So I had lunch with a long-time buddy who works as a Service Writer for a local Ford dealer. I am interested in buying a 2004-2008 F150 for my son when he turns 16 so I have been researching this cam phaser issue. I asked him about how big of a problem is this, really? He said they only see it on trucks that have been using non-Motorcraft oil filters, specifically Fram. He said the Fram filters are coming apart and the little paper bits are getting jammed in the phasers. He told me that on trucks that they service there at the dealer where he knows they are using only Motorcraft filters, they have never had a failure. He's been at that same dealer for considerably longer than the 3V Tritons have been in existence.

So, for folks who have had these problems, does this explanation hold up? Has anybody used only Motorcraft filters and still had a failure?

 

No this does not hold up. The noise comes from the retaining pin at low idle. Not poor oil filters. It is a bad design no matter what the filter is. The holding pin gets wear on it and the phasing fins(valves) slap home position. More of an irritation than a problem.

 

we just sold our '04 3V 5.4 with 79k miles. dead silent, no ticks, rattles, knocks..nothing. sounded as good when it left the driveway as it did when we picked it up from the dealer with 12 miles on it. 3k dino oil changes with motorcraft filters all its life.