Phord 5.4 question

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jos51700

jos51700

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My boss has a very clean Ford half-ton with a 5.4. Supposedly it started running rough and one of the guys in the shop says the 5.4 engines have lots of issues with cam phasers that eventually lead to cam failure, but he didn't explain what the issue was or if there was a permanent fix.

Does anyone here have any info on it? Google turns up lots of differing answers.
Thanks!!
 
If it is a 3 valve, run! Fast.... I'm told you don't fix them, you replace the motor with a new one. This advice came from a dyed-in-the-wool Ford guy who owns a salvage yard. Also, YouTube says the same thing!
 
What year is the 5.4?

2 valve or 3 valve?

I own a 2000 5.4 (2 valve) with 225,000 miles on it. Was running rough, put in new Motocraft Spark Plugs and Denzo Coils. Has been running like a million bucks with the new parts installed.

If it is the coil packs and old hard plug boots shorting out to the head, can spray down the coil packs, connectors, and boots and boot well with WD-40.

Helps to insulate the shorting of the coil pack charge until you get time to put the new coil packs in.

Drove 1/2 way across the country with the WD-40 trick and got home on full power. Saved my butt....


☆☆☆☆☆
 
The 3-valve versions had cam phaser issues. Ford now has a revised set that actually work quite well. Stay away from the aftermarket, especially Dorman. Check with your Ford dealer for pricing. If the dealer prices are too high for you, just get rid of it.
 
had one in a 2000 expidition, run like a beast, really impressed me for a 4 letter F word!! ended up having issues with the AWD so it went to scrap, scrap man cranked it up and put a big rock on gas pettle and it run 30 minutes like that and it put out a big puff of smoke and started knocking, then the knock sensers went to cutting out cylinders and it was making bad noises, still ran another 15,..20 minutes till it run outta gas!!! i couldnt belive it run that long like that!!
 
I've had a few 5.4 Triton equipped Expeditions, and they were all very dependable, all went past 150k miles without issues before I sold them. I also have had several 4.6 equipped Fords that gave me no trouble. Like anything else, maintenance is key. I agree with George Jets about the coils and plug boots shorting out to the heads. Those are the only real problems that I have had with them.
The cam phasers are something that I am not very familiar with, but from what I have read the worst thing for them is not changing the oil regularly, it causes them to be gummed up with sludge.
 

Thanks all for the replies. I'll peak at the VIN and figure out what year it is. It JUST turned 100k on the clock.
 
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