[Aggiedan]

I bought a new F-150 Lariat 4X4 supercrew new in 2004 with the 5.4L Triton. I change the oil and filter every 3000 miles. I heard a noise like a lifter and brought it into the shop last week. Shop advised take it to dealer as they have TSB's and a lot of noise over the engine on the web. It had 103,000 miles. dealer calls me yesterday and tells me I need a new engine quoting a price of $6700. Up on the rack you could hear the vibration from the 4,8 cylinders from below near where the bearings and rods are located. Ford would do nothing as my 100,000 powertrain warranty expired. the service guy at the Ford dealership asked me if I needed any help. Huh? "Do you need help on a new truck?" No, I think I have purchased my last Ford product.

For the record Skeeter was helpful and could do new engine for $4,500.

I bought a new Tundra and got a hell of a deal.

 

[fisherfool]

Thats a fine ride.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

I had a similar experience on my Chevy truck, real bad miss. Did plugs/wires/cap/rotor/egr valve & nada. Took it to the dealer and after an hour and half of diagnosis they said I had a bad camshaft and at 150,000 miles it would be best to change motor. I went home did a compression test and found #5 cyl fluctuating. Pulled the valve cover & found a broken exhaust valve spring. Pulled the plug rotated piston to BDC and fed 1/4 nylon rope in the plug hole till full, brought piston back to TDC and the rope jammed the valves in the closed position allowing me to change the valve spring without pulling head. Took me all of 1 hour. That was over 100,000 trouble free miles ago and no problems. This was several years ago and I still keep that $3,000 valve spring on my work bench. That's what the dealer wanted for a motor then...

 

[Aggiedan]

I had a similar experience on my Chevy truck, real bad miss. Did plugs/wires/cap/rotor/egr valve & nada. Took it to the dealer and after an hour and half of diagnosis they said I had a bad camshaft and at 150,000 miles it would be best to change motor. I went home did a compression test and found #5 cyl fluctuating. Pulled the valve cover & found a broken exhaust valve spring. Pulled the plug rotated piston to BDC and fed 1/4 nylon rope in the plug hole till full, brought piston back to TDC and the rope jammed the valves in the closed position allowing me to change the valve spring without pulling head. Took me all of 1 hour. That was over 100,000 trouble free miles ago and no problems. This was several years ago and I still keep that $3,000 valve spring on my work bench. That's what the dealer wanted for a motor then...

Good for you.
In my case the 4 and 8 cylinder were both rattling from the bearings location. Ford has a design problem in the 5.4L tritons that seems to starve the oil to these cylinders and they are claiming, "OEM Oil filters are breaking down and preventing flow". I just wanted to warn others with this motor to be prepared.
In my case the prospects of the AC compressor crapping out along with the tranny slipping lately on top of the 3 windows that have fallen into the doors suddenly and the gas tank that had to be pulled to replace a fuel system that failed after 3 years were enough to punt.

 

[Wedge]

Oil tube pick up problems. I had one that I traded because a friend's dropped oil pressure. I aked around and mechanics "in the know" said that this was a common problem but if it went unfixed your engine will be compromised.