5.0 Engine blown up at just under 58k miles

[diambo4life]

Yeah that’s way too long in my opinion, anything over 5k is just being cheap. Why be so cheap maintaining an expensive truck?

Totally agree. I need to change mine soon. It would be the second oil change after purchase and I am at 5700 miles. Glad you will get this covered but please, do twice as much oil changes.

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[apMechorse]

I appreciate everyone's concern with regard to my oil changing schedule, and if you all want to change your oil every 3k miles, that's entirely up to you. However that wasn't my intention when starting this thread. I've already stated that I'm following the oil life monitors recommendations, which fall in line with both Ford's and Mobil's recommendations.

Enough with the oil changes.

 

[Texas8709]

Did the 6 speed at least shift smoothly? If so I might be a little jealous... ?

With any of the aftermarket tunes, the last way I’d describe the shifting is smooth lol. It would break the tires loose on the 1-2 shift if you were hammering it. With the stock tune, ya it was smooth, but so annoyingly indecisive. If you were turning right onto a faster speed road, and gave it a little more throttle than usual in order to not slow down traffic too much, disaster could happen (more than 35-40% throttle, not even flooring it, just more throttle than usual). Once I got the truck turned and applied throttle, the traction control would kick in what seemed like was way too early for the tiniest bit of spin, cut power for way longer than necessary, and forward momentum would decrease dramatically causing the transmission to upshift into 2nd. Then once traction control finally decided to butt out, it’d see that you were still applying more than 30% throttle yet the engine and forward speeds were so low, it would then downshift back into 1st. But as it was fighting traction control and lumbering around in 2nd speed was slowly increasing, so once it got back into first gear the rpm’s would be essentially at redline. So it’d either immediately be bouncing off the rev limiter, have a tiny little burst until it was at the limiter, or usually just another round of traction control interference. Then it’d go back to 2nd, this time with more forward momentum than before, but still not an ideal amount if the truck just acted like a normal vehicle. All the while, I’m bucking around inside like I’m on a bull, and the traffic behind is about to rear end me. It got to the point where my default once I started the truck was to immediately turn off traction control. Stabilitrak could still do some stupid things, but only if I went a little too aggressive and had a tiny slide while turning.
It seems like the way Ford programs transmissions is just wrong. You used to hear complaints about the 10 speed in Fords, yet high praise in Chevys. And it’s the same transmission.
although I will give them credit for the manual shifting mode. I drive with it in manual mode the majority of the time, because it’s just so good and way more enjoyable. It doesn’t interfere. If I want to blow my engine by just sitting at the limiter in 1st, or aggressively downshift to help slow down when towing, it’ll let me. Puts the “manual mode” option in several Porsche’s, Bimmers, and Mercedes I’ve driven to shame.

 

[tony72cutlass's']

A good lesson for all, drive it like you stole it while it’s still under warranty!

Hopefully get all the kinks out. This would be a costly venture out of warranty (I’m willing to bet 8-12K)

 

[WhiteLightningnshitshadow]

I hope it wasn’t the “indestructible belt”

Following just for this. I feel like it's one of the dumbest design updates on something that wasn't broken I've ever seen.

Also, idgaf who ya are, 10k between changes is just lazy. I can't really speak for the f150, but the difference in performance from the end of one 5k change to fresh oil is noticable in some vehicles.

 

[air2mag]

I followed the oil life monitor in my 09 Lariat. The truck had 245,000 when I traded it on my new truck. Still didn’t use any oil. I think your fine with you oil change schedule?

 

[apMechorse]

Following just for this. I feel like it's one of the dumbest design updates on something that wasn't broken I've ever seen.

It would be helpful to find out exactly what happened. My first thought was swallowing a valve or the timing belt failing, but if the service manager is correct and Ford isn't going to have them tear it down we will probably never know.

Also, idgaf who ya are,

What a coincidence, I don't either!

 

[UNIKRN150]

Mine had a RUD of the #6 valve.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/inside-your-2021-5-0-at-3500-miles.8526/

I felt very lucky that it didn't damage the piston or block.

I wonder if yours did the same thing and caused the piston failure.

I have yet to see anyone else have a valve shatter.

 

[UNIKRN150]

I hope it wasn’t the “indestructible belt”

That scary belt...

 

[UNIKRN150]

My first thought was swallowing a valve or the timing belt failing...

I too was under the impression that it was the "Timing Chain" that was replaced by a "belt".

It wasn't.

The timing chains are still "chains". The oil pump chain is now a "belt".

NOT that THAT made "me" feel much better.... but a little.

 

[JExpedition07]

Ford calls out their timing chains as “timing belts” in the parts catalog and that mixes people up. The timing system is all metal chains. Wet oil pump belts are becoming the new norm. The 3.0 PowerStroke used one, GM’s new 3.0 Duramax uses one. Ford is using it on the 2.7 and 5.0. I won’t be surprised to see it on all the engines shortly. Why they selected a Kevlar belt instead of a chain I don’t know, I am putting my faith in the Ford engineers who claim it to be good for 1,100 horsepower and the life of the engine. Now I may re-evaluate this at 150k or so. If it keeps me up at night I may drop the oil pan and replace it over a weekend as I get up there. I enjoy projects, the timing job on my 5.4 was ruthless but fulfilling.

GM’s system on the baby max calls it out as a 200k service item, Ford called it lifetime. GM doesn’t claim theirs to be Kevlar like Ford does. Dunno.

 

[UNIKRN150]

Ford calls out their timing chains as “timing belts” in the parts catalog and that mixes people up. The timing system is all metal chains. Wet oil pump belts are becoming the new norm. The 3.0 PowerStroke used one, GM’s new 3.0 Duramax uses one. Ford is using it on the 2.7 and 5.0. I won’t be surprised to see it on all the engines shortly. Why they selected a Kevlar belt instead of a chain I don’t know, I am putting my faith in the Ford engineers who claim it to be good for 1,100 horsepower and the life of the engine. Now I may re-evaluate this at 150k or so. If it keeps me up at night I may drop the oil pan and replace it over a weekend as I get up there. I enjoy projects, the timing job on my 5.4 was ruthless but fulfilling.

GM’s system on the baby max calls it out as a 200k service item, Ford called it lifetime. GM doesn’t claim theirs to be Kevlar like Ford does. Dunno.

That’s a pretty odd choice of nomenclature and YES… confusing for sure!

At least if the Oil Pump Belt fails, you’re likely going to know about it long before it does damage to the engine.

 

[JExpedition07]

There also seems to be a disproportionate number of 5.0 owners on forums. I recall a poll on the other big F-150 forum on order status and what engine everyone selected. The 5.0 made up over 50% of the consumer custom orders from that data pool in 2020. Now I have heard for custom orders the 5.0 is actually the most selected engine…but most dealers order a majority of 2.7 EcoBoost for general stock. That is the most sold motor by far. Majority of F-150 are not custom ordered by the end user. What I am getting at is V8 owners tend to be more on the side of an enthusiast, and end up here on a forum. All those leased 2.7s driving around with an owner without a care in the world? They aren’t here posting about freak failures because they don’t care to be on a vehicle board.

 

[apMechorse]

There also seems to be a disproportionate number of 5.0 owners on forums. I recall a poll on the other big F-150 forum on order status and what engine everyone selected. The 5.0 made up over 50% of the consumer custom orders from that data pool in 2020. Now I have heard for custom orders the 5.0 is actually the most selected engine…but most dealers order a majority of 2.7 EcoBoost for general stock. That is the most sold motor by far. Majority of F-150 are not custom ordered by the end user. What I am getting at is V8 owners tend to be more on the side of an enthusiast, and end up here on a forum. All those leased 2.7s driving around with an owner without a care in the world? They aren’t here posting about freak failures because they don’t care to be on a vehicle board.

I know I chose the 5.0 specifically because I had repeated bad/underpowered experiences with the Ecoboost in my 2014 Escape, right up until it melted a hole in the #3 piston at 130k.

Fortunately the dealer was able to tie it to a coolant service bulletin and Ford replaced it for for free. But even the brand new engine seemed underpowered and bogged down on the highway. It actually seemed to be worse than the old one.

So yeah, while custom ordering my truck I for one was not going the Ecoboost route.

 

[apMechorse]

Mine had a RUD of the #6 valve.
https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/inside-your-2021-5-0-at-3500-miles.8526/

I felt very lucky that it didn't damage the piston or block.

I wonder if yours did the same thing and caused the piston failure.

I have yet to see anyone else have a valve shatter.

This could very well be what happened to mine, just with more violent results. Your description of what happened at the time of spontaneous failure is very similar to what happened to me, except mine did not stall out on its own.

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