Happster
Member
- Joined
- January 19, 2009
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 3
- City, State
- Dunstable, MA
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2017 Explorer XLT 3.5L V6
I have a 2017 Exploder with a 3.5L V6 engine that, well, exploded. Blew a head gasket or maybe even cracked a head. All the anti-freeze landed in the oil in a fairly short period of time. 180k miles, not worth rebuilding.
So, I found a plug-and-play used motor out of So Cal with reasonably low mileage, 50K, $2300 shipped. Not bad. It's on the way. But the exploded motor had the famous chronic oil leak at the rear main seal. The dealer fixed it 6 times under warranty and it was leaking again when the motor failed. The warranty expired. Should have been a recall. If I had the time, I'd sue Ford. But I'm a lawyer and argue all day for a living. It's like they say, the last thing an OB GYN wants to do when he gets home is eat Poo-C.
.
Anyway, I've read that the root cause of the issue is that they designed the seal as a two-piece seal, which, if true, would of course be retarded. But I'm not seeing any real fixes online, even after 8 years. Of course, if the new to me motor has no signs of leakage, I'm not touching it. But if it does, any thoughts on how to insure against leaks while I have the motor in front of me? I'll replace the plate and seal, but any pointers on how to avoid the chronic issue is greatly appreciated.
So, I found a plug-and-play used motor out of So Cal with reasonably low mileage, 50K, $2300 shipped. Not bad. It's on the way. But the exploded motor had the famous chronic oil leak at the rear main seal. The dealer fixed it 6 times under warranty and it was leaking again when the motor failed. The warranty expired. Should have been a recall. If I had the time, I'd sue Ford. But I'm a lawyer and argue all day for a living. It's like they say, the last thing an OB GYN wants to do when he gets home is eat Poo-C.
.
Anyway, I've read that the root cause of the issue is that they designed the seal as a two-piece seal, which, if true, would of course be retarded. But I'm not seeing any real fixes online, even after 8 years. Of course, if the new to me motor has no signs of leakage, I'm not touching it. But if it does, any thoughts on how to insure against leaks while I have the motor in front of me? I'll replace the plate and seal, but any pointers on how to avoid the chronic issue is greatly appreciated.
