Ford EcoBoost Engine Owners are Getting the Wrong Repair Part Warning

Strange Engine Noise on Start Up
Have you ever experienced a strange sounding rattle coming from your Ford’s engine during start up after it has set for a few hours or more? That sound could be coming from a common problem in both 1st and 2nd generation Ford EcoBoost engines where the phasors are coming apart. The failing part(s), rather than lock the camshafts in position, are actually loose and causing one or both cams free to potentially shift around.

Cam Phaser Basic Info
Cam phasers are an integral part of the EcoBoost engine that has the job of adjusting the position of the camshaft in relation to the crankshaft. This alignment of the camshaft with the crankshaft is very important because this is what regulates the timing and duration of the opening and closing of the valve system.

A properly working cam phaser positions and synchronizes your vehicle's intake and exhaust valves to ensure that the valves are opening and closing at exactly the right moment during each stroke of an engine’s 4-stroke cycle while the engine is either speeding up or slowing down.

This result of the valve timing no longer being able to advance or retard with the change in speed to keep everything in sync as you are driving at the very least manifests as a rough engine running experience for the driver, and at the worst as severe engine damage.

Related article: Timing Chain and Timing Belt Problems and Repair Demonstrated by Mechanics

The Repair Warning
In a recent repair warning from the FordTechMakuloco YouTube channel, the host demonstrates the problem with the Ford EcoBoost engine by showing one with one of its phasors falling apart. While not appearing to cause the camshaft to shift while turning by hand, the phasor does flop around and is the source of a rattling noise coming from the owner’s engine.

The repair warning is about how that reportedly, repairs are being done with the new old stock failing part (because Ford has so many of them) rather than using the newer improved part that should last the lifetime of the vehicle---no jokes here please about “lifetime of the vehicle”---thank you.

Here’s the video posted below showing the differences between the new old stock part and the newer improved stock part that you will want to make sure that your mechanic is using on repairing your vehicle.

In case you want to get right to the parts to request, here are the part numbers for the newer improved phasers:

• Intake Phaser- ML3Z-6256-A
• Exhaust Phaser- ML3Z-6C525-A

That said, here is the highly recommended video all Ford EcoBoost owners should watch:

2017-2020 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost Startup Rattle Fix: Make Sure You Are Getting The Latest Phasers!

And finally…

For additional related articles about EcoBoost engines, here are a few for your consideration:

• Ford EcoBoost Engine Replacement Issue with These Model Years You Need to Know

• Ford EcoBoost Engine Problems All Ford Owners and Used Car Shoppers Should Understand

• Ford F-150 EcoBoost Spark Plug Replacement Demo

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Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.

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