BareBonesXL

Somebody told you a story, probably, either to make a sale, or just a wild guess after you bought it.

You should make a new thread about 5.4 diesel noise, with a good title. This one doesn't make sense. I only clicked to see what a "care" was.

Makuloco has some good videos about it. Two linked below. You haven't actually said what engine you're working with, although you did post a 5.4 video. Not clear if that's your video or someone else's.

Cstrickland33

So is your opinion after watching/hearing the video that it's needs a timing job done?

BareBonesXL

I couldn't say. Don't have that experience. I do know that Makuloco is an expert on these Ford engines and that I've seen other videos of his where he says that you just have to live with some of the noises. The timing system is generally noisy as I understand it. Be careful if you take it to a shop, they could easily talk you in to a "fix" that you don't need. If you do fix it, fix it right. See below.

You still haven't confirmed which engine you're working with. Is that video yours? You'll get better advice. Which engine, how many miles, history, etc.

Cstrickland33

Video is mine. 5.4, 132k miles. Just bought it a little over a month ago.

dukedkt442

New plugs first, then timing job rabbit hole. FordTech's video below literally addresses every problem you've posted about in both your threads.

Cstrickland33

Wow! I wish I would have seen this months ago! That's for sharing that video.

SilverSport

s'funny but one reason I have mine is my nephew was told from the Ford dealership that he needed a lot of work done and quite possibly a new engine...he gave up on the truck and I have it.

I took it to my trusted mechanics and after fixing some issues not really related to the complaint my nephew had my guy said "who told you it needed all that stuff" and I said the Ford dealership told my nephew he did...after a test drive, my mechanic then told me "that truck runs really nice other than the noise"...I think if you keep up with the oil changes (and I switched to full synthetic and I do regular oil changes unlike the nephew) you should not have any problem with this truck...

...just to add that my mechs are familiar with the 5.4 3v and some of its issues...

I have put about 850 miles since getting it from the nephew and it needed a lot of little things I learned how to do here on this Forum but other than the Diesel noise it really idles well and runs fine...

YMMV of course...

Bill

dukedkt442

Pay close attention to noises; mine made the diesel rattle for 40k miles before I got into the timing, only because it would make an occasional start-up rattle that only I could hear. I discovered a the starboard tensioner seal blown out, and that chain's guide completely missing (found later in the oil pan), and my truck idled/ran fine, with no codes or discernible loss of power (compared to now, however, I can see it didn't have the power it should have). I was shocked at what I found inside, and amazed/scared how long it had been driving with no guide, especially because there was no obvious evidence of failure other than the hot idle knock. While the phaser knock isn't itself catastrophic, the causes of it are: lack of oil to the phasers. The sky isn't falling, but I'd still be saving up money for a full timing job.

SCORGE

Honestly...
It just sounds like a noisy triton. I don't hear any pronounced rattle or clacking

Cstrickland33

Kind of my thought after seeing other videos on this. I'm thinking once I change all plugs it will run a lot smoother.... only time will tell though....