Not to be negative, but....

I have come to be apprehensive about looking in the Engine section. It seems almost everyday, someone tells the tale of their head leak and the trouble they have with the dealer and or Ford.

I thought I did a lot of research before I purchased a used truck four months ago. Could have bought anything, but I picked a used 99' supercab flareside with a Romeo plant 4.6L .

Now, I wonder if and when I will develope the leak. I have 54,000 on it now. All I read and heard in my research was how the late model F-150 engine is not even broken in until 60-80 K miles. That getting over 200,000 miles was expected and with the proper mods., I could have a workhorse that could take a Chevy off the line.

I am very suprised that members of this site have not organized to do something about it. At the very least you could start a thread with everyone that has had this leak, post a brief summary of their problem and adventures/nightmare with the dealers and Ford. This extended thread, could be printed off to anyone having this problem and used as leveraging when dealing with the dealers and Ford.

Imagine being able to walk into the Dealer or being able to fax to some Ford rep., pages and pages of horror stories of new trucks with engine leaks, consumers having to pay for the manufactures documented defective, people getting the run around for weeks and or months. Imagine being able to show in documented form, why they should give you a new truck immediately or fix it right the first time at their expense!

Why have you all not started this? You would only be helping each other?

I just did a search. I plugged in the word "Leak" and did a search of this section (Engine) and there were 690 topics that met that description.

Make this site work for you, for one day soon, I may need it. ha!

Note: I am not slamming Ford. If I did not like Ford I would not have bought one. I am only proposing that we turn a negative into a postive for us as consumers.

 

iron horse:

You mentioned you have the 4.6 and waiting for the leak. What the post I have read there all alot of 4.6 with leaky head gaskets.

I am responding to let you know its just not the 4.6. I have a 01 4.2 it has a leaky head gasket (drivers side) they will be replacing the head, gaskets etc. So it seems these leaky head gaskets are a HUGE problem for all or most FORD motors.

I have posted in here and the V-6 about the leaky head with responses basically stating: "It's nothing major quit crying about it" It seems if there is no coolant leaking into the motor or something knocking some guys think its crying. Myself I think it's MAJOR because I have to let go of the truck for at least 3 days for them to fix it. I then have to worry about someone scrathing the truck while they work on it. I have to worry about them getting grease and/or oil on the inside of the truck. I have to worry that they screw something else up while having the motor torn down and then putting it back togeather. I then have to worry they if they happen to let some dirt get inside the motor while putting things back togeather etc, etc, etc.

I know they will have to change the oil after they are done but to be safe as soon as I get it back I will be draining the oil and putting new oil back in just to make sure there was no coolant that leaked down into the pain while apart or any dirt that may have fell in.

In short for people who don't think a leaky head gasket is not MAJOR it is, think about it.

 

 

01 XLT Sport.

I completey agree it is a major problem. Don't let the response of one, make you think that none of us aren't right on top of the seriousness of this problem.

I have torn these engines apart, more than once. Fixing a leaking head gasket is a fairly major surgery when it comes down to doing it. Having to do it with any sort of regularlity should be a clear message to Ford. It is getting across to them. So don't feel like we don't think this is major.

I don't work for Ford. I don't even like Fords that much. But I still own an F-150 and I have a background in automotive service and repair shops. Ford knows about this, but they don't openly discuss it with the owners if they can avoid it.

 

I didn't say it, imply it, or even think it before. Now I will.

It's a FORD!!! All the evidence is in; Ford sucks Don't worry too much about it though, a Ford is supposed to suck. That's the plan from the Ford brain. They build lots and lots of these F-150's and sell them to us morons that still believe Ford is quality. I don't think so.... Not any more. Ford doesn't want you to buy a truck for $20,000-$35,000 and then drive it for 15-20 years/200,000 miles. They want you to buy it and then deny all of your warranty claims so that when you get to 36,000 miles you'll need to buy unservicable replacement parts to replace their unservicable replacement parts at a 200%-300% mark up. After about 2 years and 20,000 miles of unpredictable service from your out of warranty truck, you get so scared about the cost of what's going to fall apart next that you go out and buy another $20,000-$35,000 truck just because it's a Ford. But hey, at least it's not a Chevy or Dodge, right!!! Don't worry. I've driven Silverado's and Ram's as well. They really suck!!!

Anyone that truely believes Ford builds their trucks to last may fool themselves, but they won't put it past me. Ford sucks!!! I used to love my truck. It was (still is) a beautiful truck. That's only on the outside though. The next jacka$$ to compliment me on my truck, I'm going to make buy it. The shop owners that service my truck always seem to give such high praise for how well maintained it is after 5 years. Now I understand it's just good business. They know I'll soon be back.

*sigh*......... My truck has 75,681 miles. This past year, I spent more money on repairs and maintenance then I did towards paying off the loan. Every time I think it's back to its beautiful self, something else breaks!!! I've only driven 2,500 miles since January, 2002 because whenever I fix one problem, another pops up and I have to drive my other POS Ford.

Will I buy another??? You bet your a$$ I will, but next time I'll do it right!!! Next time, I pay with cash and sell it at 36,000 miles to some jacka$$ who still believes that a Ford is tough. Then I'll go out and buy another, cause my blood runs blue, baby

Thanks for giving me this opportunity to express myself.

***Of course this is just my opinion***