I disconnected the VCT solenoids and truck ran much better (no codes thrown too which is weird to me). Little to no noise and I regained the HP I lost. I don't remember what that is an indication of, just bad VCT's? Also how long is too long for them to be disconnected since its essential just like running with a lockout?

 

If it starts running better with them unplugged then that's your issue. If you have a pre-2007 5.4 then you can change them without removing the valve covers.

 

Thanks Tareed, I'll get to work on that this weekend and do that with my brake job. Any idea if I can run with them disconnected for a couple days or is that bad?

 

Hmmmmm... I'm not sure. I can't imagine that it would really cause a problem, it would basically just disable the variable timing similar to a lockout. That being said, you can't do a lockout without tuning the engine. I wouldn't run it like that long term, or beat on the engine with them disconnected but I don't think that a couple days would be bad.

 

thanks HUGE help!!

 

Other then the constant ticking, what symptoms are you experiencing ?


I'm asking because I have a 2005 lariat that has the ticking but the truck runs amazingly well. No codes, no loss of power, literally runs like a top. I replaced the VCT's and it didn't help the ticking.


I spoke with my local dealer about it and the service manager said just leave it alone. If there is no loss of power, or stalling, just run her like it is and deal with the tapping sound.

 

I Have had the slight dieseling sound and a very slight tick for years. Always been religious with maintenance but never any issues (except for a spark plug ^&* pain). Three weeks ago I towed my wife's dead car and it seemed like a couple of days later the ticking was louder. I changed the oil (I always ran 10w30) to a lighter weight 5w20 as the cap calls (the wife's care is a 5.4L expedition and died from a burn up cam which made me gun shy) for and it ran like crap. stalled on me twice, ran low RPM at idle and sounded horrible like lots of valve rattle. I changed the fuel filter and cleaned the Throttle body which both were overdue and replaced the MAF sensor. This brought my RPMs up but the power was still gone. I have an OBD that reads HP and I was topping out at 100 HP. Today I disconnected the VCT solenoids and it runs smooth as silk, little to no noise and got back my power

 

What mileage intervals do you change you're oil? I just did the whole timing/phaser job on my 07' and I'll never go a mile over 3k. These engines in particular love fresh oil.

 

That's very interesting. So the problem was there but putting the load of towing really brought it to light ??


Thanks for the info. The truck has 135K on it and my wife drives it everyday about 20 miles to and from work. 10 miles each way.... The truck will never see any major load because I have a 2014 lariat also which we will use for the boat and camper. I guess I'm just trying to get as many miles as possible out of it knowing that the cam phaser issue is present. The rest of the truck is in top shap, looks nearly new in fact.

 

Could be one of your exhaust manifolds. They make a ticking sound when they develop a crack that is typically louder on the passenger side by the wheel well, seems to be the passenger side from what I've found. Definitely worth checking into because it's much easier, and less expensive