This question is NOT about truck engines!I have a '17 mustang convertible on order and I'm not having any luck on the mustang forums.The car will be equipped with the 5.0 L V8. Al. block and heads.My question is:do the cylinders have a steel or cast iron sleeve installed? If the answer is no,is there a special break in process needed?

 

The short answer is that they have a ferrous oxide coating on the cylinders. I don't think anyone is stupid enough to make an unlined aluminum engine after the Chevy Vega debacle.

These engines come with a Plasma Transfer Wire Arc (PTWA) coating in the cylinders. After special machining of the aluminum cylinders, a device using superheated air stream to evaporate a steel wire and deposit the plasma stream onto the cylinder walls in layers. Then the coating is given a final diamond finish hone. It is very tough, provides better lubrication than traditional steel surface, and it saves weight and space. See this discussion at SAE:

Ford launches plasma-sprayed cylinder bores on 2011 Shelby V8 - SAE International

I believe all the Coyote engines get this, truck or Mustang, and maybe other engines are getting this as well.

 

OK,thanks much- good info!Now for the break in.

 

The Vega's aluminum engine had nikasil coated bores. Not that bad a thing until you added it to the Vegas's open deck cylinder block. Once it overheated (they all seemed to...) the bores kinda moved around in relation to the heads and then you enjoyed blown head gaskets and coolant leaks and engine death.