02 Windstar question
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Sylva NC
Windstar, Aerostar same thing right?
Ive got a 3.8 that has just started showing a little oil residue around the pcv. It fits kinda loose in the grommet in the valve cover.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
Ive got a 3.8 that has just started showing a little oil residue around the pcv. It fits kinda loose in the grommet in the valve cover.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 1
From: Mitchell, SD
Nope. Windstar is a Van on a Taurus drive train (FWD). They are notorious for shooting out Trannys, blow headgaskets, leaky intakes, and electrical issues.
Aerostars are built on the Ranger/Explorer/Bronco II frame (RWD/4WD), with Ranger/Explorer Engines, trannies, transfer cases, solid rear axle, full framed, can do anything that a light duty truck can do. Plus you can fit 7 full grown adults and all of their luggage with room to spare, Try that with a Windstar, Caravan, ect. Plus they can easily hold a 4x8 sheets of plywood. Calling it a mini-van is deragatory. It is a truck in a mid-size vans clothing.
(BTW it is a bad idea to flame the Aerostar by comparing it to a Windstar.
)
It sounds like your need to replace the PCV valve, grommet, and check the hosses and filter in the intake for clogging. With you lack of use of oil, and no mention of smoke, I doubt it is serious blow-by, just a stuck/sticking PCV valve or a clog in the hose.
Aerostars are built on the Ranger/Explorer/Bronco II frame (RWD/4WD), with Ranger/Explorer Engines, trannies, transfer cases, solid rear axle, full framed, can do anything that a light duty truck can do. Plus you can fit 7 full grown adults and all of their luggage with room to spare, Try that with a Windstar, Caravan, ect. Plus they can easily hold a 4x8 sheets of plywood. Calling it a mini-van is deragatory. It is a truck in a mid-size vans clothing.
(BTW it is a bad idea to flame the Aerostar by comparing it to a Windstar.
)
Ive got a 3.8 that has just started showing a little oil residue around the pcv. It fits kinda loose in the grommet in the valve cover.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 181
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From: Sylva NC
OOOOOhhh. That explains alot. I knew that aerostars were rear wheel drive and Ive been told that about the windstars being oversized tauruses but I didnt put the two together. Sorry about the diss didnt mean it.
Trans replaced 10,000 ago.
Intake gasket replaced 20,000 ago.
No elec problems yet.
Ill keep my fingers crossed about the head gaskets. (what kinda of mileage can I expect out of them?)
I should also mention that I had a spark plug that had backed out far enough to make a pss pss pss sound (dont ask me how). Ever heard of that?
Trans replaced 10,000 ago.
Intake gasket replaced 20,000 ago.
No elec problems yet.
Ill keep my fingers crossed about the head gaskets. (what kinda of mileage can I expect out of them?)
I should also mention that I had a spark plug that had backed out far enough to make a pss pss pss sound (dont ask me how). Ever heard of that?
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 1
From: Mitchell, SD
Head Gasket can go at any time. Best bet to prevent that from happening is to keep you cooling system in tip top shape, fresh coolant, Thermostat, and rad cap every other year, keep an eye on the water pump. It is pretty much a crap shoot on when they will go.
As for the spark plug, it sounds like either it was not torqued in correctly, the plug was mis-manufactured and the threads did not have enough bite, or someone was messing with you.
Don't worry about it, I was just having a little fun with you, hence the smilies. 
As for the spark plug, it sounds like either it was not torqued in correctly, the plug was mis-manufactured and the threads did not have enough bite, or someone was messing with you.
Sorry about the diss didnt mean it.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 830
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From: Kitchener,Ontario,Canada
Possibly Gummed up rings?
Windstar, Aerostar same thing right?
Ive got a 3.8 that has just started showing a little oil residue around the pcv. It fits kinda loose in the grommet in the valve cover.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
Ive got a 3.8 that has just started showing a little oil residue around the pcv. It fits kinda loose in the grommet in the valve cover.
I was just wondering if I just replaced the grommet to try and seal it up would that fix the problem or do I need to be conserned about blow by.
It only uses maybe 1 quart every 5000miles.
A while back I suffered Minute Lube putting my drain plug back in without a gasket & gave me a bit of a start when I noticed the oil level gradually dropping!!! Before that mine used no oil, & even now doesn't use 1/8" on the dipstick (5W30) between 5000km oil changes.
The 3.8L had some problems with head gaskets in earlier years I believe, yours would have the newer gaskets. Good advice about the coolant servicing, bad coolant eats the engine from inside out, slow death, definately worth spending time every 2 years to keep it in top shape.
Aeroman.
Last edited by Aeroman59; Dec 27, 2008 at 03:51 PM. Reason: update
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From: Sylva NC
Thanks for all of the replies. It looks like this forum is every bit as helpful as my diesel forum.
Thanks for the link Tom. I just checked it out and Im gonna head right back over and register. Is it related to FTE in any way?
Thanks for the link Tom. I just checked it out and Im gonna head right back over and register. Is it related to FTE in any way?
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From: Sylva NC
Im all signed up and ready to go.
Ill leave yall alone now.
Thanks again....Bye, Joe
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Actually the frame is not shared with any other model. The Aerostar has a unique truck-like frame, but it is different from the Ranger/Explorer frames, however it is almost as strong. Because the frame is different, the suspension is also slightly different. But the rest of the powertrain and stuff is very similar or identical. Much stronger than the FWD minivans.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: SoCal
Actually, the Aerostar suspension is quite different from a lot of other trucks that anyone builds. The front suspension is like on a Crown Victoria, but has rack & pinion steering vs the CV's recirculating ball. The rear suspension is a kind of a 3-link cheat; it tries to control the rear axle roll and side-to-side location with a single link, whereas everything else that uses a single upper link also has a separate lateral link (Panhard or Watts). The Aero's 3rd link has both a rotating bushing as well as a side thrust bushing on the frame. Again, no other vehicle uses this design.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
The design works very well, however, a proper sway bar would have worked much better at controlling body sway while cornering without creating an oversteer problem. Regardless, the design is very sturdy and reliable with a minimum cost. They don't build them like that anymore. The closest thing was the Astro, and while that was reasonably strong, it was not reliable and was difficult to work on, far more so than the Aerostar. It was also not as large or as safe.