So lets say I plop down the $$$ needed to make the dreaded cam phaser noise disappear. I hear it'll cost me almost $1,000 per side. Couple questions:
i) Should I do plug change at same time? I have min 120M on my plugs so odds of a problem is good. Any significant time/mechanical/COST advantage to doing this at same time... example: Plug breaks off, head needed to be removed, does head need to be removed for cam phaser replacement anyway? I would assume so?

ii) Are the new parts that are required for cam phaser job different from what came with truck from factory. Or if same can I expect same noise in 6 months.... HAS Ford fixed the mechanical problem with the cam phasers?

iii) What about lifters? I'm told I have a bit of lifter noise. Assuming I do this , is this time to tackle that issue too? I may hae to drive this truck for a while as who know when a 5.4 replacement will arrive? Could be min 2-3 more years for the Boss 6.2L DI TT V8. I'll have 250,000 by then

I know they did with the factory brake rotor issue as my new ones are much better....

Thanks in advance for assitance!!!

 

I really can't imagine it being $1000/side. Mine was done under warranty. They called me two hours after I dropped it off to say it was fixed. No way did they do $2000 worth of work in 2 hours. It is an updated part and mine has run 2.5 years and 96,000 km's without the noise coming back.

 

Nah $2000 is no where near a right price. Mine was done last year under warranty and the warranty ticket was for like $ 400 parts and labor. Now the plug issue.......thats another story altogether.

 

I had the cam phaser and lifter problem fixed under warranty last August at 33,000 miles. One year later I am at 49,000 and all is well. Mine was a lot of work for the dealer and probably cost more than more than you describe. I don't mean to alarm you but do a search for cam phaser or Bogman for the thread I started on 8/17/06 where I described everything they had to do.

 

Went to two diff dealers: each side is @ $400 in parts @ 5 hours labor.

 

I beleive I would just live with the "TICK"....



Heck just tell everbody its got a Power Stroke in it!

 

Are you sure you need both sides done? I had the knock on my passenger side, so they only fixed the passenger side. Like I wrote above, it fixed my problem.

 

what does this cam phaser noise sound like and when does it do it? My truck makes like a quick rattling noise at startup for the first start of the day and goes away in 1 to 2 seconds and i never hear it again till the next day at startup. Is that a cam phaser noise?

 

No. That sounds like an oil filter that doesn't have an anti drainback valve.

 

i have a intermittent knock at idle. its pretty loud like a rod knock... but it only does it once or twice, and nothing for 5-30 seconds then again. does this sound like what you guys expereienced?

also, on the ford parts site there is no "cam phaser" but the "cam gears" for the 5.4 is like 5 times as much as the 4.2 or 4.6. is this the cam phaser?

 

I'm so tired of hearing that, PLEASE STOP. I've run nothing but a motorcraft filter (which everyone says has a drainback valve) and Mobil 1 5w-20 (sometimes 0/20 when available) and I've always had the startup noise and for more than 1-2 seconds. This morning I counted and it was 15-20 seconds! I know as my right side exhaust gasket is toast so I can REALLY hear it.

 

. . you're tired of hearing that? Seriously thats what it SOUNDS like. You're asking for help, people are trying to help and you're going to tell them to stop telling you what they think? Wierd. Not to mention you expect for us to diagnose a NOISE over the internet, it's kind of hard.

Cam phasers make the noise while idling, it doesn't matter if it was just started up or not. It does it for the entire run time. You've got a different problem, IMO.

 

OK let me explain. I asked for help on cam phaser issue which I've confirmed by two diff dealers that I have. I've had it pretty much since new. On top of that I have the dry startup noise which became part of the discusion on this thread. Everytime someone mentions the dry startup noise, someone invariably mentiones that by simply using a oil filter with a anti-drainback valve (of which apparantly Mortorcraft has such) will cure this problem. I say no it won't. At least any of the 3v 5.4Ls at the Ford dealer I frequent, including mine. Perhaps I need to confirm by trying a diff filter that has a anti-drainback valve?

Now I'm told I have a bit of lifter noise.... Gr8! Plus my plugs now have well over 100,000m. so I'm thinking I do plugs/cam repair and lifters all in one shot and be done with it. That way it'll last long enough for me to wait for the 09 w/the 6.2L assuming it ever happens. I was kind a hoping my exhaust leak was the manifold not the gasket so I could justify headers....

 

Hey, bud. I'm only trying to help you. I feel for your engine problems, but STOP biting my head off already.

The lack of using an anti drainback oil filter HAS cured some people's startup noise, though it seems not the case in your situation.

 

I had the same problem. Took it to the only dealer within 45 miles while it was under warranty. I was told it was just noise and was normal. Couldn't take it to another dealer due to distance, only vehicle at the time, and a 2 year old at home. If it really is only noise I might could live with it. However if it's causing damage I would like to fix it. It kinda sounds like there's no oil in the motor till it turns over a few times.

Truely my only major complaint about my truck.

If there's a fix that could be had for at or less than $1000 I'd love to see it.

Truck has ran 5w-20 motorcraft oil and motorcraft oil filter since mile 0.