So i have a 2008 f150, had it since new. for years now i have had a whine coming from the engine. It pretty much just happened one day. I dont believe that its hurting anything, just really annoying and sounds horrible. The whine is a high pitch whine that is always going. I have replaced my idler pulley, tensioner and the pulley, alternator, and most recently my power steering pump. Ive only replaced these cause i have read these might be the remedy ive been looking for ! but not so much.... hoping mabye someone on here has an idea or is going through the same thing.

 

Use a mechanic's stethoscope to localize the whine.

 

Check the fan...and the stethoscope is a good idea.

 

get a pc of 3/4 heater hose about 3ft. put one end in your ear and move the other end around to find the noise. works really great and cheap!

 

Power Steering pump

 

Power steering pump was replaced already !

 

Remove the belt and run it for a few seconds to see if the whine is still there.

 

Well, thanks I think.... so I was going to order PS pump, cause the noise I have I was sure it would be the pump. After reading your thread, wasn't so sure. I got my stethoscope out, call me Dr. Dave. Put it on the pump, pretty quiet, especially for how loud the noise is. I put it on the left valve cover and almost blew out my ear drums!

The right valve cover is quiet and so is the alternator.

I'm guessing it must be something wrong with the variable cam timing mechanism.

Not ordering PS pump... going to need to do more diagnostics.

Anybody else had this screaming/buzzing noise just like PS pump from the valve cover and had it fixed?

 

Found the noise maker tonight! Mine is a bad idler pulley, the one just above the Power Steering pump.
Bearing loose and dry as a bone, lucky it didn't lock up.

 

They are always a likely suspect.

 

Snowman40, hope you were able to solve your problem. I read some other threads when combing for this issue problems with the variable valve timing and oil pumps.

Hope you find something simple.