What's up with the 5.4?

[Little Red]

I'm looking for an older used F150 and after reading about cam phasers making noise and even read some local ads about the truck needing exhaust manifolds (3 out of about 25) I'm wondering WHAT'S up with this motor? I never heard of an exhaust manifold needing replaced on any vehicle. Granted I'm not up to the last minute in technology but it seems very suspicious that a motor in todays "modern" world needs exhaust manifolds replaced. I can see cheap tubular headers rusting out but what are these manifolds made out of? Do they warp? Crack? I don't even want to THINK about replacing one or both.I hate rusty broken bolts and studs and rounded off nuts.I Replaced too many donut gaskets a long time ago.And what's up with Cam Phasers? Thanks

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

What years of 'older' f150's are you looking at?

2004 and newer have the 5.4L 3v engine. They are well known for cam phazers/chain tensioner issues that lead to low oil pressure in the top end which leads to a nice clacking noise and eventually running issues. Personally I don't trust the 3v engines as far as I could throw one.

The exhaust manifolds rarely need to be replaced, but the studs and nuts rot off causing leaks. Remove, install new gaskets and updated studs and nuts.

 

[Nater]

If it is a modular 5.4L , then the person is smoking crack. The manifolds are cast not welded. Also it is using a overhead cam system that is chain driven. The only reason you would hear any noise from the cams is that the hydraulic tensioners are bad. If this is the case, not hard to replace, but would worry about how long the truck has been driven with bad tensioners, as it is possible to skip a tooth on the cam, causing the timing to be off on that head.

 

[shane96ranger]

I'm looking for an older used F150 and after reading about cam phasers making noise and even read some local ads about the truck needing exhaust manifolds (3 out of about 25) I'm wondering WHAT'S up with this motor? I never heard of an exhaust manifold needing replaced on any vehicle. Granted I'm not up to the last minute in technology but it seems very suspicious that a motor in todays "modern" world needs exhaust manifolds replaced. I can see cheap tubular headers rusting out but what are these manifolds made out of? Do they warp? Crack? I don't even want to THINK about replacing one or both.I hate rusty broken bolts and studs and rounded off nuts.I Replaced too many donut gaskets a long time ago.And what's up with Cam Phasers? Thanks

I think the cam phasers thing is only the 3 valve motors. As far as the exhaust manifold leak, the manifold studs like to break off.

 

[shane96ranger]

What years of 'older' f150's are you looking at?

2004 and newer have the 5.4L 3v engine. They are well known for cam phazers/chain tensioner issues that lead to low oil pressure in the top end which leads to a nice clacking noise and eventually running issues. Personally I don't trust the 3v engines as far as I could throw one.

The exhaust manifolds rarely need to be replaced, but the studs and nuts rot off causing leaks. Remove, install new gaskets and updated studs and nuts.

Beat me to it. I'm a slow typist when I'm watching TV at the same time, LOL.

 

[shane96ranger]

I don't care for the 3V 5.4 either. They are more common to have the spark plug blow out thing happen as well.

I found this thread showing what happens to the manifold studs. There is a picture in the middle of the page. http://www.fordf150.net/forums/view...sid=7dea10841d1767b875f34bf84975b7fd&start=15

 

[Little Red]

They are late 90's and early 00's. I'm not up on them that's why I ask. Thanks.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Then they won't have the 3v motor, so you don't need to worry about cam phazers, they don't use them. They are a 2v engine.

The only common issues is manifold leaks and plugs blowing out.

 

[DSD]

My son in law has a 2005 f150 fx4 and 5.4 and we have changed the cam phazers because ford said they where shot and and they made a terrible racket so while we had the front of the engine off we did new chains and guides plus tensioners All back together now and no change,replaced the VCT now all is good .The last thing to do is the pass side exhaust manifold which are known to crack its a bad casting...

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I don't care for the 3V 5.4 either. They are more common to have the spark plug blow out thing happen as well.

They will never blow out on a 3v, more often than not they are changed in peices (the long extension breaks off on the head apoun removal)

They are all good engines IMO though, I have put 50k on my '02 2v and have only had to change one coil pack.

 

[shane96ranger]

They will never blow out on a 3v

My friend had it happen on his 2006.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My friend had it happen on his 2006.

It was a fluke.

 

[shane96ranger]

It was a fluke.

There are quite a few complaints on blowouts and breakage in this link. Lots years mentioned. It wouldn't steer me away from one though. It seems that the 4.6 is much less prone.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html



On a side note, there is a guy I work with that has had several blowout issues on his Cavalier. So this isn't a Ford exclusive issue.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

There are quite a few complaints on blowouts and breakage in this link. Lots years mentioned. It wouldn't steer me away from one though. It seems that the 4.6 is much less prone.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html



On a side note, there is a guy I work with that has had several blowout issues on his Cavalier. So this isn't a Ford exclusive issue.

The vast majority of those are 2v's, the '06 E-250 at the top just had the plugs changed so I very much question how well they were torqued. IMO that was a dealer screw-up. Keep in mind the E-Series never got a three valve, and the Superduty (and I would assume Excursion) didn't get the three valve until '05.

There are other three valves mentioned but there are also V6 Mustangs, Escapes/Tributes... completly different vehicles with completely different engines.

Heck, my 1953 Allis Chalmers WD-45 has a helicoil in its cast iron head because some idiot (me) goofed it up changing the sparkplugs one time. Maybe I outta sue Agco for the faulty heads they put on their tractors...

 

[Little Red]

Plugs blowing out? Plugs breaking off? Please tell me more. I'll bet that if I buy a used truck it'll have the original plugs in it. I Thank You all for the info.. I'm just trying to do my homework before I buy.