My wife's Expy has been making some rattling and clanking on startup so I took it to the dealer. They decided the timing chain tensioners and cam phasers need to be replaced. So its ready and I go to pick it up this morning. On the way back home it goes into protection and starts smoking from under the hood! I immediately pulled over and shut it down. Called the dealer and they sent a wrecker right out. When I opened the hood it looked like something exploded. Nice start to a Saturday...

 

Did it blow a coolant hose?

 

Not sure, but I'm guessing yes. Its mostly on the left side. The temperature gauge was pegged, and it started smoking. The dealership probably had to remove those hoses to change out the timing chain tensioners so I'm betting a hose wasn't properly re-attached.

 

That's those damn quick connect fittings for you!

 

The dealer might get to buy you a new engine and hire a new mechanic now.
If it was the quick connect hose fitting Ford will get to pay but they'll blame it on you, the mechanic or the dealer, or at least try to.

 

might be air in cooling system,did't purge system.

 

Either way it's a crappy way to start the day. I hope all works out in your favor.

 

That's what I'm afraid of. But, being that I had just picked it up from the dealer I hope they don't try and play me as a fool. I took it in for a start up issues not overheating. The kicker is my Ford ESP warranty expires on Wednesday!

 

Got it back today. Sure enough, they didn't properly reconnect the coolant line. They reattached it, topped off the coolant and took it for a 20 mile test drive.

It didn't overheat for that long and I'm pretty sure the smoke I saw was the coolant hitting the engine block. Is there anything I can check to make sure there is no engine damage? I'm wondering if I should change the oil?

 

You want to change the oil because of a coolant leak? I don't get the connection!

 

The only reason I could think would be that If the engine overheated for long enough there could be metal particles in the oil and leaving it in there could lead to further damage.

Unlikely considering he said he shut it down right away.

 

A coolant leak that caused my rig to briefly overheat. I'm more concerned about the possibility of the oil breaking down. However, I really don't think it got hot for nearly long enough. After sitting off for 10 minutes the gauge read normal.

I was looking over the service receipt and it seems they replaced more than the tensioners. It seems they also replaced all the guides and the chains themselves. It's never sounded so smooth.

 

I would change the oil because overheating causes the oil to lose some or most of it's lubricity. It would really depend on how hot the engine got before you shut it down. Give it the sniff test, if it dosen't smell like it should, change it.

 

Rofl at Lubricity. New word to use at random haha. Yeah getting too hot can can cause the oil to lose its viscosity but I doubt any problems if he shut it down right away. For peace of mind and $30 he could change it but I really don't see a need.

 

These engines run hot anyway, I'd dump it. In fact, I'd make the dealer do a freebie.