Hi all i have a 2004 f-150 , 5.4 making a lot of noise when first started i have been told it could be the timing chain or the cam phaser but i dont know how to tell . Does anyone know how to tell . I planned on changing the timing chain this weekend but the more i research it the more i think it might be the cam phaser so i thuoght i would check and see if anyone else has had the same problem or know what to do to fix/ diagnose it. Any help would be great thanks. Jay

 

Change the oil and see if there is any aluminum particles in the oil. If there is, the timing chain is probably the problem