Hi. I recently purchased a 2004 F-150 5.4L 3v with what I thought had 98k miles. Turns out it has a junkyard engine with unknown miles. I started having oil pressure issues once the engine got warm. I had the oil pan removed and cleaned. As well as the oil pickup. I did also have a new cam phaser installed in the left bank (before I knew the sludge was the problem). As of now, my truck is drivable..but only short distances. I've been told to replace the engine. But to be honest I dont have the $3000+ lying around to do this. To explain what the truck is doing.. after about 30mins of continuous driving it develops a serious miss and an upper end tick. Engine still runs and the tick goes away as well as the miss once the rpms rise. Also the truck has no power and has terrible gas milage all the time. I did have an engine code for the timing being retarded. Not sure if this is due to improper oil pressure to the phasers.. or whats making the power and efficiency suffer. Also wondering if the VCT solenoid could be the culprit.

My main question is... since it is apparent I have nothing to lose. Should I use a engine additive like amsoil engine flush? Or is it too late? Also what else should I look into? I have a payment on this truck and would hate to blow the engine completely..but I wouldnt mind hearing some ideas. Help PLEASE!

 

you might want to check the screens on the vct solenoids....

as far as the engine flush....you won't know if it will help until you've tried it....

 

The only "flush" I trust is AutoRX.

Are you using 5w20 oil and a Motorcraft filter?

 

I'm using 5w 30. Filter I'm not sure about. I plan on removing the right side VCT solenoid to see how the screen looks. The left side has already been torn down when the new phaser was installed. I know also when they removed the oil pan we found a piece of the timing chain guide. Not sure how that might enter into this. The truck did have to low oil pressure light on before the oil pickup was cleaned.

 

Use 5W20 and a Motorcraft filter..................

 

Welcome to the club, sounds like you have the same issue as me, low oil pressure when the engine gets hot , fluctuates between 25-35 per the field service tech, and can only be remedied by installing a new engine. Told me this after they did the cam phaser(s) and VCT solenoid and the problem wasn't fixed.

 

That's a bigtime second on that! Much more than a "flush".

 

I use 5w 20..not 5w 30... sorry don't change my own oil. I will try using a motorcraft filter from now on. fred06fx4... does your truck have no power at all but run and sound fine till it gets hot? That is exactly how mine acts. The engine is also pretty quiet compaired to most 5.4s I've heard.
I did get the oil pressure issue remedied somewhat by having the oil pickup cleaned. It was packed full of sludge. Since then no oil pressure light. But to be honest I only drive it short 15 min tops distances. Still has this very loud tick and almost feels like it wants to stall at idle once the engine is hot.

 

With oil sludge problems it could be many things.

The rough idle sounds like you may have a roller rocker bad on the passenger side. (first ones to go with bad oil). Check the lifters as well.

The issues when it gets warm could be an increase in leakage in the chain tensioners. Time to pull the front cover and inspect the chains, plastic guides and oil driven chain tensioners. Clean the CVT solenoid screens.

 

When I initially had mine towed to the dealership it was because it overheated on the expressway, right before I got on the expressway it started to idle really rough as I as stopped at a light but it had little power when I tried pulling away from the light.

 

the 3v is a really oil sensitive engine. Proper maintenance with the correct oil and filter changed on the sevice intravel is crucial. Once there to the point where they have sludge the engine is pretty much screwed..

 

Yeah from the research I've done it sounds like once sludge is there...the engine is cooked. I did clean the vct solenoids, which helped. But I discovered huge amounts of sludge. I almost looks like coffee grounds shoved in the top end of the engine. Well, after that I decided to sell the truck disclosing the condition and explaining it needs an engine. Luckily I didnt lose much $ and done with that nightmare. Thanks for the responses guys.