I have about 95k on my 04 Lariat with the 5.4 and It is noisy on start up and I am sure both cam phasers are shot. I am concerned mostly that the timing chain tensioners could be bad or maybe on their way out.

So when should these parts be changed? I will be doing it myself, shouldn't be a problem, just the cost of parts!

 

ttt

 

Normally, they last the life of the engine. There's no service interval for timing drive components.

I'm assuming you're using a Motorcraft filter and the proper weight oil, right?

 

Yes, Ford filter and 5W20 oil. I have never heard of a timing chain lasting the life of an engine.

 

Something else in the engine will break long before the chains ever become a problem.

 

That is a good thing to know. So the cam phasers are what I am looking at.

 

the chain itself will not be a problem. but i have seen multiple broken chain guides and most of the time the only reason i find them is because im going in to replace a noisy phaser and find the chain is loose.

 

At 136,000 miles , I just had both phasers replaced along with timing chain and guides. Pretty expensive job. But truck runs and sounds alot better now. Paralyzer, why would the guides wear so quickly? The Ford dealer that done mine showed me the bad phasers and chains and guides. One of the guides was completley snapped in two. I just can't believe these parts would wear so quiclkly. I'm just glad its fixed. So embarrasing to start my truck or go slow through a parking lot and hear the cam phasers knocking and chain slapping around.

 

IIRC they break due to the chain tensioners bleeding down. Then when the truck starts the chain slaps against the guide untill the tensioner is pumped up again. The slapping is what breaks the guides which is why I always replace the tensioners as well. On the older 5.4s the tensioners used to be a ratcheting style to prevent this, why they changed them im not sure....

 

Thanks for the input. I suspect I may have a tensioner problem because there is a nasty rattle on start up, even with the correct oil filter, after sitting a while. There seems to be a slow pressure bleed down in my engine.

 

So thats what that rattle is on start up? Mine doesn't do it all the time just if the truck sits a few days. I have a 2004 5.4 and I have always run 5w-20 mobile1 or Amsoil with motorcraft filter every 3000.The truck has 86,000 on so far. When should I start to worry?

 

Mine started as the "simple rattle on start up" that many have with these trucks. But it got worse as the truck went past 100,000. Got to the point, that no matter when I started the truck, it rattled horribly. Even at slow speeds, like a parking lot, as soon as I let off the gas you could hear it. Sounded like somebody threw a bunch of cans in the timing cover.

 

So what did you have done to correct the problem?

 

See his post #8. He explains what he had done.

 

good info. I have a slight rattle at start up if sat for a couple days but goes away. No problems with cruising through parking lots.