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Learn from my “mistakes.” This is not a home-gamer job unless you are a glutton for punishment.
The wife and I recently bought an 04 Escape with the 3.0L Duratec (100k miles) from a neighbor. The price was right, and we needed a car. The body and interior are fantastic. The suspension and underbody are in great shape albeit with a good deal of surface rust. (We live near Cincinnati, OH, and it’s an 04. Go figure).
There was a slow oil leak from around the timing cover/crank seal/oil pan area. It was not dripping on the ground, but the engine was pretty wet on the outside. So, in my infinitesimal wisdom, I thought…
“Hey, I could tear this apart, replace all the gaskets, and do the timing chain. This engine will be good for another 150k!”
Sounds great, right?
Hah.
The timing cover on these engines is sandwiched between the valve covers and oil pan. All need removed. Then, every single accessory must be removed from the front of the engine – including the alternator buried deep under/behind the engine by the firewall. Essentially, everything but the heads comes off or out.
Ok, not the end of the world, but it is a lot of work. The alternator is a pain unless you can really get under the car with a lift (jackstands es no bueno). The now-12-year-old-and-very-rusted Y-pipe on the exhaust had to come off because it snakes under the oil pan… Because Ford.
Finally, all was loosened and being removed, and surprise!!!
Sludge – like the kind nightmares are made of. It was at this point, I remembered my neighbor mentioning it had sat for “a bit.” I’m assuming they did not change the oil before or after this “break” in use. There is also a Motorcraft oil filter on it . Might this be the original? I cringe at the thought.
Long story… well… long, I am still cleaning sludge off of covers and the oil pan. There is a ton. Thank God for acetone. Also, the cam lobes are demonstrating this very peculiar pitting. I have never seen this before?
Pray for me, cross your fingers, think happy thoughts. Do what you do to help me get this thing back together.
Pictures attached for your viewing “pleasure?”
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So, after taking it to a reputable shop, we have finality. The good news is, timing was on. Yay me. The bad news is the engine was toast. Below is a picture my buddy took while I was greasy a few months ago. It highlights the sludge and how pitted the camshaft and cam lobes were. The end diagnosis was the cams and valves had gotten too hot (i.e. previous owner’s obvious (in)attention to oil and the sludge). Everything had been toasted to a solid crisp. Re-manned engine is going in and should be done this week.
My wallet hurts, but my pride is back! Jokes. Why did I buy this car again???
When it takes a breaker bar to torque off the Motorcraft oil filter… There’s your sign. I’m playing the fool for trying to save the engine, I guess.
[quote=”gpaine” post=174109]When it takes a breaker bar to torque off the Motorcraft oil filter… There’s your sign. I’m playing the fool for trying to save the engine, I guess.[/quote]
Not a fool your mechanic skills took over. We can’t save them all.
A great try though. 🙂Be sure to replace the PCV valve when you put it back together, that is the leading cause of oil consumption in these engines.
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