So I was just informed that the motor in my FX4 will need to be replaced! The Ford dealership quoted me $7300 for a brand new motor with a 3 year 75,000 mile warranty.

Since the truck just crossed 100k on the odometer, I am thinking that the $7300 investment wouldn't make as much sense as taking the trade in value of $3000 they offered me and buying something new. Here is the way I see it:

The value of the truck in excellent condition is approx. 15k on the high end. With having the motor replaced I would assume that the value would drop to 10-12k. Being that the offer for trade plus cost of repair is only 1-2k lower than having it fixed and hoping the truck would sell for 11-12k. I feel that it makes more sense to just take the trade and go with it.

What do you guys think?

 

What happened to your truck that you need an entirely new engine?! Even if you did need to put another engine in, you could get a reman engine for less than half of that installed.

 

I would get a second quote on the engine replacement. When I worked at a chevy dealer in parts we sold engines with full warrantys to small shops. Also if I was considering buying a truck with 100k with a new engine it wouldn't Be worth less to me. I would see that as a increase in value, especially if the warranty is transferable.

 

I wouldn't say an increase in value, but no loss in value either. Either way, 3k for trade is out of the question.

 

Unfortunately oil sludge is indescribably bad (Looks like black play-doh). I bought the truck at 45k and it ran great. I started to receive a check engine light around 70k so I pulled the notorious P0022 code when I ran the scanner. After replacing the driver side VCT solenoid (Which never showed a sign of oil sludge) the light went off and came back on around 85k. Took it to the dealership and they dropped the "cam phaser" issue on me and I refused to replace since I was showing no performance issues. Just recently I started to notice some misfiring (Which ended up being a bad coil pack) so I took it in for the phaser replacement. After they pulled the valve covers that is when they noticed the sludge. I always changed my oil every 3k replacing with Motorcraft oil and filter so I assume it was the previous owner.

I have asked other dealerships for a factory replacement and the price seems to be pretty close $7000-7500. The reman is $6300 since the cost is $3300 which seems to be a ripoff when you can pay $1000 more for a brand new one and a 3 year 75k warranty. Any other suggestions as to where to check for a reman. motor with at least a 6 month warranty?

 

So ... did they replace the phasers and how is it doing now? If you keep up with the good oil and filters, who's to say she doesn't go another 100K?

 

I did not have them go any further after discovering the sludge issue. I am sure the truck has been running with the sludge as the underlying issue for quite a while now. However, all that it will do is continue to clog the screens on the VCT solenoid which in turn will require me replace them every time I see my check engine light come on throwing the P0022 code.

I have seen others have the dealership just fix the VCT solenoids and never have an issue with it again. To me it is not an option to have a ticking time bomb since the truck has recently been handed over to the wife as the "baby vehicle" due to our latest addition. I am stuck driving the go kart (MAZDA 6) for now.

 

Worse case it what .... starts making some noise? Best case .... it gradually cleans up with good oil and regular filter changes? I mean .... are we talking loose sludge as in old oil still in there or are we talking a settled sludge layer in places but clean oil flowing, clean high detergent Motorcraft Oil?

It's your call .... I'm just wondering since you say you saw no performance issues.

 

Definitely had no performance issue until lately which I am sure is due to the bad coil pack. I am not used to seeing a motor with a sludge issue so please see the pics below and give me your thoughts.

 

 

Is this seriously caused by never changing your oil???

 

Don't waste the $7300 on the engine. I just saw a 4x4 Lariat for $6900 on craigslist and there are thousands of other deals out there. I would keep driving it since there are no real performance issues. If you trade in, shop around. You don't have to buy from these people only.

 

If you drove it there then I don't see how it NEEDS an engine. That's what the inside of an engine with high miles looks like. The dealer is giving you the shaft. Fix it and see how long it goes. Id guess a while.

 

First off....man that sucks! Really does resemble black play doh. Secondly, $3000 trade is a joke! I got $2500 trade on a 2000 Taurus with 150k that had no remaining suspension, never had an oil change (prob had play doh too lol) and was an absolute rust bucket. Granted, i prob got
that much bc a dealer special but still. $3000 for an 04 screw....even without an engine that seems low.

 

Yeah, I had time to sleep on it to decide that I am just going to have the necessary repairs made which includes the coil pack and VCT solenoids to be replaced while the covers are off.

I appreciate everyone's input since this is my first time running into an issue as big as this.