I was driving home from work tuesday morning and started to smell burning oil about a mile from home. When I got here I shut her down and popped the hood. Once I popped the hood a clowd of smoke came out. So I got under her and it looked to me like the rear seal was blowen because oil was running from behind the motor and infront of the tranny. It was'nt a lot of oil but it was running on the cats. I checked the oil and it showed to be about half way up on the dip stick.

The next morning I get up and take the L into my service guy and he says that he thinks its a head gasket that blew. He said that the 5.4's are having some problems with the gaskets blowing out.

So today I talk to him and he says that it was the head gasket that blew and he has called Ford and they want the MOTOR CHANGED. They want the motor sent back to them for evaluation along with other 5.4's that are having the same problem.
I said your going to change my MOTOR for a blow head gasket????????

So at 8500 miles I get a new intercooler and at 11500 I get a new motor and intercooler.
This is very strange to me...............

 

My engine leaked oil from day one, past the head gasket on the passenger side. (Burning oil smell after hard charges or left turn) You got it, I got a new engine too. Hmmmmmm....at 1500 miles no less.

Seems like an expensive fix to me.

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2000 Red Lightning Born 3-8-00 / Delivered 3-22-00
22% Window Tint, Clear Corners, MPulse LoPro Tonneau, AIM 2" Drop Shackles, Bed Rug, PSP Filter Kit, Other Goodies
Best time: 13.45 sec. @ 101.99 mph

2000 Red Trans Am Ram Air WS6, 6 Speed - Delivered 2-15-00 - Awesome Looking Car

My Zing.com Album Click Here

 

WHAT04
How is the new motor? Thats the exact place that mine is leaking.
It would'nt leak very much just driving normally but at wot it would start blowing a lot of oil. Very expensive fix.....

 

Autothrottle,

It took about two weeks and 23 hours labor to R & R the motor. Very well done. Only mark on the truck was a scratch on the plastic trim piece that runs along the back of the engine compartment, under the hood. I have not had to go back for any follow up work (on the engine that is, I had the tranny replaced two weeks later!!) since the install and now have 9000 miles on new bullet.

Hope yours goes as well.

 

Auto

You have had a bad run of luck havent you....

Perhaps it is a result of the bad karma from beating me at the track everytime....

Keep us informed on your engine swap.

Doug

 

Maybe we should run him after they pull his engine.

 

I met a Lightning owner up here tha had similar problems. I think he blew the head gasket, but they only replaced the cylinder head. 2 weeks later he was going through a car wash, and he blew a spark plug out the head! Then the tranny went and they got him one of those too. To end the night, I told him a little bit about our Intercoolers and their infamous problems.

I remember for a fact that they didn't replace the engine just the haed, and the was only after the spark plug incident.

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99 Black Lightning
factory tonneau cover, 100k mile warrantee, bed/under liner,
F150online.com R hp sticker mod in the mail.
1/4
2.145 60' 8.789@82.71 (1/8) 13.603@101.05 1/4 same run
straight pipes, 'Major' rear lights, no chip
Lightning!

 

Sixpipes,
I'll need a head start and help pushing. It should be quit a bit lighter though...LOL
I wish they would put the new intercooler in or will this motor have the revised intercooler. There is such a thing,right???
Maybe they should just give me a 2001 motor...... yaaaaahhoooooo.........
Now that would be nice.

I'll keep you guys informed......


[This message has been edited by Autothrottle (edited 10-13-2000).]