I've been here lurking/doing research into buying an F150. I've narrowed my list down to a few trucks nearby, but need expert advice on this video.

This truck has all the options I've been looking for, but I asked for a video of the engine running to try to rule out phaser failure (it's 1.5 hours away, so didn't wanna drive there). The dealer sent me this video and it sounds to me like what I've heard phaser noise described as and what I've heard in phaser noise videos, but I haven't heard a bunch of these engines running with/without phaser noise.

Engine noise is audible starting at 1:09.

It has about 125k miles on it and the dealer told me they just changed the plugs (which was one of my concerns, as I didn't want to deal with breaking plugs).

If it is phaser noise, should I run, offer to buy it if they fix it, or possibly make them an offer, subtracting the cost of repair/lockouts from my offer?

Thanks!

 

That sounds like normal injector noise, which is quite loud in these engines. Phasers do not tick when bad, they have a deeper knocking noise, similar to a rod knock. Here is a good example: (note you'll hear the injectors, but also the deep thud)

 

Oh, thanks! I appreciate the reply.

I do hear that thud and it sounds different from what I hear in the video I posted. I see he mentions it happens at hot idle... Should I ask for another video and make sure the dealer lets it warm up to operating temperature to make sure the phaser noise would be evident?

 

Yeah, I would...

 

Just got a hot idle video from the dealer.

 

Any opinions?

 

Sounds just like mine, injector-ey but no phaser knock that I can hear!

 

I agree that's normal, I know phaser knock very well and that is not it. I am on the second set of phasers since the first of the year and am tearing it down to put in a lockout kit tomorrow.

 

I chased the infamous tick for a long time, I tried to get it looked at and fixed under warranty and the dealer kept blowing me off saying there was nothing wrong which in their defense they weren't totally wrong, the 5.4 does have loud injectors but my issue was a little different. So after literally years of looking I got answers, 70k out of warranty of course my local mechanic turned me on to the fact that there are two TSB's out for this issue, when I confronted the dealership on this they claimed they had no idea......Next time you bring it in to the stearlership have them check to make sure they don't apply, one of them was for the cam phaser and it did apply to my truck, but obviously its only a TSB so it's still going to cost you $$.

 

My 04 with 292k I just got recently makes that loud noise after running temp kinda sounds like a diesel. Was told it was the phasers but not sure 100% should I be worried about it?

 

At 292k I guess you have to ask yourself how much you love your truck. 292 though Bravo! If your have the means and experience to do it yourself you'll be fine but if you have to pay a mechanic your looking at a hefty bill obviously. Also opening up the proverbial can of worms at that mileage.

 

I had a similar noise but my local shop has worked on a lot of them and they diagnosed it as an exhaust leak due to broken exhaust manifold bolts. They replaced the exhaust manifold and found 2 broken bolts. It fixed the problem. It is a very common problem but it is not cheap. I think flat rate is 6.4 hours in addition to the cost of materials.