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Has anyone else been told a coolant leak on their 2013 Explorer Limited V6 is a Water Pump Leak and that they would need to tear the entire engine down to get to it at several grand worth of work?
Our very expensive 2013 Explorer Limited V6 has had a few very irritating issues for a very expensive SUV and its rather irritating.
Now we need about 4K worth of work between a second PTU Replacement for the PTU Smell/Leak issue and now a Water Pump apparently, if even that is really where its leaking from (I have not been able to ascertain that myself yet).
What has been your experience? What did you do about it?
135K and we still owe nearly 20K on it. Very discouraging....
Here is what is completely frustrating. It went into the dealer with something basic.
It came back immediately with the PTU Smell (PTU was replaced 20K ago out of warranty)
Then it went in for that and they said it needed to be replaced again at about 2K.
Then when we drove home from that, we immediately smelled a coolant leak.
Took it back for that and they said, coincidentally the water pump started leaking and it will require an engine teardown to replace the side mounted water pump...
So mind boggling, disappointing and frustrating....
Well if it’s in rack leaking from the water pump, check you oil. The 3.x v6 ford has uses a timing chain driven water pump, that’s mounted behind the front cover of the engine. It can leak into the oil, and than it’s time for an engine if you drive it like that. So make sure it’s not leaking into the oil, and if it is do NOT drive or even start the engine until it gets fixed (don’t ask how I know). I’m sorry to hear your having to deal with the water pump issue, but just know your not the only one, and it is very disappointing that the engine was designed this way.
Here is how a water pump failure appears under a 3.5L Explorer. And the first picture is an illustration of a stretched timing chain, stretched enough to put valve timing out just enough to set the dreaded P0016 DTC. Notice the timing chain tensioner fully extended.
I pray I'm getting our 15' Explorer Sport back from the dealer this morning, everything better than new. She had a stretched timing chain, needed new tensioniors and actuators, and a water pump while doing the work. $2500 for that and $450 to fix the Lumbar AirBag that went out on the drivers seach 15K miles ago. I was riding down the freeway and all of a sudden I hear air hissing and then get sucked back into the seat. The Lumbar, Actuator, maybe the heater and cooler for the seats too but I'm not sure about the latter... comes in as a kit and they will not even service the seat without replacing the whole kit/unit. Disappointing in both the seat and especially with the timing chain stretch @ only 62,000 miles as I take meticulous care of our vehicles. Oil changed @ 7,500K miles with full synthetic Mobil 1 always, fluid checks and top offs, tire rotations, brake checks, plugs swapped at 60K, etc... Not changing the full synthetic oil every 4,500 miles is the likely cause for the timing chain stretch from everything I've read, been told, and watched while Nalley Ford Dealer has had her since last Friday. The tech even replied upon initial inspection "This is a very nice ride." You should be able to trust the Manufacturer's Manual Maintenance Schedule under normal driving conditions but nope, not with the EcoBoost 3.5L engine... I'm going to be "On-It" maintenance wise from now on and at 50% what the manual states or before!
I pray I'm getting our 15' Explorer Sport back from the dealer this morning, everything better than new. She had a stretched timing chain, needed new tensioniors and actuators, and a water pump while doing the work. $2500 for that and $450 to fix the Lumbar AirBag that went out on the drivers seach 15K miles ago. I was riding down the freeway and all of a sudden I hear air hissing and then get sucked back into the seat. The Lumbar, Actuator, maybe the heater and cooler for the seats too but I'm not sure about the latter... comes in as a kit and they will not even service the seat without replacing the whole kit/unit. Disappointing in both the seat and especially with the timing chain stretch @ only 62,000 miles as I take meticulous care of our vehicles. Oil changed @ 7,500K miles with full synthetic Mobil 1 always, fluid checks and top offs, tire rotations, brake checks, plugs swapped at 60K, etc... Not changing the full synthetic oil every 4,500 miles is the likely cause for the timing chain stretch from everything I've read, been told, and watched while Nalley Ford Dealer has had her since last Friday. The tech even replied upon initial inspection "This is a very nice ride." You should be able to trust the Manufacturer's Manual Maintenance Schedule under normal driving conditions but nope, not with the EcoBoost 3.5L engine... I'm going to be "On-It" maintenance wise from now on and at 50% what the manual states or before!
PIC sent from the Tech to my phone today...
Pic of our 3.5L EcoBoost Sport...
Just curious. What was the labour hours quoted for this repair?
I'm glad you'll be getting "her' back all happy! The extended oil, change intervals, I have said that going back to 2006 on numerous postings...not just with the EB but with all hydraulically actuated timing chain tensioner systems...…. change the filter out every 90 days (because that is about how long it takes before the bypass valve starts opening/seeping) and oil change every 6 months or 3,500-5000 miles depending on use.
10-15-2018, 10:02 AM
2013 Explorer Limited V6 Water Pump Leak?
