2009 F150

[Ozwynn]

How big of a job to replace the chains, tensioners, and phasers on a 2009 F150 4.6l 3v?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I'm kind of a Ford guy.

04-10 trucks were dead to me, I went from an '02 to a '16.

And 75% of it was because the 5.4 was pile of crap. Similar crappy design as the 3v 4.6.

The other 25% is hardly any of Supercrews have rocker panels after 5 years.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I'm kind of a Ford guy.

04-10 trucks were dead to me, I went from an '02 to a '16.

And 75% of it was because the 5.4 was pile of crap. Similar crappy design as the 3v 4.6.

The other 25% is hardly any of Supercrews have rocker panels after 5 years.

04-10 were probably the worst years of F150s ever.

Actually probably the whole F series line. Those were the 6.0/6.4PSD years too. Somehow the V10 seemed to stay strong but everything else...no

 

[Ozwynn]

Yeah but it’s clean and the timing chains seem to be the big failure on that 3v 4.6l since the spark plug was redesigned to a one piece in 2008

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah but it’s clean and the timing chains seem to be the big failure on that 3v 4.6l since the spark plug was redesigned to a one piece in 2008

Are the chains actually bad?

The 4.6 didn't have near the issues the 5.4 did for some reason. If they need done its the same joke. If they are not bad they are less likely to go bad.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

@bobbywalter can probably help here

 

[bobbywalter]

i only did one 3 valve truck...on an explorer.

pretty sure it was born a tooth off and was coding at 170k plus miles.

dealer told the lady the engine was shot and needed a reman. it was a little clacky on cold start...but would quiet down once warm...but did ping under load. had all sorts of codes for misfire.

i think if i would have just dialed it in where it was supposed to be, and put it back together with just new phasers it would have been fine for another 170 k. though the tensioners were a bit squishy but the nylons were all in great shape....


as to the job itself....i made my own little tools to hold the cams....not ideal but worked.

the job itself....absolutely sucked ass. the bottom bolts tore up the thread holes in the cover......the ones through the oil pan.....but this is rust belt stuff....

i fu#%&*g hate working on modern hemi....coyote....and the shithead mod engines that preceded them. so there is bias...

the cyclones are worse.

...the engines are awesome though in realistic operation and reliability if you change the oil-3-4 k with good stuff. i hate to say that but it is what it is.


if its a choice of doing chains on a 3v or hanging myself....

that is a coin toss. make sure you have a full valve cover seal kit...

 

[Ozwynn]

It’s either chains or phasers. It rattles like the 4.7l in my Jeep and goes away mostly when warmed. That being said I’ve only heard bad about the 5.4l…. Never anything bad about the 4.6l. The timing chain kit comes with phasers, chains, tensioners, and complete valves cover seals, gaskets.

Big question… how does an FX4 come from the factory with an open diff? I thought those were all Torsen limited slip….


Bigger question…. Would you rather change the timing chains on a 3v 4.6l or timing belt/water pump on a Toyota 4.7l because the other truck we are looking at is a 2006 Tundra.

Or I may say screw it and keep saving fo what I really want which is a ‘10 or newer Tundra with a 5.7l

 

[bobbywalter]

toyotas suck to work on. that 5.7 is a bad bitch though.


i would say par. dealer choice is you.

 

[Ozwynn]

toyotas suck to work on. that 5.7 is a bad bitch though.


i would say par. dealer choice is you.

Yeah, not looking forward to timing belt and water pump on my V8 4Runner but it will be due sometime this summer.