Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications 3.0L Duratec Piston durability

Hey, I know cross-posting is bad, but this is also a 3L issue and I am going to start the thread in here for those people that don't peruse the Forced Induction forum.
BurritaSVT just blew his turbo 2.5L motor, and it sounds just like what happened to mine.
I've been trying to track this problem down since it happened to me and I had some coincidental things happen that enlightened me to its nature; I believe that I have a good theory on it. Here's what I wrote in the FI'd forum:

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You have a 99 and that is significant. That makes 3 or 4 forced inducted 1999 model year 3L or 2.5L engines that have cracked pistons. What happened to your engine sounds very similar to what happened to my 3L a couple of weeks ago.
By comparison, Keysers engine is a 2000 and I suspect that they have updated pistons in them.
I have discovered that on 3L's in late 1999 they updated the pistons and the position of the piston rings is moved upward on the piston.
The upper compression ring is higher, the 2nd compression ring is higher, the oil control ring is thinner but remains in the same place. This means there is more space between the 2nd compression ring and the oil control ring and results in a thicker 2nd compression ring land.
I was discussing this with Keith at Streetflight when my pistons went and I am beginning to see a pattern here.
When you get the engine apart, take pictures of the broken pistons for me so I can compare.
I think what you will need to do is similar to what I did, replace your pistons with the later updated style. We should try to get a picture of a 99 2.5L piston and 2000 2.5L piston. It may turn out that the pistons in 99 and older duratechs are not strong enough and that FI'd cars are going to need to have the late 99 or 2000+ pistons.

HEY EVERYONE:
This is SERIOUS folks as there are going to be a lot more failures out there if this theory is confirmed with fact AND it's likely it isn't detonation causing it, its cylinder pressure!
I don't think the 2.5L SC'd vortech motors will have a problem, since I think its torque loads ~250's that may be doing it. All turbo cars and 3L S/C's beware.

Tom
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Lets get some brainpower here and any more pictures or information on 99 and earlier pistons vs. late 99 and later pistons!