I am looking at buying a 2007 Expedition EL 4x4 Edie Bauer with all the options available for that year. To be honest, after a couple hours of research on that motor I am a little leery about the reliability. Seems like between the cam phaser and timing chain, it is possibly a ticking timebomb. What I would like to know is if there are revised parts to permanently remedy these issues? I realize that the chain and tensioners will eventually need to be replaced given enough miles but the cam phaser seems to bother me after reading that it is very picky about which oil and filter is used. I run Rotella 15-40 in motors approaching 200k miles. This 2007 Expedition has 160k on it but does not burn any oil. It is owned by my dad so I know he won't be hiding any issues but I just want to know exactly what to listen and look for to try and ensure that I have a vehicle that won't turn into a money pit. Thanks for any info.

 

The phasers were redesigned in 06. Not sure on dates but over the life of the 5.4 3v all of the timing components were updated.

I would not run 15w40 in a 3v F150. There are no cam bearings. The cam rides on a machined surface. You need oil there as quickly as possible on startup that's where the first number comes in. Remember even at an ambient temperature of 100 degrees an engine is below normal operating temperature on initial startup.

 

So for 2007 most of the issues were taken care of? I have read about a lot of 2007 and 2008 motors with phaser issues.

With 160k miles on the one I am looking at do you think that any problems were probably already taken care of, or possibly not an issue with so many miles already on the motor?

15-40 was referring to my GM products and motorcycles. I will stick with 5-30 in a 5.4 after reading about the issues with a heavier viscosity oil in these motors.

Are there any plug in tuners that can monitor oil pressure or do I need to tap into the factory oil pressure sensor and run an old fashioned guage?

 

I would be lying if I told you the phasers were trouble free after the revision. I've seen '10 models with 5.4's in the shop getting them replaced but it's not as common a problem as it was with the 04-05(possibly early build 06) engines.

The most common problem I've seen that forces people to bring them in is a blown out timing chain tensioner seal. When that happens the chain starts slapping the guides until one or more breaks. Then it can potentially jump time if the vehicle is continued to be driven.

I put 50k trouble free miles on my 04 after installing the revised parts in it at 112k miles. I traded it in this year and it was still one of the quietest 5.4's I'd ever heard. I did find that it ran quitter on one particular oil than any others I tried so I just continued using it. No proof that it was wearing less or anything like that because I never did a UOA just less noise.

 

Just as a side note, keep in mind there are probably millions of these 5.4 3v's on the road. Very few people jump on a forum to rave about their trouble free vehicle. Also the ones with issues would not be likely to admit they only changed the oil whenever they felt like it not when it was actually due.

 

I understand that the squeaky wheel gets the grease and happy owners are usually quiet. I just want to find out if this was an engineering mistake that made these motors more prone to problems. I do know that if I do buy this Expedition I want to monitor the oil pressure with something better than a Ford "dummy light".

 

Which oil did you use?

 

Pennzoil conventional 5w20. It has a good amount of moly which supposedly helps quiet engine noises. Seemed to work for me on that truck. It was louder on both pennzoil platinum and motorcraft.

 

No problems here ..... still quiet. Always use 5W20 or 5W30 MC synthetic blend and MC filters.

 

I use amsoil in my powerstroke, what do yall think about going to amsoil only for the 5.4? I just bought one the other day with 170k miles. Sounds amazing, very very quiet compared to all other 5.4s I've heard. No ticking at all..

 

My '07 has never ticked, I run 5w30 always, either MC synthetic blend or a full synthetic, always the MC filter too. I'm not opposed to 5w20.

Oooops, I see I responded in '16.

 

Its not the quality of the oil , cleaners do help . But its the carbon combustion dirt in the oil. This engine is hydraulically controlled using dirty engine oil. It has a marginal oil pump with cheap defective plastic chain tensioners with poor seals. . There are small passages and inline filters that clog up plus the newer engines make it difficult to change vcts that have filters . Those vcts are high maintenance with a heavy duty cycle. Should be changed every 100k or less .
The very best fix is a hv 340 melling oil pump and steel ratcheting tensioners with no seal to blow - do not use the steel plates that may come with them for much older design .Its best to do an engine flush every now and then ,i do one every other oil change using 5w-30 full snyth ,mc filter before 5k miles . I also run marvel mystery oil all the time . But using expensive oil is just going to be dumped soon unless you want its cleaning action no extended oil changes -ever .
Any time you get broken guides you must clean out oil pan and oil pu , the chains and gears will grind up plastic and fibers will jam oil pu screen. .Make sure oring on oil pu is there and in good shape .
You need to realize your oil gauge is junk it reads midscale for anything over 7 psi , this engine requires 15 psi minimum to operate cams . . So yes if you want to watch oil pressure add your own gauge . Realize that a full timing job in parts is $1400 inculding all new rollers /lashs .

 

Still ford could have beefed up the phasers and got the cost down . It should have dropped the 5w20 recommend . The valve train should have had bearings in the beginning . Ford should have come out with its own hv oil pump . Ford should have encouraged engine flushes . There are many things ford could have said to help without pouring money into the problems . Nobody wants ford to go bankrupt .
They should go back to make the best engine they could instead of cutting corners inside motor . Its fair to make a motor today that will reach 300k mi . I do think gasoline engines are going into steep decline, electric will take small counties first, japan, europe for sure .