Problem explainer
Ford 7.3 Godzilla Problems: Ticking, Lifter Failure and Ford's Idle Oil Pressure Fix
Published · 14 min read
The 7.3 "Godzilla" gas V8 in 2020 and later Super Duty trucks has one problem that Ford has now put in writing: at idle, its oil pump can deliver too little oil, and trucks that idle a lot can wear their cam lobes and lifters until a cylinder misfires. When it goes that far, the usual repair is an engine. One 2020 F-350 owner told NHTSA a new engine cost $13,000 at 75,989 miles.
This guide explains what Ford's program 24B27 says, how to tell that problem from a cheaper front-of-engine tick Ford has also documented, what to check and what it costs. It is built from NHTSA owner complaints on 2020-and-later gas Super Duty trucks, Ford's service messages in NHTSA's records and current part prices, and it says where that evidence is thin.
The short answer
- What breaks: camshaft lobes and lifters (tappets). Of 27 NHTSA complaints about engine noise or misfire on these trucks, 13 name a failed lifter or camshaft. Not one names a valve spring, the part forums blame most.
- Why: Ford says the variable displacement oil pump delivers low oil pressure at idle, and "routine occurrences of prolonged idle time" can wear the cam lobes and tappets (program 24B27). The fix Ford lists is a PCM software update.
- Who is at risk: 2020-2024 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty and 2021-2025 E-Series with the 6.8 or 7.3 gas engine, especially trucks that idle for long periods.
- What to check: whether 24B27 is done on your VIN, where the tick comes from (lower front at the oil pan = a cheaper oil pump gear on 2020-2022 trucks; top end with a misfire = lifters), misfire codes, and metal in the oil filter.
- What it costs: owners reported $13,000 to almost $15,000 for an engine after a lifter and cam failure. Caught early, the parts are cheap: an OEM lifter lists for about $24 and a camshaft for about $289 on 2023 and later engines.
The one idea: low oil pressure at idle wears the cam
The 7.3 uses a variable displacement oil pump, which delivers less oil when the engine needs less, to save fuel. Ford's program 24B27 says that in affected trucks the pump "delivers oil to the engine at low pressure/capacity during idle conditions." verified
- Long idling verifiedFord names "routine occurrences of prolonged idle time" as the trigger.
- Less oil on the cam verifiedWith reduced lubrication, the camshaft lobes and the tappet (lifter) surfaces that ride on them wear.
- Tapping, then a misfire verifiedFord says the engine "may progressively run rough due to cylinder misfire," with tapping noises and a check engine light.
- Metal in the oil aggregatedOnce a lobe or lifter breaks up, the metal goes through the engine. Owners report that dealers then replace the engine rather than the cam and lifters.
That is why the timing of the repair matters so much. A software update costs you an hour at a dealer. A cam lobe that has already shed metal costs an engine.
What Super Duty gas-engine owners report to NHTSA
- Lifter / camshaft / tappet failure13
- Misfire, plugs or coils6
- Tick or knock, part not named6
- Oil pump drive gear (front tick)1
- Exhaust manifold bolts / leak1
- Valve spring0
The two Ford has written about Everything else
Source: NHTSA owner complaints on 2020-2026 Ford F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks, pulled 2026-09-12 with all NHTSA model names, limited to complaints that name the gas engine or describe an engine noise, misfire or manifold leak, with every complaint that names the diesel or the 6.2 removed. Keyword-matched and read by hand, not adjudicated. A count of reports, not a failure rate.
Lifter and camshaft failures lead the engine complaints on these trucks: 13 of 27. Six of those 13 owners say the engine was replaced or that they were told it had to be. Misfires with plugs, coils or plug wires come next (6), and six more complaints describe a tick or knock without naming a part.
Two things are missing. Not one complaint names a valve spring, although owner forums often call broken valve springs the 7.3's main weakness. And only one complaint names the exhaust manifold bolts, the classic tick on older gas V8s. All 13 lifter complaints were filed in 2023 or later, as the first trucks built up miles.
A note on how we counted: Ford sells the same Super Duty trucks with the 6.7 diesel and, through 2022, the 6.2 gas engine, under the same names. We kept only complaints that name the 7.3, 6.8 or a gas engine, or describe an engine noise, misfire or manifold leak, removed every complaint that names the diesel or the 6.2, and read the rest by hand. The set is small, so read it as direction, not as rates.
Which 7.3 Godzilla years have the lifter problem?
Short answer: Ford's program 24B27 covers 2020-2024 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks and 2021-2025 E-Series vans with the 6.8 or 7.3. In NHTSA complaints, 12 of the 13 lifter and cam failures are on 2020-2022 trucks, but those trucks are also the oldest, with the most miles.
| Model year | Gas engines in the trucks | Lifter / cam | Oil pump gear | Misfire | Tick, part not named |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.3 only | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 7.3 only | 3 | - | - | - |
| 2022 | 7.3 only | 4 | - | 4 | 3 |
| 2023 | 6.8 standard, 7.3 optional | 1 | - | - | 1 |
| 2024 | 6.8 standard, 7.3 optional | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | 6.8 standard, 7.3 optional | - | - | - | - |
Complaints: NHTSA owner complaints on 2020-2026 Ford F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks, pulled 2026-09-12 with all NHTSA model names, limited to complaints that name the gas engine or describe an engine noise, misfire or manifold leak, with every complaint that names the diesel or the 6.2 removed. Raw counts. Newer trucks have had less time to wear and to be reported, so later years always look better in complaint data.
The 6.8 joined the 7.3 as the standard Super Duty gas engine for 2023. It belongs to the same engine family, and Ford's program names both. verified Most owners of 2023 and later trucks in this data do not say which of the two they have.
Step 1: find where the tick comes from
What to do. With the engine idling and the hood open, listen at the top of the engine near each valve cover, and low at the front where the timing cover meets the oil pan. A mechanic's stethoscope or a long screwdriver held to your ear helps.
What you will hear, and what it means.
- Lower front, at idle, on a 2020-2022 7.3: Ford's special service messages 50830 and 51330 describe exactly this: a "ticking/clicking/tapping noise at idle that is loudest at the front of the engine where the front timing cover meets the oil pan," which may be a cracked oil pump drive gear. Ford's procedure is to remove the accessory belt and listen again; if the noise remains, the oil pan comes off to inspect the gear, and a cracked gear is replaced. verified The first message applies to trucks built on or before May 11, 2022.
- Top end, following one cylinder, with a rough idle or a misfire code: suspect a lifter and cam lobe. Go to step 2.
- From the belt area: take the belt off briefly and listen. If the noise stops, it is an accessory, not the engine.
"Engine making heavy ticking noise from front of engine because of a cracked oil pump gear and the front main seal is now weeping oil."
Owner of a 2020 F-250, 2025. NHTSA complaint 11680497
Why it matters. The gear repair is real work, since the oil pan has to come off, but it is a gear. The lifter failure can end with an engine. Do not let the two be confused in either direction.
Step 2: scan it, and look in the oil filter
What to do. Read stored and pending codes with an OBD-II scan tool. If you or a shop change the oil, have the old filter cut open.
What you will see. A worn cam lobe or a failing lifter usually shows up as a misfire on one cylinder, P0301 through P0308, before the engine gets loud, because the valve on that cylinder no longer opens fully. Ford's 24B27 description lists the same sequence: tapping noise, rough running, misfire, check engine light. verified Plug and coil faults cause misfires too, so a shop should rule them out, but a misfire that stays on the same cylinder after swapping the coil and plug points to the valvetrain. aggregated
Metal flakes in the oil filter mean the damage has already started to circulate. One 2024 owner wrote that the dealer "found metal shavings in filter" at about 10,000 miles before replacing the engine.
"At just over 96,000 miles and just days after a professional oil change service, the truck began to misfire and the check engine light came on."
Owner of a 2022 F-350 Super Duty, 2023. The dealer found a lifter and camshaft failure; Ford offered $5,400 of an almost $15,000 repair. NHTSA complaint 11560031
Step 3: check program 24B27 on your VIN
What to do. Ask a Ford dealer, or check the owner section of Ford's website, whether service program 24B27 applies to your VIN and whether it has been done.
What it is. A Powertrain Control Module software update for 2020-2024 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks and 2021-2025 E-Series vans with the 6.8 or 7.3 gas engine. It addresses the low oil pressure at idle that Ford says causes the cam and tappet wear. Ford released it in mid-2024 and added supplements later in 2024 as software became available for more vehicles. verified
What it does not tell you. The update is meant to stop the wear, not repair it. A truck that already has a worn lobe still has it after the update. We also do not know whether the program comes with extended coverage for engines already damaged; ask the dealer to put the answer in writing.
Step 4: if a lifter or cam has failed, what happens next
What the repair includes. If the damage is caught at the first misfire, a shop may replace the camshaft, lifters, pushrods and rocker parts on the affected side and flush the oil. If metal has gone through the engine, owners report that Ford dealers replace the engine. At OEM list prices the parts are cheap: about $24 for a lifter and $289 for a camshaft on 2023 and later engines, $14 for a valve spring and $52 to $60 for a rocker arm pivot. The labor and the engine are what cost money; we do not have reliable labor figures.
What owners paid. $13,000 for a new engine at a Ford dealer (2020 F-350, 2023). Almost $15,000, with Ford paying $5,400 (2022 F-350, 2023). An estimate of $8,000 to $13,000 for a repair or an engine (2020 F-350, 2025). One 2020 F-550 owner reported that Ford first proposed covering 90% of an engine replacement as goodwill and then lowered it to 40%.
When it comes back. Some owners report a second failure. One 2022 owner said the first engine failed at about 45,000 miles and the replacement at about 38,000:
"I was informed the same exact parts failed in the same cylinder causing metal debris to spread throughout the engine again."
Owner of a 2022 F-350 Super Duty, 2023. NHTSA complaint 11530624
If yours is repaired, keep the invoice that lists exactly what was replaced, and make sure the 24B27 update is on the truck before it goes back to work.
Can you prevent 7.3 Godzilla lifter failure?
Short answer: do what Ford's own program points at: get the 24B27 software update, and avoid long idling where you can. Keep oil changes on schedule with the oil Ford specifies, and treat a misfire code or a new tick as a reason to stop and diagnose, not to clear the code and keep going. None of this guarantees the cam is healthy on a truck that already idled for thousands of hours.
If your truck idles for a living (an ambulance, a plow, a job-site truck, a camper's generator), ask the dealer whether the update changes idle speed or behavior on your truck, so you know what to expect.
Other 7.3 and 6.8 problems in the complaints
- Misfires from plugs, coils and plug wires (6 complaints). One 2022 F-350 owner reported two plug wire failures, one under warranty and one for $766. A misfire is not always the cam; check the cheap parts first. OEM plugs list for about $6 each, coils for about $197 (2020-2022) or $111 (2023 and later). aggregated
- Exhaust manifold bolts (1 complaint). Broken bolts leak exhaust and can put fumes in the cab. Manifolds list for about $478 to $760 per side and a gasket for about $64. aggregated
- Low-pressure fuel pump recall 25V-455. Ford recalled certain 2021-2023 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks, among other models, because the low-pressure fuel pump may fail and stall the engine. Check the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup. verified
What you found, and what to do about it
| You found | It probably means | What it can cost | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tick at idle from the lower front, 2020-2022 7.3 | Cracked oil pump drive gear (Ford SSM 50830/51330) | Gear plus oil pan labor | Investigate: ask a Ford dealer to follow the SSM |
| Program 24B27 open on the VIN | The PCM update was never done | Free at a Ford dealer | Get it done before the truck works or idles |
| Misfire code that stays on one cylinder | Possibly a worn cam lobe or lifter | From a few hundred dollars to an engine | Investigate now; do not clear and drive |
| Metal in the oil filter | Cam and lifter damage has circulated | $13,000 to almost $15,000 reported for an engine | Walk away from a purchase; as an owner, stop driving it |
| Long idle hours on the engine hour meter | High exposure to the wear Ford describes | Unknown until inspected | Negotiate and confirm 24B27 is done |
| Invoice for a replaced engine plus 24B27 done | The known failure has been repaired | - | Good sign. Keep the paperwork |
Part prices are Ford list prices at the time of publication. Owner-reported costs come from NHTSA complaints and show what those owners paid or were quoted in those years, not a quote. We do not have reliable labor estimates for these jobs.
What we cannot tell you
- How often the cam and lifters fail. Thirteen complaints are a signal, not a rate. We have no sales or warranty data.
- Whether the 24B27 update prevents the failure. It was released in 2024; there is not enough time or data yet to show its effect.
- Whether Ford covers damaged engines. We found no warranty extension for the cam and lifters in NHTSA's records. Owners report case-by-case goodwill offers.
- How the 6.8 compares with the 7.3. Ford's program names both, but few complaints say which engine the truck has.
- What happened inside each engine. Complaints say "lifter," "cam" or "delamination"; they do not include teardown reports.
FAQ
What are the most common Ford 7.3 Godzilla problems?
In NHTSA complaints on 2020 and later gas Super Duty trucks, failed lifters and camshafts lead (13 of 27 engine noise and misfire complaints), followed by misfires from plugs, coils and plug wires. Ford has documented two problems in writing: cam and tappet wear from low oil pressure at idle (24B27) and a cracked oil pump drive gear that ticks at the front of the engine on 2020-2022 trucks.
What is Ford program 24B27?
A Powertrain Control Module software update for 2020-2024 F-250 to F-550 Super Duty trucks and 2021-2025 E-Series vans with the 6.8 or 7.3 gas engine. Ford says the variable displacement oil pump delivers low oil pressure at idle, and long idling can wear the camshaft lobes and tappets, causing tapping, misfire and a check engine light. Ask a Ford dealer whether it is done on your VIN.
Why is my 7.3 gas engine ticking?
On a 2020-2022 7.3, a tick at idle loudest at the lower front, where the timing cover meets the oil pan, matches Ford's service messages on a cracked oil pump drive gear. A tick from the top of the engine that comes with a misfire on one cylinder points to a worn lifter or cam lobe. Have the source located before any parts are replaced.
Does the 7.3 Godzilla have valve spring problems?
Owner forums often say so, but not one NHTSA complaint on 2020 and later gas Super Duty trucks names a valve spring. The complaints name lifters and camshafts, and Ford's own program 24B27 describes cam lobe and tappet wear. A broken spring is possible on any engine, but the data does not point to it here.
How much does it cost to fix a 7.3 Godzilla lifter failure?
If caught early, the cam, lifters and rocker parts are inexpensive at list price (about $24 per lifter and $289 for a camshaft on 2023 and later engines), and labor is most of the bill. Once metal has gone through the engine, owners reported $13,000 to almost $15,000 for a replacement engine in 2023.
Does idling hurt the 7.3 Godzilla?
Ford says it can: in program 24B27 it states that routine prolonged idling can wear the camshaft lobes and tappets because the oil pump delivers low pressure at idle. The remedy is a PCM software update. Avoid unnecessary long idling and make sure the update has been done.
Is the Ford 7.3 gas engine reliable?
It is a simple, naturally aspirated pushrod V8, and most complaints about it involve the valvetrain rather than the bottom end. The cam and lifter wear Ford describes in 24B27 is the main known risk, and it is tied to idling. A truck with the update done, normal idle hours and no misfire history is a far better bet than one that idled for a living.
Go deeper
Each of these pages shows the sources behind every claim, the confidence tier and the part numbers:
- Ford 7.3 Godzilla platform page · the HEMI equivalent: Ram 6.4 HEMI
- Failure modes: Cam lobe and lifter wear · Cracked oil pump drive gear · Valve springs · Ignition service · Exhaust manifold leaks
- Repairs: Ignition service · Exhaust manifold repair
- Parts: Valve lifter · Camshaft · Ignition coil 2020-2022 · Oil pressure sender
- Related: HEMI tick in a Ram 2500/3500 · 3.5 EcoBoost cold-start rattle · How we verify and tag facts
Sources. NHTSA owner complaints database (US government public domain), keyword-matched, read by hand and limited to complaints that do not name the diesel or the 6.2; owner quotes are taken from complaint narratives with capitalization normalized, and complaint numbers are given so you can read them in full. Ford program 24B27 and special service messages 50830 and 51330, from NHTSA's manufacturer communications index; NHTSA recall record 25V-455. Part prices are Ford list prices at the time of publication. Torque Index aggregates and cross-checks public information, takes no paid placement and does not provide repair or inspection services.