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98 Svt

9

97vulcan

CEG'er
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
456
Location
Wisconsin
Hey all, I am a noob to this forum. I just purchased a 1998 Silver Contour SVT with 134k on the odo. it seems to run great, and I changed the sparkplugs with double platinums, and bosch wires. It seems to have a kinda rough idle, but I like this car. Is there anything I should look out for and check before it gets worse? When i start it up in the morning I hear a rattle from the engine for about 2 seconds. Is this normal? also, is it a good idea to flush the trans fluid? I don't know if the previous owner had this done, but sometimes it seems kinda hard to go into 1st and reverse. Does this mean anything out of the norm?

Thanks in advance!

Adam
 
Welcome to CEG..
As for your trans problem go ahead and change out the fluids refill with ford Honey Part numbers are in the stickys in the Duratec Main section.
Check over your shift cables etc, make sure all is connected.
Your rough idle is it a Surgeing affect?
And not to scare you but if you dont already know the 2.5L's are known for there oil starvation, Run Mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic fill to 6.5Q's
Post some pictures of your car in the pics section as we are all going to want to see it.
 
Joe, thanks for the welcome. I plan on changing the fluid out. is this a hard procedure? also, the idle is not a surging issue, just a little rough. is it a bad idea to seafoam this engine? and when you fill it with 6.5q's won't this bring the oil level past the full mark? and I didn't know about the oil starvation issue. How low does the oil have to get before this becomes a problem? I will post some pictures soon!

Thanks again,

Adam
 
Theres nothing wrong with filling to 6.5Q's theres a oil drain back in the heads that is restrictive IIRC and causes the lower ends to go out over time saying that your pedel to the floor ALOT if not then dont worry about it. take care of her and she'll do the same back to you..The trans fluid fill and drain is on the Stickys under the duratec Main section theres a complete a-z directory take a look its been helpful for alot of different things.
As for the rough idle wait for someone else to Chime in and give you better help with that..
 
97vulcan said:
I changed the sparkplugs with double platinums, and bosch wires.
Click to expand...

What plugs did you put in?? if they are anything other than Motorcraft or Autolite than that would exlain your rough idle. Ford's don't like Bosch double platinums. Also check your MAF and air filter. There are the most common problems for rough idle, especially if everything else runs fine.
Welcom to the CEG.
 
Oil starvation is due to cornering hard in the mid to high rpms mainly right hadn turns. Due to the 6th cyl not gettting enough oild due to the heads not drainingthe oil back down to the pan.

Yes 6.5 courts of oil is a great way to start things off. Also no dmg will occur if you over fill. So don't worry 70% of us run our cars this way.


Welcome to ceg and have fun.:cool:
 
Welcome :). Don't forget to put coolant half inch above the max line (sensitive coolant sensor) to ward off the light staying on when it shouldn't.
 
That very brief rattle right at startup could be the starter dragging on the flywheel just a touch. If that's the case, don't sweat it until the car fails to start, then deal with it. :cool:
 
Thanks all for the nice welcome. I am a member of the taurus forum, as I just sold my 97 GL. I like this car alot, and plan to take care of it! As far as plugs go, I put on bosch wires, and autolite double platinum plugs. and the oil issue is kinda scary. If your easier on the car, you have a greater risk of damage due to oil starvation? or is it the other way around. 6.5qt is alot of oil. how low on the dipstick is too low though?

Thanks again!

Adam
 
6.5 qts is fine... 6.0-6.5 qts is added protection against oil starvation.
How low is too low?

Lower than 6.0-6.5 :cool: lol

The problem stems from there not being adequate oil drainbacks from the top end of the motor. When under low RPM, or easy driving, there isn't a problem with the oil draining back to the oil pan slowly. Once you start getting on it, and especially on right hand turns (think: cloverleaf onramp) the oil pools in the top end of the engine, and doesn't drain back to the pan fast enough to be (again) picked up by the pickup tube, and oil pump. Thus, you run dry, even though you have 5qts of oil in there!

solutions?

avoid sweeping, long right hand curves.
avoid high rpms in conjunction with above
run slightly more oil (6.0-6.5qts)
install an oil accumulator
all of the above.

pick at least 2, but strive for 3 or more.
 
plus those engines call for 5.5 qts with filter anyways on the oil change, you are only putting 1/2 to 1 qt extra. you and the car will be fine. also wasn't there a bulletin that some engine rattle on start up for the duratec is normal?
 
Thanks for the replies. I hear a slight rattle when shifting to 1st gear from a stop. It goes away as the rpm's increase. It does not make this noise in neutral revving the engine. Is this a normal noise?

Thanks,
Adam
 
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