Ford’s Most Popular Engine has a Major Design Flaw: 3.5L V6 EcoBoost Full Teardown

In today’s video, we’re performing a complete autopsy on a failed Ford 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. We’re stripping it down to the bare block to find out exactly what caused this twin-turbo powerhouse to turn into a total loss.

The Ford 3.5L EcoBoost is one of the most popular engines on the road, powering everything from the F-150 to the Transit and Expedition. But they aren't without their flaws. From timing chain stretch to the dreaded internal water pump failure, we’re looking for the "smoking gun" that killed this particular unit. This one was out of a 2018 Ford Explorer with a 3.5L Twin turbo V6 and 150,000km on it.

In this video:

Initial Inspection: Checking for external leaks, the location of major parts on the engine since its transversely mounted.

Top End Removal: Assessing the cam phasers and valvetrain.

The "Heart" of the Problem: Inspecting the timing chain and its related components, including the hidden water pump driven off the chain.

The Bottom end: Sturdily built, the rotating assembly can handle 365 HP but the carbon on the piston tops state otherwise.

Verdict: Was it a design flaw, a parts failure, or poor maintenance? Maintenance is key with all direct injection engines using thinner oil in modern times. A hidden surprise from a past repair was found in the oil pickup tube!

Timestamps:
0:00 Touring around the 365HP Beast
0:59 Tearing down the Top End
4:30 Un-timing the Timing Cover. Not as easy as it looks
7:28 The Major Flaw: Water-pump design and accessibility
9:12 Beheading the heads: Removing the Top End
11:08 Time to get Oil on my Hands with the Oil Pan
12:17 Another Fatal Blow: The Oil pickup tube
12:36 Bottoming off the Bottom end: Windage and Main Bearings
14:36 Component Analysis: Is it really worth it?
17:47 Conclusion: An Engine Built well doesn't last well

How much did a water-pump or timing chain replacement cost you on your Ford Taurus or Explorer? These engines are very tight to work on, often requiring engine removal and can get costly for a simple repair! Parts are reasonable, but labour really eats up most of the cost.

Tags: #Ford #EcoBoost #EngineTeardown #F150 #Mechanic #CarRepair #FordPerformance #EcoBusted #V6Turbo #EngineFailure #Automotive