Camshaft R&R

This procedure covers the removal and replacement of the intake and exhaust camshafts on the 2011-2014 Ford F-150 5.0L Coyote V8 engine, including timing chain removal, cam phaser service, and valve train component replacement.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Camshaft(s) - intake and/or exhaust as needed × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Valve cover gaskets (both sides) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Timing cover gasket × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain tensioners (left and right) × 2 — Use OEM specification
• Timing chain guides (if worn) × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Cam phaser seals × 4 — Use OEM specification
• VVT solenoid O-rings × 4 — Use OEM specification
• Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Crankshaft front seal × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Engine oil and filter × 1 — Motorcraft FL-910S or equivalent

Fluids

• Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend engine oil — 7.5 qt
• Motorcraft Orange Coolant (if draining cooling system) — 2 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface, engage parking brake, and chock rear wheels
2. Disconnect negative battery cable and wait 10 minutes for airbag system to discharge
3. Remove engine cover and air intake assembly
4. Drain engine oil completely and install drain plug with new crush washer
5. Drain cooling system partially (approximately 2 quarts) to prevent spillage when removing timing cover
6. Remove accessory drive belt and idler pulleys
7. Support engine from above using engine support fixture or from below with transmission jack
8. Remove right-side engine mount to allow engine to be lowered for timing cover access
9. Position crankshaft to TDC on cylinder #1 by aligning timing marks before disassembly
10. Take detailed photos of timing chain routing, cam phaser positions, and all electrical connections

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove valve covers
   Disconnect ignition coil connectors and remove all 8 coil-on-plug assemblies. Label or photograph wire routing. Disconnect PCV hoses and any vacuum lines from valve covers. Remove valve cover bolts in reverse of tightening sequence (outside to inside pattern). Carefully lift valve covers off, breaking seal with plastic pry tool if necessary. Inspect gasket surfaces for damage.
   Torque spec

   Cover Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)
2. 2

   Remove crankshaft pulley and harmonic balancer
   Remove the single center bolt from crankshaft pulley using breaker bar or impact wrench while holding crankshaft with holding tool. This bolt is torqued to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft) and may be torque-to-yield. Use harmonic balancer puller to remove balancer from crankshaft - do not pry or hammer. Inspect keyway and crankshaft nose for damage.
   ⚠Do not use a jaw-type puller that grips the outer edge of the balancer as this may damage the balancer. Use a proper harmonic balancer puller that bolts to the center hub.
   Torque spec

   Harmonic Balancer Bolt180 Nm (133 lb-ft)

   Crankshaft Pulley Bolt180 Nm (133 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Remove timing cover
   Disconnect crankshaft position sensor electrical connector. Remove sensor bolt and extract sensor. Remove all timing cover bolts - there are multiple sizes (8mm and 10mm). Note bolt locations as they vary in length. Carefully separate timing cover from engine block, breaking RTV seal. Remove old gasket material and clean all sealing surfaces thoroughly with plastic scraper and brake cleaner. Inspect front crankshaft seal for leaks.
   Torque spec

   Cover Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)

   Crankshaft Position Sensor10 Nm (7 lb-ft)
4. 4

   Lock timing chain tensioners and verify timing alignment
   Verify crankshaft is at TDC for cylinder #1 (timing marks on cam phasers should align with cylinder head marks). Compress left and right timing chain tensioners and install lock pins or bent paper clips to hold them in compressed position. This prevents tensioner extension when chain is removed. Photograph or mark exact position of timing chain on all sprockets and cam phasers before removal. Verify all timing marks are properly aligned.
   ⚠️Double-check that crankshaft is at TDC #1 compression stroke with all cam phaser timing marks aligned. Incorrect timing position during reassembly will destroy the engine.
   Torque spec

   Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove cam phasers and timing chains
   Disconnect VVT solenoid electrical connectors from all four cam phasers (2 per bank). Remove VVT solenoid bolts and remove solenoids, noting O-ring condition. Hold each camshaft stationary using wrench on cam hex (located between lobes). Remove cam phaser bolts - these require significant torque (65 Nm) to remove. Remove cam phasers from camshafts. Remove timing chain tensioner bolts and remove both tensioners completely. Remove timing chains from crankshaft sprocket and cam phasers. Remove timing chain guides if replacement is needed.
   ⚠Cam phaser bolts have threadlocker applied from factory. Heat may be required to break threadlocker bond. Plan to replace with fresh threadlocker on installation.
   Torque spec

   Cam Phaser Bolt65 Nm (48 lb-ft)

   VVT Solenoid Bolt10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

   Timing Chain Guide Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)

   Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
6. 6

   Remove camshaft bearing caps
   Working on one cylinder head at a time, carefully note the position, orientation, and numbering of all camshaft bearing caps. They MUST be reinstalled in exact original positions. Loosen camshaft bearing cap bolts gradually in reverse sequence (outside caps first, working toward center) in multiple passes to prevent cam distortion. Remove bearing caps and store in order. Do not mix caps between intake and exhaust camshafts or between cylinder banks.
   ⚠Camshaft bearing caps are machined as matched sets with the cylinder head. Installing caps in wrong positions or reversed will cause binding and bearing failure.
   Torque spec

   Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts9 Nm (7 lb-ft)

   Camshaft Cap Bolts9 Nm (7 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove camshafts
   Carefully lift intake and exhaust camshafts straight up and out of the cylinder head. Keep camshafts from each bank separate and labeled. Inspect cam lobes for scoring, pitting, or unusual wear patterns. Measure cam lobe height and bearing journal diameters if reusing camshafts - compare to factory specifications. Inspect cam bearing surfaces in cylinder head for damage. Remove and inspect cam followers/rocker arms if replacement needed. Check valve spring retainers and valve stem seal condition.
   ℹ️This is an excellent opportunity to inspect valve train components. Replace any worn followers, check valve spring installed height, and inspect for carbon buildup on valve stems.
8. 8

   Prepare and install new or inspected camshafts
   Clean all camshaft journals with lint-free cloth and brake cleaner. Apply clean engine assembly lube or fresh 5W-20 oil liberally to all cam journals and lobes. Verify cam timing marks are visible and clean. Carefully lower camshafts into position in cylinder head, ensuring they seat fully in cam saddles. Verify each cam is in correct position (intake vs exhaust) and correct orientation for timing marks.
   ⚠Do not install camshafts dry. Inadequate lubrication during initial start-up will cause rapid cam lobe and follower wear.
9. 9

   Install camshaft bearing caps
   Apply small amount of clean engine oil to bearing cap contact surfaces. Install bearing caps in exact original positions, verifying cap numbers and directional arrows match original installation. Install cap bolts finger-tight. Tighten camshaft bearing cap bolts in proper sequence (center caps first, working outward) in at least 3 passes to final torque of 14 Nm (10 lb-ft). Torque gradually and evenly to prevent cam binding or distortion. After final torque, verify camshafts rotate freely by hand.
   ⚠Uneven tightening or skipping the multi-pass sequence can cause cam binding and bearing damage. Use a proper sequence and three or more passes to reach final torque.
   Torque spec

   Camshaft Bearing Cap Bolts9 Nm (7 lb-ft)

   Camshaft Cap Bolts9 Nm (7 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Install timing chains and cam phasers
    Ensure crankshaft is still at TDC #1. Install timing chain guides and torque bolts. Route timing chains over crankshaft sprocket following exact path documented during removal. Install cam phasers onto camshafts, aligning timing marks precisely as photographed. Apply medium-strength threadlocker to cam phaser bolt threads. Hold each camshaft stationary with wrench on hex feature and torque phaser bolts to 65 Nm (48 lb-ft). Install new VVT solenoid O-rings, install solenoids, and torque bolts. Verify all timing marks are properly aligned before proceeding.
    ⚠️Verify timing mark alignment multiple times before proceeding. One tooth off on any cam phaser will cause engine damage. Rotate engine two full revolutions by hand and recheck all timing marks before installing timing cover.
    Torque spec

    Cam Phaser Bolt65 Nm (48 lb-ft)

    VVT Solenoid Bolt10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

    Timing Chain Guide Bolts12 Nm (9 lb-ft)
11. 11

    Install and release timing chain tensioners
    Install new timing chain tensioners with locking pins/clips still installed to keep them compressed. Install tensioner bolts and torque to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft). Carefully remove locking pins/clips from both tensioners - you should feel/hear the tensioners extend and tension the chains. Rotate crankshaft slowly two complete revolutions by hand (clockwise viewed from front) and verify timing marks realign at TDC #1. Check that chains have proper tension and no slack.
    ⚠️Do not proceed if timing marks do not realign after two crankshaft rotations. Disassemble and verify chain routing and cam phaser installation before continuing.
    Torque spec

    Timing Chain Tensioner Bolt25 Nm (18 lb-ft)

    Timing Chain Idler Sprocket25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Install timing cover and crankshaft components
    Install new front crankshaft seal into timing cover using seal driver. Apply continuous 3mm bead of RTV silicone to timing cover mating surface per Ford specifications. Install timing cover and hand-start all bolts. Tighten 8mm timing cover bolts to 25 Nm (18 lb-ft) and 10mm bolts to 45 Nm (33 lb-ft) in proper sequence (typically starting at top center, working outward and downward). Install crankshaft position sensor with new O-ring and torque bolt. Install harmonic balancer onto crankshaft, ensuring keyway aligns. Install new balancer bolt and torque to 180 Nm (133 lb-ft).
    ℹ️Allow RTV to skin over for 10 minutes before installing cover, but complete installation within 30 minutes of RTV application.
    Torque spec

    Cover Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)

    Crankshaft Position Sensor10 Nm (7 lb-ft)

    Harmonic Balancer Bolt180 Nm (133 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Install valve covers and restore engine mounting
    Clean valve cover mating surfaces thoroughly. Install new valve cover gaskets - verify they are correctly seated in covers. Apply small dabs of RTV at front corners where timing cover meets cylinder head if specified. Install valve covers and hand-start all bolts. Torque valve cover bolts to 10 Nm (7 lb-ft) in proper sequence (typically center outward pattern). Reinstall PCV system and vacuum lines. Install ignition coils and connect all electrical connectors. Raise engine and reinstall right engine mount, torquing mounting bolts appropriately. Remove engine support fixture.
    ℹ️Valve cover bolt sequence is critical to prevent gasket distortion and oil leaks. Follow Ford-specified tightening sequence.
    Torque spec

    Cover Bolts20 Nm (15 lb-ft)

    Mounting Bolts59 Nm (44 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Complete reassembly and fluid fill
    Reinstall accessory drive belt tensioner, idler pulleys, and drive belt. Verify belt routing is correct. Install new engine oil filter. Fill engine with 7.5 quarts of Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend oil. Top off coolant to proper level with Motorcraft Orange coolant. Reconnect negative battery cable. Reinstall air intake assembly and engine cover.
    Torque spec

    Oil Drain Plug35 Nm (26 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Double-check all electrical connections, hose connections, and fasteners are properly secured
2. Verify no tools or parts were left in engine bay
3. Confirm engine oil level is correct on dipstick after filling
4. Check coolant level and inspect for any visible leaks around timing cover and valve covers

Verification

• Prime oil system by cranking engine with fuel pump fuse removed and ignition disabled until oil pressure registers
• Start engine and immediately verify oil pressure on gauge - shut down if no pressure within 5 seconds
• Listen for abnormal valvetrain noise, timing chain noise, or irregular engine operation
• Allow engine to reach operating temperature and verify no oil or coolant leaks from valve covers or timing cover
• Verify check engine light is off and scan for any VVT-related fault codes
• Test drive vehicle and verify normal engine performance, smooth idle, and proper power delivery throughout RPM range
• Recheck oil level after test drive and top off if needed
• Perform final inspection for leaks after vehicle has cooled and sits overnight

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