I have a 2007 f150 lariat, and on Monday, my truck decided it wanted to sound like a diesel. I couldn't get it to go more than 30 mph and got a back massage for free with all the knocking. I took it to a ford dealer by tow truck since the
engine wouldn't turn over, and after they broke all 8 spark plugs, charging $100 per plug it still didn't fix the issue. They then decided to replace the cam phaser at $900. It seems from all these posts that it's a common problem. My question is why wont ford do a recall on these since they are an obvious FAIL! Does anyone have any tips or tricks to prevent this from happening on the other side? I'm desperate and broke now thanks to Ford. If you wanna see a video of the engine or pictures of the spark plug that THEY did email me at gdillon0647@aol.com

 

from what I have read, run nothing but Motorcraft 5w-20 and 820s Filter and hope for the best, some replaced them only for the issue to come back....

 

Yes, stick with 5W-20 (and preferably a synthetic) because this thinner oil will flow easier through the cam phasers (which are basically just oil passage ways). When they get clogged up with thicker oil and engine sludge, this is when they begin going. Also, the motorcraft oil filters were designed by Ford and built by Honeywell with a anti-flowback type valve in them to help with oil flow.

They won't recall it since it is not a safety issue. Plus, it doesn't happen on EVERY engine from '04-'05 some people get lucky and don't have problems, others do even after fixing them. It would cost Ford way too much money to fix everyone when it's basically a tolerancing thing..some are good, some are bad..just take care of your engine and always run what Ford recommends.

 

Very true it would cost them a lot to recall.....but it will cost a lot more down the road when people like me and this poor fellow vow to never buy another one because Ford's powertrains are low quality, poorly designed junk. These things rattle like a can full of rocks, and it is considered "normal"

The phasers are bad, the injectors rattle, the lash adjusters knock.....did Ford get ANYTHING on my 05 to work right other than the cd player????? Ive had mine only 3 months, and I plan to dump the diesel-sound-at-idling P.O.S. as soon as I get it paid down enough. Just hoping it will stay in ONE piece til then.....Praying I don't end up like this poor man before.

 

all these issues were covered under the powertrain warranty and ESP and are all discussed in TSB's and all of the phaser and VCT problems I've seen were from engines that had a sludge in them from non-motorcraft products or excessive time between oil changes, I'm sure they would probably do a recall or "customer satisfaction program" if they new that only motorcraft products were used and all at scheduled intervals. but nobody can prove that other products weren't used. so they won't take full responsibility, and they shouldn't

 

Interesting Cam phaser issues. I took my 2010 5.4 with 35,500 miles on it yesterday for transmission issues which they have been chasing since the truck had 3,000 miles on it. I also mentioned to them that the engine sounded great when cold, but performance dropped off after it was warmed up. (I intentionally did not tell them it was due to faulty cam phasers) because I wanted to see if they could figure anything out with out reading a code from the computer. They called back this afternoon, and told me that they replaced the timing chains. I asked if he meant cam phasers, and he said yes, they were bad. They have always done my oil changes.

They had to order parts for the transmission and some window problems so it will need to go back in next week.
I had also told the service manager that I would not be picking the vehicle up until the found what was wrong with it (i'm sure this didn't make any difference to them, except that it would have to park it in the back corner of their lot instead of the front) The problem you guys are having are very common in the 2010, and 2011 trucks as well.

As far as the diesel sound, my 2010 did that once while hauling a heavy load on the highway, then it died. After cranking it several times, it finally started and sounded like a worn out diesel that was about to blow......well......I held the gas held to the pedal to the floor figuring if the motor puked under warranty I might get a better running engine out of it. Didn't work so I limped home, and after id died 3 more times I put my foot into again............rpms went up, up, up.....burp, running smooth.

I called service and told them what I thought of Fords, and explained that I knew it was a coincidence, but it started running funny after my last oil change. The service guy said it was likely caused when his guy checked my air cleaner and did not snap the clamps back in the proper position.........they confirmed it the next day. They figured a dandelion seed got sucked into the mass air flow sensor causing the horrendous runnability problems. Interesting though that the great computer didn't even register any off readings.

 

The 2010's have completely redesigned heads with different cam phasers, different spark plugs, and generally different engineering. There is no TSB for cam phasers in your truck because there is no an major problems with them

The transmissions are a known problem. Specifically the trans pump.

The pcm is not always capable of detecting the effects of an error made by a tech. and it did read the off reading thats why your truck ran like crap.

I love my truck as most people on this site do and i like fords in general but this forum is about helping people and discussing our common interests so if all you want to do is talk s#$@ about our trucks maybe you can do it somewhere else

ps your in the 2004-2008 forum

 

Basically.. this right here.

 

Everyone puts out a few bad vehicles every year. The tow truck is indiscriminate. I certainly can feel for the OP, as I have had nearly constant grief since the warranty went out. I just do not think the trucks from 04-08 were designed that well, and it really shows by the amounts of issues with plugs, cam phasers, and other issues that are coming to light. Window motors and gears (those little white plastic things in the door) . CD players/stereo issues . 4 Radiators since the truck was new . Body rust on an 07 . Cam Phaser at 60,500 miles . And some weird electrical issue that has never been found, that will shock you in the right weather conditions when you try and close the doors, and cause a very loud thump in the speakers (remember kids, turn the stereo off before you open the doors).

. That sums up how I feel. Yes I am trying to be cute, if I wasn't being cute and such I would have blown up a while ago. Oh yeah, most likely not a returning Ford customer. I say mostly as I think, and hold out hope, that 04-08 were just bad trucks, and do not represent Ford Motor Company as a whole. I might, if I can afford it, try and get a newer one, rather thank continuing to sink money into my personal money pit.

 

That's painful! I can't imagine how you cope with all those expenses, not to mention the down time and inconvenience of not being able to drive the rig while it's being repaired. I hope the worst is behind you.