Failure mode - Ford 7.3L Godzilla Gasoline (Super Duty 2020+, E-Series cutaway 2021+)

Cam lobe and lifter (tappet) wear, worst with long idling

Reliability tier: verified - verify before ordering, see /disclosure/

Symptoms

tapping noise that progresses to a misfire on one cylinder and a rough run
check engine light / misfire codes (P0300-P0308), sometimes a flashing light under load
metal in the oil filter; owners report engine replacement once metal has circulated

Compare with the other causes of the same sign on this engine: ticking, knocking, rattle or whine (4 causes) · misfire, rough idle, hesitation or surging (3 causes) · metal in the fuel filter or oil

Root cause

Ford's program 24B27 (2020-2024 Super Duty, 2021-2025 E-Series with the 6.8L or 7.3L) states that the variable displacement oil pump delivers low pressure/capacity at idle, and that routine prolonged idling can wear the camshaft lobes and valve tappet surfaces, leading to misfire, tapping noise and a check engine light; the remedy is a PCM software update. NHTSA complaints on 2020+ gas Super Duty trucks name lifter or cam failure more than any other engine problem (13 of 27 hand-read engine-noise and misfire complaints), most often followed by engine replacement. Owner threads also report collapsed lifters after the truck sits.

Diagnosis

locate the noise: lower front at the timing cover/oil pan seam on 2020-2022 = check the oil pump drive gear first (SSM 50830/51330); top end and following one cylinder = lifter/cam
read misfire counters; a misfire that follows the cylinder (not the coil or plug) points to the valvetrain
cut the oil filter: metal means the cam/lifter damage has circulated
check by VIN whether the 24B27 PCM update has been done

Fixes

replace collapsed lifter(s); inspect the corresponding cam lobe - a flaked lobe means cam replacement, not just the lifter ()

valvetrain - more than one option: 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Camshaft, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Push Rod (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, left (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, left (current PN VC3Z-6A585-B), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, right (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, right (current PN VC3Z-6A585-A), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Cover Gasket, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Lifter, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Spring (OEM, current hardware)

updated-lifter hardware is the path for repeat failures per owner threads ()

valvetrain - more than one option: 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Camshaft, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Push Rod (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, left (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, left (current PN VC3Z-6A585-B), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, right (OEM), Godzilla Rocker Arm Pivot, right (current PN VC3Z-6A585-A), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Cover Gasket, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Lifter, 2023+ (OEM), 7.3L/6.8L Godzilla Valve Spring (OEM, current hardware)

Prevalence

common

Parts for this repair run about $35-$290: see them next to the other repairs on this engine in repair costs.