Keith Browning

First I ask, direct our attention to the label sometimes found on the degas bottle warning through the use of a symbol NOT to use the orange stuff. Is this simply to avoid the rapid deterioration of the coolant due to the incompatibility if the two types are mixed? Or is there some other reason like compatibility with the materials used in the engine? My guess is the first. Silicate precipitation seems to be a major concern though so eliminating it might prove beneficial in my opinion.

How many plugs did this engine spit out? There is a thread repair kit that Ford authorizes that works well and you can install the inserts in chassis with the head on. I have done a couple. Just a thought.

Believe it or not, I just ran into my first cavitateded front cover that actually perforated. I didn't mind feeling left out but it's not a bad job. I just cant seem to get the degas bottle clean. Also, I had to destroy the oil filter to get it out of the housing. It was either neglected or the coolant in the oil caused it to collapse and grab the standpipe so tightly that it would not come out easily. Anyone run into that related to this failure?

It just sounds odd. I also can't find any mention of filters or even screens in the return lines. Anything that could cause a restriction in a return line would be pointless... especially since the fuel return go straight back to the tank except for the thermo recirculation valve that returns the fuel before the primary filter inside of the DFCM. Sounds like someone got their facts wrong. Then again, I wouldn't be overly surprised with Ford.

Can you elaborate on this?

I had an interesting one towed in yesterday. The truck "threw" the FEAD belt but it was GONE without a trace... except for the melted rubber pressed into all of the pulley grooves. I found nothing seized, nothing mis-aligned or out of place in any way. Thought this was strange. I put a water pump in this truck several weeks ago. Did coolant damage the belt, maybe cause it to slip and burn up? Probably not. Then I ran OASIS and came across TSB 12-1-13. It seems that the belt can be routed above, OR below the upper idler pulley. These double-sided belts can confuse you! Above is correct, below is not so don't be complacent about the routing. Since there is no routing diagram under the hood check the WSM until you are absolutely familiar with the routing. Since the belt is missing on this truck I can't say I did this for sure but it certainly looks suspect. We learn by our mistakes. I share this so you can learn from this too... and not the hard way.

We have a used Sprinter gasser sitting in our service lot. Looks like junk.

Are they that bad Brad? Are you making a prediction?

I'll give you a buck for your opinion Mike. You may be on to something there. Ultimately I think we are just going to have to wait for the product launch.

This is a paragraph from the pickuptrucks.com article. It eludes to what diesel engine is likely to be in the North American Transit. Even more interesting though is mention of the diesel Ranger we will never see apparently. Another interesting part of this is the statement: "200 horsepower and 350 pounds-feet of torque, certainly more than adequate for a work-duty cargo or passenger van of this size." This tells me that the author of this article either does not understand the American diesel owner ot this van is not as "full sized" as we think it is. Or perhaps it is an indication that Ford is (for once) not going to shoehorn an over sized engine into a van and give fuel economy and reasonable power careful consideration. It will be interesting to see what we are served and if America takes a bite. I am beginning to become interested. Oooooooh! And a new forum to add!!!

Quote: Negative ghost rider, picture 15 on the parts list. Ah! Okay, you mentioned flywheel and crank pulley bolts... I saw the image showing the part # and quantity of 4 (which is 4 per package). Flat rate reading.

Again, nice job!. I needed this a week or so ago and had a bad time remembering where all the fasteners correctly went. I am not familiar with this engine at all... unlike the Navistar engines. Nuff said. One thing you missed though, the 10 flex plate bolts need to be replaced as well which are the same as the front pulley bolts.

Somehow I don't think those diesels will meet American emissions standards making them more costly to produce and less efficient to put in North American vehicles. If I recall that is why we haven't seen a diesel Fiesta... you know, that 60 MPG car that was being talked about a while back?

Thank you for the link. I still say that vehicle is one ugly, cheesy looking pile of shit. Pardon my language but that is what comes to mind when I see it. To be honest, the Nissan NV is more in line with what I imagine the Ford van would have become. It has character and has that Ford "hood look" in the front not to mention it does not have that look of a lot of plastic panels and parts. I have said it before, if this thing is ANYTHING like the Transit connect it is a giant piece of crap when compared to the current Econoline and the engine options are going to be pointless. We shall see.

I may not be seeing any of your vehicles before long. I am about to give up.

I thought the 6.4L wouldn't FIT in the Econoline and that is why it was not used. It would be interesting to know why certain engines cannot be made, or updated to meet the new emissions requirements thus requiring such drastic changes. We have seen the 7.3 go to the 6.0 liter which morphed into the 6.4... we know there were other factors leading to the development of the 6.7 Ford diesel so why not ask if that had not happened, would the 6.4L still be the current Power Stroke? In contrast, the Cummins engine used in Dodge trucks seems to be a continuing progression. (it's funny how my spell checker still want's Cummins to be "Cummings."

That is what I was thinking. Aside from that, I would suspect that the Transit could get better fuel economy from a more reasonably sized engine than something like the 6.7L recalling that Ford wanted to make the new full-sized van more fuel efficient than it's predecessor. Something like the 6.7L doesn't fit in more than one way.

From the Detroit Free Press Ford will offer a diesel engine as well as a gasoline engine in the new Transit full-size heavy-duty commercial van when it goes on sale in North America next year, the automaker announced today. The Transit cargo and passenger van will replace the E-Series commercial van in Ford’s lineup next year when most versions of the long-serving van, once known as the Econoline, is discontinued. The Transit will be built at Ford’s Kansas City plant starting next year. The news marks the return of a diesel in a large van for North America. Ford stopped offering a diesel in the E-Series after the 2009 model year because the old 6.4-liter diesel did not meet new emissions standards. Ford is not yet disclosing which diesel will go in the new Transit when it goes on sale next year but an obvious choice would be the new 6.7-liter diesel Ford now uses in its heavy-duty F-Series pickups. On Monday BAE Systems announced it will buy the 6.7-liter diesel from Ford to use in its vehicle developed for the U.S. Army’s Joint Light Tactical Vehicle program. For the Transit, Ford has already said it will offer a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 gasoline engine as well. The smaller direct-injection turbocharged engine and lighter van combine for an estimated 25% improvement in fuel efficiency compared with a similar E-Series. “With fleet operators facing skyrocketing fuel prices and constant pressure to reduce costs, Ford continues to expand its range,” Kevin Koswick, Ford director of North American Fleet, Lease and Remarketing Operations, said in a release that coincided with his speech Tuesday at an Automotive Press Association event in Detroit. Koswick also said Ford has created the “Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Cost Calculator,” a program that evaluates fuel costs and emissions to help fleet buyers choose vehicles best suited for the conditions under which they will be used. “This tool will help our customers make the most informed purchase decision possible – one that will meet their business needs, help promote energy security and help protect the environment,” said Sandy Winkler, a Ford senior researcher and developer of the tool. Ford has shown a light-duty front-wheel-drive version of the Transit for Europe but has not yet revealed the new - and different - look for the sturdier North American version. The heavy-duty rear-wheel-drive Transit will be built at the retooled Kansas City plant while the light-duty van is made in Turkey. Ford has sold more than 6 million Transits across five continents since it launched in 1965.

Where would you like to have the CKP? Behind the flywheel where you have to pull the trans to replace it? Don't worry, Ford thought of that one. Lucky for YOU the 6.7L is not being stuffed in vans/buses.

Ah, the s p a c e r!

That is something you WILL remember. I am waiting for an EGR cooler assembly to complete my 6.7L long block. That tone ring is interesting, it does look like a seal and if you are not consciously thinking about it you can easily miss it. But I guess I don't need to tell you that...

I love what I do but right now I am really wondering what else is out there...

Happened on the job didn't it?

He he he