Triton 5.4L 3V Engine Reliability

[Max Fernandez]

Thoughts about this video from the Car Wizard?

https://youtu.be/nb5B_e0a2uo?si=2tSzqq5jrMTWSr_3

Video

I have a 2007 Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4L with 100K miles, and it is doing great. I am very careful to change the oil every 3.000 miles. No issues so far, only a bit of rattle from the timing belt at startup.

 

[JamaicaJoe]

Thoughts about this video from the Car Wizard?

https://youtu.be/nb5B_e0a2uo?si=2tSzqq5jrMTWSr_3

Video

I have a 2007 Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4L with 100K miles, and it is doing great. I am very careful to change the oil every 3.000 miles. No issues so far, only a bit of rattle from the timing belt at startup.

The Car Wizard is a bit over reactive in his condemnation of the 5.4L 3V. First there is no timing belt. It is a chain. A rattle at startup could be your AC compressor. Mine does that and at 120K as far as I can tell no timing problems. Turn your AC and defrost totally off and see if it still rattles. Mine does not. If you need better info, FordMakuLoco on youtube is the expert. I am not sure if a 2007 is a 3V or 2V. The 3V do have some potential valve train issues, mostly on high mileage vehicles with poor oil change maintenance.

 

[RobE]

I have a 2011 Expedition King Ranch and just turned over 200k. Paid for long ago. It has been a central/NW Florida truck so no rust on it. Just drained/refilled coolant and replaced spark plugs and it runs incredibly well. No timing chain/phaser work done and I run 5w-30 and keep the oil level at the high hash mark on the dipstick. Transmission oil/filter changed at 150k miles. Engine heater hose replaced around 130k miles. All temp and blend door actuators replaced, except the passenger blend door. New ball joints, tie rod ends, new struts and converted the rear air to spring struts. Lifted 2" on the 20" wheels. Periodic startup rattle which is probably the timing tensioner seals leaking oil when cold. I can probably run this truck another 100k miles and then just get a Ford remanufactured engine and transmission if I still have it. I fit 3 full sized sheets of plywood in the back with the gate mashed shut and the seats all the way forward and loaded it up with stone pavers, reconfigure the seats and fit 8 people with luggage, this SUV is so versatile.

 

[mr_dave]

Check out this other thread on this topic.

Vids on YouTube about the 5.4 Triton Make Me Want To Back Out of this Purchase

I have a 2007 EL Limited with 236,000 miles on it. Religiously changed oil with only synthetic. Now HMS. Only issue was transmission rebuilt because I assumed my mechanic changed out transmission fluid and he never did. Its been a beast.

www.expeditionforum.com

 

[drankinatty]

My '05 ran beautifully through 254400 miles before it ate both timing chain guides 300 miles from home. It made it back too, but it wasn't pretty. Pulled it apart and did high-volume oil pump (Mellings 340HV), timing chains, phasers and VCT solenoids and plugs. It now runs better than it did when new. At almost 255k, it runs like a sewing machine and its oil use is right at 1 qt./2000 miles. I can live with that for the next 50k or so and then it will be time to retire it. Factory air is still cold, and other than an alternator, rear A/C blend door motor and transmission, it's still as it was when it rolled off the assembly line.

The timing chains and phasers make noise and clatter - the annoying click-click-click on startup and when hot at hot-idle. Both are oiling issues. On start, it takes a few seconds to build pressure to the chain tensioners (they are notorious for o-ring/gasket leaks and bleed down when the car is off), and when hot the factory oil pump won't quite make 20 psi at hot-idle causing the phaser tick as it fights to hold the advance with limited pressure available. That's just the way the 5.4 3-valves are from Ford. After doing the timing chain job and installing the Mellings high-volume oil pump, hot idle oil pressure remains above 30 psi and the chains and phasers are silent. Much quieter than when the vehicle was brand new.

At 100k, if you haven't done plugs, it's time. Follow the TSB 08-7-6 spark plug removal procedure to a 'T' and you will be fine. SeaFoam Deep Creep is an excellent choice for loosening the plug/head seize issue after you have backed the plug out 1/8 to 1/4 turn. 1-2 sec full spray and move on to the next plug. Don't attempt to further loosen any plug until the Deep Creep has had at least 30 minutes of soak time. (and don't forget anti-seize on the plug threads when they go back in (threads only, it's conductive and you don't want to create any alternate spark paths)

At 100k the clock is ticking on the transmission. If you service it on schedule you may get 200k, but I've never been that lucky.

If the rest of the car is in decent shape, you will have a hard time finding a better vehicle for the next 100k miles. The timing chain and phasers will be your only other issue at some point in the future. But I wouldn't let that be what drives your decision on the 5.4 3-valve. I've been impressed. I haven't had another motor behave as well for 254k before and not have equal if not more issues arise. I hate to say it, but the new expeditions are not trouble-free judging by the posts I read here.

Good luck with whatever path you take.

 

[Rossome]

Thoughts about this video from the Car Wizard?

https://youtu.be/nb5B_e0a2uo?si=2tSzqq5jrMTWSr_3

Video

I have a 2007 Expedition Eddie Bauer 5.4L with 100K miles, and it is doing great. I am very careful to change the oil every 3.000 miles. No issues so far, only a bit of rattle from the timing belt at startup.

I just recently watched a couple of his videos bashing the 5.4L engine. I don't get the hate especially from a "professional" mechanic. So many of these engines are in vehicles with over 200,000 miles, my Expedition included. I think this guy has discovered that take-down and hit-piece videos get a lot of views and a lot of viewer engagement so that's what he does.

 

[Johnathan M]

I’ve had 2 Expeditions over the past 10 years with the 5.4 engine. 2005 XLT that I bought with 150k on it and I sold to my dad with almost 300k miles on it. Replaced the timing chain and tensioners on it, but other than that the engine was great. Didn’t snap any spk plugs when changing them. Only reason I got rid of it was it wouldn’t pass inspection in PA anymore due to rust. My Dad who lives in TN where they don’t have inspections bought it from me 4 years ago and is still running it.

My current one is a 2013 King Ranch EL that I bought with 210k in 2021. Currently has 282k with no engine work needed during that time. Runs great. I commented to someone the other day that I don’t think I’ve had a more reliable vehicle in a really long time. It just runs and runs with no issues. I use it as a work vehicle, so it’s always loaded with lots of tools, and I also pull trailers from time to time. So it’s not used lightly like a lot of SUVs. However, I do my own maintenance and try to keep things in good shape. I run Amsoil Signature Series oil in it and I take good care of it and it takes good care of me.

 

[Herby]

Have a 2007 Ford Expedition with 260k. Oil changed between 3k - 3.5k miles. Timing job completed at 192k and runs well. Will keep her until the wheels fall off.

I think the Car Wizard was burned by a customer, thus leaving a bad taste in his mouth.

 

[positivemojo]

2008 with 128,000 miles and purrs like a kitten and growls like a tiger when I step on the gas. Replaced the timing chain and tensioners on it about 28,000 miles ago due to a blown out 5 cent paper gasket (what was Ford thinking!?). None of the components were worn but I did an upgrade of almost all of the components, and it is a fantastic car.

I recently went on a road trip with my buddies and mentioned I was thinking about selling it—they all said in unison, "Don't sell it!". It's in perfect shape inside and out. I have Apple Car Play installed with touch screen and back up camera, professionally done. The only reason I'd sell it would be blind spot monitoring and advanced adaptive cruise control. Who knows - I may give it to my grandson - it's a tank - super safe. The ultimate road trip vehicle.

 

[Johnathan M]

I just recently watched a couple of his videos bashing the 5.4L engine. I don't get the hate especially from a "professional" mechanic. So many of these engines are in vehicles with over 200,000 miles, my Expedition included. I think this guy has discovered that take-down and hit-piece videos get a lot of views and a lot of viewer engagement so that's what he does.

Yeah. He also mentioned that there’s millions of them on the road. Being that the Ford F150 has been the best selling truck out there, and Expeditions have the same engine. It makes sense that if there’s more of them out there than other vehicles, that you could get more vehicles in the shop for repairs, and still not have a higher percentage of repairs than anything else out there.

 

[Lynnii2]

I have 2010 limited 2wd with 283,000 now. I had Brian and his son Alex from BSG Automotive (FordTechMakuloco) 181 Commercial Dr unit b, Yorkville, IL 60560 ph: 630-687-1207.

I spent $6,500 for all the work done. I had a rattle at startup only lasting 10 sec. Since I have owned this truck for 12/13 yrs and have used 5w-30 full synthetic every 5,000 miles. These truck are very reliable when they are taken care of and serviced on time.

Items replaced at 250,000 on original engine and transmission.

The following items are replaced during the service: chains, tensioners, guides, tensioner arms, VCT solenoids, phasers, Melling HV oil pump, gaskets and oil change after. two heater hoses, oil pan removal for clean out, all engine mounts, transmission mounts, coolant hoses, new water pump, new spark plugs, new rocker arm, valve lifter, follower lash adjusters, new coolant, aftermarket alternator 270 amps from AutoTech Engineering 6110 Jurupa Ave, Riverside, CA 92504 ph: 951-299-8321 since the factory alternator is under powered and I have an audio system, new battery Odyssey Extreme Group Size 65 ODX-AGM65.

All work was completed and done within 2 days.

 

[RobE]

$6500 for another 250k miles sounds like a deal! Might need a new transmission by then!

 

[RobE]

Yeah. He also mentioned that there’s millions of them on the road. Being that the Ford F150 has been the best selling truck out there, and Expeditions have the same engine. It makes sense that if there’s more of them out there than other vehicles, that you could get more vehicles in the shop for repairs, and still not have a higher percentage of repairs than anything else out there.

I also owned a Toyota 4.7l v8 with 280k miles. Yes, very reliable but you needed to change the timing belts and components every 90k miles. If you changed the timing chain and components on the 5.4l 3v every 90k it is right up there in reliability.

 

[Lynnii2]

$6500 for another 250k miles sounds like a deal! Might need a new transmission by then!

$6500 for another 250k miles sounds like a deal! Might need a new transmission by then!

I replaced transmission pan (Dorman 265-854) with drain plug, gasket, drained and fill transmission all at home every 2 yrs. I had Brain look at is and drive it hard and everything is fine with the transmission.

 

[OpticonBill]

Up to 4 months ago I had a 97 Eddie Bauer Expedition with a Triton 5.4 engine which I bought used in 2000 for $10,000 with 96,000 miles. I retired it at 528,000 miles. In the last two years of ownership, it developed a small head-gasket leak. Given the miles, didn't want to spend any money so I threw in some head-gasket stop leak which lasted for just over a year. Threw in some more stop leak for another year then retired the vehicle. During ownership, no work was needed on the engine, except regular oil changes, occasionally engine and radiator flush and replacing coils and sparkplugs. Largest chunk of change I had to spend on the vehicle was $300 to replace header studs, $800 to replace the heater coil and controls at about 250,000 and another $2500 to replace the transmission at 325,000 miles. I was really sorry to see it go.

 

[rollinstone]

My 2014 LTD has 80K on it. No issues. Runs and idles smooth. Religious about oil/filter changes. All other fluids changed about 5000 miles ago. Pulls a 3500 lb trailer in NW mountains about 3000+ miles a year.

 

[Avian]

Thoughts about this video from the Car Wizard?

https://youtu.be/nb5B_e0a2uo?si=2tSzqq5jrMTWSr_3

Video

I think he is hasty in his condemnation of cars, given which end of the whole process he's on!

 

[JamaicaJoe]

I also owned a Toyota 4.7l v8 with 280k miles. Yes, very reliable but you needed to change the timing belts and components every 90k miles. If you changed the timing chain and components on the 5.4l 3v every 90k it is right up there in reliability.

This is such a good point, lost on everyone who has a vehicle with a timing belt/interference engine. The EXPY runs far longer and gives you a noisy heads up, while the timing belt just snaps and leaves you with a puddle of oil, iron and aluminum.

 

[C Trost]

Pre 2010 was the 2V 5.4L. Had 03 with 225k routine maintenance only, no issues. A tad underpowered with just 265hp but decent torque. Moved up to a 3V ‘10, same judicious maintenance. Had to have the timing job done at 136k. Plastic guides broken, tensioner gaskets failed and leaking, VCTs bad, new melling oil pump with timing job. She blew up cruising the I20 in nowhere SC at 142k, no warning signs, multiple left bank cam codes, cam and other cam/valve failures. Emergency purchase of only reasonably priced 4x4 within 75mi. ‘20 XLT, hd tow. He is a little exaggerated but not wrong. The engine will fail or cost you a lot at some point. Whether that cost is worth it is up to the individual. I have had numerous vehicles with 150k to 300k on them and that was the first engine issue I have had. By the volume of failures and lack of a fix by Ford the engine is a POS compared to most others.

 

[AWAR]

I have had three of the 3 valve 5.4s. My first one went 240k with no issues before getting totaled. I kept the engine for another car if needed. My second I bought at 160K and had problems. It needed the cooling tees and the shut off valve replaced. I good tune up and both VCT actuators and it runs like a charm. Just took a 4200 mile trip and am satisfied, gave this one to my daughter. The current one is on the hoist for transmission repairs at 220k miles. I will know more about the engine after repairing the transmission. Runs well just heard the chains rattle on startup one time.