The Final Repair Guide to 5.4 Cam Phaser Tick/Knock Sound
5 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 287
From: Everett, WA
Hi guys, looking to upgrade to a newer truck, and I've been looking at the 04-08's because they are affordable lol.
Anyway, is this cam phaser problem just an issue with the 5.4's? Or all of the engine sizes?
Anyway, is this cam phaser problem just an issue with the 5.4's? Or all of the engine sizes?
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 354
Likes: 35
From: USA
lmao
wow i think there is some misunderstanding here. The phazers are oil driven for sure. Locking out the phasers and the vcts helps to ensure that the engine has better oiling as it ages. Replacing worn chains and leaky tensioners restores oil pressure and obviously goes a long way to ensure reliability. My point is that this combination fixes the issue and ensures a long life.
The factory tensioners have a poor gasket design and the new tensioners have a much better o-ring gasket.
Btw, not sure why fordjunc keeps referring to the tensioners as plastic. All versions are metal.
Maybe he has never done this job himself, but i do know that the guides are a nylon material. Maybe this is what he is referring to ? If the tensioners are working correctly, than the chain will not be beating on the guides, causing their destruction . Have seen many of these motors with over 300k and never opened.
The factory tensioners have a poor gasket design and the new tensioners have a much better o-ring gasket.
Btw, not sure why fordjunc keeps referring to the tensioners as plastic. All versions are metal.
Maybe he has never done this job himself, but i do know that the guides are a nylon material. Maybe this is what he is referring to ? If the tensioners are working correctly, than the chain will not be beating on the guides, causing their destruction . Have seen many of these motors with over 300k and never opened.
lmao
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Member
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 56
Likes: 11
From: Iowa
If your buying, I would suggest staying away from the 04 model. You will find that they are a single year for lash adjusters, making them costly compared to the 05-10, which are a third of the price.
The 5.4 is the biggest problem child as far as the cam phasers. Though I have heard of issues with them also in another motor, but not sure of what it is, though I can say it is definitely not as much.
Chevy also uses cam phasers in their 4.2 in the trailblazers, and some of them also have reportedly had issues.
Realistically.. The real problem for the entire system is the tensioner seals/gaskets.
Cam phasers are just the first symptom that shows because of it.
If you have a bad cam phaser, 90 percent chance your tensioner seals are leaking, not allowing the proper oil on top end, 10 percent chance that your VCT solenoids caught some crap and are not allowing the oil the rest of the way up.
Mike
Last edited by Michael Johanson; Jul 18, 2015 at 11:12 AM.
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 4
Not really. The oil still follows the same passages. The VCT solenoids still function. The difference is the phasers just don't "phase," or move. You're dead on about the tensioners needing a proper seal though. The tensioners are plastic with a metal push rod, btw. The 2v 5.4 has full metal tensioners.
Yes you are correct, the tensioners are plastic, had another look at the old ones . They sure looked metal.
As the phaser are locked, and more oil now to the top of the motor is available I believe that the issue is resolved. My gas mileage is the same. I do not really notice any significant power loss.
As for emissions I am at a loss as to why no one has had these repairs done under the emissions warranty . Could it not be argued that emissions are effected with faulty phasers etc ?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
5.4 knock
First I would like to thank all the members here sharing information. With that said, I just looked at my 3v 5.4 2009 with 208,000 mi on it with valve
covers & timing chain covers removed. Mechanic couldn't believe how good engine looked. Very little wear on rockers/valves/phaser gears/reluctor sprocket. When I first bought this truck I made a decision to run only synthetic oil (6000 mi. per change) & use Z MAX every 10-12 tanks of fuel or every other oil change. This decision has paid off in spades! There is no sludge anywhere in this engine & I couldn't be happier. Yes the repair bill is hefty but I'll get another 200,000 easy out of it.Treat your vehicle like an investment and always remember "take care of your equipment and it will take care of you".
covers & timing chain covers removed. Mechanic couldn't believe how good engine looked. Very little wear on rockers/valves/phaser gears/reluctor sprocket. When I first bought this truck I made a decision to run only synthetic oil (6000 mi. per change) & use Z MAX every 10-12 tanks of fuel or every other oil change. This decision has paid off in spades! There is no sludge anywhere in this engine & I couldn't be happier. Yes the repair bill is hefty but I'll get another 200,000 easy out of it.Treat your vehicle like an investment and always remember "take care of your equipment and it will take care of you".
Ever since hearing my first 5.4 Tick, I have been online looking for an answer.
The First truck I did, I changed the phasers (one of them had the spring "sprung") Noise went away for 2 months and came back, just not as loud.
Upon inspecting the phasers again, all looked okay, but I read about oiling problem, possible sludge, other issues.
Could the 5.4 just be this big of a pile of junk? NO! I didnt buy it. Why are some people getting 300,000 miles and others so few??
I noticed that the one chain had slack, when I removed the tensioner I saw the seal was questionable. Could this have been causing low oil pressure to the VCT system and a tick? Or was the new tick the chain not pumping up fully?
Well the chain set and tesioners fixed it. Its been almost a year and the truck runs great!
Reasons you get a 5.4 Tick
(other than normal injector noise)
-Bad Phasers
-Bad chains or guides
-Low oil pressure to phasers (most often the failing tesioners!!)
-Failing tesioners not putting proper tension on chain
-valve train problems (sticking lash adjuster, bad roller rocker, broken valve spring)
Now the good news, this can all be fixed during the same service!!
Don't just pull the valve covers, change phasers and hope the problem goes away.
Lets check all the possible trouble spots and fix your truck properly.
Please do not buy the "sludge is making your engine tick, you need a new one"
Look for sludge, if extreme sludge is present after removing the valve covers, it could be true, but many techs are telling customers this and IT IS NOT TRUE. Low oil pressure is often caused by these pesky tensioners, I have seen it more than once.
My next post will be a complete guide to repairing it, If you don't want to tackle it yourself, print this guide and show it to the tech working on your truck.
I know from being a mechanic, we don't like customers telling us whats wrong. Do yourself a solid, and make the tech aware of the problems.
Too many people are getting ripped off by a $1200.00 Phaser job that fixes nothing, or a simple "you need a new engine"
...Please wait I will upload photos and post the guide below this
The First truck I did, I changed the phasers (one of them had the spring "sprung") Noise went away for 2 months and came back, just not as loud.
Upon inspecting the phasers again, all looked okay, but I read about oiling problem, possible sludge, other issues.
Could the 5.4 just be this big of a pile of junk? NO! I didnt buy it. Why are some people getting 300,000 miles and others so few??
I noticed that the one chain had slack, when I removed the tensioner I saw the seal was questionable. Could this have been causing low oil pressure to the VCT system and a tick? Or was the new tick the chain not pumping up fully?
Well the chain set and tesioners fixed it. Its been almost a year and the truck runs great!
Reasons you get a 5.4 Tick
(other than normal injector noise)
-Bad Phasers
-Bad chains or guides
-Low oil pressure to phasers (most often the failing tesioners!!)
-Failing tesioners not putting proper tension on chain
-valve train problems (sticking lash adjuster, bad roller rocker, broken valve spring)
Now the good news, this can all be fixed during the same service!!
Don't just pull the valve covers, change phasers and hope the problem goes away.
Lets check all the possible trouble spots and fix your truck properly.
Please do not buy the "sludge is making your engine tick, you need a new one"
Look for sludge, if extreme sludge is present after removing the valve covers, it could be true, but many techs are telling customers this and IT IS NOT TRUE. Low oil pressure is often caused by these pesky tensioners, I have seen it more than once.
My next post will be a complete guide to repairing it, If you don't want to tackle it yourself, print this guide and show it to the tech working on your truck.
I know from being a mechanic, we don't like customers telling us whats wrong. Do yourself a solid, and make the tech aware of the problems.
Too many people are getting ripped off by a $1200.00 Phaser job that fixes nothing, or a simple "you need a new engine"
...Please wait I will upload photos and post the guide below this
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 26
Likes: 3
From: Minnesota
New member to the Phaser Club
Like others before me, thanks to S_Vares andthe many other mechanics that have contributed to my education and bankaccount. Specs: 130K miles, ‘06 5.4L 3V Brief history: Had the rough idle formonths, but didn’t stall. April got stalled and CEL. Dealer pulled a half dozcodes and recommended spark plug change and injector clean. OMG. Well at leastthey had to deal with the broken plug removal (6 of them). As that didn’t fixit, Doh, they told me new engine >$5K. Pound Sand dudes. So I got depressed,then I got mad. Started reading posts here, there, and everywhere. Bought codereader. Made it stall and got my codes. Read the TSB on VCT. Replaced both solenoid valves and $110 later,fixed. But I wasn’t satisfied, or should I say I should have been. Bought presstester, 60 PSI at 2K RPM, not bad. But what if… so I installed a Press gauge inplace of the idiot gauge. Watching it more than my iPhone. Alright, that’s it,I’m dropping the oil pan. BINGO, about 6 inches of stationary chain guide,various shards in the pan, and the threads of the lower bolt in the pick-uptube screen. I’ll post some pictures later for you all to have a good laugh. Ihave about 50% of parts received, about 10 pages of notes from this post, theService Manual, and looking to takea week off as others recommended to get it done. My questions are:
- I’m fairly certain I have worn cam followers,stethoscope on the VC pretty noisy. As for the camshaft, What is the best wayto measure the journals for out of tolerance?
- I bought the phaser locking tool for torqueingthe bolts, but I’d rather not spend $65 (Amazon) for the crankshaft holdingtool OTC 6024. If the sprocket mark is at 6 o’clock, then does it move duringphaser bolt tightening, do put a visegrip on the puppy too?
Thanks gang, I'm all Phasedout
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 529
From: Martinez, Georgia
[*]I bought the phaser locking tool for torqueingthe bolts, but I’d rather not spend $65 (Amazon) for the crankshaft holdingtool OTC 6024. If the sprocket mark is at 6 o’clock, then does it move duringphaser bolt tightening, do put a visegrip on the puppy too?[/LIST]
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[/FONT][/COLOR]Thanks gang, I'm all Phasedout
[/SIZE]
[/FONT][/COLOR]Thanks gang, I'm all Phasedout
Tom
reid
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
First I would like to thank all the members here sharing information. With that said, I just looked at my 3v 5.4 2009 with 208,000 mi on it with valve
covers & timing chain covers removed. Mechanic couldn't believe how good engine looked. Very little wear on rockers/valves/phaser gears/reluctor sprocket. When I first bought this truck I made a decision to run only synthetic oil (6000 mi. per change) & use Z MAX every 10-12 tanks of fuel or every other oil change. This decision has paid off in spades! There is no sludge anywhere in this engine & I couldn't be happier. Yes the repair bill is hefty but I'll get another 200,000 easy out of it.Treat your vehicle like an investment and always remember "take care of your equipment and it will take care of you".
covers & timing chain covers removed. Mechanic couldn't believe how good engine looked. Very little wear on rockers/valves/phaser gears/reluctor sprocket. When I first bought this truck I made a decision to run only synthetic oil (6000 mi. per change) & use Z MAX every 10-12 tanks of fuel or every other oil change. This decision has paid off in spades! There is no sludge anywhere in this engine & I couldn't be happier. Yes the repair bill is hefty but I'll get another 200,000 easy out of it.Treat your vehicle like an investment and always remember "take care of your equipment and it will take care of you".
The phaser issue was resolved by 09.
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 4
No it was not. As from my posts aboveve. Just did mine. Locked out the phasers, new guides,tensioners and chained just installed. Used the OTC tool and a proper harmonic balancer install tool. Engine sounds like an engine should.
My truck is an 09. Interesting that yesterday I was at HomeDepot and an f150, same year as mine, making all kinds of noise parked beside me.owner said dealer wants over $3k to fix. Pointed out to him that the Ford fix does not fix the root of the problem.
My truck is an 09. Interesting that yesterday I was at HomeDepot and an f150, same year as mine, making all kinds of noise parked beside me.owner said dealer wants over $3k to fix. Pointed out to him that the Ford fix does not fix the root of the problem.