I your opinion do you think I'm right on the phaser being the source of the noise, and if so is the passenger side the right or left side when buying the parts? Also am I correct in thinking that the phaser is part of the camshaft gear in the parts listings and it comes as an assembly of the gear and phaser?
All help is much appreciated, I plan on doing the work myself as the work doesn't intimidate me, but I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row before I order parts.
I'm also ordering the spark plug removal tools and doing that at the same time since I'm tearing into it.
Any other biggies that I need to check before I get dirty?
Thanks in advance.
1. My truck (05 Screw 5.4 86K miles) started the ticking noise a few weeks ago and is definitely on the passenger side.
2. it's worse when it's cold, but stays there at idle even after it's warmed up.
3. once it's warmed up, it kinda goes away but when I give it gas (as the RPM builds) the ticking is there and noticeable but once the RPM levels out it goes away (this is all while sitting in park)
4. I have an Edge Evo and with the stock, towing, and extreme tunes it's slightly different but when I have the Cam timing displayed on it, you can see when the timing is changing is when the noise is there once it's warmed up.
5. #4 leads me to believe that it is indeed the phaser on the passenger side that is the source of the problem.
So I your opinion do you think I'm right on the phaser being the source of the noise, and if so is the passenger side the right or left side when buying the parts? Also am I correct in thinking that the phaser is part of the camshaft gear in the parts listings and it comes as an assembly of the gear and phaser?
All help is much appreciated, I plan on doing the work myself as the work doesn't intimidate me, but I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row before I order parts.
I'm also ordering the spark plug removal tools and doing that at the same time since I'm tearing into it.
Any other biggies that I need to check before I get dirty?
Thanks in advance.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Mine phasers shot too
I have an 06 mountaineer with the 4.6, 75K on it and noise just started. Dealer tells me, You did not use Mopar oil filters, apparently any good after market oil filter does not allow for enough oil to go to the phasers. Thats the cause. My dealer told me replacing the phasers would only delay the inevitable, engine falure. Did U fix yours?
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?
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Sorry to revive this thread but my cam Phasers are bad. I have a 2008 fx4. The engine shakes and sounds like a diesel at 1000 to 1500 rpm but 1500+ it drives great. My mechanics analyzer said it was a cylinder misfire. Unfortunately he cannot work on it until later this week. I am not losing engine oil pressure. I have to make a 800 mile trip tomorrow morning and I need my truck but I don't want it to break down or get worse along the way. Is anybody experiencing this problem with upper end knock and dieseling and retarded spark above idling and if driving at highway speeds would this cause further damage?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I work for a local 4x4 shop and have actually worked on a few trucks with this issue. But with mine (06 f150 xlt 4x4) I decided to try something different and save some money. Its not really a hard repair to do just time consuming really. I removed my cam phasers and and took them to work and let them soak in a mixture of marven mystery oil, Bcem, seafoam and solvent for a few days then throughly cleaned them out. the build up in the oil passages on them was amazing and thats what uasually causes the issue is not using the proper oil in your vehicle. After cleaning them very very good, I ordered on of comp cams phaser kits and installed that before installing them back in my truck. Yes i did have to do a little tuning cause it now limits the truck from going 60 degrees retarded. But i have been driving the truck for about three months now with not a problem at all. This is something i experimented with and its up to you to see if you wana try it.
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I bought a 2005 with 160,000 miles 3 months ago. In great shape, but it had the chain tensioner rattle at start up. Now it has the marbles in a can (diesel) rattle when it is hot. Mechanic says it is cam phasers. I have several questions:
1. Should I replace the tensioners and cam phasers at the same time?
2. I guess I should buy the chain kit and change all the chain parts. Some kits include a sprocket, some don't. Should I buy the kit with the sprocket?
3. What are the cheapest sources for these parts?
4. Can anyone provide a complete parts list or part numbers?
Thanks for your help.
1. Should I replace the tensioners and cam phasers at the same time?
2. I guess I should buy the chain kit and change all the chain parts. Some kits include a sprocket, some don't. Should I buy the kit with the sprocket?
3. What are the cheapest sources for these parts?
4. Can anyone provide a complete parts list or part numbers?
Thanks for your help.
Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
This would never result in a recall as this issue isn't a safety issue