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?
11-04-2011, 08:09 AM
#61
Ryan
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
Thanks Kevhead! Those are some really helpful videos
11-08-2011, 12:07 AM
#62
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Cam phaser noise or loose plug?
I own an 05 expedition bought new & now has 127K miles about 30K miles ago it started making a tapping noise on the left side of engine I took it to the local Ford dealer service dept they told me it was cam phaser problem they gave a repair est. of $3600.00 i researched it on the web & it was the same kind of noise everyone else was describing. I figured I'd drive it until it went out & then get a new engine installed. the noise was really embarrasing for those 30K miles anyway this past week I had my shady tree mechanic (asa cert.) install new plugs picked it up started it and the noise was gone I figured he put some kind of additive in the engine to quiet it for me I asked him what he did to quiet the cam phaser noise he said nothing added but when he was removing my old plugs one of the plugs on the left side was loose THE LOOSE PLUG WAS MY ELUSIVE CAM PHASER NOISE ALL ALONG HOW LUCKY COULD THAT BE IT NOW RUNS & SOUNDS LIKE NEW!
11-10-2011, 11:20 AM
#63
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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...
11-10-2011, 11:30 AM
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cost me about 800.00 to replace both but after a couple days it started doing it again--not as often but still happened and now 5000 miles later just after an oil change its even worse??
11-16-2011, 11:22 AM
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I can not help you much other than go along with some of the details of my story. Trading in my 09's F - 150 (4.6 - 3V), about a month ago my 00 F -250. After, I spent less than 2 days of delivery, the engine began to knock at idle. Camp phase shifter is bad. Dealers obviously want to do the right thing, but diagnosing the problem, part of the order, and installed six days.There was very difficult to me.And since feeling so bad.
12-08-2011, 06:52 PM
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do they know what is causing this. i have the same problem. i replaced phasers, solenoids, and tensioners. cleaned solenoid valve bodies. blew through all the orfices and changed the oil....this problem is driving me crazy...if i disconnect bank 1 solenoid it runs fine.
01-20-2012, 05:05 AM
#67
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First, thanks everyone for all the good questions and subsequently all the usefull answers.
Been able to figure that my ECL showing up was a pcv line, so it cost me very little, my mechanic knowing what to look for.
And now, i am pretty sure my cams are doing just fine. Knock on wood!
This new motors sure sing quite a difference song than the 89 f250 i previously owned.
Thanks Kevhead75 for the video tutorials. Was very helpful.
I ve talked to a tulsa master tech two days ago, so if you do your maintenance properly and dont drive your pick up like a race car, it should last quite a while..
I ve only owned Fords in my home country for their ever lasting engines, and now i live in Ok, Ford is what i drive.
Been able to figure that my ECL showing up was a pcv line, so it cost me very little, my mechanic knowing what to look for.
And now, i am pretty sure my cams are doing just fine. Knock on wood!
This new motors sure sing quite a difference song than the 89 f250 i previously owned.
Thanks Kevhead75 for the video tutorials. Was very helpful.
I ve talked to a tulsa master tech two days ago, so if you do your maintenance properly and dont drive your pick up like a race car, it should last quite a while..
I ve only owned Fords in my home country for their ever lasting engines, and now i live in Ok, Ford is what i drive.
01-20-2012, 05:07 AM
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F150 fan
First, thanks everyone for all the good questions and subsequently all the usefull answers.
Been able to figure that my ECL showing up was a pcv line, so it cost me very little, my mechanic knowing what to look for.
And now, i am pretty sure my cams are doing just fine. Knock on wood!
This new motors sure sing quite a difference song than the 89 f250 i previously owned.
Thanks Kevhead75 for the video tutorials. Was very helpful.
I ve talked to a tulsa master tech two days ago, so if you do your maintenance properly and dont drive your pick up like a race car, it should last quite a while..
I ve only owned Fords in my home country for their ever lasting engines, and now i live in Ok, Ford is what i drive.
Been able to figure that my ECL showing up was a pcv line, so it cost me very little, my mechanic knowing what to look for.
And now, i am pretty sure my cams are doing just fine. Knock on wood!
This new motors sure sing quite a difference song than the 89 f250 i previously owned.
Thanks Kevhead75 for the video tutorials. Was very helpful.
I ve talked to a tulsa master tech two days ago, so if you do your maintenance properly and dont drive your pick up like a race car, it should last quite a while..
I ve only owned Fords in my home country for their ever lasting engines, and now i live in Ok, Ford is what i drive.
01-24-2012, 11:12 PM
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Does Cam Phaser going bad cause for poor MPG's
I have just came back from Ford and they say that I need to replace both sides of my Cam Phaser's. I sent it in to have the catalytic convertors checked because they where rattling and they come back with this. My average MPG is 12 miles per gallon on the highway and that is babying it. Everything is stock on the truck, I even have a fiberglass cap. Right now Ford says that maybe this is causing the poor MPG's is there anybody who can lead me in the right direction because I don't shell out $1500 dollars on a maybe.
01-29-2012, 01:58 PM
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ok so i wanna get a straight answer. what is the best option for these cam phasers? when we bought our 05 Eddie Bauer Expedition with the 3valve 5.4 it barely had an audible indication of it, but since October, and driving cross country and back, it is progressively getting louder, losing fuel mileage and power.. Yes I am **** about oil changes, and i use the ford recommended oil weight. So with that being said I have 3 possibilities to try to stop this issue
1. replace the cam phasers.
2. fix with a cam phaser limiter and SCT tuner (has to be tuned to limit the amount of advance and retarding)
3. fix with cam phaser eliminator and SCT tuner (has to be tuned to eliminate the automatic advance and retarding)
I want to know what you guys have done to fix the issue and how it is going for you..
also my father, who is an old school mechanic.. (he started doing professional mechanics back in '67 when he got back from Vietnam, told me before i do this, run a quart of ATF through the motor to clean out all the oil passages, thin out the gunk and such.... as ATF is a mild detergent.. just a thought.
1. replace the cam phasers.
2. fix with a cam phaser limiter and SCT tuner (has to be tuned to limit the amount of advance and retarding)
3. fix with cam phaser eliminator and SCT tuner (has to be tuned to eliminate the automatic advance and retarding)
I want to know what you guys have done to fix the issue and how it is going for you..
also my father, who is an old school mechanic.. (he started doing professional mechanics back in '67 when he got back from Vietnam, told me before i do this, run a quart of ATF through the motor to clean out all the oil passages, thin out the gunk and such.... as ATF is a mild detergent.. just a thought.
