Have to agree with Hetfield on this. If you had stopped right away when you noticed the temp was spiked you might still have toasted the engine. But that you drove on it for an aditional 20 minutes I'm pret near betting on a new engine being needed.
Depending on the dealership you go to they may cover a replacement but its hard to say for sure. I've had this happen in both my Contiques. Yes even the Zetec. It lost all the coolant out of the frost plug hole. Thing is it shut down before any damage had occured supposedly. Now I had prior engine damage (before I got the vehicle) So they had to replace that engine. I'd like to think the duratec is designed to do the same thing. If the dealer refuses the claim I would fight and say the computer should have shut the car down before damage could occur. Never know might work but I'm niave.
