2014 5.4 issues

[Black14EXT]

wife’s truck, 2014 el limited with 5.4, fresh oil, 75k miles. Never any issues then I get in and notice a check engine light. Asked her if she noticed and she says “oh yeah the other day it bucked and ran real rough then that came on but it then it seemed to run normal again.” After asking if she was planning on telling me ever, I get in and notice it is way down on power. Runs smooth under part throttle but surges if you get on it ... and you need to get on it to get up the hills around home. Hills it used to tackle easily at part throttle now need prodigious application of throttle to maintain speed. Fuel economy even more abysmal than usual, down to 12.5 mpg now. Scanned for codes, only code was misfire cylinder 2. Replaced # 1 and 2 plugs then it got dark. Cleared code. Drove about a week ... still way down on power but no codes. Should also note there is some pretty loud ticking going on on the pass side cylinder bank. Fearing cam follower problems ... what say you?

After spending a ton of money on the pos Denali xl we had before finally giving up and trading it on this truck, I’m loathe to start spending on this one too. I had hoped the ford would be better. Ugh.

 

[JExpedition07]

Possible a coil over plug is bad, that’s common for low power on hills and such.

Did you torque the plugs properly? If they come loose or aren’t in there good you will get ticking and raw fuel smell. Also have to note the injectors on these engines are very loud. Which brings it to the “may be a failing injector” too lol.

 

[Black14EXT]

Thanks for your ideas. You know, I was thinking of swapping a coil to see if the problem moved, but it hasn’t ‘coded’ again ... so odd that it still runs so poorly but hasn’t thrown any more codes.

 

[Black14EXT]

I should have added ... the ticking noise pre-dated me messing with anything and the cel as well ... noticed the noise a few months ago, figured it is just loud injectors

 

[JExpedition07]

Cam issues on fords are usually more a knocking and/or heavy dieseling sound. Ticking is most often injectors and can often be heard outside the vehicle. These 3 valvers have loud injectors for whatever reason, that goes for the 4.6 in the pickups as well.

 

[coolzzy]

Ticking from passenger side is also often misdiagnosed as cam issues when it is pretty common to be an exhaust manifold leak instead. The bolts rust and the heads break off. Could also be your cam actuators (vct solenoids). You could try unplugging the passenger side connector, it's on the front top of the passenger side valve cover. If noise goes away, replace the solenoid. Valve cover has to be removed but only a single bolt holds the VCT solenoid in once the valve cover comes off. Could also be a broken spark plug, I would replace the remaining 6, its not too hard of a job on a 14 with the non-breaking plugs.