I have read so many post on the 5.4 3v engine and its problems that my head is spinning. Most state that the 2004-08 are mostly prone to the cam phasers, plugs breaking, exhaust leaks, etc. No matter how well these engines were maintained
Yes I know there are a handful of post stating they have over 100000,-200000, thousand miles but there's no comparison to the hundreds of post with these problems with low mileage.
I have read more than once that the 2009 5.4 3v was REVISED, but with no explanation as to what was revised.
Was a improved oil pump installed ? oil channels widened ? exhaust bolts improved ? Cam phasers , chains, tensioners improved ? or is the 2009 just as likely to develop the same problems ? No matter how well maintained
Does anyone know what was actually revised on the 2009 5.4, Please let us know
Would anyone in their right mind pay $39000. dollars for a truck that couldn't make it past 100000 miles ????
Thanks

 

Well, I can tell you these tidbits -

In mid-year 2008, the heads were redesigned for one piece plugs. Any 2008 you find with brown coil boots has factory one piece plugs.

Going off of MY personal 2009 F150 with the 5.4L......

Oil pump - not revised. I installed a Melling M340HV on mine.
Timing chain tensioners - not revised - mine blew, you can read all about it on the Dirt Cheap F150 thread
My exhaust bolts at 140K miles - still in good shape, no leaks.
Cam phasers - can't say one way or the other. Mine were NOT noisy, and controlled VCT well according to the scan tool. Replaced them anyways.
Chains and tensioners appear to be the same parts from 2004 on up. Same with the guides, my right side guide broke and shattered from the tensioner failing.

The tensioners I removed had the crappy black seal, and the right side one was blown. I have been slowly fixing all of this, and my replacement parts are all the latest updated service parts from Ford.

My personal thought is that the phaser may have had some undocumented improvement (mine were original and pretty crappy looking, but still worked well), but the rest of the parts appeared to be same as '04-'08.

Tim

 

Thank You for your info Tim.
My 2009 F-150 5.4 3v is just turning 88000K miles. $39000. loaded......since new replaced shocks, struts, rotors, brakes, tranny mount, tranny filter kit, rear diff and tranny serviced, always changed oil,cooling system flush, electrical problems, sync option never works,.Truck was always Maintained Well
Now I'm getting the ticking and the marbles on cold start up.........The fact that I'm looking at probably another large expence has me so disgusted with the quality of this truck and the fact that FORD has turned its back on its loyal customers by not owning up to its own defects, that this is definitely my last Ford
Mickey

 

Mickey,

You know, you can say "This is my last Ford" all you want, but the fact is, every single make has a skeleton in the closet. GM and Chrysler both have Displacement on Demand issues that eat cams and lifters. Toyotas have recalls all the time. Nissans are just garbage now. The list goes on.

Fact is, with any make, you will be doing some work to it, you just have to determine what work you are willing to do to a vehicle.

Look at at the bright side, IT'S NOT JUST YOUR TRUCK. It's nothing you did to cause it to fail, you appear to have taken good care of your truck, so I would say it's probably a safe bet that the truck is worth putting the money into to repair it. Three thou worth of repairs sure beats 50 grand for a brand new one! Fix it, make it bulletproof, and drive the wheels off the thing.

I've been fixing cars for 35 years, and NO car out there is built like a Sherman Tank.

Tim

 

Tim, No offense, but if you read your last response, You make my case for me. You said " Toyotas have recalls all the time " That's the whole Point - RECALLS
I don't mind warped rotors, dead electrical displays, normal maintenance, I worked on cars all my life. THATS not the point, its not just me, There are THOUSANDS of Ford F-150 5.4 owners out there that are being forced to pay for " FORDS ENGINEERING BLUNDER " People with way less than 100000 miles having to put a new engine in their truck - That's not a sherman tank, That is Fords screw up and they should step up and repair all the cam phaser problems. Laid back attitudes just lets them get away with it.
Mickey

 

My dads '09 ram hemi has an awful tick at startup. Sounds more like a lifter than a exhaust leak

 

Either fix it or by a new truck, which is cheaper? My 5.4 was a fantastic engine and reliable, in the 10 years I owned it I never had to call a tow truck, unlike both my GM's and my Chrysler. I did bulletproof it at 110K but it didnt need it, everything was clean as a whistle inside and it was $1200 and a weekend to do it, not really a big deal. Dont get me started on the garbage timing setup on my (now sold) Chevy Malibu! In the two years I owned that car it left me walking multiple times and I spent more $$ to fix it than I had into fixing my F-150 that I had over ten years! The point is, everything has its issues, you either complain about it or fix it and move on.

 

kozal you sound like a Ford dealer, are you ?
It's attitudes like yours that have let Ford get away with not recalling the 5.4 engine for years now.
You're one of the lucky ones that got a decent one, so you say screw you to the thousands of us that got screwed. TELL IT to all the people that were flying down the jam packed highway and all of a sudden due to Fords defect, their truck just stops, and their lives are at risk !
You talk like it's a minor defect that we should just be expected to fix, and be happy about it. Sorry, it's not a minor defect, or minor " issue" it is a MAJOR ENGINEERING DEFECT AFFECTING COUNTLESS THOUSANDS OF US
But because of people like you, Ford just smiles and gets away with it. Sad, really Sad.

 

Haha! No, not a dealer, just not a whiner. This is a forum, not manufacturers suggestion or complaint department, perhaps you should direct your anger to Ford corporate instead of to me. Now if you want help on how to fix your issue, we can help with that but if you're just here to whine and complain you probably wont get very far.

 

X2, you want help we will help you, if you just want to bitch and moan, this place isnt a wine and cheese party