3.0 Burned heads Info.

[bogey99]

After posting the question on burned heads I went ahead and did the research. I contacted the dealership and Ford inquiring on the heads. They both confirmed that the head was re designed with hardened valve seats and the valves were beefed up. Thats why the dealer had to change both sides. Looks like the speculation on 2000+ years factory problem was correct. God only knows why they would have manufactured a head diffrently from an already proven head design. Money savings? Anyway, this is not a recall item but is one that has been addressed by Ford. I think if anyone has any questions reguarding my findings all Ford dealerships should have this info. Interesting none the less. Thanks for your previous posts.

 

[rurouni20xx]

this is interesting i wonder if it has anything to do w/ the tapered valve spring design that the recently implemented. burned valves are usually caused from lean mixture or no backpressure against them from exhaust components causing air to escape them too quickly leaving no ambient air to cool them and overheating. a bad exhaust gasket causing a leak, poor header design or intake leak causing lean mix is the only thing i can think of that will cause this, unless the seat wasnt cut right and seated at the factory. i see burned valves a lot on motorcycles that add pipes and dont rejet or retune the programmed fuel injection to richen the mixture, i suspect that the problem is caused somewhere along those lines, only other thing that could be looked at is a failed lifter that didnt let the cylinder breathe causing overheating. this is def a factory issue and warranty should def cover it, but i would like to see what caused it that way the newer vehicle owners have something look out for after purchasing the vehicle.

 

[bogey99]

Exhaust

my buddys truck that did the same thing did have a leak about 6 months earlier and did replace the exhaust manifold gasket. I will check mine because I did hear ticking when I was driving under load like there was an exhaust leak somewhere. I did note that this was an issue typical on #6. at least that was what cylinder failed first in the ones I have seen.

 

[rurouni20xx]

ticking may also be valvetrain related as well, possibly weak lifter, try and isolate an exhaust leak if any at an exhaust shop w/ the powder they use on the header and gasket area (i forget what its called). if none is found then check into the valvetrain.