hey all new member here, I have a 04 f150 5 4 3v, I've replaced the phasers and timing components 3 times in about 8000 miles. last time was a month ago, they have 200 miles on them and the tensioners bad again. I have a horrible knock at start up only for about 1 minute. check gauges light flashes, then builds pressure and it runs fine. I'm looking for any input as to what could be causing the repeated failure. it has new melling oil pump, Mobil 1 oil an ford filter. any suggestions?

 

and I forgot to mention, I did put a mechanical oil psi gauge on it to verify oil pressure before I replaced the pump, had around 35-40 but the needle consistently bounced +-5 lbs so I replaced it

 

Well if the moderators are going to delete the response my crystal ball suggests - then why don't you tell us what the oil pressure gauge reads now, at startup and during that first minute while its knocking - as well as at full temp. Also the symptoms that lead to valve timing diagnosis on prior failures and any associated codes would be helpful. Are you asking if the present knocking symptoms during the first minute of a run cycle suggests a repeat of the timing component failure?

 

They deleted mine to. guessing on account of both being ignorant and rude. regardless. gauge reads 0 for first 45-60 seconds, then idle levels out noise goes away and it goes to 40. hot idle it's 40 psi. current codes are p0345,p0021, p0420. original issue when I bought the truck (04 f150 supercrew 5.4 3v, Vin number available if I need to verify for you) was rough idle, worse when hot. I removed the valve an timing covers and found a broken chain guide. I replaced all of them with new chains guides tensioners and dorman phasers. timing set was duralast (which is made by sa gear). the reason for the repeated replacement was phasers sprung first time, so I had them warranty them and replaced the pump at that time. the next time a dowel pin broke on the phaser, which leads to my last replacement set that is currently in the truck now making the horrendous knock at idle. I'm aware of the nornal injector ticks and all that, I don't have a issue with those noises but my current noise is not normal

 

my question is, any suggestions on what could be causing a repeated failure. I have 1 valve cover off now, getting ready to remove the second an timing cover to verify the tensioner is leaking or bad

 

Based on zero oil pressure at startup - my suggestion would be a poor seal on the oil pump screen pickup tube or o-ring. Oil Pump loosing prime? Zero oil pressure would prevent chain tensioners from working right and allow chains to slap around quiet a bit before pressure comes up quieting things down. Enough chain slack to cause P0345 & P0021? Don't know. But P0345 IS registered early in cranking and/or starting. P0420 could be result of the other TWO, so I'd ignore it for now.


----- Edit

Tensioners won't cause ZERO oil pressure, and then heal after 45 - 50 seconds.

 

I just got all the covers off. passenger side cam front 3 lobes appear to have wear more then the rest. passenger side chain was loose from the phaser to the crank, the tensioner is extremely tight, I used 2 hands and it barely moved. driver side chain was snug, and tensioner moves easily with 1 hand pressure.

 

front cam lobes

 

cam lobes? - an oil delivery effect, not a cause.

 

I tried to post the pictures of the wear on them but for some reason it won't let me post them.

 

I'm no expert, but the combination of poor lubrication on the passenger side cam AND the stuck tensioner sounds like you've got maybe clogged oil passages somewhere.

Here's a video where this guy's VCT solenoid was stuck because of the screen getting broken and jamming in the solenoid. Might be worth a check.

 

got it all pulled apart. it was actually a faulty tensioner. but I pulled everything else apart to check it again. originally I blew air an brakleen threw the oil pickup tube assuming that would be good. apparently it wasn't cause when I pulled it out, the end was packed full of broken timing guide pieces. so I cleaned it all out, waiting on my cloyes kit then put it all back together and see what happens

 

Any update on your issue? I've had the same problem with mine... opening it up for the ~5th time