Hi everyone! Im new on here and I really need some opinions.

I have a 2005 F250 with the 5.4L 3 valve motor with just over 100,000 on it. For about a month or two I've been hearing a loud ticking sound coming from the motor once it warms up. Its not really a knock more of a tick. the truck sounds more like a diesel.

I drive about 45min to work on the turnpike everyday. I don't use it for anything crazy. I have reason to believe though the person before me used it a lot for towing since it looks like a trailer brake was previously installed.

Now I took it to the Ford dealer I've used before and they say its going to be a $4500 repair because they believe the timing chain components need replaced and this just based on a real good listen. So I took it to another shop and they checked the oil pressure and said that was fine. Ive done a ton of research and can't figure out if I should get rid of the truck and get another before it gets worse? or should i just bear it and get it fixed? or is there another issue I should have looked at?

 

Our 2003 5.4L 2v ticks every time after startup, but goes away once the oil pressure comes up - probably timing chain.
A ticking all the time could be a broken exhaust manifold bolt or a crack.
A spark plug could have worked loose and needs to be retorqued.

 

Cam phaser, faulty VCT sensor or clogged oil path ways to the cam,
Either those two which are the main components to fail on the 3v engine.
I bet the noise is coming from the passenger side?

 

Alright thanks guys gives me a couple more things to look into.

Also it does seem to be louder on the passenger side but also if i rev it right under 1000 RPM all you can hear is that ticking it gets real loud.

 

Can you show, or exaplain where/which sensor this is? Thanks!

 

I meant to say VCT solenoid, and its on the valve covers both passenger and driver side they have an electrical connector.