Hey, guys…first post and I need your help.

2016 2.7 Ecoboost 164,000 miles. Had the oil changed at a lube shop and, within a couple days, started hearing a noise from the motor and, when coming to a stop, the oil pressure would suddenly bottom out and then shoot back up with slight accelerator pressure (no rattling or knocking). Along with the noise from the motor, we began experiencing turbo loss.

We took the truck to the dealer and the dealer notified us that the turbo was blown, and we agreed to replace both turbos. When I picked up the truck, the dealership showed me that the oil filter standpipe was broken and that apparently the oil change tech had broken it, and then just set it back down in there. At the time, the mechanic said that he couldn’t say for sure that the broken standpipe was what caused the turbo failure.

I picked up the truck and it wasn’t long that we noticed that the oil pressure is still bottoming out when we come to the stop at a traffic light. So we took the truck back to the dealer. They looked over it again and said that they felt like it was sensors…paid another $350 for the sensors to be replaced and what do you know…it’s still doing it. Took the truck back to the dealer again and this time the mechanic says that the motor is blown. He says that, when the standpipe was broken, it starved the bottom of the motor of oil and burned up the bearings in the bottom of the motor. So, I took the truck with the understanding that I was going to drive it until the motor finally goes.

Well, it wasn’t long until the turbo starts intermittently going out and coming back on and going out and coming back on. We also noticed that it’s randomly (once every couple days) blowing large clouds of white smoke out of the tailpipe, possibly indicative of a coolant leak into the combustion or turbos or exhaust.

So, now I’ve lost all faith in the dealer who cannot figure out what is going on with it and I feel just wants me to throw $10,000 into a new motor.

Any ideas?

 

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear of your troubles. Have you any reputable shops nearby? I wouldn't go back to the stealership. Sounds like they are just replacing parts in hopes it fixes it. Next time, they gonna install a new engine, and then say, the truck is too old for the engine, you're going to need a newer truck for said engine. Stealerships are for in-warranty work only and nothing else.

 

The only reason I used them is that I have a relationship with them and they cut me pretty big breaks on the cost. The thought was that they would have the most knowledge on Ecoboosts and the lead mechanic is the one doing the work. However, obviously, it ain’t looking too good.

 

When a turbo goes, there are often fragments and debris finding their way into the shared oil flow. And that can end up in the engine, doing more damage. In fact, if not properly dealt with, it can find its way into a new turbo and ruin it too. Hopefully at minimum they did a complete oil change including cleaning out the pan when they replaced the turbo the first time. But it's highly likely that single event, blowing the turbo, set up the chain reaction of eventual engine failure as well as failure of the next turbo.

I don't think the issue is going to be finding a reputable shop that can fix it for you. At this point you're into a full rebuild or replacement of the engine with a new set of turbos. The 2.7s have twin turbos, right? Pretty much a worst case scenario is playing out; new engine complete with new turbos, full cooling system flush, and replacement or thorough cleaning of any part that comes in contact with the engine's oil. Unfortunately replacement trucks aren't cheap either. Fortunately a new engine will likely end your troubles, and the rest of the truck probably has a lot of miles left in it. So it's sort of up to you to decide; spend the money on a new (or reman) engine including turbos, or spend the money on a down payment and a series of future payments. To decide that I guess you have to look at the condition of the rest of the truck; suspension, body, interior, windows, .... is it still pretty good for its age?

 

Thanks for that reply.

When the oil pressure alarms continued, I asked the technician if there could be some debris from the broekn standpipe inside the motor that caused the turbo failure and other issues; he said that he did not think so. It does sound to me that this is an issue with some kind of debris or matter inside the motor as well. I also asked if they replaced the high-pressure oil line going to the turbo when they replaced the turbos and they said that they did not. Is that common? My understanding is that there is a screen in them and they should be replaced when the turbos are.