I'm just past the 70k mark.
You're right about the seals, etc. I have what I think is the "normal" film of oil on the block. I think I'll have to pull the pan, anyway, among other things, and replace the gasket, as well as the crank seal, valve cover gaskets, etc.
I read the procedure in the Ford Factory Service Manual for changing rod bearings, and it looks very straightforward (surprisingly so). I don't know if I'll do it, but it seems to me that it would be much cheaper to do something like this, now, than pay for a complete rebuild or new block later on.
Anyway, things that look simple often aren't, so I was looking for "gotchas."
I cannot attest to my own mechanical skills, but many years ago I owned a VW Beetle. Thing needed valve adjustment with just about every oil change, and the main seal would blow about every 12000 miles. Had to pull the engine out of the car to change it. That car was anything but low maintenance.
And, I must add, that everything you complain about with this engine is quite common to many engines, from domestic to exotic. Rubber ages, seals deteriorate, belts and waterpumps need replacing... These are very normal. Granted, the 2.5 Duratec has other issues that are less common, but not unheard of among more prestigious marques.
Only thing I'm worried about is pulling the pan to change bearings and finding big metal shavings floating around in it!
