Hello-

Been looking for a truck to pull a TT/5er. Decided on a gasser.

I looked at a 2005 F250 Lariat, 4X4, CC, LB, 48K miles. Has the 5.4L. Truck is in good shape. Original owner. He never towed anyting.

Question: Does the 5.4L have a diesel sound to it? This truck at idle sounds like a diesel! Both the owner and my buddy agreed as we listened to it.

How is this truck for pulling a 8-9K TT or 10K 5er? Is the 5.4L reliable?

Thanks

 

every 5.4 I've been around (2v or 3v) has a slight tick to it but none have sounded like a diesel in any way shape or form.

the 5.4 is a very reliable power plant, but might be low on HP/TQ for heavy towing you may want to look for any V10's for sale also.

 

they tend to sound like diesels when the cam phasers are going south. AFAIK, that diesel sound is the timing chains flailing about behind the timing cover, but someone will correct me if i'm wrong.

get it looked at before you buy it, or leave enough money on the table to get it fixed if you buy it as-is. generally, phasers will cost you in the 1,000 - 2,000 range to get replaced.

on a 2005, phasers are a known problem.

jmo.

 

Second bad phasers. They arent cheap and will cause driveability problems. Also check how long spark plugs have been in there as they sieze in the heads.

 

all depends on how loud this noise is. could be injectors, could be manifold leak and the worst case would be cam phasers.

personally i've never run into the phaser issue with our '04 or anyone i knows 04-10 5.4's. But i have read a lot about it on the forums.

 

Angler,

I would look elsewhere unless it is an incredible price.

 

after reading the bulliten from ford about switching to 10W40 if the ticky tick phasor noise is a complaint...I switch ed to 5W40 and the ticky tick has been masked. if that didn't work, I was going to do the washer mod to the pahsors...basically a washer with a small hole replaces a part in the phaser that has a larger hole...the reduction in hole size keeps oil back pressured in the phasor and quiets them down.

My truck has 87K now which is 3K miles later from when I bought it.

 

broken exhaust manifold studs are a possibility too .... somewhat common as well.