I need some help! The 2000 f-150, 5.4L with about 80,000 on it blew out oil from somewhere, overheated and shut down, I wasn't driving it. I can't get the engine to turn over (Batt. dead). I removed the oil pan plug and antifreeze came out. I'm pretty sure the engine is toasted but does anyone have any ideas as to any other quick checks I can make to confirm that it's blown and/or seized. Also, what's the cheapest way out?
Thanks - RAP

 

A freeze plug under the timing cover probably popped out, filling the crankcase with coolant and ruining the engine.

The cheapest way out would probably be to find a good used engine out of a wrecked truck.

 

Thanks Quintin!

 

You can't just plug the hole?

 

R.i.p.

 

The OP said someone ran it until it quit. Sure, you could pull the timing cover and fix the leak (if that's what it is), but the bottom end of the engine is still ruined from the coolant contamination. Trying to fix the engine at this point IMO is like taking aspirin for a chainsaw wound.

 

Why can't he just flush everything out? What does coolant in the crankcase do that is so catastrophic?

 

Coolant is a pretty poor lubricant. Odds are the bearings are all shot now.

 

Coolant washes oil out of the main and rod bearing passages in a big hurry. It doesn't take long with coolant in the crankcase, and the high pressure/high load surfaces of the main and rod bearings to cause extensive damage to the crank and/or bearings and/or rod journal surfaces.

 

Oh, so everything is scoured beyond repair because the secondary driver just kept going. What a waste....

 

Thanks everyone for all the responses. Your thoughts, ideas and support are a big help.
I got a better look at the engine from underneath today and something that looks about the size of a lifter punched a hole in the block right next to the oil filter. Just as I thought anyway - toasted for sure.
I did some field work and might be able to get my hands on a 2005 f-150, 5.4L. My question is. Will it just bolt right in and be pretty much a turnkey operation or do I need to do a lot of engine bolt on component swapping?

 

The Engine blocks are basically but anything above that has changed. So the block will bolt into the engine compartment and the transmission will bolt to the block. The heads are of a 3 valve design. They have a computer controlled cam phaser that retards and advances the cam timing. The throttle body is also controlled by t he PCM as are the intake runners. You could set all of these components back to manual with the use of a few extra parts. The Exhaust Runners are of a different design so your manifold/headers will not bolt up unless you use an adapter.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier