Short version history:
upper valve train noise has been getting noisier
cold start up has had a rattle for months now
have replaced phasers, chains, guides, tensioners, vct solenoids

What happened:
I did an oil change (it was pretty dirty), drove it to work the next day (maybe 60 miles) and it had its typical start up rattle but nothing out of the ordinary for my truck. That night after the temp dropped a little I went to start it and dummy oil pressure gauge said 0, it also sounded like it was not getting oil to anything up top (phasers, lash adjusters...). Turned it off after a couple seconds, tried again and still nothing. Turned off then on again and dummy gauge showed oil pressure and truck sounded normal again, tap I had been hearing was a little more audible.
This happened a couple more times on cold start up and that leaves me at this cross road.

Investigation: I have drained some oil and see no immediate metal material in it, cut almost brand new oil filter open and see no immediate metal material. The quart or so of oil I drained did have some debry (not metal, actually saw a small blue piece like an o-ring or gasket). It is showing codes for both cam sensors which makes sense if they did not get oil on startup.

Thoughts: Oil pump may be on its last leg (when I did the guides I had to pull a couple pieces from the pump pick up tube, no telling how long it had been pulling oil past that). Also I am wondering if the blue rubber o-ring/gasket material I saw in the oil was o-ring from the oil pump.

Question: Before I call the motor shot I am going to spend the little time and money to replace oil pump. Would it be worth getting the High Performance version from Melling? More oil pushed to a tired motor?

UPDATE:
Drained ALL the oil into a clean pan and investigated it, no metal material so I feel pretty good that the few seconds it ran with out oil did not kill it. Also pulled the driver side valve cover and investigated lobes (look to have normal wear). Pulled VCT solenoid (newer model) and didn't see any debry in the little mesh screens it has.
Going to keep tearing down in to it and investigating as I go.

 

Melling is the only oil pump I'd go with on the 5.4. The Melling 10340 is typically the one I see installed.

 

Where did that poll go?

 

https://www.f150forum.com/f4/oil-pum...unning-372220/


Its still here. The majority of people are still running OEM never replaced but the next in line would be Melling 360. I just had a Melling 10340 put in along with ALL other timing components.


It would seem to me like the OP may have more of a cheap parts problem or clogged passages but there's the poll for reference.

 

I would ask what brand of parts did you use when replacing the timing components?

 

Timing set was CLOYES 90391SB from Rockauto.

 

Phasers and solenoids were Cloyes also?

 

Can't remember on those items, bought them local not through Rockauto so can't look it up as easy.

I will be able to investigate all other parts while tearing it down. Does oil pump sound like it could be the issue to anyone?

 

Very rarely does an oil pump fail as they are very well lubricated. That doesn't mean they can't.

 

I understand that the backing plate on the OEM pump flexes out under stress. This is the reason that it is unable to pump high volumes after awhile. So technically, it's not a failure, it's just providing very low oil pressure.