I'm not sure I'd pay for the job a 3rd time.
Or at least I would try to get some extended life out of them.

1. Change oil to something DIFFERENT. Possibly an 0W-40

2. Flood-start when the truck has sat however long it currently exhibits the coldstart clatter

3. Load some appropriate PIDs that reflect VVT health so that you could witness any sort of deterioration associated with the malady.

 

2. Flood-start

This allows running the starter without actually starting the engine, priming the oiling system. Floor and hold the gas pedal to the floor while cranking the starter, it will not start till the pedal is released.

30000 is near the shortest life span for phasers I have heard of, especially considering the problem probably affects less than 1/3 of the 3.5 Ecoboost. Never heard of the 3.7/3.5/3.3 NA engines suffering phaser failures. Kind of makes me think this is a major gold mine for dealerships with poor morals, first suggestion is a phaser replacement. KM

 

What oil and how many miles between changes? That seems like a consistent failure, same dealership doing the work?

 

Out of curiosity has the same dealership done the repair each time? Seems like the majority of the time I see someone going through two, three sets a Phasers they've always been done by the same dealership. I feel like after the second one it would be time for me to move on to a new place.

On a sidenote, not such a warm fuzzy feeling, I've been starting to see a little more 2022's, and I believe 2023's 3.5 ecoboost with the start up rattle on the Facebook pages. That's just ridiculous to me.

 

Like Snake said, just run heavier oil vs an additive. A 0W-40 should be thicker than a 5W-30 at cold start. You could also consider 10W-30 as that would be thicker at cold start but about the same once warm.

 

Mis-posted ooops! KM

 

I don’t know if this has helped me but I disabled auto start/stop a while ago. I don’t regret it. I think it saved on start up wear.

 

I don’t know if this has helped me but I disabled auto start/stop a while ago. I don’t regret it. I think it saved on start up wear.

I’m of the opinion it helps- my auto stop has been disabled since right after my cam phasers were replaced.

 

Hum, I also noticed my auto stop is disabled after my cam phasers were replaced last month. I wonder if my dealer disabled it? I always thought that auto stop feature was a bad idea for starters, as well as damaging some other engine component.

 

I’m of the opinion it helps- my auto stop has been disabled since right after my cam phasers were replaced.

Less chance of damaging the phaser locking pins.

 

Hum, I also noticed my auto stop is disabled after habit my phasers replaced last month. I wonder if my dealer disabled it? I always thought that auto stop feature was a bad idea for starters, as well as damaging some other engine component.

I doubt the dealer disabled that. Could have, but I’m not sure why they would. Is your battery good? Low battery conditions can disable the auto stop.

 

Hum, I also noticed my auto stop is disabled after my cam phasers were replaced last month. I wonder if my dealer disabled it? I always thought that auto stop feature was a bad idea for starters, as well as damaging some other engine component.

Do you switch to Sport Mode when you get into the truck? That disables auto start stop as well!

 

I like the idea of an additive. (I know, some love 'em, some hate 'em and I get it. Most likely do little or nothing.) But I intend to add some Bestline (after a lot of research), next oil change in the '19 truck and the '18 Expedition after the phasers are addressed there. Something that adds and bonds a slick coating to parts even if the oil has virtually all drained down just seems like a good idea. More so on the Ecoboosts than anything.


I have owned three used EBs now and two have had the phaser/timing chain rattle. Lucky I guess. I can't imagine having the issue three times on one engine. I feel for you Gary. I love the engines, but this is an expensive fix. (Why I bought a warranty, which will pay off when I fix the Expedition.)

 

Oil change every 5000 miles or less. I disabled the auto start at less than 10,000miles.
Same dealer did the first 2, same location new ownership just quoted me $3,297.30.
If the truck sits overnight I have been doing the Flood start.

 

I guess it boils down to how much you love (and not just like) the truck and how everything else is doing. Spending that kind of money would kind of require you to keep it a while to justify the expense. Or from a money perspective, is $3k easier to deal with than $30k+ for one with less miles, or much more for a new one. I do think I would at least try an additive like Bestline or something that leaves a coating to see if there is any improvement. While it won't fix anything, it may give you some time with less noise to contemplate your plan of action or just buy some time. Worth a try. If it helps you come out well, if not, you're not out much.

 

I'm going with the fix, them maybe trading. In addition to the 3rd time replacing cam phasers, I've had the APM replaced, oil pan. Also this 10 speed is the worst shifting transmission I've driven. I'm considering trading for a Toyota. My wife's 2 Toyotas since 2007, have only needed oil changes.

 

I'm going with the fix, them maybe trading. In addition to the 3rd time replacing cam phasers, I've had the APM replaced, oil pan. Also this 10 speed is the worst shifting transmission I've driven. I'm considering trading for a Toyota. My wife's 2 Toyotas since 2007, have only needed oil changes.

I miss my Tacoma. It was an awesome rig and only needed maintenance as well.

 

I don’t miss my 07 Tacoma. It was not trouble free, 4 rear axle seals in 120K a frame that looked like a piece of interior plywood left out in the rain, the brakes with the 1970’s drum in the rear never felt like they wanted to stop the truck like as not very linear in braking force. One front wheel bearing (they aren’t cheap).

 

If you get it fixed and there's a slight chance you might keep it, make sure they install the new design phasers not that same '19 and earlier bad design. This is what you want.

 

Do you know if these newer cam phasers will work on a 2014 EB?

I tried a bottle of the Bestline additive and it hasn't made a difference yet.

How dangerous is it to be driving my truck until I get this fixed? I have been driving for some local short trips, but haven't put my camper on or towed my boat.

I have about 120,000 on my truck and want to keep it for at least another 100K.


Thanks
Mike

 

Noise at 119000 change to 10w40 w/quart of lucas oil treatment, no more noise...

 

Noise at 119000 change to 10w40 w/quart of lucas oil treatment, no more noise...

Interesting. And I am NOT against the Lucas oil treatment necessarily.
But I'd love to know if just the oil viscosity change might have quieted things down alone?

 

Interesting. And I am NOT against the Lucas oil treatment necessarily.
But I'd love to know if just the oil viscosity change might have quieted things down alone?

Someone with the clatter needs to try either of those.

I absolutely think oil matters. Anecdote- I was using Valvoline Modern Engine Oil, never heard the clatter. Then I couldn't find that oil anymore, switched to regular Valvoline syn... Clattering within a few oil changes.

 

Yes! Inquiring minds want to know!

 

My truck has never been this quiet after my recent Mobil 1 0W40 oil change.

 

Do not know if its the oil or the Lucas, but happy that they are working together.

 

Do not know if its the oil or the Lucas, but happy that they are working together.

I don't know how he could?

 

I don’t miss my 07 Tacoma. It was not trouble free, 4 rear axle seals in 120K a frame that looked like a piece of interior plywood left out in the rain, the brakes with the 1970’s drum in the rear never felt like they wanted to stop the truck like as not very linear in braking force. One front wheel bearing (they aren’t cheap).

I bought a 1995 and it was a beater. But only I ever did was an exhaust manifold. It ran awesome and never failed me .

 

It seems like it makes sense to replace the water pump at this time. No extra labor charge by the dealer. Just the parts. Does this make sense?
Thanks
Mike

Yes!

 

Just dropped the truck off and they verified the phasers they have are the latest version.

It seems like it makes sense to replace the water pump at this time. No extra labor charge by the dealer. Just the parts. Does this make sense?
Thanks
Mike

Great idea to replace a wear item at only parts cost.