Cam phaser noise... Gone?!!
#1
Cam phaser noise... Gone?!!
Hi all,
My 2004 f150 with 5.4 has been mine since new. Oil change every 5k with 5w-20. Always well maintained. I have had the clicking noise attributed to cam phaser noise for a long time.
Just drove about 300 miles and thought the ticking may be getting louder... Got off the highway and it definitely seemed so. Rolling along trying to listen while looking for a place to stop it suddenly got dramatically louder. I actually thought it was some other vehicle nearby with loud enough noise to interfere with my listening. Louder and louder until boom, it went silent. Engine is still idling. I thought it blew up and quit. But no, it is idling and driving as good as ever.
Now what? I'm 300 miles from home, need to work in the morning then drive back. My oil has about 3k on it and was low a quart last week, so I topped it off and it is still reading full.
I think it is quieter now than when I left. Any advice?
My 2004 f150 with 5.4 has been mine since new. Oil change every 5k with 5w-20. Always well maintained. I have had the clicking noise attributed to cam phaser noise for a long time.
Just drove about 300 miles and thought the ticking may be getting louder... Got off the highway and it definitely seemed so. Rolling along trying to listen while looking for a place to stop it suddenly got dramatically louder. I actually thought it was some other vehicle nearby with loud enough noise to interfere with my listening. Louder and louder until boom, it went silent. Engine is still idling. I thought it blew up and quit. But no, it is idling and driving as good as ever.
Now what? I'm 300 miles from home, need to work in the morning then drive back. My oil has about 3k on it and was low a quart last week, so I topped it off and it is still reading full.
I think it is quieter now than when I left. Any advice?
#2
Drove the truck home today with no issues. The ticking has kept quiet, at least to a level I cannot hear it while highway driving. Very strange how it came and went.
Is there some oil treatment I can use to possibly remove anything that could cause sticking or remove deposits? This is sure to happen again if I do nothing.
Thanks,
Is there some oil treatment I can use to possibly remove anything that could cause sticking or remove deposits? This is sure to happen again if I do nothing.
Thanks,
#4
I'll be willing to bet that the ticking noise was a bad cam follower roller and it finally siezed up and got thrown off the valve. That's why it suddenly got louder and then stopped. Phasers make a rod knock type sound that goes away over 1200 RPM. Now that you have a misfire code for #1 I would look there first. Best case is the valve did not get bent when the follower came off and you will only need to replace the cam due to lobe scoring. Worst case is the valve got bent, the spring popped off, and the only thing keeping the valve from eating a piston is the broken valve guide. Just my humble $0.02, it could be something entirely different.
#6
I'll be willing to bet that the ticking noise was a bad cam follower roller and it finally siezed up and got thrown off the valve. That's why it suddenly got louder and then stopped. Phasers make a rod knock type sound that goes away over 1200 RPM. Now that you have a misfire code for #1 I would look there first. Best case is the valve did not get bent when the follower came off and you will only need to replace the cam due to lobe scoring. Worst case is the valve got bent, the spring popped off, and the only thing keeping the valve from eating a piston is the broken valve guide. Just my humble $0.02, it could be something entirely different.
I was wondering if it might have been timing chain guides. I read here they often are found broken when doing the cam phaser lock out. Not sure if any of the other symptoms I described would have made sense with that wild guess.
#7
I've decided to wait before looking into the timing chain. I need to read up more on VCT and other subjects here.
I get rough idle when cold, and the CEL has thrown one code for misfire then came on again but went out before I could check the code. It's been a few thousand highway miles since the noise came and went. Mileage is still good. Just changed the oil and it looks as good as any other time, just a few very small sparkly bits which I have seen every oil change I can remember.
I get rough idle when cold, and the CEL has thrown one code for misfire then came on again but went out before I could check the code. It's been a few thousand highway miles since the noise came and went. Mileage is still good. Just changed the oil and it looks as good as any other time, just a few very small sparkly bits which I have seen every oil change I can remember.
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#8
Well, the fit hit the Shan as Toby Keith says. Almost 3k of reasonably smooth driving since the above incident and at highway speed this morning I heard some serious noise. I was not sure if it was a truck nearby using his jake brake. Luckily was at a rest stop turn off. Had it towed to the dealer. I'm far from home so will need to get them to diagnose. Loud clanking from the timing cover area.
#9
#10
The dealer I had it towed to is only interested in replacing the engine completely. I understand it. They have no way of knowing the estimate to replace timing chains will result in a sound engine and don't want to be blamed for missing anything hidden. So I am planning to take it home for dis-assembly.
My biggest question, what could have broken that would lead to valve-piston collisions? That's really the biggest concern, right?
Whatever broke was at high speed, but I was very quick to get off the road and shut it down.
My biggest question, what could have broken that would lead to valve-piston collisions? That's really the biggest concern, right?
Whatever broke was at high speed, but I was very quick to get off the road and shut it down.
#12
Could be chain jumped from tensioner, sized cam, number of things. I have mine on the floor of my shop. Cam scored and cam journal, lobes of cam pitted, tensioner collapsed chain making noise, phasers done. Mine is a 2007 5.4, going with 4.6 with 78,000 km.
Wreckers want 3,000.00 grand or more for low km 5.4. The 4.6 cost me 900.00.
To save time take the rocker cover off, remove cam cap if scored engine is done.
The cams have no bearings so if it's scored don't go any further.
Wreckers want 3,000.00 grand or more for low km 5.4. The 4.6 cost me 900.00.
To save time take the rocker cover off, remove cam cap if scored engine is done.
The cams have no bearings so if it's scored don't go any further.
#15