2019 XLT Cam Phaser knocking, 22.5k miles.

[DsDad]

A few days ago I started the truck cold and heard a loud clacking under the hood. It came from the top front of the head at the phaser solenoids. I could press down lightly on the solenoids and the noise became less pronounced, but didn't go away until I restarted the engine. Oil level is good, full synthetic changed at 5k.
I haven't read much about Cam phaser issues on the 2.3, but I do see many comments on 3.5. Is Cam phaser noise a common issue on the 2.3 Ecoboom, as well?

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[airline tech]

A few days ago I started the truck cold and heard a loud clacking under the hood. It came from the top front of the head at the phaser solenoids. I could press down lightly on the solenoids and the noise became less pronounced, but didn't go away until I restarted the engine. Oil level is good, full synthetic changed at 5k.
I haven't read much about Cam phaser issues on the 2.3, but I do see many comments on 3.5. Is Cam phaser noise a common issue on the 2.3 Ecoboom, as well?

So, you have 17,500 miles on the current oil? I hope not

I would scan for codes and see if anything triggered, if restart and it went away something glitched in the control circuit or oil pressure control.

 

[DsDad]

Only 1k on current oil. Changes every 5k.

 

[btsmith52]

Never heard of phaser issues on the 2.3 or most of the other 4's. Are you running the right grade of oil? I've seen people run thick oil on engines and cause startup clacking. Assuming this is not an oil issue and it's repeatable, get it to the dealer.

 

[Loweredon33s]

It’s not common but of course it can happen. It is very common on 3.5 though.
you might need to watch cam position vs desired while it’s happening and go from there.

 

[DsDad]

No codes. Use correct weight oil. Only one time occurrence. Will wait to see if happens again.

 

[5thranger]

A few days ago I started the truck cold and heard a loud clacking under the hood. It came from the top front of the head at the phaser solenoids. I could press down lightly on the solenoids and the noise became less pronounced, but didn't go away until I restarted the engine. Oil level is good, full synthetic changed at 5k.
I haven't read much about Cam phaser issues on the 2.3, but I do see many comments on 3.5. Is Cam phaser noise a common issue on the 2.3 Ecoboom, as well?

Thanks for bringing this up, something else to get anxious about, was just getting over the crooked steering column from last week.

 

[got3fords]

Thanks for bringing this up, something else to get anxious about, was just getting over the crooked steering column from last week.

.....resists urge to look up "crooked steering column"....

 

[5thranger]

.....resists urge to look up "crooked steering column"....

Do it

 

[got3fords]

Do it

No! I resisted the urge to measure how much higher the right side was from the left. But I did verify I had the spacer on the left leaf spring. I will not cave! LOL!

 

[Grish]

A 19 with 22k. Obviously it’s not driven a lot so I wanted to ask how long had it been setting since last time started? Also, are you running the motor craft filter? Curious if it has a faulty filter that’s draning down on you over long time periods.

 

[Jason B]

Thanks for bringing this up, something else to get anxious about, was just getting over the crooked steering column from last week.

I've heard that the crooked steering is cause for CDF drum failures. Better sell it while you can.

 

[5thranger]

I've heard that the crooked steering is cause for CDF drum failures. Better sell it while you can.

And that crooked steering column also puts gasoline in the engine oil which in turn causes the blend door actuator to fail. It really is a vicious cycle.

 

[Conman50]

Yea never heard of this issue on 2.3. And it's stopped since then?

I think someone else pointed out oil filter. Don't think you need Motorcraft but if you run a crappy filter and don't run the truck regularly then the oil will all drain back into the sump and then you may have a start up rattle until oil goes back to the top of the engine and you build oil pressure.

 

[SamIAm]

I work at a dealership in Charleston. We have not had a 2.3 in any of the vehicles doing this. I work on the parts counter with the technicians. I will look into it to see if there is anything out there in this.

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