Preventative Maint
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Preventative Maint
Have a 2002 e-150 with the 5.4L and 198,000 miles. I am the second owner. Use it to tow my enclosed trailer to the sporty car races. What should I be doing in terms of preventative maint on this vehicle? Runs great but really only gets used May - October and then only on weekends. Suggestions?
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 32
Likes: 7
Have a 2002 e-150 with the 5.4L and 198,000 miles. I am the second owner. Use it to tow my enclosed trailer to the sporty car races. What should I be doing in terms of preventative maint on this vehicle? Runs great but really only gets used May - October and then only on weekends. Suggestions?
Is it new to you? If don't know the history or have service records:
Change the Oil
Drain Radiator fluid and replace with 50/50
Check the serpentine belt for wear, replace if necessary.
Transmission Flush
New U-Joints
Check wheel bearings and ball joints for play
Pull couple of spark plugs and check for fouling
Drain Rear Differential and replace fluid.
Probably wouldn't hurt to do a water/seaform induction cleaning.
Most importantly listen to it. You will be able to detect a lot of problems like that. I was able to identify a bad PCV valve and exhaust manifold by ear on mine. Get underneath and listen to the transmission for bad torque converter or flex plate, listen to the engine for rod nock.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
This will be my third year of owning - have put all of 20,000 miles on it. Was thinking about fuel pump, alternator, starter etc. No service records although it appears the previous owner kept it in good shape.
Thanks for your quick response.
Thanks for your quick response.
New User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Unless you're having issues I wouldn't replace the alternator or starter.
You should check if the alternator is charging sufficiently, however.
Other items to check/replace would be engine air filter, brake fluid, and PCV valve it if has one.
And yeah, definitely do a top end cleaning like seafoam.
If you have access to it a fuel injector flush would be helpful, a bottle of Techron 2 tanks in a row would be good too.
You should check if the alternator is charging sufficiently, however.
Other items to check/replace would be engine air filter, brake fluid, and PCV valve it if has one.
And yeah, definitely do a top end cleaning like seafoam.
If you have access to it a fuel injector flush would be helpful, a bottle of Techron 2 tanks in a row would be good too.
New User
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Yeah! I agree with"if it aint broke don't fix it" Ive had 4 e-150s and a e-350 and did almost nothing except oil changes. Main issues that you will always have to address at some time. If its missing 90% its a coil. If its pulling one way or another Ball Joints and tie rod ends. If you have a firm vibration in the front, Bearings. If the rear end shutters when turning, put super slick rear end additive. be careful not to put too much, a little at a time till it stops. That should cover 90% of the problems you will ever have with these. Great vehicles, rarely ever leave you on the side of the road.
Trending Topics
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,036
Likes: 137
From: Maryville
Use Royal Purple for your rear diff, it has everything needed for a locker or limited slip and is cheaper than Motorcraft, far superior too, it's required every 100,000 miles, green antifreeze is every 3 years BTW, it gets acidic and will eat the core plugs from the block when ignored, the first to go is always the most difficult to replace.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Bedford, Va
I'm always leery when the "gimmick" is the first thing you see. Maybe "Royal Purple" should make a grease called "Royal Jelly", I don't think the bee's would sue them. Their ad copy could claim, "this difficult proprietary process take thousands of workers to produce a few pounds at a single manufacturing plant". Professional engine builders agree, "there's nothing like it".
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,196
Likes: 5
From: N Ca.
I guess I should have saved the burnt bearings to mail to you.