I'm looking for some help with a problem I encountered after towing my new travel trailer I picked up yesterday. I hooked up and towed it home (90 miles) without problems (except the horrendous mileage and high cross winds). The engine ran well, there was no over heating and the trailer brake worked perfectly.

When I stopped and put the truck into park the RPM's came down and the engine started to sputter. It sounded like it may stall but it didn't. I thought it sounded like the engine was starved for fuel and my buddy said it sounded like the engine was knocking. Pressed the gas and revved it up, when the RPM's came back down it ran normal.

I went out and drove another 10 miles and stopped with no problem. Then I drove another 300 yards and stopped with the sputtering again. It went away when I revved it up again.

I'm new to towing and I am wondering if this is normal or if I need to worry. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

If this is discussed elsewhere I apologize but I couldn't find it...

2008 F150 SCrew 5.4 L Triton
3.73 Max Tow Package (8700# Tow)
6300# Trailer with Blue OX EQ Hitch/Stabilizer bars

 

I would say that it definitely shouldn't be happening. Any CEL's

 

No warning lights on...

 

You are sure the engine temp is fine? The engine will start turning off cylinders if it detects an overheat situation.

 

Wow wish I could help you more man but I haven't heard of this happening before. Maybe someone else can chime in but this may require a trip to the dealer as much as I hate uttering that phrase.

 

You could just start by checking basic stuff if you cant find a solution to the problem... like making sure your air filter isn't clogged because towing and not being able to breathe isnt a great combo for your engine. And i'd definately make sure it wasnt over heating..

 

No it's not normal and an empty trailer should come no where near your trucks towing capacity. How many miles on your truck? If more than 70k have you changed our plugs? It's possible that the the extra heat generated by the extra load may cause plugs that are already bad to act up. If you're sure about the knocking brim present that can be cause by overheating, ignition timing, or an emission control device malfunction eft valve

 

I was watching the temp like a hawk, definitely no overheating. The truck had 62k when I bought it used from the dealer and it has less that 67k now. I will check the plugs, I just checked the air filter 3 weeks ago when I had the oil changed at the dealer. I've been overworking google and I'm wondering if it might be the"cam phaser". I have no idea what that means... Thanks for all the input though, I'm learning!

 

Cam phasers wouldn't cause this problem, and since yours is a 2008 they don't have the problem, cam phaser problems were in the 2004-2005 model year trucks.

 

Thanks...I'll keep researching.