I have an 04 Expedition with a 5.4 Triton engine in it.. tbh thats about all i know.. I know when i came home from relatively light trip i notice my engine was really loud.. It is usually a quiet beast that breeze down the highway.. sorry lol.. But soon as i turned the corner to my blocked i get hit with this sound.. IDK if links to my personal youtube are forbidden so forgive my ignorance.. I just need someone to identify this for me.. I love my truck.. I would really hate to get rid of it.. Engine starts around the 30 sec mark.. Hood up around 1:12 mark..

 

sound like lifters or exhaust or my bet is something to do with the timing chain and components

 

Yea i thought it might of been the cam phaser or the tensioners.. but i have no clue.. did a little research and thats all about i came up with

 

I'd almost be willing to bet there is a great big crack in the passenger side exhaust manifold towards the back.

 

Do they crack on their own or something? or did i hit something like a bump?

 

Sounds like mine did when it needed cam phasers, but I'm not sure the 5.4 had them in '04?????

 

The manifold doesn't crack, the bolts holding it to the head rust and snap off. Usually the two rearmost ones are the first to go, which is then followed by a constant ticking sound from it.

 

Sounded like my bad cam phasers too, though mine weren't as loud as I what I hear in this video. I think you're right-- I know the '04 Navigator had the 4V Intech engine, and if the '04 Expedition had the same engine then there are no cam phasers on that motor.

Hard to tell where the sound is coming from without being there in person. Best thing to do is take a 3-4' long hose, put one end to your ear, and move the other around various places you think the noise could be coming from. Obviously be very careful moving around the front of the engine, with the fan, pulleys, and belt. You'll hear the noise get louder as you get closer to the problem area, so if keeping the hose dangling close enough to the timing cover without getting your hand or hose caught in anything makes the sound more audible, could be the timing chain guides (perhaps due to a tensioner), or a sloppy timing chain (also perhaps due to a tensioner).

As loud as it sounds, it does seem like it could be an exhaust leak, but still hard to tell exactly how it sounds without being there. Listen around and report back to us

 

Its def a 5.4 triton in there.. Same as the similar year F 150s.. So i am def believing its the cam phasers..

 

The 04 Expeditions had the 3V engine... correct? (Edit, incorrect it has the 2V) They (3V exhaust manifolds) do crack occasionally, generally on the passenger side just after the last engine exhaust port (I've replaced them, it's fun...) and the 3V Engine doesn't have as much problem with rusted studs as it does with warped exhaust manifolds that just break them off vs the 2V.

Honestly watching the video again I can't say that I can tell what the noise is actually coming from other then it seems to be coming from the passenger side.

 

WRONG! That's a 2v 5.4t no cam phaser on that puppy
2003-04 ford expedition 2v 4.6 & 2v 5.4 triton
2003​-04 lincoln navigator 4v 5.4 intech
2005-06 ford expedition / lincoln navigator 3V 5.4triton​

 

My mistake, thought the Expedition got the 3V in 04. Guess it was just the F150's.... Any thoughts on what the problem actually is? timing chain guide failure maybe?

 

Without being there, near impossible to say. It could be timing, exhaust leak, lifters... None of which are fun to fix.. hehe.. Try to pinpoint where the sound is coming from, use a mechanics stethoscope or a hose or something and try to pinpoint it and repost back.

 

tbh i am not that inclined to mechanic stuff lol i just love my truck.. I know its coming from the passenger side.. but it sounds like its inside the engine.. so it could be lifters or something.. Judging by the sound do you think i should risk taking it to the shop to get looked at or will it blow up?

 

I don't think anyone can tell you if that is safe with certainty. If it's an exhaust leak, there's no real danger to damage anything unless the leak is blowing enough hot exhaust onto a wire harness or similar to melt it. If it's lifters, it could get worse depending on what is wrong with the lifter. If it's timing, it's a ticking time bomb that can totally wreck the engine if it fails on your next drive.

The safest thing to recommend is to have it towed to the shop on a trailer or car carrier. Don't tow it with wheels on the ground, unless you remove the drive shafts first, or you'll wreck your transmission. The other option is to have a mechanic from the shop you're planning to use come to your place to check the sound and make a judgment call on whether it's safe to drive it to their shop or if you really need to get it towed.