Ford F-150 service and repair

The F-150 is the work truck of Miami Gardens and Opa-locka, from landscapers and contractors to boat owners in Aventura. It works hard in this heat and it has a few engine-specific things worth knowing. We service every F-150 from 2009 to the current model: EcoBoost, 5.0, and the older V8s.

Book my F-150 (786) 884-4889

What we see on this car

What we see on the F-150

Startup rattle from cam phasers on the 3.5 EcoBoost

2011 to 2020 F-150s with the 3.5 EcoBoost are known for a loud rattle on startup from worn cam phasers and timing chain guides. It gets worse and it does damage. A startup rattle should be checked, not lived with. This engine uses a chain, and the timing job covers phasers, guides, and tensioners.

Timing belt

Misfire under load on turbo engines

Turbo F-150s are known to misfire under load from worn plugs and coils, often earlier than the schedule says when towing or idling in traffic. Rough running at the top of a merge is the sign.

Tune-up and spark plugs

10-speed harsh shifts or gear hunting (2017 and newer)

2017 and newer F-150s with the 10-speed are known to shift harshly or hunt between gears. A fluid service and software update often help; we check for codes first.

Transmission service

Pad wear and rotor warp from towing

F-150s that tow boats and trailers here are known to wear pads and warp rotors fast. A pulse when braking from highway speed with a load behind you is the sign.

Brake repair

Front hub bearing hum on 4x4

4x4 F-150s are known to develop a hum or grind from a front hub bearing, worse after driving through standing water in the rain season.

Wheel bearings

Exhaust manifold ticking on the 5.0 and older V8s

5.0 and 5.4 F-150s are known to break exhaust manifold studs and tick on cold start from a manifold leak. It sounds like a lifter but it is the exhaust.

Exhaust repair

Maintenance by mileage

30,000

Oil and filter per the cap (5W-30 on EcoBoost, 5W-20 on 5.0), Tire rotation, Engine and cabin air filters, Brake inspection, Battery test, Coolant level, intercooler, and turbo line check on EcoBoost

60,000

Everything from 30,000, Spark plugs on EcoBoost (severe duty with towing), Transmission fluid drain and fill, Brake fluid exchange, Front and rear differential fluid on 4x4, Transfer case fluid

90,000

Everything from 30,000, Spark plugs on the 5.0, Serpentine belt, Coolant condition test, Cam phaser and timing check on the 3.5 EcoBoost, Hubs and ball joints

120,000

Coolant drain and refill, Transmission fluid drain and fill again, Differential and transfer case fluids again, PCV valve, Turbo and intercooler inspection, Exhaust manifold check on V8s

Questions people ask

My F-150 rattles for a second on startup. Is that the phasers?

On a 2011 to 2020 3.5 EcoBoost, most likely. It is a known issue and it does not fix itself. We confirm it and give you the honest options. Do not wait until it rattles all the time; by then the chain guides are worn too.

Do you work on the EcoBoost turbos?

Yes. Plugs, coils, intercooler, turbo lines, and the timing components are all handled here. We follow Ford's specs on oil and fluids.

How often should I change plugs if I tow?

Towing and idling in traffic count as severe duty. On the EcoBoost we recommend plugs around 60,000 miles, sooner if it misfires under load.

Can you handle the 10-speed transmission?

Yes. Fluid service, adaptive relearn, and diagnostics for harsh shifting. We check for codes and software updates before anyone talks about a rebuild.