Short snippet of info, new chain & phasers:
http://www.f150forum.com/f70/2011-ecoboost-noise-start-up-204007/index136/#post4237214"
QuoteOriginally Posted by Salinger
Cord,
There are 4 cams phasers on the 3.5L EB. This is what they call "TI-VCT" for Twin-Independant Cam Variable Timing.
As you can see in this TBS (not sure if this is the last update?) for the timing chain replacement, there is the description of the two Intake & two exaust phasers.
Well truck is going under the knife this morning. This will be the third time the engine has been torn apart. The dealer is paying to have the drivers side intake phaser replaced, I'm going to pony up and pay for the updated timing chain and the passenger side phaser. They'll inspect the guides and replace them if there is any noticeable wear. We are not planning on replacing the exhaust phasers as I feel the slave chain may have protected them from the damaging harmonics. I did ask the dealer to compare the chains and I sure hope they do. They set me up with a rental so I plan on stopping over several times and try to catch the engine apart so I can inspect it. I'll post pics and/or a youtube vid if I can.
For the record, I have 121,000 on the engine so there is roughly 45,000 miles on the replacement chain. It'll be interesting to see how much wear has occurred in that time. I know that I'm only seeing 2-3 degrees of timing error so this chain seems to be holding up better than the original one which failed at 75,000 miles.
For some reason, I'm feeling like this could be the permanent fix we've been wanting. "
"They got the front cover off this morning. Looks like my existing chain has stretched 1/2" over the new one. The tech said the adjuster was on the 5th notch which to him was borderline to seeing stretch issues. That would leave only two notches of adjustment remaining. So, over 45,000 miles of use, there was definitely a new problem creeping in. Guides looked good for 121,000 miles. The one guide had a groove maybe .010 deep and the other guide maybe .020. They were planning on reusing the guides. Surprise to me, but they ordered all 4 phasers. We had talked about him buying one and me buying the second so we'll have to see where the cost lands for the other two. I asked the tech to save me the phasers so I can tear them down. It'll be interesting to compare a high mileage phaser to one that only has moderate mileage. Hoping it'll be back together tomorrow so I can haul a atv up north for the weekend.
Have the 11's received a updated part number for the chain? For some reason, I'm thinking the newer trucks got a updated part and not the first year.
During my conversation with the tech, he said that mine was the loudest he's ever heard. I knew it had been getting worse, but the way he mulled on the point got me thinking that I must have gotten use to the noise. He also said this will be the fifth truck he's replaced a chain on."




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QuoteOriginally Posted by oldwrench
Explanation of the "stretched" chain , and what causes it:
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/338
Actually, I think you are hitting upon the cause of the stretch. I've been following the recommended intervals for a oil change; roughly every 10,000 miles. I was doing this because I was already having a problem and didn't want to have the CEL come on a month or two out of the 2 year repair warranty. Now that the chain has been replaced (again) I'll go to a 5,000 mile interval. The tint to the aluminum was there already at 75,000 miles, but it's definetly darker now. If you look close you can see the passenger side intake phaser is slightly lighter because it was replaced. There is some varnish starting to show up in the areas which are not well washed with oil (under the passenger exhaust phaser). Tech wasn't concerned with the varnish, but I thought it was more than I was expecting."