Does anyone here know how many miles Ford puts on a new engine in the test lab? I read where GM tested the new injection Cadillac CTS engine until it blew up. The engines were stopped for oil changes and what not but basically they ran it into the ground. How many miles before it blew was NOT given however.

 

I read somewhere over 1 million miles actual road testing when the 04's were tested, but I don't know how many trucks were tested to get this total.

 

If ford actually did the testing they say they did on the 04's, you shouldn't have had nearly the problems that 04 owners have had. I don't think ford checks jack. They let their customers do it for them and then give them a hard time getting issues fixed under warranty. Never ever buy the first model year of any ford!!!

 

1 million miles is nothing for testing.... thats 10 trucks with 6 years of use.... a million miles sounds like alot...but really how many problems can you find in that few miles...

 

If a new model comes out every 4-5 years, why test it beyond 6 years of ownership?

 

When I worked at General Motors Tech Center we would test the Northstar engines at 6000 rpm for 1000 hours continuous running. Oil was checked every 4 hours. The engineers would have different component parts installed during buildup for testing. I would imagine Ford would have a similar testing program.

 

KABOOM: I didn't think the Northstar system would reach that level of RPM?

 

Northstars are nice engines...

 

Sure did. It had overhead cams and those thngs rev. Put out 300 hp.

 

They were a heck of a site when they grenaded. I've put out many a dyno fire.

 

And yet the '93s were well known for cracked pistons because the testing method didn't mimic hammering the throttle open with an engine that wasn't yet warmed up.

Full disclosure: '94 and on Northstar engines are claw hammer reliable.

 

We wouldn't hammer them till they got warm enuff to put on the controller's program. Blame the engineers for the pistons. All they did was try and use cheaper to build parts. I'm surprised they didn't void warranties by using the computer as a 'black box'.Kaboom10 2002 5.4L 4wd F-150 w/33k/miles<O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue" </O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue"

K&N replacement filter w/modified air box<O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue" </O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue"

EBC brakes all around<O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue" </O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue"

http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/kaboom10/100_0165.jpg <O class=inlineimg title="Stick Out Tongue"

 

Hey there, Hows royal oak treatin you? The northstar was one of the best engines EVER! i had a 4.6 in a 95 deville. I ran it until 189,000 Miles and upgraded to a truck - the engine ran solid as ever but due to everything else not working (AC, Gauges, seats, etc) i got rid of her

 

Oh I can't complain about our wonderful little town. I guess the cops are somewhere else when I'm crusin' Woodward. Never heard of one going that far. I guess I'll be trying to get that much out of my truck. I fell in love with it and decided to keep it instead of leasing another.




Kaboom10 2002 5.4L 4wd F-150 w/33k/miles
K&N replacement filter w/modified air box
EBC brakes all around
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f240/kaboom10/100_0165.jpg

 

All day long and twice on overtime. It's an over head cam engine. They wind up till the bottom end blows. I was fortunate to also get to work on the prototype 4.6L back when Ford was looking for a head gasket supplier source. Also we redid Ford's engine balance to make it smoother while working dyno in a balance shop. We would take the prototype vehicles out and run out of road while testing. Those were hot rod Lincolns.