2020 or 2021?

[FordTechOne]

I am not sure that the new parts and program released in April actually solve the problem. There was recently a truck here with a build date after that, and had 150 miles on it and it had the cam phaser rattle. I will say that if you look back, this problem is nothing new on this engine and ford has released "updated" parts that "should" fix the problem several times. I have no faith in them actually fixing this. If they haven't fixed it yet, they never will. This affects 17+ raptors... not just a specific year or date range.

Please do not spread speculation and misinformation. The camshaft phase issue was isolated to the phasers themselves not parking properly. The production cutoff occurred in April 2019 and service parts have the upgraded design. There were no “multiple” releases of “updated” parts as you speak of.

I have explained this in other threads. The phasers fail to lock upon shutdown, which causes erratic operation (rattle) on the next start, because cam timing will be unstable until full oil pressure reaches the phasers. A phaser with this failure mode is easy to identify upon tear down; the camshaft can be moved throughout the phaser’s range of travel with the phaser unit moving.

A single example of vehicle exhibiting a similar, possibility unrelated noise at extremely low mileage is not an indication that the issue in question has not been resolved.

 

[FordTechOne]

Is the Cam Phaser issue only a Ford problem and why are they having a continued issue with it? What can be done to prevent it(I.e upgrades, maintenance,etc)? I’m not a mechanic and heard of cam phasers until I started following this site

No. Any engine with variable valve timing can experience the same issue. Many of these issues occur at higher mileage and are caused by poor maintenance (commonly seen on Ford 5.4 3V) or a non-robust design (Nissan VQ).

There are no “continued issues” despite what some doom-and-gloom commenters like to promulgate. The issue was identified, the causal components were purged, the updated parts were released, and a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was published. Vehicles that experienced the issue at low mileage, before the update, may have had the non-updated parts installed, resulting in a possible repeat failure and (justifiable) concern.

 

[Angelo1]

No. Any engine with variable valve timing can experience the same issue. Many of these issues occur at higher mileage and are caused by poor maintenance (commonly seen on Ford 5.4 3V) or a non-robust design (Nissan VQ).

There are no “continued issues” despite what some doom-and-gloom commenters like to promulgate. The issue was identified, the causal components were purged, the updated parts were released, and a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) was published. Vehicles that experienced the issue at low mileage, before the update, may have had the non-updated parts installed, resulting in a possible repeat failure and (justifiable) concern.

Wow, thanks for the detailed info. Very much appreciated. Looking forward to new Raptor in the near future.

 

[Kuan]

The camshaft phase issue was isolated to the phasers themselves not parking properly. The production cutoff occurred in April 2019 and service parts have the upgraded design. There were no “multiple” releases of “updated” parts as you speak of.

I would disagree with this. The cold start rattle has been around since at least 2011. That's nearly 9 years of Ford trying to fix it. If you listen to an 11-14 ecoboost cold start rattle, it is the same as these today. You can go back and look at all the various TSBs, new part numbers, and new computer programs. The phasers were the culprit, and have been since the start of this engine project.

 

[WraptorBoy]

I would disagree with this. The cold start rattle has been around since at least 2011. That's nearly 9 years of Ford trying to fix it. If you listen to an 11-14 ecoboost cold start rattle, it is the same as these today. You can go back and look at all the various TSBs, new part numbers, and new computer programs. The phasers were the culprit, and have been since the start of this engine project.

I agree with Kuan. I have a late Sept/first week of Oct 2019 build and the sound is definitely there, exactly as in the videos, but very quiet at this point, with 2K miles on the brand new truck. I recorded it and will upload it later tonight as proof.

So one of two things will happen in the near future: it will get louder and louder and move towards failure OR it's the normal sound/volume of the phasers and will remain this way forever. Time will tell.

Anyway, we should continue this phaser discussion in the other phaser related threads because this thread is about 2020 or 2021 purchase choices for the OP...

 

[Jordan M]

I’m in the same boat debating a 2020 or 2021 with a hopefully renewed interior and suspension. A v8 would be nice but isn’t a game changer. Will we know by June from the auto show announcements?

 

[GLOCK26]

I agree. Go with the 2020. BTW, am I the only one on here who actually likes the exhaust sound? LOL

I have a 2019 and I like my exhaust sound also

 

[GLOCK26]

I’m in the same boat debating a 2020 or 2021 with a hopefully renewed interior and suspension. A v8 would be nice but isn’t a game changer. Will we know by June from the auto show announcements?

if the new raptor release is anything like the first 2 generations then a new raptor change won’t be released the first year they change the body styles of the f-150. So don’t expect a new raptor in 2021

 

[Timekeeper]

Guys...the 2021 Ford Raptor is going to be the SAME truck as the 2020 but with the new coil-spring suspension in the rear. The 2021 Raptor will NOT be redesigned even if the 2021 F150 is reworked. It usually takes a model year for the Raptor to catch-up.

I'm not an expert...but some folks around the Ford family did join me for a beer.

No...there will not be a V8 Raptor in 2021. However...there might be a special edition that as the V8 for around $95K-$100K. Good luck getting one....that is before the dealership markup.

 

[PlainJane]

I have a 2019 and I like my exhaust sound also

I like the sound also