I know this topic is being hammered in our brains since day one of the Ecoboosts
However as someone to is new to Fords and trucks, I am doing a ton of research and I find mixed info here and there.
I'm from Ontario Canada, got my 2020 3.5 Limited with 126k km (80k miles) about a month ago, had a few issues with transmission, so not a great start but it is apparently resolved by the dealer that sold it to me.
My cold starts are quiet and I don't have any complains about the engine so far, and the truck seems to be in pretty good shape, however, I started doing my initial used car purchase maintenance including oil change at FORD since it's f***** cold here now about -5F (-20 C) and they told me the oil they put was semi-synthetic, really??? for our climate that doesn't seem to be the best option. I plan to do intervals of 3k miles.
I don't do any towing or heavy use of the truck normally but our temperatures during winter are brutally cold.
And I travel by plane for work frequently, so the truck is being parked at the airport for a week now and probably buried under 3 feet of snow when I come back tonight.
So here's my concern... What I read is that the phasers were updated in trucks made in 2020, I believe the door sticker says 072020 or something like that, does that mean July?
Which years are the "plagued" models?
Also anything I can do to "save" good phasers or preventing them from wearing?

 

If you put your truck into engineering mode and scroll up/down you will hit a screen that lists date of manufacture.

 

The best thing you can do to keep everything (including cam phasers) in good order is to keep up on normal maintenance.

 

Thank you! I'll defintelly look into that.

 

Change oil using mileage. Especially in your cold climate. Every 3000 miles new oil and Filter is not too often. Ignore the oil monitor.

 

Thanks Patrick, That's what I was thinking as well... oil degrades at a rapid rate in extreme climates. Hot or cold, I'm just thinking about maybe a better oil, not a huge fan of semi-synthetic,

 

If it happens, it happens phaser failures have been all over the mileage spread. Mine went at 51k miles and really out of the blue with no warning. Don't quote me but I thought 2021 MY trucks came with the latest revision. Look through the 21-25 F150 forum and notice a dearth of bad phaser and 10 speed transmission posts.
3000 miles between oil changes is too often and a waste of money and oil. A compromise would be 75% of oil life on the monitor. For me that translates to 6000 miles. It's not my choice to use but if semi-synthetic meets Ford spec. then you are good to go. A full synthetic that needn't be Mobil 1 or Amsoil is adequate. I often use Quaker State, the tech that tore down my engine when doing the phasers went out of his way to remark how clean and video the internals. Your temperature concern is valid and if you check your owners manual I think you'll find 5w-30 to be suitable for extreme lower temperatures.

 

I have used "semi-synthetic" since new (Jan, 2020). Currently at just over 100,000 miles, never any issue. I have had the oil changed every 5,000 miles and it looks like honey when it comes out. No oil consumption (3.5 L). You clearly live in a more severe environment than I (WI) so I don't blame you if you feel more comfortable with shorter intervals. Just my experience over the last 5 years.