compudude86
CEG'er
Well, unfortunately, my engine has given up a few thousand miles before 200k. It ran low on oil one day, and I got the oil light popped on twice for a second during turns. I rushed and got oil in the car, but it was too late. A few days later, I did my oil change, and a few days after I got a very slight, barely noticeable rod knock, or what I've seen online referred to as the duratec "death rattle". On my way home 2 days later, it gave up, and started banging and squealing, and after cali-stopping two stop signs, got it home just in time for it to stall out in the driveway.
I wanted a 3L, but didn't have any available at my yard that I could use, so I had to settle, for now, on a used 2.5. I found one, the lowest miles (133k) and in the best shape I could find, for $260. this one had some minor oil on the pan and around the timing cover and main seal (guessing it is the early stages of gasket/seal breakdown), the others were completely soaked in oil, didn't want another time bomb in my car.
I got a new timing cover gasket set, oil pan gasket, and oil pressure sender (seems like these give and leak too, for $6 I'm throwing it in). Took the oil pan and valve cover off today, and it all looks good, timing components seem to be intact, there was some RTV bits in the pickup screen, and for the mileage and the timing being still tight, I'm thinking someone replaced the timing kit at some point but didn't swap out the seals. All the rods are tight, no wobble or movement on the connecting rod ends, turning it over by hand produces pressure from all cylinders gradually giving me more resistance, I get the slow hiss from the back of the pistons if I don't complete a cycle, so the rings are holding, and if I complete the rotation, I get the "thwoop" from the exhaust ports. Aside from the light orange varnish tint, it looks like a solid engine for a year or two service until I can get a 3L.
So, my question, is how often do the oil pumps fail on these? Id like to change it out now while I have it apart on a stand if these things tend to give out, just a bit more insurance, but if stock pumps are strong, ill keep it.
I wanted a 3L, but didn't have any available at my yard that I could use, so I had to settle, for now, on a used 2.5. I found one, the lowest miles (133k) and in the best shape I could find, for $260. this one had some minor oil on the pan and around the timing cover and main seal (guessing it is the early stages of gasket/seal breakdown), the others were completely soaked in oil, didn't want another time bomb in my car.
I got a new timing cover gasket set, oil pan gasket, and oil pressure sender (seems like these give and leak too, for $6 I'm throwing it in). Took the oil pan and valve cover off today, and it all looks good, timing components seem to be intact, there was some RTV bits in the pickup screen, and for the mileage and the timing being still tight, I'm thinking someone replaced the timing kit at some point but didn't swap out the seals. All the rods are tight, no wobble or movement on the connecting rod ends, turning it over by hand produces pressure from all cylinders gradually giving me more resistance, I get the slow hiss from the back of the pistons if I don't complete a cycle, so the rings are holding, and if I complete the rotation, I get the "thwoop" from the exhaust ports. Aside from the light orange varnish tint, it looks like a solid engine for a year or two service until I can get a 3L.
So, my question, is how often do the oil pumps fail on these? Id like to change it out now while I have it apart on a stand if these things tend to give out, just a bit more insurance, but if stock pumps are strong, ill keep it.
