I have been looking at 2004/2005 F150 with 5.4 engines. I see a ton of stuff on the internet about spark plug blowouts or breaking, and timing phaser problems. First, do all of these engines end up having this problem? Does the phaser knock make noise when first started or do they have to warm up? I found one with 118,000 miles on it that I am going to try to check out this weekend. Anything else I should look for? Thanks

 

no they don't all have problems, its pretty much luck of the draw... I would suggest getting a carfax and having your trusted mechanic take a look at it. and if you can find out if the spark plugs have been changed or not, and if they havent i would take care of that right away. but yes they do have cam phaser issues, 2 piece spark plugs that break, and coil pack problems, unfortunatly mine just had a common rail valve problem at 155K... but ive heard of people who say they have the cam phaser noise and go on with no problems, just an annoying sound.

 

I have an 2006, 5.4liter that makes the Cam Phaser knock. Its annoying buy I live with it. I will say sometimes its louder than other times. Of course when I pull my camper it'll be a little louder. As for plugs and coil packs, easy to change if the plugs don't break. I changed 2 coils at 105 and my plugs at 160. They all came out fine. Bad thing is if they break. If you find you have 2 pc plugs, I recommend changing quickly as possible....

 

2004 F150. 5.4 liter.
7/11/2011 71890 Purchased 17010
7/15/2011 71890 New rear tires 0
7/17/2011 71930 floor mats 20
7/26/2011 72090 key, code for door 69
7/26/2011 72090 lens for box light 95
8/15/2011 72350 new shocks rear 124
9/2/2011 73550 seems noisy in 0
9/14/2011 73744 new noise?! 37.5
9/17/2011 73842 noise from right front wheel 862
9/23/2011 73850 engine noise, cam phasers 1262
9/23/2011 73850 spark plugs replaced 535
11/14/2011 75200 tonneau cover 275
5/27/2012 79115 new engine belt 41
6/15/2012 79345 ball joint, rotors surface, 824
8/4/2012 80856 replace front rotors 80
8/6/2012 80941 replace rear rotors 120
4/17/2013 86252 noise from left front, see note 1596.12
6/30/2014 95940 installed VCT solenoids 194
4/11/2015 101360 windshield replaced 175

As you can see, once I got all the bugs fixed it has behaved much better the last couple years. Currently at 107500 miles.