My truck failed in heavy traffic 700+kms from my destination. It would crank over but would not even hint at firing. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealership. It would run roughly and smoke for the mechanics. After 3 days of ripping apart the engine the ford mechanic informed me that the only way to tell what was wrong they had to reassemble the engine and run it to test for faults. I understand most internal combustion engines and have rebuilt and modified several for fun as well as out of necessity. So, I asked the mechanic why he could not identify the problem and now have to put it all back together again only to be back where he was with it 3 days earlier. The mechanic on duty told me that the engine in my truck has a very high compression ratio, and that the fuel pump and injectors could not deliver fuel against such high compression ratios without assistance. A secondary oil pump inside the engine hydraulically assists the fuel injectors to overcome the compression of the pistons. This oil pump has a consistently high pressure rating (4,500psi) and is prone to leaking inside the engine while it is running. The mechanic informed me that he could not test the pump for leaks because the highest amount of pressure he could produce for testing the pump while it was disassembled was barely 300psi. He told me that the only option available to him was to put it all back together run it, and listen for leaks. I do not blame the mechanic but why can't the ford motor company provide proper tools for identifying the part failures? Four days later, and the engine having been reassembled, taken apart again, and reassembled again. Two injectors and the oil pump were replaced as well as a 24hrs labor, shop time(over $2,000+parts). The truck has been fixed and I paid the bill, however it took them a week to fix it. I must add that the ford dealership recognized the wasted time in repairing the engine and only charged me for 12hrs labor+parts($4,000can).
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My truck failed in heavy traffic 700+kms from my destination. It would crank over but would not even hint at firing. I had it towed to the nearest ford dealership. It would run roughly and smoke for the mechanics. After 3 days of ripping apart the engine the ford mechanic informed me that the only way to tell what was wrong they had to reassemble the engine and run it to test for faults. I understand most internal combustion engines and have rebuilt and modified several for fun as well as out of necessity. So, I asked the mechanic why he could not identify the problem and now have to put it all back together again only to be back where he was with it 3 days earlier. The mechanic on duty told me that the engine in my truck has a very high compression ratio, and that the fuel pump and injectors could not deliver fuel against such high compression ratios without assistance. A secondary oil pump inside the engine hydraulically assists the fuel injectors to overcome the compression of the pistons. This oil pump has a consistently high pressure rating (4,500psi) and is prone to leaking inside the engine while it is running. The mechanic informed me that he could not test the pump for leaks because the highest amount of pressure he could produce for testing the pump while it was disassembled was barely 300psi. He told me that the only option available to him was to put it all back together run it, and listen for leaks. I do not blame the mechanic but why can't the ford motor company provide proper tools for identifying the part failures? Four days later, and the engine having been reassembled, taken apart again, and reassembled again. Two injectors and the oil pump were replaced as well as a 24hrs labor, shop time(over $2,000+parts). The truck has been fixed and I paid the bill, however it took them a week to fix it. I must add that the ford dealership recognized the wasted time in repairing the engine and only charged me for 12hrs labor+parts($4,000can).
- eldy, Nelson, BC, Canada