Hello,

I have a 1999 2WD Expedition with the 5.4L Triton engine. I had been having some problems with oil pressure and the truck had been parked for over a year (as we have an extra vehicle). I was pretty certain the oil pump was OK and suspected the oil take-up tube screen (as I encountered a similar problem in the past). Not having the ability to lift the engine myself, I had been putting off doing anything. Well, I finally decided to see if how far I could get just trying to get the pan off (well, at least to use a flash light to try and inspect the screen etc if the pan was loose). Sure enough, it lacked 1" clearance on the rear side of the pan to come off completely.

HOWEVER, it did provide the ability to move the pan around and point a flash light in down over the top lip of the pan as well as move the pan so that I could see the bottom of the take up screen through the oil plug hole. What I found was NOT what I expected! :-) The intake opening to the take up was indeed plugged, but NOT with sludge or wax sediment BUT with a chunk of hard, black PLASTIC! At this point, I used a screw driver through the oil plug opening to clear the obstruction to the take up. At the same time, seeing there to be potentially enough clearance to get my arm and hand over the top of the rim of the oil pan, I fished my hand down into the pan and pulled out 4 chunks of shattered plastic.

I proceeded to clear out as much other debris (sediment mainly) from the take up screen and then at the bottom of the pan with a key on a key ring around my index finger (so as not to have it slip off). I then put 1/2 can Seamfom in the pan (with the plug back in) and with a glove on cleaned out what more I could and drained it.

I assume these pieces must be from valves or something related. But plastic??!?!? I could not find any lookup on the part number on the long piece (F75E-6M256-A?), but I have not looked extensively. How did these get here and what does it mean for the engine? Though the truck has been parked and NOT driven, I have started it periodically and during the instances the oil pressure was showing normal, then engine seemed to run fine and showed no signs of anything out of what has been normal for it for past several years. While nothing like this should ever be in the oil pan, is this something that REQUIRES a rebuild?!? The truck has 170000 miles on it and is more a utility vehicle than regular transportation. Is the perhaps something I could investigate/repair (knowing I cannot lift or pull the engine)?

Thanks!

Mark

 

It sounds like the timing chain guides. Others have reported these breaking and ending up down in the pan.

 

Here, check out posts #1 and #6.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/7...-pressure.html

 

Seized up my '97 F150 5.4L Triton . I finally towed the truck into my garage. After pulling the front diff. mounting bar, i took the oil pan off and found dime sized black plastic pieces stuck in the screen. Probably 10 chunks or so. I assume its the chain guides but I havent investigated that far. I tried to bar the engine over and it is froze solid.
I think the sediment and plastic pieces stuck in the screen caused a no oil overheat and burnt up my engine. (took about 10 minutes at idle from first symptom noise and low oil pressure light)
Any suggestions or should i pull the motor and rebuild? I really need to save money on this one. I just put almost 3 grand in tires, water pump, ball joints, and a/c repairs less than a month before it seized.

 

If your budget is tight you might see if you can get a used engine.