Background....I have owned my 2020 Ford F150 Lariat V8 for nearly 5 years now. I bought the vehicle with 31k miles. With 73k miles the vehicle's check engine light came, and I would hear a tapping noise coming from the engine (which would eventually go away) and I took it to the local Ford dealership. I was informed that it was low on oil. They topped it off and sent me on my way. I continued to have my oil changes done there and was told nothing. This truck has been babied. Have not towed anything, looks brand new, and overall has been a great truck. On Monday of this week, check engine came on again, and the tapping returned.... the truck at this time has 103k miles. The current oil replacement sticker (from this same dealership) shows that oil change does not need to be done until 105k. I take the truck in and I just received a call saying that the engine needs to be replaced because oil has passed the bale seals on cylenders 1,2,3,5,7, & 8. The cyclinder have scoring on cyclinder walls of 4 and 8. Engine long block replacement is needed. I was also informed that my extended warranty ran out at 100k miles. I was told that it would be $15k to replace the engine. As you can imagine, I am less than pleased. Ford will not replace the engine or even help with the cost. This truck looks brand new and I hate that I am to need to buy something else. Here is the rub for me. Ford knows this is an issue with this engine. The dealership has seen this happen multiple times, based on reps words. My problem is why did know one inform me until it was catastrophic. I would have traded in the truck for another one if I knew my truck was a ticking time bomb. Let me know if I am just being over dramatic and should just move on. I feel like people need to know this "oil consumption issue" can be catastrophic because if I had known that I would have traded it. Thoughts?

 

everyone does know that oil consumption is an issue on the 5.0, it can be an issue on all engines....You have a vehicle with over 100k and it sounds like you don't even check the oil on it, just run her till she blows. The GM 5.3 is like this, Kia and Hyundia do this as well as many others....best option is to find an independent shop and have them put in a new engine, $7-8k for another 100k miles is a good deal if you like everything else about the truck. Honestly the way you maintain a vehicle I wouldn't expect much more out of any vehicle. How many times have you done the trans fluid?

 

I personally don't check the oil but I always have the oil changed as advised by the professionals. This also pertains to trans fluid or any other recommended item from Ford. I am not sure what you mean by "the way you maintain a vehicle." I am a dealerships dream owner. I do not question any work suggested by the dealership on any of my vehicles. That is the frustrating part. Do I get under the truck and wrench on it? No, because that is what I pay the service people at the dealership to do. You don't want me working on my truck but I would not want any of them buying commercial land either.

 

Page 554 of the owners manual in your glove box. Halfway down on the left side:

"As a result, you need to check your engine oil level at every refueling and adjust to maintain proper levels to avoid engine damage"

Sorry, but this is your check to do. You need to check your oil level periodically. The dealer only does the service.

 

You (and the previous owner) were Ford’s guinea pigs for that Plasma Transfer Wire Arc cylinder liner jazz.

Whether you want to take another swing with a remanned engine or dump the truck entirely is up to you. Ford washes their hands of this stuff when they are legally allowed to do so-at warranty’s end.

If you think this is insane, you should have looked into Ford’s “fix” for this stuff. A longer dipstick and a silly oil life indicator tweek to get customers off their backs. 😮‍💨

 

Options Are (in order of preference):

1. Ignore Dealer's opinion that engine needs to be replace, the techs frequently are incompetent and often lie to pad the bill. Next time tell them to change the oil and shut the f up about anything else.
2. Sue Ford for the cost of an engine.
3. Get engine repaired.

 

LOL at taking your truck to the dealer to check the oil level.

All of us who've joined or lurked on this forum (and others) for more than a week know all about the oil consumption potential.

 

If the vehicle is currently running ok, just get you a decent code scanner, clear the fault to eliminate the annoying check engine light. You definitely DO need to check the oil from time to time, every other fuel fill-up at the least.

 

sorry to chime in…. But I have yet to read my owners manual for my truck…. I also dont abide by the service interval recommendations that everyone has mentioned coming from it. Those recommendations only work to cause headaches for owners.

however …. With how much these vehicles cost now a days…. It is always a good thing to get a little dirt on your hands and do a maintenance check. Cant rely on a stranger to say HEY! ALL GOOD OVER HERE!

 

I find it difficult to believe anybody is actually as blind (oblivious) to required minimal basic vehicle checks as the OP claims. Never checking the oil level and running the engine low on oil is a ticking time bomb, as you have now found out.

If I was in your current situation, I would shop for either a reman engine or a salvage yard engine pulled from a wreck that could be swapped into the truck. $15k at the dealership is highway robbery.

And please educate yourself about basic maintenance check requirements so you don't find yourself in the same situation again.