98k and cracked gasket, told I need new engine

[ControlNode]

Our 2.3's shouldn't have this problem.

OP, I'd be looking for a second opinion.

'Ford doesn't recommend replacing the head gasket'

Uhh, they did that to piles of Focus' when those were eating gaskets.

You need a good non-Ford dealer shop since you're no longer in warranty.

The issue with the Focus 2.3 was completely different. Those engines introduced the updated bridge cooling setup, but the updated head gaskets had a design problem, or a problem that prevented the design from be manufactured correctly, that made them unusable, so Ford put in head gaskets from a different 2.3, one that still had the old bridge cooling setup. It was a bad Idea, but with lead time to redesign and remake the head gaskets for the Focus 2.3 it would likely have killed the car from getting made, so they stuffed something in to get them to market. Then in about July 2017 they started building the engines with the updated and designed for the 2.3 Focus head gaskets. In Feb or Mar of 2018, the FSA was released for all 2.3 Foci with the wrong gaskets.


And if the cylinder wall is cracked, I would not recommend wasting the time on a head gasket either.

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[Wytchdctr]

And if the cylinder wall is cracked, I would not recommend wasting the time on a head gasket either.

^_this


I'd be looking for a low mileage Ranger wreck if someone confirmed mine had a cracked cylinder wall.

 

[JustWideman]

No, the 2.7 has it's own failure issues and there is no plug and play swap currently.

They sure do...
https://www.carscoops.com/2023/10/f...engine-failures-now-includes-700000-vehicles/

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

That might have been the case. EGR code went bad on a trip and mechanics along the way including Ford service techs said it was okay even though the cooler water was dark tea color. I got back to Texas and changed it, but have been going through 2+ gallons of coolant in the last 2 months since the EGR was replaced and still throwing the EGR code error and now faults and tranny codes too.

I'd bet the EGR incident is when your block overheated and your got your crack. A crack in the block is very common on open-deck engines when they overheat. The dark coolant was clue #1 that you had some oil incursion. Very sorry for you, man.

The reason why replacement is the preferred option here for you is because you have damage to the bottom end of your engine. To fix this with your existing heads you'd need to order a new short block and hire a tech to perform a top-end rebuild with whatever is left from your engine. The cost of his time + parts is probably equal to if not more than the cost of a whole new lump.

They haven't got time to look at cars there's no way they're going to put a dude on a rebuild that will take a couple days if Ford has 2.3's to ship.

 

[JustWideman]

I got better answers in two days from the guys here than the 3 Ford dealer service techs and other shops that do this every day that said it was fine until it was not. Thanks!

 

[ctechbob]

The issue with the Focus 2.3 was completely different. Those engines introduced the updated bridge cooling setup, but the updated head gaskets had a design problem, or a problem that prevented the design from be manufactured correctly, that made them unusable, so Ford put in head gaskets from a different 2.3, one that still had the old bridge cooling setup. It was a bad Idea, but with lead time to redesign and remake the head gaskets for the Focus 2.3 it would likely have killed the car from getting made, so they stuffed something in to get them to market. Then in about July 2017 they started building the engines with the updated and designed for the 2.3 Focus head gaskets. In Feb or Mar of 2018, the FSA was released for all 2.3 Foci with the wrong gaskets.


And if the cylinder wall is cracked, I would not recommend wasting the time on a head gasket either.

If the cylinder is cracked, no.

My main point was, if it is just a head gasket problem, there's no special reason you can't replace the head gasket and roll with it (Assuming all the underlying machine work is done and everything else checked).

 

[airline tech]

The reason for recommending engine replacement is due to the fact that as of right now, if I am understanding this correctly.

The cooling system was pressurized, and an inspection camera (Borescope) was placed into the cylinder and coolant was seen dripping down the cylinder wall from the head mating surface.

Now, we can flip a coin here, is it a cracked block - cracked head or Blown Head Gasket?

If Blown Head Gasket, what does the Deck (Mating Surface Head/Block) look like? Pitting or Smooth surface? Warped or Level?

The reason for the recommendation of full engine change from a shop's standpoint is the unknown.

So most likely it is just a blown head gasket, pull heads and at that milage possibly rebuild the heads while they are out and reinstall with a new gasket,
I am thinking that the initial loss of coolant from a bad EGR Cooler and engine overheating caused the blown head gasket. EGR Cooler replaced, now the cooler is not leaking but the head gasket is.

A low coolant level will generate EGR Cooler Codes, as it has lost its ability to work properly.
The coolant leak should have been addressed at that time as a system pressure test would have been performed after the replacement.

 

[jflogerzi]

^_this


I'd be looking for a low mileage Ranger wreck if someone confirmed mine had a cracked cylinder wall.

this is the way honestly. look for a used low milage motor, take it to a 3rd party shop you can trust and get ready to still write a big check.

 

[Friday yet?]

dumped the rig, and lost all faith in Ford. These failures are

Sorry, probably missed it in an earlier thread but.. what'd you buy next?

 

[Rhino]

Why do you call it that? You've had 98K flawless miles and now have had the bad luck to crack a gasket. You haven't told us what gasket it was, from the coolant lose I assume it was the head gasker. First one I have heard of.

Yes the first posted engine light is for the transmission, nothing to do with engine. What are the others for?

Yes, many of use have the questionable CDF drum design, which has been updated. But, if you look at all the vehicles running the 10R80 the number of failures is still relatively small.

With any vehicle you take your chances. Not sure any other make is any better or worse.

updated? idk bout that i have a 22 xlt with 22k miles and its going in for trans issues....

 

[AvockAdoo]

Sorry, probably missed it in an earlier thread but.. what'd you buy next?

I came from the land of many toyota's before my ranger - and I went back. On paper the tacoma is a worse truck in every measureable way - slower, less comfortable etc.. but its also the only midsize offered with a long bed and a real cab. So I got a 21 tacoma. So far its been great, and I expect it will be like the rest of my toyota's have been and will remain trouble free for years to come.

 

[AvockAdoo]

Why do you call it that? You've had 98K flawless miles and now have had the bad luck to crack a gasket. You haven't told us what gasket it was, from the coolant lose I assume it was the head gasker. First one I have heard of.

Yes the first posted engine light is for the transmission, nothing to do with engine. What are the others for?

Yes, many of use have the questionable CDF drum design, which has been updated. But, if you look at all the vehicles running the 10R80 the number of failures is still relatively small.

With any vehicle you take your chances. Not sure any other make is any better or worse.

This is the issue with the herd mentality on this forum sometimes. Call a spade a spade. There are a ton of engine issues documented on this forum. I had an engine fail myself, and my transmission was being weird before that happened too. The long and short of it is that the ranger was supposed to be a bulletproof combo: Underboosted 2.3 from the RS and an underworked transmission from an f150? Sign me up! The problem is that ford's game has slipped. Something quality has gone out the window. "98k flawless miles" isnt even the first minor checkpoint - it was 2k off. 150k flawless miles and then losing a couple injectors or something would be acceptable. A modern drive train should be able to make 200k with no issues whatsoever. There's a guy over on the tacomaworld site who has over 350k on his 3rd gen tacoma - no major issues, he's replaced a few sensors and injectors. 98k is laughable. The guys on here who lost transmissions around there, thats laughable too. I absolutely LOVED my ranger, but the reliability isnt there with these trucks and no amount of fan-boy-ing is going to make a transmission last longer.

 

[Friday yet?]

I came from the land of many toyota's before my ranger - and I went back. On paper the tacoma is a worse truck in every measureable way - slower, less comfortable etc.. but its also the only midsize offered with a long bed and a real cab. So I got a 21 tacoma. So far its been great, and I expect it will be like the rest of my toyota's have been and will remain trouble free for years to come.

Good deal! Glad you are happy. Hope it treats you well for many many miles.

Sorry folks. Didn't mean to hijack the thread.

Now back to our regularly scheduled programming.

 

[Rp930]

This is the issue with the herd mentality on this forum sometimes. Call a spade a spade. There are a ton of engine issues documented on this forum. I had an engine fail myself, and my transmission was being weird before that happened too. The long and short of it is that the ranger was supposed to be a bulletproof combo: Underboosted 2.3 from the RS and an underworked transmission from an f150? Sign me up! The problem is that ford's game has slipped. Something quality has gone out the window. "98k flawless miles" isnt even the first minor checkpoint - it was 2k off. 150k flawless miles and then losing a couple injectors or something would be acceptable. A modern drive train should be able to make 200k with no issues whatsoever. There's a guy over on the tacomaworld site who has over 350k on his 3rd gen tacoma - no major issues, he's replaced a few sensors and injectors. 98k is laughable. The guys on here who lost transmissions around there, thats laughable too. I absolutely LOVED my ranger, but the reliability isnt there with these trucks and no amount of fan-boy-ing is going to make a transmission last longer.

Not sure you can blame the engine on this one. Engine damage was self inflicted by not addressing the original problem.

The sky is not falling.

 

[AvockAdoo]

Not sure you can blame the engine on this one. Engine damage was self inflicted by not addressing the original problem.

The sky is not falling.

I dont disagree - but the original problem should have happened either. These trucks are ALL still NEW. Hardly any are over 100k miles yet. I wont say the sky is falling, but if I ever buy another ford truck I will be working into my budget money for a new transmission within the first 5 years, and I wouldnt be surprised if I were to lose another engine.

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