Dealer Replacing V8 motor @ 20k - some Q's

[2k1_V8]

hey guys. i am a new poster, but I've had my 2000 Sport SOHC for 3 years, and I recently turned it in for a Black 2001 XLT V8 w/ 20k.

The truck was very clean, and seemed to ride nice. I had my friend who is a 14 year Ford mechanic check the car out, and he thought it was clean. So I bought it.

Something I didn't notice when we checked it out. When I drove it for more than 30 mins, at idle, there was a clear and distinct knocking noise coming from the motor. It wasn't loud, but noticable.

I had an engine builder check it out, he said right away it sounds like a wrist pin, and definately something wrong with the piston.

I bring it to the dealer. They spent a week looking over it, thinking it was carbon buildup. My mechanic friends said no way..

They finally called out a Ford engineer, and decided to pull the motor. They found serious damage in one of the cylinders, I don't know all the details, but something was broken on one of the pistons.

The dealer is replacing the motor. They said it is a Ford Quality Renewal Motor, and allegedly is the best possible replacement under factory warranty.

Can someone who works at Ford or has experience with these motors please provide some feedback?

needless to say, I am upset at buying a $18k car with a busted motor, but the dealer assures it will be as good as new, certainly better than one with a busted piston.

At least the dealer is being cooperative. The first dealer I got the car from told me to take a hike, and there was nothing wrong with it!!

thanks for the feedback. sorry this is so long.

 

[Jason_25]

Your problem is not unique. It is rumored that the later model (00-01) 5.0 V8's had internal problems due to casting.

I'm glad it's working out for you though and your replacement engine should last you many miles.

 

[2k1_V8]

thanks for the reply. I believe that rumor is unfounded. I have two Ford mechanic friends, both longtime veterans tell me they can count on 1 hand how many V8's they've fixed in the last 5 years.

Ford was selling the 5.0 V8 Explorer motor as a crate motor right up until last year. I know many people on my Mustang sites where people were using these motors for supercharged/turbo buildups making 400+ RWHP without problems.

My intent on the post was to find out information about FQR motors.

if the new motor doesn't hold up, I'll have to swap in my supercharged 331 B50 Sportsman block from my 84 Capri into the Exploder...

 

[Xplor]

2k1, hey there, I love my '00 V8, except for the occasional pinging(spark knock) at highway speeds. This problem only occurs usually going over overpasses, hills, etc. I had the computer reflashed(tuned-down) and decarbon, However, I still have the pinging. Even with 93 octane it does help, but I know I should not use it. The truck has under 30k miles on it. I haven't tried cleaning the MASS, but I am going to give that a shot when I get around to it. I've call several Ford dealerships and descibe the situation and some say its "normal" which I know it's B.S.! I even also tried other brands of gas to see if that works, but no luck. I know this is different problem that your having. But I was wondering if your mechanic friends see this as a common problem for the 5.0. My truck is stock basicly with just a drop-in K&N filter running on Mobil 1 syn. oil.

P.S....keep us posted on the results your having.

 

[aviator]

5.0L pinging

I feel the pain, my old limited with the V8 was pinging all the time after 30 000 miles. Dealer said nothing wrong, don't worry about it. Well by 35 000 my check engine light came on and within minutes the engine seized and quit. It was later determined to be faulty specs on the internal #1 cylinder. I was told and I quote "we've had quite a few instances where we have had to replace the motor due to failures related to #1 cylinder breakdown; normally not causing the engine to seize however." After the motor was replaced I sold it back to the dealer on a trade in for our Aviator.

I'm sure a high percentage of the V8's are great, but I was surprised to hear it was an occurance that was not unusual.

 

[rvitek]

Originally posted by Xplor
2k1, hey there, I love my '00 V8, except for the occasional pinging(spark knock) at highway speeds. This problem only occurs usually going over overpasses, hills, etc.

Hey I had this EXACT same problem Dead Link Removed and found out that it was in fact my exhaust manifold that was cracked. I had it replaced and no longer do I hear any of the noises.

Good luck!

Ry.

 

[2k1_V8]

Xplor,

I know from my 5.0 experience (mustang side, EEC-IV) the aftermarket mass air meters are typically calibrated for panel or conical air filters. The different flow characteristics can cause metering issues that throw off the computer.

You should check what rvitek said, to make certain the exhaust manifolds aren't cracked or leaking. If they are fine, you may want to check out the mass air meter. The element is fragile, so you have to be careful cleaning it.

I had a poorly calibrated MA in my 84 Capri (I converted to 91 EFI 2 years ago), and it wreaked havoc on the idle, caused pinging, etc. It's a good start to look at. I replaced the meter, and the difference was immediate.

aviator, interesting about your issue there. I have not been told which cylinder it was, but I know it was on the drivers side, which would be 5,6,7 or 8.

I am hoping this replacement will hold up for quite a while. If not, I have a spare 92 302 w/ E-303 cam, TFS heads, and a Cobra intake I was going to sell. I think I will hold onto it now.

I have a quick spy photo of the victim and the transplant. I'll let you guys know how it works out.

 

[aviator]

4.6L DOHC puts you back in your seat

After driving the aviator for a while I finally got the chance to let her out on a flat open space with nobody around. All I can say is wow. It literally pins you to your seat throughout the entire power band. I hit 160 mph and scared myself to the point of coasting all the way to a stop; scarier yet it had more room to go.

Sorry for the off topic. Anyways I had a 5.0L X before we got the ator and my wife still has an eddie with the SOHC 4.0L; and to be quite honest we had more than our share of trouble with the old 5.0L than we did with the 4.0L; however that may be because I drove the snot out of the 5.0L limited.

If any of you get a chance to drive an aviator; you will never want to drive anything else again. Luxury with the presence of extreme power; it feels faster than the porsche boxter I had when I was younger; and a hell of a lot more throttle left at top speed in final gear. A supercharger on this is going to be a dream. My initial calculations estimate a total of 450 bhp. With some other mods its possible the aviator can push well over 500 hp, and the engine is strong enough to handle whatever you want to do to it.

I predict in years to come they will be sought after machines.

 

[Majisto]

Re: 4.6L DOHC puts you back in your seat

Originally posted by aviator
After driving the aviator for a while I finally got the chance to let her out on a flat open space with nobody around. All I can say is wow. It literally pins you to your seat throughout the entire power band. I hit 160 mph and scared myself to the point of coasting all the way to a stop; scarier yet it had more room to go.

Sorry for the off topic. Anyways I had a 5.0L X before we got the ator and my wife still has an eddie with the SOHC 4.0L; and to be quite honest we had more than our share of trouble with the old 5.0L than we did with the 4.0L; however that may be because I drove the snot out of the 5.0L limited.

If any of you get a chance to drive an aviator; you will never want to drive anything else again. Luxury with the presence of extreme power; it feels faster than the porsche boxter I had when I was younger; and a hell of a lot more throttle left at top speed in final gear. A supercharger on this is going to be a dream. My initial calculations estimate a total of 450 bhp. With some other mods its possible the aviator can push well over 500 hp, and the engine is strong enough to handle whatever you want to do to it.

I predict in years to come they will be sought after machines.

Uh, what? 160 MPH? Sorry man, but that's impossible. I'm sure the Modular can go that fast, but that truck has bad aerodynamics, and there is going to be a speed limiter on there around 120. Are you sure you were going 160?

 

[aviator]

Maybe the explorer is limited with a governor but the aviator needle can be buried, trust me. That engine has an enormous amount of go. What would be the point of limiting a 300Hp DOHC engine at 120? Maybe some are set up with a limiter but as far as I could tell with the needle at 5:00 she still had room to go.

 

[aviator]

woops

Sorry my mistake Km/hr here. 160km/hr with lots of room to go. Canadian eh.

 

[WannaXP8]

My 98 has that nockin sound?

Do you think I should have it looked at? Its got 62,x.. miles on it, with 75,000 mile warranty? Would they change the motor you think? Cause it really makes me wonder how much longer will the my 5 liter last?

 

[james t]

Re: woops

Originally posted by aviator
Sorry my mistake Km/hr here. 160km/hr with lots of room to go. Canadian eh.

d@mn, i already had the B.S. flag out and ready to go. friggin Americans and their low tolerance of metrics.