2018 Ford F-150 4WD Lariat Sport, SuperCrew, 4WD, 3.5 EcoBoost, Special Edition Package
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16 Posts
Over several months I've been doing a lot of digging into this rattle 2nd gen 3.5s and 5.0 Coyote V8s are becoming notorious for. One day I decided to make a video on this (along with the many videos already on YouTube), and I've discovered some interesting things that lead me to believe cam phasers are not the cause of this specific rattle under these specific conditions. The truck is a 2018 assembled in early August 2018 and had 25K miles when I filmed this.
First, the rattle can only be heard when the engine is cold and eventually goes away with time. Everyone knows that.
Second, it can only be heard in Drive and Reverse and M. It cannot be heard at all in Park or Neutral. Something I didn't realize.
Third, it can also be heard when CHANGING GEARS, such as P to R, R to D, etc., with my foot not even being on the gas. Listen very closely from 2:17 to 2:20, 2:53 to 2:56, 3:16 to 3:26 to hear instances of this. This was something I especially was surprised to discover, as I've never heard it under these circumstances.
There is a ton of confusion relating to this issue. Virtually every YouTube video, media post I've come across, the owner suspects or has been "told" by the dealer it's the VCT units/cam phasers that are to blame and need to be replaced. I challenge that assumption with this: If that's the case, why can I only hear it in gear? If it truly is engine-related, the noise should be heard regardless if the vehicle is in gear or not.
Then there's the software debate, arguing software is bad and is causing the rattle. I challenge that assumption with this: If that's the case, why can I hear the noise when changing gears with my foot not on the gas?
With this evidence, I don't think (at least with this truck) the noise is related to cam phasers at all. I think it's transmission related. Of every report I've read relating to this issue, whether it's the 3.5 or 5.0 (or possibly the 2.7, which I don't know a lot about), they all have something in common: they have the 10R80. My theory is a part(s) relating to the transmission is very sensitive to expansion and contraction and is engaging (foot on the gas) and disengaging (foot off the gas). As the transmission reaches operating temperature, the rattle goes away, not relating to the engine reaching operating temperature.
And think about this: so many owners have already taken their trucks in to try to get this problem fixed, whether it's new cam phasers or timing chains or software updates or whatever. And after they get their truck back, surprise! The noise is still present! Have the dealers been replacing the wrong parts this whole time?
Skip to 1:40 if you want. That's where I start experimenting. Watch from the beginning to hear the cold start.
First, the rattle can only be heard when the engine is cold and eventually goes away with time. Everyone knows that.
Second, it can only be heard in Drive and Reverse and M. It cannot be heard at all in Park or Neutral. Something I didn't realize.
Third, it can also be heard when CHANGING GEARS, such as P to R, R to D, etc., with my foot not even being on the gas. Listen very closely from 2:17 to 2:20, 2:53 to 2:56, 3:16 to 3:26 to hear instances of this. This was something I especially was surprised to discover, as I've never heard it under these circumstances.
There is a ton of confusion relating to this issue. Virtually every YouTube video, media post I've come across, the owner suspects or has been "told" by the dealer it's the VCT units/cam phasers that are to blame and need to be replaced. I challenge that assumption with this: If that's the case, why can I only hear it in gear? If it truly is engine-related, the noise should be heard regardless if the vehicle is in gear or not.
Then there's the software debate, arguing software is bad and is causing the rattle. I challenge that assumption with this: If that's the case, why can I hear the noise when changing gears with my foot not on the gas?
With this evidence, I don't think (at least with this truck) the noise is related to cam phasers at all. I think it's transmission related. Of every report I've read relating to this issue, whether it's the 3.5 or 5.0 (or possibly the 2.7, which I don't know a lot about), they all have something in common: they have the 10R80. My theory is a part(s) relating to the transmission is very sensitive to expansion and contraction and is engaging (foot on the gas) and disengaging (foot off the gas). As the transmission reaches operating temperature, the rattle goes away, not relating to the engine reaching operating temperature.
And think about this: so many owners have already taken their trucks in to try to get this problem fixed, whether it's new cam phasers or timing chains or software updates or whatever. And after they get their truck back, surprise! The noise is still present! Have the dealers been replacing the wrong parts this whole time?
Skip to 1:40 if you want. That's where I start experimenting. Watch from the beginning to hear the cold start.