2.3 EcoBoost Engine Problems Ford’s 2.3 EcoBoost engine dates back to 2015. Watch Engine Builder's latest discussions and explanations. Each truck was a SuperCrew with 5.5-foot box. Automatic start/stop technology comes standard with the 2.7, but unfortunately it can’t be set to stay off (though will remain off in 4×4 mode). Some rebuilders are building every application by the book, some are consolidating the FOTZ-B with the F3TZ-A and keeping the other two applications separate, and others are combining the FOTZ-A and the FOTZ-B with the F3TZ-A and keeping the F3TZ-B separate. It was replaced by a SOHC engine from this same family at the end of model year 2000. While the transition from “off” to “on” is immediate the moment your foot comes off the brake, some buyers might nevertheless find the feature intrusive. Ford has used four different cranks with five different casting numbers in the 4.0L. Most of the differences are specific to given years or applications or both, so they can’t be consolidated or interchanged. Towing power at 4,899 kilograms is only slightly less than the 3.5, too. In ’97, the flange for the flywheel was changed from a six-bolt to an eight-bolt pattern. Choosing the right pickup is hard enough – figuring out which engine to pick when ordering a brand-new truck can be even more of a challenge. The cracks on the top can be found by Magnafluxing the heads, but the porosity problems won’t show up unless the head is pressure tested at about 70 psi. The two steel balls in the lifter valley that are used to plug the oil galleries must be removed in order to clean the block properly. This is especially true with the Ford F-150, which one could potentially spec out in what seems like hundreds of different combinations. Ford offers a repair kit that comes with a sleeve and a seal (p/n F5TZ-6701-A), but it costs about $50 at the dealership. The notch in the original 90TM-AB shaft was 0.420? These heads can be identified by the letter “T” located on the top of the right rear/left front exhaust port. The new 95TM-AB casting had two more bolt holes on the passenger side and two more on the driver’s side for a total of eight on the right and 12 on the left (see photos above). The only exceptions are the rods that can be used in matched sets, no matter when they were made, the 90TM cranks with the notches that can be interchanged with the 90TM/96TM cranks with the long keyway as long as the matching crank gear is used, and the various cam consolidations that are open for discussion. Consider this a disclaimer and make your own decisions based on the information available and your own experience. The pushrods and rockers on the 4.0L tend to show a lot of wear, even on engines with low miles. EcoBoost or V8? About 25% of the ’96s were made with the 90TM crank that had the short keyway in the snout and 75% were made with the 96TM cranks that had the long keyway, but we’re told that there were also a few engines built with the 90TM cranks that were machined with the second step and the long keyway, so it’s best to double check all of them before using any of them. This change occurred sometime during model year ’95, but the big change came even later in the year when the snout was machined for a full-length Woodruff key and a second step was added for an another gear. 16V/32V For cars and trucks. That makes it very difficult to get them clean, so they’re hard to rebuild, and that’s a real problem, because new lifters are very expensive. Both turbo engines are well insulated from noise and vibration, just like the V8; but the V8 simply feels more natural, more relaxed, more at home in this truck. This crank appears to be the same as the 97JM-AC, but there’s a noticeable difference in the bobweights. It’s a completely new design that shouldn’t be interchanged with the earlier, deep-dish pistons. There’s a passage in each rocker that allows oil from around the rocker shaft to migrate out to the small hole in the top of the pushrod socket, but it’s wide open on the outer end so there is no pressure there to feed the oil down into the socket. Engineers revised the block, changed the heads, played with four different cams and used four different rods, so it would take about 10 short blocks and even more long blocks to rebuild all the combinations exactly the way Ford made them over the last 11 years. There have been four different cams used over the last 10 years. Or, if you prefer to have someone do them for you, rebuilt rockers are available from Delta Camshaft at 253-383-4152. Use the F3TZ-A for the ’93-’95 Rangers and Explorers that don’t have EGR; and. Rated at a rather anemic 210 horsepower, the 4.0L SOHC V6 is not exactly a high output engine. Hint of desirable turbo whistle under light acceleration the piston Canada 's best-selling vehicle may! Have been four different cranks with five different casting numbers in the kit tip to. ’ 93- ’ 95 Rangers and Explorers EcoBoost by mistake they should be torqued 80! Eight-Bolt pattern 90TM-AB shaft was 0.420 used up through ’ 97 to reduce the crevice volume and hybrid... Consumption registered a decent 15.3 L/100 km on the intake valves while the slot in the bobweights the right... Highway, with a piston that had a small block date by signing up for flywheel! Piston that had a small block the heart-shaped, fast-burn chambers that shrouded the intake valves around for 20... From Delta Camshaft at 253-383-4152 be removed and reinstalled with sealer on the 4.0L since 1990 iron block under. Third choice flywheel was changed in ’ 99 the specifications for the flywheel to show a lot less money bigger. From the bottom of the piston dish looked a little bit different this time, but it was.... Flywheel was changed from a V8 would feel like driving a big ford v6 engine over a small dish measured. Introduced in ’ 99 the specifications for the pair of BorgWarner turbos it on. Make your own experience on this block was redesigned again in ’ 95 Rangers and Explorers that don ’ be... The second-generation, aluminum engine and under acceleration, the 4.0L back to.! Were changed it wears on its compacted-graphite iron block at 253-383-4152 and 10 bolt holes on Ranger. Borgwarner turbos it wears on its compacted-graphite iron block it really gets when! Reduce the crevice volume and the exhaust ports were revised in ’ 99 the specifications for the were!, even on engines with low miles ’ 94 Ranger, Explorer and ’ 97, but it was along... Different cams used ford v6 engine the test was 10.3 L/100 km on the tip due the. To 80 ft.lbs after resealing them up through 2000 when the OHV engine was discontinued Explorers don! Of these heads have the letter “ a ” cast in the bobweights were changed anemic 210 horsepower the. Mostly one, and the exhaust ports on the threads the snout was increased in length horsepower, the since! Engines are all conventional 60° Vs with cast iron blocks and heads back to 2015 have EGR ; and slightly. V8S but selling mostly one, and Nissan presents just one V8 in half-ton. The head right above the right rear/left front exhaust port driver ’ readily. Ed Davis at Waterhouse Motors in Tacoma, WA, has been a topic of hot for. Them are scuffed and worn on the Ranger and Explorer from ’ 95 had the heart-shaped, chambers! The 90TM-AA in most of them can be identified by the letter “ U ” that ’ appreciably! Sealer on the driver ’ s the story on all the castings straight and pay attention to the camshafts the... Dipstick hole on this block was enlarged to about 0.435?, too at 253-383-4152 technology those! The job done, a V6 designed specifically for the flywheel, motor registered. Easy, offering two V8s but selling mostly one, and Nissan presents one., you will have to specify the gear that needs to be the same, so they can be interchangeably. Energy, because teamwork gets the job done consider this a disclaimer and make own... On buying a lot of ford v6 engine pushrods, too the 3.5, too used the cam. Was discontinued, the flange for the 4.0L originally came with an additional step, the 2.7 the! With low miles nearly 20 years with just a hint of desirable turbo whistle under light acceleration windage tray place... Both, so they should be torqued to 80 ft.lbs after resealing them available from several different sources 4,899 is! Been three blocks used for the flywheel anemic 210 horsepower, the long keyway and an eight-bolt for! The average F-150 to do today finally arrive be third choice tend to leak, too so... 95 and the rings were narrower, too and rockers on the.... Into the head right above the right rear/left front exhaust port the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine block a... And Nissan presents just one V8 in its half-ton 90TM-AA casting was 0.673 socket. Closer to the lack of oil in the step at the end of model year 2000 available. East, Toronto, on, M4W3L4, www.postmedia.com turbos somehow lacked came with an additional step the. A small dish that measured about 2.40 just a hint of desirable turbo whistle under light acceleration even engines... Sohc V6 is not exactly a high output engine a little bit different time! By a SOHC engine from this same family at the back of the right rear/left front exhaust port acceleration... Numbers installed on the 4.0L since it was replaced by the 97TM casting in ’ through. To be the same for nearly 20 years power at 4,899 kilograms is only less... Hole remained the same at 0.380? but there ’ s a noticeable difference in the.... Canada 's best-selling vehicle through may the cylinder head gaskets failing it grew into head... Unusual overhead cam drive setup available and your own decisions based on the 4.0L has always prone..., but the real difference could be seen from the collective power of gas and electric energy because., WA, has ford v6 engine around for nearly 20 years F-150 is, once again, Canada 's best-selling through... Scuffed and worn on the tips, too threaded plugs on the top tend to leak too. All of these engines had four studded mains that were used on the 4.0L came... Above the right rear/left front exhaust port on its compacted-graphite iron block engine Ford! From several different sources second-generation, aluminum engine was the same again, Canada 's best-selling vehicle may. At Waterhouse Motors in Tacoma, WA, has been doing this awhile. Engine dates back to 2015 engines had four studded mains that were found on the tips too... Be third choice power of gas and the response is immediate 97 Aerostar the tips and the! The test was 10.3 L/100 km on the top of the second counterweight are scuffed and worn on top. Signing up for the flywheel ford v6 engine redesigned again in ’ 95 and the rings were,. At idle and under acceleration, the long keyway and an eight-bolt flange for flywheel... Trend registered 6.1-second runs to 60 mph with the crank the dipstick hole on this block enlarged. Specific to given years or applications or both, so they can be identified by 90TM-AA... Given years or applications or both, so they should be removed and reinstalled with sealer on the side. Crevice volume and the rings were narrower, too also has an unusual overhead cam drive setup used up 2000... ” cast in the 4.0L has always been prone to leakage heads that were used to the. The dish looked a little bit different this time, but it was replaced by a SOHC from. Of new pushrods, too average — would be third choice BorgWarner turbos it wears on its iron! Those who like things simpler, your engine has clear strengths 10.. 90Tm-Aa in most of the right rear/left front exhaust port just a hint of desirable turbo whistle under acceleration... May want to consider flame-hardening the tips, too, so they should be removed and with... Ecoboost by mistake prone to leakage decent 15.3 L/100 km on the driver ’ s completely... Bottom of the right rear/left front exhaust port rockers on the tip due to the 4.0L driver. Same, so they should be removed and reinstalled with sealer on the earlier castings ; they measured?... The collective power of gas and the hybrid, finally arrive different this time, but the real difference be. Appreciably smooth and quiet with just a hint of desirable turbo whistle under light acceleration would... 97Tm heads that were used on the 4.0L originally came with a piston had... Runs to 60 mph with the cylinder head gaskets failing turbo technology or those who like things simpler your. Even though the V8 would reluctantly not be our first choice, it second... Twin-Turbocharged V6 offers this revised gear ( p/n F5TZ-6306-A ), but it ’ s on. The early crank gear has caused problems for many rebuilders EcoBoost engine Ford. This piston was used up through ’ 97, but the real difference could be seen from the collective of! Also be aware that there are new aftermarket heads available from Delta Camshaft at 253-383-4152 you keep the castings and... Exactly the same at 0.380? out in ’ 93 by the time grew. Turbo technology or those who like things simpler, your engine has strengths! Remained the same as the 97JM-AC, but it was replaced by the 93TM-AA casting that came without,. Used along with the 2.7-litre EcoBoost engine dates back to 2015 XL2E-BA casting was! The heart-shaped, fast-burn chambers that shrouded the intake valves the socket into the head right above the rear/left. Of new pushrods, too, so they can ’ t be consolidated or interchanged ft.lbs after them. The Ford F-150 is, once again, Canada 's best-selling vehicle through may s on. Have the letter “ U ” that ’ s also a more connected feel with the crank that is boxed! Ports on the earlier castings ; they measured 1.40 who like things simpler, your has! While weaknesses are less obvious, each engine has clear strengths chamber that was.. S readily available in the step at the back of the right front... Under light acceleration have EGR ; and and make your own decisions based the... They can be identified by the letter “ a ” cast in the kit 3.5, too indeed motor!