It's got 65 k miles on it. Head gasket failed. Two separate opinions say total motor replacement. Still have 7k on the loan. 8k to fix. What would you do?

When you say 8k to fix what does that entail?

I've got two opinions. Both say new motor.

It might wind up needing an engine, but more specifics are needed.

quote:

Head gasket failed.

In what way? What caused it? And what engine?

No need for a new motor.
Have that one rebuilt, buy a used motor, or buy a rebuilt motor.

Big question though is why did the head gasket fail at only 65k?
Guessing overheated for some reason.

This generation of that car's engines are the 2.0 turbo 4, 2.7 turbo V6 (I have never actually seen or heard of that one) and a 3.5 NA V6. Let's concentrate on the first and last one. They both have problems due to fundamentally flawed designs.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
This generation of that car's engines are the 2.0 turbo 4, 2.7 turbo V6 (I have never actually seen or heard of that one) and a 3.5 NA V6. Let's concentrate on the first and last one. They both have problems due to fundamentally flawed designs.

The 2.7 is the same TT V6 from the F150 & Fusion Sport. Only available in the Edge ST. Not sure if it was an option on a 2017 or if that was the 3.7 N/A V6 Sport or the 2.7TTV6.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
This generation of that car's engines are the 2.0 turbo 4, 2.7 turbo V6 (I have never actually seen or heard of that one)

Former Edge owner here. I have only seen the 2.7 turbo in the Sport trim of the Edge models. I almost bought one of those, to replace my 3.5 non-turbo Edge, but walked away when salesman at the Ford dealer started showing attitude. I do not reward that bullshit, he lost a commission on an almost certain sale.

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The 2.7 is the same TT V6 from the F150 & Fusion Sport. Only available in the Edge ST.

Never seen any of those either.

Whether to replace a head gasket or entire engine depends on the circumstances of the failure and why it failed. If the engine was run extremely low on or even boiled dry of coolant, think of it like boiling over a teakettle or a saucepan. If the water boils but none is lost, you can put them back in service, but if boiled dry the metal will warp. The same thing will happen to an engine, especially one with an aluminum block that is already cast as thin as possible. You can see the damage to the saucepan, but damage to blocks and cylinders can't always be seen with the naked eye. In this case you're better off to replace the engine.

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:
It might wind up needing an engine, but more specifics are needed.

quote:

Head gasket failed.

In what way? What caused it? And what engine?

This whole thing started about 6 weeks ago with a check engine light. Took it in and they ran the codes. Misfire on cylinder two. Told could be a number of things. The light went out shortly after that. It came back on and off a couple of more times. I scheduled an appointment to take care of it. I lost heat, but discovered it was fading in and out. On the way over the engine overheated. I looked at the gauge and it was high but it came back down. Did that a couple of more times.

They found coolant system was low. Filled it back up. They pulled the cylinder and discovered coolant. Scoped the engine and found where all the coolant had gone. I assumed it was the head gasket that went. I wasn't told that by the mechanic.

Engine is a 2.0 four cylinder.

Not knowing details but KBB says average trade in is 16.500, so probably the best bet to not lose your butt is repair.

With an average of under 10k/yr in mileage & this crazy market, I'm not surprised it's got some good value to it.

If you Google coolant intrusion Ford 2.0 Ecoboost you will find all you need to know.

To me the decision would be pretty simple.

Trade in - payoff = X

Or

Trade in + repairs - payoff = Y

Chose X or Y depending on which is better.

$8k is ridiculous, call local shop and ask the cost of long block replacement.

quote:

Engine is a 2.0 four cylinder.

Due to the design of the engine block, the head gasket sealing surfaces between cylinders 1 and 2 and 2 and 3 are very narrow. Combined with the added cylinder pressures from a turbocharger, this makes the head gasket prone to failure. If the engine was not completely emptied of coolant, no coolant got in the oil and the block surface is not warped (but they won't know this until the head is off), I think you can get by with just the head gasket … and then sell or trade the car while it still runs, because this is likely to happen again.

$8k is ridiculous, call local shop and ask the cost of long block replacement.


I was going to add this, find an honest non dealer shop. The only work to give the $tealers is warranty work.
You still wont like the price, but it will be better than the dealer unless they are covering part of it.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:
If you Google coolant intrusion Ford 2.0 Ecoboost you will find all you need to know.

To me the decision would be pretty simple.

Trade in - payoff = X

Or

Trade in + repairs - payoff = Y

Chose X or Y depending on which is better.

$8k is ridiculous, call local shop and ask the cost of long block replacement.

Either equation seems to come out the same. My second opinion is a local mechanic I've used before. He quoted 7.5K. Seems to me fixing it is probably the way I'm going to go. I can double up on payments and get it paid off in a little less than a year. And, it gives me time. I don't want to be put in a position to have to have something now. I've owned three Ford's before and never had this big of an issue. Had a Saturn VUE and I couldn't keep a transmission in that thing. I've always tried to buy American, but that's about to change.

What ever you do DO NOT have that block rebuilt. The Ford 1.5L 1.6L 2.0L and 2.3L Ecoboost engines seem to be a pile of shit. Have a relative that had a 2.0 Ecoboost blow a head gasket at 62k. Did some research WOW!

This guy explains the problem very well.