I put this same post under another sub-heading to try to get as much feedback as possible....thanks...
My first posting....
I have a 2001 F150 with a 5.4 engine. I have a huge problem. Engine oil leaked out of the engine somehow and by the time I noticed it (I was on the freeway) it was too late. All the oil came out and by the time I pulled over, it was fried. Smoke coming out under the hood. Dealer says the oil filter is at fault and this is not covered under the warranty. I do the oil changes myself and I can tell you it was done properly. Anyway, they want almost 7K for a rebuilt engine!!!
1) Anybody have experience dealing with warranty issues of this nature?
2) Anybody know of a good local place (I live in West Los Angeles) where I can get it rebuilt for a sane price?
Any help is much appreciated.
Pedro

 

buy a used motor from greenleaf auto. They are affiliated with ford and they are from lemon cars, or buybacks usually.

Their parts are excellent and backed by warranty. I bought my 99 gt motor for my tbird on there, and bought a 5.4 4r70w to build up on there

JH

 

Hi Pedro and welcome to FTE

Did they say what happened to the oil filter that all the oil leaked out? What brand of filter did you use?

 

If you change the oil you don't have anyone to look back on but yourself. This is why you should regularly pull the stick and check it. If you have any mechanical ability or can get help this may be the time to change the motor yourself to save some money.

 

They said the leak came from the oil filter area and was not due to any part of the engine thus not covered under warranty. They could not explain why it leaked. I presume they think I screwed it up somehow but don't want to directly accuse me. I am mechanically inclined but I don't have the will to put in a new engine. I may take one of their options and trade in the truck for another new vehicle with me paying the additional cost of course. At this point that seems like the least painful way to go. Hopefully the cost will be about equal. Thanks for your replies.
Pedro

 

pedro,
if you do decide to trade the truck in to them, dont forget that they wont have to pay the same 7 grand they were going to charge you. i had a very similar thing happen to my 95 chevy...... the dealer wanted 5 grand to fix it, but they were going to give me 8,500 to trade it in... thinking the truck would be worth more with a new ( 0 miles) engine and clutch, i fixed it myself. after it was all fixed and running like brand new i went to trade it in... they tell me they'll give me 9,000... how exactly does that work???? who knows
i'd press the issue of how the oil leaked from the filter harder... oil filters dont just fall off..... not that i've ever seen anyways

-Brian

 

I would tell them to stick it in their ear. I know the 5.4 isn't the same as a 5.0 but mine has over 700,000 miles on it with one overhaul and it has run out of oil twice now and made it home to run again. Once was the dealers fault poking a hole in the filter while I was out to sea in the navy and my wife took it in . The other was a leaky cooler hose. Both drove home with my wife at the wheel and after I fixed the problem and changed the oil it was fine. Are you sure yours is fried. Just because one mechanic says it is doesn't mean it is. I am a mechanic and have been a long time. but I have to say I wouldn't trust any mechanic on flat rate anymore especialy on a 7000 dollar bill like you said. He could be looking for his christmas bonus out of you. You wouldn't beleive how many people bring their cars to me because they know I am salaried and only care about fixing the car, not screwing the owner.
I rebuilt a 5.4 for a man a couple weeks ago that an oil change shop ruined. It really wasn' t that bad inside. The cam journals had seen better days but the block was fine. the machinist made bearing inserts for the cam and the heads were saved. Ford wanted to replace them. Our way cost a total of 1000 dollars for parts and outside labor and I think we got 15 hours worth of labor at 55 an hour I think. It was a lot cheaper than 7000 and done right.

 

Hey Dan, sounds good. Wish you were in my area, you could repair my leaky pass. side head... KP

 

What's leaking on it? I have done a bunch of tuneups lately to find a leaking hose back in that corner that was filling up the back plug hole with water and shorting the plug. I hate that back plug on them things. I just got a new matco 5/8 socket that is about 6 inches long that makes them a little easier but they still aren't much fun. A lot of the ones we have gotten have missing bolts or studs too on the exh manifold flange. they can be a booger to fix.

 

The truck is new to me. I had the dealer flush the coolant and service the tranny. Oil had been leaking onto the exhaust on the pass side for some time so I asked them to take a look. They said the head gasket was leaking. I never got another opinion but researched it here and came to the conclusion that I have the dreaded pass side head problem that is unfortunately pretty common among motors my year. So here I stand. Dealer wanted 2500 to fix it as the motor has to come out. ... KP

 

There's another case where the dealer is full of it. If the oil leak is where I think it is then just clean it all off with brake clean as best as you can and smear black silicone in the gap real good and let it dry. I have fixed a couple that way after telling the owner the alternative. I wouldn't do that without permission but it works pretty good. I do not pull the motor either. I have done numerous head jobs in the vehicle. it ain't easy but is easier than pulling the motor.

 

Thanks Dan, that is exactly the kind of encouragement I need. I assume by black silicone you mean the hi temp stuff?? I will definately give that a shot when the weather gets a little warmer, right now it is not too nice out. BTW, I am in the Boston area, where are you located?? Kurt

 

I am in texas now. I got very fond memories of boston. My whole ship got asked to leave once from there and told never to come back. Apparently some guys at a local bar didn't like the fact that sailors are so good at meeting women and they started a fight. Navy won too. I got some family up your way. We did live in Pa till last year when my wife and I found better jobs back in texas. I don't miss the cold one bit!

 

m14dan I've got to argue a bit with you here
A "silicone diaper" as we call it in our shop on a leaking head is at best a temporary repair. It will leak again.
Ford says to pull the engine out to replace head gaskets as they have got back too many heads that were scratched by the dowels in the block. The heads are very hard to get back on in place without dragging the head over the dowels.
I agree that pulling the engine out is no fun....that's why a lot more Ford techs, including me, lift the cab off the frame to work on the engine.

 

You should not have to pay a dime!!! If your truck is still under warranty I would make them prove that it was in fact the oil filters fault. If so the oil filter manufacturer is responsible for the damage to your engine. Even if it's not under warranty the filter manufacturer still has to pay for repairs if the product is defective. By the way are you sure you removed the gasket with the old filter? I have seen people put the new filter on with the old gasket still stuk on the block wich will eventually lead to old faithfull, and all of your oil eill be pumped out within seconds!! Let us know how you make out, and GOOD LUCK!!