Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Truck shopping sucks..

Cam phasers will probably run you about $3500 parts and labor. That should include new cam phasers, new phaser solenoids, timing chain, timing chain tensioners and guides at a minimum. It's possible there will be some additional parts they find that are worn and should be replaced. It's a known, well-documented issue with the 5.4 3V engines.

I just had this done on my '10 (currently ~150k miles) and in addition to the phasers, solenoids and timing chains/guides/tensioners I had to have an exhaust manifold replaced (leaked, ended up with a broken stud in the cyl. head) and a few roller rockers replaced. It was not cheap, but talking with the shop owner, who I trust a great deal, he advised that similar repairs on newer vehicles were far more costly and not any more infrequent. He also said that once repaired, it should be no issue to get another 100k-150k without issue from the 5.4. I contemplated a new truck, but I couldn't justify spending $50000 on a new one versus $5k to repair my existing one which is in otherwise great shape.

Was the 4.6 known for cam phaser issues?

That's nothing these days. 700-1k car payment is becoming the norm. Either he only financed 35kish for 60 months or he stretched 50kish out to 84 months which seems to be the new norm for folks that dont need to be spending that kind of money. Blows my mind.

We do assume a lot about others when we see them in these new vehicles, we dont know their financial circumstance for 99 out of 100 of them. 620 may be well within his means. And if folks want to leave this world with no money left, whats wrong with them enjoying it or spending it on others while they spent their time on Earth. Cant take it with ya.

T, that is WAY too broad a brushstroke.
Buying new can and does work very well when the purchaser has a solid plan.

That plan is not made in the sales manager's office.

Cam phasers will probably run you about $3500 parts and labor. That should include new cam phasers, new phaser solenoids, timing chain, timing chain tensioners and guides at a minimum. It's possible there will be some additional parts they find that are worn and should be replaced. It's a known, well-documented issue with the 5.4 3V engines.

I just had this done on my '10 (currently ~150k miles) and in addition to the phasers, solenoids and timing chains/guides/tensioners I had to have an exhaust manifold replaced (leaked, ended up with a broken stud in the cyl. head) and a few roller rockers replaced. It was not cheap, but talking with the shop owner, who I trust a great deal, he advised that similar repairs on newer vehicles were far more costly and not any more infrequent. He also said that once repaired, it should be no issue to get another 100k-150k without issue from the 5.4. I contemplated a new truck, but I couldn't justify spending $50000 on a new one versus $5k to repair my existing one which is in otherwise great shape.

T, could you not say that regarding any capital purchase? Or investment?

Only those who have no financial knowledge get fleeced. Buying a new capital good is not the "wrong" choice, it is but an option. Even used can get a purchaser in trouble, and I'd bet more people get screwed when shopping in that market. That's where some REAL dandy financial choices can be found.

Only time is if it works in the purchaser's financial/tax-planning.

If a person can afford, I think it's awesome.

I just cringe when I see people financing vehicles for 7 years. Depreciation eats most of these peoples' lunch immediately.

T, that is WAY too broad a brushstroke.
Buying new can and does work very well when the purchaser has a solid plan.

That plan is not made in the sales manager's office.

Now see, you are trying to inject reality and facts into a situation that they have no business being in.

Do not buy new.

Buy a used truck.

And another point.. a lot of the used trucks are near the MSRP of new ones. We drove through the lot where we've bought a number of used vehicles at very good deals, and all they have are high mileage and high prices on trucks.


Kept up the maintenance, always do. But never knew about the cam phaser problems on Ford F150's 5.4L engines. Hard to maintain something you don't know is broke. Choice on the old truck is to throw a couple thousand at trying to fix the cam phasers and HOPE that the engine isn't actually ruined.. or replace the entire engine. Which is an option, just not one I prefer.

Have you priced used trucks lately?

Folks are selling their used trucks for more than they paid for them new now.

My last 15 new trucks were all leases. If I could sell it before the end of term I could order a new one earlier. I never had any problems selling the trucks, just order top of the line vehicles.

Why would I do that?

As I see it, it is not as much a decision of new vs. used, it is a decision on financing and payment.
That's where the homework and due diligence is to be done before the shopping starts.
Some folks simply wait until they have no choice but to buy today, or find themselves walking. Old Bus #11!
Some businesses do the same. Big mistake.

When the $ work out right for either the individual or company beforehand, and a budget is set and caps are in place, the choice of buying new does carry some great incentives such as greater warranty, control of services maintenance records going forward and in most cases a security of solid functionality without downtime losses for a longer period of time.