Id have Ford look it over for a simple diagnosis charge.Because im sure someone has already looked the car over and tried a few things.

My thoughts are your timing chain tensioner guides are shot,they are 12 years old and way past overdue to be changed. Unchanged, the plastic pieces will clog the oil pickup and circulate around in the engine causing a rebuild.
Ive rebuilt over 15 local modular engines, both SOHC and DOHC due to this,and work on the newer mustangs VCT as well.

Honestly I absolutely hate the design, but Ford continues to let the same
engineers that built it work for them,but decline any fault.

 

My thoughts are your timing chain tensioner guides are shot,they are 12 years old and way past overdue to be changed. Unchanged, the plastic pieces will clog the oil pickup and circulate around in the engine causing a rebuild.
Ive rebuilt over 15 local modular engines, both SOHC and DOHC due to this,and work on the newer mustangs VCT as well.



Interesting, I never knew the guides have to be changed. At what mileage should these be changed out?

 

I'm interested in that information as well. I'm at 50,xxx miles and am a bit concerned now. I wonder if it's noted in the owner's manual for scheduled maintenance...

 

Is there a DIY thread for this?