Cam phaser problems… has anyone had it stop on its own?

Discussion Forum
1

2017 Expedition, 3.5L EcoBoost. Almost 2 years ago, I noticed a rattling noise on cold starts, usually after sitting overnight. It happened every single time after that… until two weeks ago, when it just stopped completely.

I haven’t changed anything. The engine still runs great. Has anyone else experienced this? Could I just be lucky? Or is this the calm before something major goes wrong?

2

I had my cam phasers replaced, but now my wastegate is rattling on startup. Sounds like a loose exhaust or something.

3

I have a 2016, and it only rattles if it’s been sitting for a while. If I flood start it, no rattle at all. Pretty sure the cam phasers are a problem mainly for 2018s and newer. First-gen EcoBoosts have issues with the tensioners.

4

@Kip
Flood start didn’t work for mine. Maybe it only works for the V8s?

5

Ari said:
@Kip
Flood start didn’t work for mine. Maybe it only works for the V8s?

Nope, I’ve got a 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and it usually works for me.

6

Kip said:

Ari said:
@Kip
Flood start didn’t work for mine. Maybe it only works for the V8s?

Nope, I’ve got a 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and it usually works for me.

Tried it several times, but no luck for me. Maybe it’s a different issue. (And why the downvotes?)

7

Maybe it healed itself?

8

Brooke said:
Maybe it healed itself?

Wouldn’t complain if it did!

9

What were the outside temps like before and after the rattling? Oil flows faster when it’s warmer out.

10

Derry said:
What were the outside temps like before and after the rattling? Oil flows faster when it’s warmer out.

Happens no matter the temperature. Once it starts, the engine runs fine the rest of the day. The rattle only shows up after sitting overnight.

11

@Ari
Could be the oil filter’s backflow valve. On older engines, it prevents oil from draining too fast. You might still get a quick rattle if it’s been sitting for days.

12

Derry said:
@Ari
Could be the oil filter’s backflow valve. On older engines, it prevents oil from draining too fast. You might still get a quick rattle if it’s been sitting for days.

I’ll check that out. Thanks!

13

I don’t think these problems just disappear. Once it starts, it’s usually going to get worse over time. There’s an aftermarket cam phaser design for the 3.5L EcoBoost, but they’re pricey—around $300 each. I’ve seen people with over 170k miles on the original phasers, but they all change their oil every 3,000 miles. Seems overkill, but maybe it helps?

14

In my experience, when a problem like this goes away by itself, it almost always comes back worse later. I’d keep an eye on it.

15

Kris said:
In my experience, when a problem like this goes away by itself, it almost always comes back worse later. I’d keep an eye on it.

Fair point. But if I take it in now, they’ll just tell me they can’t fix what they can’t hear.

16

An $80k vehicle with issues like this? It’s ridiculous. Mine does the same—sounds terrible at idle or in traffic. Turbos aren’t new tech, yet somehow they still messed it up.

17

I’ve got mild rattling on cold starts, but it goes away once the car warms up. What does that mean?

18

Dru said:
I’ve got mild rattling on cold starts, but it goes away once the car warms up. What does that mean?

Sounds exactly like the cam phaser noise I’ve been dealing with.

19

Ari said:

Dru said:
I’ve got mild rattling on cold starts, but it goes away once the car warms up. What does that mean?

Sounds exactly like the cam phaser noise I’ve been dealing with.

Guess I’ll just wait and see if it gets worse.

20

@Dru
That’s what I did for over a year.