The Truck Engine Nobody Likes

Here’s the disassembly of an engine that this experienced salvage mechanic says nobody likes and shows why there might be some money in one if you have a truck that has gone south on you that carried this motor.

A Different View on Engine Problems

Previously we’ve learned about the extent of engine woes a significant number of truck owners (but not all) have experienced with owning a vehicle with the much-maligned Ford 5.4L 3-Valve Triton V8 engine.

Recently a video of a tear-down of one of these engines was posted on the I Do Cars YouTube channel where its host “Eric” (who owns and runs a full-service auto salvage business in St. Louis, MO called "Importapart" ) dismantles a 5.4L 3-Valve Triton V8 engine while discussing what he sees as a salvage mechanic.

According to Eric this engine is well-known for “…broken spark plugs to blown apart cam phasers, timing component failure, broken valve springs and more” and it is not alone in the world of engine salvaging.

Furthermore, just because an engine has gone bad, does not mean that there is nothing good still inside.

Related article: Fatal Flaw of This Ford Truck Engine Rescued from a Dealership Fail

“Part of our model is dismantling and selling parts from rare and niche market engines. I don't build or rebuild engines---we simply supply hard parts to those that do!”

The Value of This Video

So, why another article on the Ford 5.4L 3-Valve Triton V8 engine? Mostly because the referenced video is one of the few I’ve seen where someone is pointing out that there is a market (i.e., a need) for parts that are near-perfect and reusable.

In this case parts that can be repurposed in supporting repairs on those seemingly 200,000 miles-plus outlier models carrying the 5.4L 3-Valve Triton V8 engine of which you will find many comments reporting how well their truck is doing despite its nefarious reputation. Of which---some point out quite correctly---the question of whether the problems would develop (or at least be significantly fewer) if all owners took better maintenance care of their trucks.

Semi-related article: Everything You Need To Know About Saving Money Buying Toyota and Lexus Parts

Not only will you learn something new about the engine, but there’s the added benefit that this is an enjoyable video to watch and listen to as Eric gives his take on the engine and the job he has.

Without further ado, here is the video posted below and is recommended to watch in its entirety:

Bad Ford 5.4 3-valve V8 Engine Teardown. Which of The MANY Possible Failures Took This One Out?

And finally…

For additional articles related to engine problems, here are a few for your consideration:

• Six Vehicles with Fatal Engines or Transmissions to Avoid

• Vehicles Rated Most Likely to Need Repairs the First 12 Months After Buying

• How 85 Octane Fuel Can Destroy Your Engine and Void Your Warranty

COMING UP NEXT: The Dark Secret Behind EV Maintenance Says This Mechanic

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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