I will try to keep this short. 2004 5.4 with 160,000 miles. I was driving the other day oassing a car, when I got around and slowed back to around 65 the oil pressure dropped and engine started knocking. I shut it off immediatly and pulled off the road, checked oil (good), no leaks etc. Started back up fine and ran the rest of 10 miles no issues. I got on it again about a mile from home and the same thing happened when I slowed. I got it home and the next day ran some engine flush/sludge remover through it, and seafoam in the gas. Started it, ran fine, took it down the road about 5 miles ran great, oil pressure was fine, got on it everything worked good. I was almost home and the check engine light came on and it started running rough, no oil pressure issues though. I took it to the parts store and ran the codes getting a "retarded cam shaft" and "cam shaft position sensors as being bad". I ran another oil change through it, changed the plugs, and both sensors. Test run was great, no oil pressure issues, good power, no missing, great. Problem now is when I stop the idle drops to about 200 rpm, it sputters, and dies. Does anyone have any ideas.

 

Cam Phaser(s). Check here and here.

Edit: Wait for it to throw another code, but the oil pressure issue definately points towards a cam phaser. The idle problem could be the IAC, idle air control, but I'll bet it's a phaser. Hope that you've got some extra time or money.

 

No IAC on a 04, it's electronic throttle.

 

I'm not sure what your problem is, but I have to ask. Was the plug change as easy as you made it sound in your post? Because that would be a first.

 

They wised up.

 

Slick as ****, after 6 broke, I had to find a Lisle in southeast MO on a Saturday of which there was one in the whole area south of St Louis. It would not hld on the first one and I thought I was done but the second one it worked then I went back to the first one and it worked fine after that. I will say it was a pain but not that bad with the tool.

My concern is even though I shut it down fast when the oil pressure dropped I am wandering if I could have still hurt something in the engine to cause the idle probelm. Or maybe running all the crap through it I did messed something up.

Any Ideas?

 

Sounds like the timing chain tensioner o rings have failed, causing oil pressure to leak by and retard the cam phasers. You will have to remove the front cover and replace both tensioners and check all the guides for wear, or just replace all 4. You can opt to replace the phasers at this time, as well. This problem usually shows up around 130k miles, give or take.

 

OK ran to town last night and everything ran fine, except when I have to stop. It just dies. No oil pressure problems anymore, seems to be running great, except when I stop, it just will not idle.

 

This thread should help you:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ate-issue.html

 

OK took it to shop today and had it hooked up to a real computer, not a parts store, at no cost and it came back that the cam shaft is retarded (bank)1 again. He called for to order a VCT Solenoid for me, $96 his cost passed on to me. It may be in tomorrow if not Monday. The big question I need an answer to for sure is which side, passneger or drivers, is bank 1? If this does not fix it then I guess I will tear into it and check the cam chain tensioners and go from there. Fingers are crossed.

 

You should listen to bigbronc he's a ford shop tech knows his shiz..

 

Bank 1 is passenger side.

 

Thanks for the advice. I am trying the VCT first because it's a lot easier and cheaper. If it does not work that is my next step.

 

I have very similar issues. 2005 68,000 miles Stalls occasionally however if I I slip it into nuetral it will usually adjust back to a normal idle. When it runs rough it is always at low rpm and with some load on the engine. high rpm and going down the highway it is fine.

Ford teck wants to replace everything timing chains ,tensioners, phasers solenoids.....
plus labour $3400.00 + +with no garantee that he won't find more.. seems like one of these components is mal****ioning but all of them??
I was planning on replacing the phasers but the post by bigbronc is saying that the tensioners may be the root cause. I have decided to do this myself now I am looking at pulling the front of the engine off..Crap any other suggestions

 

On a 2005 with a 5.4, before you tear ANYTHING down, get the fuel injectors checked. There was a bad batch that leak, and there's an extended warranty on them.