need some feedback on ford vans

marty6731 · Oct 24, 2009

If anyone has time, drop me a line on a ford van. Let me know about the pros and cons of a ford van. Is it true about the head gaskets leaking and the spark plugs blowing out of the engine? I am looking at a 2008 ford e-250 with the small v-8. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, marty

greg334 · Oct 24, 2009

If you are going to do this work, do not look at E250s but go for the largest thing you can get in both capacity and length.

Crazynuff · Oct 24, 2009

I searched NHTSA records of TSB's and recalls and didn't turn up anything on 2008 E-250's

flattop40 · Oct 24, 2009

2007 E-350 5.4L with over 210k miles. Uses a court of oil about every 6-8k. Original everything but tires. Replaced them at 150k only because I got a pin hole leak in the outter tread and they wouldn't fix and wanted all tires with same wear and tear. Only use sythetic oil and change every 15k.

Can't speak for anyone else but this van has out performed anything l could imagine.

PS was always a GM man until I bought this.

Dakota · Oct 24, 2009

IMO the 4.6 is too small of an engine for expedite use. I am sure there are some that will argue that it is fine, but the 5.4 will do alot less work for about the same mileage.

guido4475 · Oct 25, 2009

If it was available, and if they still made it,I'd get a E-350 with a 300 inline 6 cyl in it. That engine would pull a house off it's foundation.And last forever.There is alot of torque to these engines.

BillChaffey · Oct 25, 2009

First I'm not driving right now. I have a 1999 F 250 Super Duty & a 2002 E 350 Ext Cargo. Both Diesel. The Van only has 235,000 on it with one repair two tears ago. $289.00 I don't remember what for but most of the cost was labor. All I've done is oil, fuel & air filters. Gets 22 mpg @ 62-63 MPH drops to around 20 @ 65.

guido4475 · Oct 25, 2009

How is everyone getting such good fuel mileage out of their Ford vans?I dont race off of stop lights.Run additives, etc,real anal on all maintenance.Prettymuch baby the darn thing.

Dakota · Oct 25, 2009

guido4475 said:
If it was available, and if they still made it,I'd get a E-350 with a 300 inline 6 cyl in it. That engine would pull a house off it's foundation.And last forever.There is alot of torque to these engines.

I agree, there is something about straight six engines look at the Dodge, Plymouth slant 6 The old Jeep 258
Straight 6 engines will run for ever and do have gobs of torque
I used to have a old Ford pickup and a Plymouth Valiant and a Jeep
I am a big fan of the straight sixes

Problem is I think the sixes can't meet current gas mileage/smog standards I might be wrong
I have never had one of these engines quit on me

Jack_Berry · Oct 25, 2009

my 4.6 has issues with the coilover wires every 10k miles like clock work. the 4.6 is no tire squealer and can get 19 on some roads and 14 on others. uses a qt like flattops engine. full syn in the engine, rear and trans.

greg334 · Oct 25, 2009

Dakota,
My jeep with a 6 in it was something else, got cr*p mileage and it was a pain to work on let alone ended up on the side of the road many many times. I dumped it for a MB38 and that lasted 5 years before it rusted away and it had a tried and true F head Jeep engine in it.

The Ford 6 I had leaked coolant into the oil, even Ford looked at it and they recommended a head replacement but that didn't solve the problem. With 140k on the engine, 110k with the new head, the trans gave out and I sold it. I heard it made it to 250k before the engine finally cr*pped out. Since the head was replaced, I hoped it would die with coolant in the oil, it kept going and going.

Slant 6, good engine but I prefer the predecessor, the flathead 6. Now you would think that you could still get parts for the slant but I looked last year (had the chance to buy a 1968 Barracuda with a slant in it) and didn't see much. But I still can get most of the parts for the flathead 6 - go figure.