5.4 with 188,000 miles - overhaul question
02-26-2019, 04:39 PM
#31
Renaissance Honky
interestingly to me as previous owner was also told he needed phasers and this and that and probably a new engine (that's why he gave up on this one)...I have done the usual maintenance items as I would like to do them and with the help of many on this Forum...
I believe like many here have suggested, that the dealerships want to do what they think is either easiest, most profitable or expensive enough to scare you away...my local mechanics who say they have seen a lot of these engines mentioned to me that if I keep up on the oil changes and keep my eye on everything else, I could be fine for a long time...
YMMV and good luck with your choice
Bill
- oil change with 5W20 FULL synthetic and a Motorcraft FL820S oil filter rather than the cheap blend from wherever with a whatever filter
- new air filter properly sized (cheap quick oil change place filter) with new air box seals
- Top Tier gasoline after a couple of tank fulls of Top Tier and Chevron Techron Full System Cleaner
- broken belt tensioner and pulley replaced
- MAF cleaned
- Throttle Body cleaned (surprisingly not too bad)
I believe like many here have suggested, that the dealerships want to do what they think is either easiest, most profitable or expensive enough to scare you away...my local mechanics who say they have seen a lot of these engines mentioned to me that if I keep up on the oil changes and keep my eye on everything else, I could be fine for a long time...
YMMV and good luck with your choice
Bill
Bump it up to a 5w-30 and it probably won't shudder ever again. I've gone as high as a 5w-40 diesel oil to stabilize mine until I could get the parts and time to fix it right.
02-28-2019, 07:44 AM
#32
mine has only done it that one time in the last 1200 plus miles and that was only after I had just done the Throttle Body cleaning...I'm not due for an oil change for some time now but I am giving thought to going to 5W30 at replacement time with the Motorcraft FL820S filter...
when getting the oil changed in January, my mechanic said I could try 5W30 if I wanted...I don't recall if it was to quiet the engine somewhat or what other reason...I may take a trip out to Farm and Fleet and see if I can exchange the 5W20 full synthetic I bought already for the next oil change for 5W30 since it's the same price and give this a try...
Thanks,
Bill
when getting the oil changed in January, my mechanic said I could try 5W30 if I wanted...I don't recall if it was to quiet the engine somewhat or what other reason...I may take a trip out to Farm and Fleet and see if I can exchange the 5W20 full synthetic I bought already for the next oil change for 5W30 since it's the same price and give this a try...
Thanks,
Bill
03-01-2019, 06:40 AM
#33
the more I read on this it seems that the recommendation from the YouTube Ford tech is doing this after making the updates to the oil pump and etcetera...since I'm not having any major issues I can find attributable to using the Ford recommended 5W20 I may just stick with that...
If anyone has any links to anything better than anecdotal evidence for changing 5W20 to 5W30 I'm all ears...
Bill
If anyone has any links to anything better than anecdotal evidence for changing 5W20 to 5W30 I'm all ears...
Bill