2016 Ford Explorer XLT FWD V6 3.5L fuel system issue.

[SEVan]

Hello,
I have had my 2016 Ford Explorer for about 3 years now. It has been a great reliable car until recently. Not too long ago I was driving home from the airport in Denver, about 3 hrs away. The car started shaking and the check engine light started flashing. I got the codes pulled and was told it was cylinder 2 misfire. So naturally I replaced the coil pack for cylinder2, all 6 spark plugs and it fixed it for a few weeks or so. Then the problem came back. Same code, so I replaced the fuel injector for cylinder 2. While changing it out I went ahead and checked all 6, they were all covered with what looked like mud, really bad. So I cleaned them all and added some seafoam. It helped again for a couple weeks then it came back and not getting any better. At this stage I have used 3 bottles of seafoam and 2 bottles of cataclean over time. I have reached out to local mechanics but it'll be a month before I can get it in. I was told that the fuel system might be contaminated, with it being a capless gas tank. The misfire can be felt at idle and up to around 2000 RPM, after that it seems to level out.

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice as I have run out of ideas.

CHEERS!

 

[J_C]

Welcome to the forum!

Capless tank setup doesn't let contamination in, the flap seals and if it didn't, you'd get an evap leak related trouble code set. That's unless you suspect someone has sabotaged your vehicle by intentionally putting something in the tank.

The only code set was cyl 2 misfire? Any realtime data like the fuel pressure or long term fuel trim? Even after changing the injector, same cyl 2 code is set? I assume you used new injector o-rings to make sure they seal.

This "mud" you describe, does it look like varnish or carbon sludge from burning oil? Which engine and how many miles on it? If the V6, have you checked the oil for potential coolant contamination and checked the oil and coolant levels?

I'd check for spark on cyl 2, and check for fuel injector power pulses on the connector. If it has both of those seemingly reading the same as other cylinders while running, and especially if you have the 4 cylinder ecoboost engine, time to try a compression test (these 4cyl EB are prone to head gasket leaks) or possibly put a borescope down in the cylinder to inspect it, depending on the answers to the above questions.

 

[peterk9]

Hello,
I have had my 2016 Ford Explorer for about 3 years now. It has been a great reliable car until recently. Not too long ago I was driving home from the airport in Denver, about 3 hrs away. The car started shaking and the check engine light started flashing. I got the codes pulled and was told it was cylinder 2 misfire. So naturally I replaced the coil pack for cylinder2, all 6 spark plugs and it fixed it for a few weeks or so. Then the problem came back. Same code, so I replaced the fuel injector for cylinder 2. While changing it out I went ahead and checked all 6, they were all covered with what looked like mud, really bad. So I cleaned them all and added some seafoam. It helped again for a couple weeks then it came back and not getting any better. At this stage I have used 3 bottles of seafoam and 2 bottles of cataclean over time. I have reached out to local mechanics but it'll be a month before I can get it in. I was told that the fuel system might be contaminated, with it being a capless gas tank. The misfire can be felt at idle and up to around 2000 RPM, after that it seems to level out.

Thanks in advance for any tips or advice as I have run out of ideas.

CHEERS!

Welcome to the Forum.
Just to possibly rule out a leaking water pump, check the oil on the dipstick to see if it appears milky looking.

Peter

 

[peterk9]

Welcome to the forum!

...................................

This "mud" you describe, does it look like varnish or carbon sludge from burning oil? Which engine and how many miles on it? If the V6, have you checked the oil for potential coolant contamination and checked the oil and coolant levels?

........................................

He mentioned that he has the 3.5L V6 engine.

Peter

 

[J_C]

^ Then I'd have to read instead of only looking at the pictures.