100k Tune Up

Discussion in 'Engine Performance and Mods' started by Jeff D, Jul 3, 2018.

  1. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    My truck has 53k miles. Presently changing out spark plugs and coil assemblies. Also changing over to stainless brake lines. I'll reach back once these tasks are completed.

    Thoughts on the list below?? Borrowed from another site

    I decided to put together a list of stuff that commonly goes wrong on these trucks and that, as enthusiasts, we have to plan for. This should not turn into a thread that complains about Ford’s shortcomings, there are other threads for that. This is just facts in terms of what wears out. I will preface this with the following disclaimer: if you drive like a Camry owner or you don’t pull heavy loads, you may not notice misfires, weak coils, weak BOV diaphragms, Wastegate diaphragms, etc.. You might argue that you can or should get 200K miles out of the truck before messing with this stuff, etc. If you can get 200K miles out of it without doing this stuff, then great. I would say you are lucky and your driving style probably contributes to less wear and tear on your truck. If on the other hand you frequently expect to go full throttleand leave it there without a single hiccup, then all of this stuff needs to be in order.

    Turbos: the CHRA (Center Housing Rotating Assembly): typically turbos get about 100K miles.. in my case I got 108K on the driver’s side before it started leaking oil. The center bearing wears out: .003 clearance is the max clearance, I saw .008 on the driver’s side and external leaks, .005 on the passenger side and not leaking. You can take off the turbos and have them rebuilt for $700 (turbo rebuild only), get reman Ford OEM turbos for $1400ish, or jump to Ford GTturbos for $2400.

    Coils: The Coil on Plug Ignitionsystem is great, provides plenty of performance, but they don’t last forever.

    Plugs:
    gap them to .028, and if you need to replace them every 10K miles do it, seems ridiculous but that is what it takes for some of these trucks. Hopefully you are getting 30-50K miles out of them but in a small engine making this much power, you can’t expect 100K miles.

    Throttle Body:
    The sensor detecting throttle blade angle goes bad and sends erratic readings to the ECU/computer. The ECU dumps boost(thinking the throttle is in fact shut or there is an error and it doesn't want a "run-away" truck) and may or may not leave your truck with excess fuel in the cylinders, fouling the plugs.

    Catalytic Convertors:
    Some of us experienced them going bad a few times in < 100K miles. OEM calibration strategies use excess fuel to cool the cats, when that strategy goes too far, the excess fuel burns and melts the cats. If you have excessive misfire events, that unburned fuel goes downstream to the cats and does the same thing. You can buy a backpressure tester which screws in place of the upstream O2 sensor and measure back pressure. Compare one side to the other. You can also drive next to a wall and listen for what sounds like an air hose blowing off as a large volume of exhaust air tries to make its way through a tiny passage. OEM cat's retail for $1200, think about aftermarket catted downpipes for a little savings as well as good increase in power. Not to mention the OEM's are harder to remove/install then aftermarket.

    BOV Diaphragm: (aka Diverter valve)
    On the 2011-12, there were two BOV’s and they were mounted on the turbo. On the 13+ models there is a single BOV mounted on the Intercooler. Vacuum is used to open the diaphragm when you lift off the throttle and to divert air from slamming into the closed or closing throttle blade, and it gets recirculated back to the inlet side of the compressor. On the 11-12, you can buy the diaphragm only and repair a torn diaphragm. The 13+, I believe they integrated the Solenoid that opens the valve, and the valve itself, into one unit. The diaphragm in that unit I do not believe is serviceable so when the valve goes bad you have to replace the whole valve and solenoid. It is a wear item, the turbo crowds know this, it is just part of what we have to deal with.

    Wastegate Diaphragm: Each turbo has a Wastegate operated by vacuum to pull it open and dump excess exhaustgas rather than spin the turbine past what the engine needs for boost. Same idea: that rubber vacuum diaphragm can tear and you can lose boost because the wastegate is prematurely opening (or fluttering).

    BOV/Wastegate Solenoid
    : Both the wastegates and the Blow Off valves are operated by a vacuumswitchsolenoid that is controlled by the ECU. Part number BL3Z-9K378-A. When required, the ECU sends a signal to open the solenoid; that allows vacuum from the engine to pull on the diaphragm of the BOV or the Wastegate. The wastegates are T’d off a single solenoid that is mounted on the intakemanifold.

    BOV Solenoid (same as above):
    The 11-12’ F150’s had individual BOV solenoids (2 total) each mounted at the turbo next to each BOV. On the 13+ the BOV solenoid is integrated with the BOV vacuumassembly and is not serviceable separately. For the 11-12 trucks use the same part number as the Wastegate solenoid (BL3Z-9K378-A) they sell for about $25 each.

    Productive thoughts/comments/edits welcome. Just trying to help the community out.
     
    kanaweli likes this.
  2. bravo3eco

    bravo3eco Full Access Member

    Posts:
    214
    Likes Received:
    17
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2017
    Surprising.
     
  3. Full-Race

    Full-Race Member

    Posts:
    22
    Likes Received:
    10
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2017
    fully agree on most of this, but a few edits:

    -spark plugs should be gapped to 0.025" at the largest, 0.028" is ok but 0.030" is too large in our experience

    -these turbos are journal bearing and will wear slightly as you mentioned. however the gt turbos will not fit this application, although there are alternate solutions and upgrades in the works

    -I have not personally seen a bad TPS (throttle position sensor). thats not to say it doesnt happen, but it hasnt happened to any of our trucks or our customer trucks that Im aware of.

    -raptors use electronic wastegate "Stepper motors" instead of a wg diaphragm. this is a non issue

    -bov diaphram is a possible failure point on these trucks. some people upgrade to an aftermarket mechanical bov -or- simply replace the ebov solenoid and diaphragm when it tears as the OP mentioned.

    -solenoid is not relevant to the 17+ trucks with gen2 3.5L such as raptor. only 11-16 has this
     
    Raptor62430 and kanaweli like this.
  4. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    Full Race, thanks for updating the list.
     
    Full-Race likes this.
  5. Russ

    Russ Member

    Posts:
    8
    Likes Received:
    9
    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2017
    Great thread.
     
    Raptor62430 likes this.
  6. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    Full Race where is your shop located?
     
  7. Full-Race

    Full-Race Member

    Posts:
    22
    Likes Received:
    10
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2017
    we are located in Phoenix, AZ at the northeast side of Sky Harbor airport! feel free to stop by, or to email us anytime. We build performance parts for many turbo engines, but EcoBoost 3.5L is our primary focus since 2009
     
    Raptor62430, baptizo and Adam like this.
  8. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    Figures , I owned a place in Prescott for 15 yrs. Sold it late last year. Sorry I missed the opportunity to do business.
     
    Full-Race likes this.
  9. Adam

    Adam Full Access Member

    Age:
    49
    Posts:
    377
    Likes Received:
    108
    Joined:
    Aug 31, 2017
    Location:
    New Orleans La
    Sweet, going to buy the bov and full race throttle body spacer for the vacuum line soon
     
    Full-Race likes this.
  10. Full-Race

    Full-Race Member

    Posts:
    22
    Likes Received:
    10
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2017
    thanks guys, i am working on a few updated Raptor writeups to our site this week. hopefully this will help clear up questions
     
  11. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    My truck has returned home with new spark plugs, coil assemblies and stainless brake lines. Game changer on all three updates! I have back the original engine responsiveness. That spongy brake feeling I hated from day 1 is gone.
     
  12. Jeff D

    Jeff D Full Access Member

    Posts:
    192
    Likes Received:
    58
    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    KLM performance/ Stainless brake lines. Motor craft plugs and coils. Plug gap .028
     
  13. xBryanHoodsx

    xBryanHoodsx Active Member

    Posts:
    32
    Likes Received:
    5
    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2017
    Full race can you guys sell the upgraded turbo kit without the turbos as I can get turbos at Mfg cost from borg Warner Also what’s the weak link in these engines the rods and pistons or crank ?
     
  14. Full-Race

    Full-Race Member

    Posts:
    22
    Likes Received:
    10
    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2017
    the crank is very good, and very strong. OEM raptor rod and piston are stronger than oem F150 rod and piston but the piston is the weakpoint above 550+hp. i recommend forged steel rods and forged alu pistons if shooting for 600+

    I do not believe we sell the turbo kits without turbos... but the person you would want to ask is [email protected] he can get you an answer on that
     
  15. bravo3eco

    bravo3eco Full Access Member

    Posts:
    214
    Likes Received:
    17
    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2017
    Any need for the 1/16 weep hole in the intercooler? When others did that, the misfires went away, plugs lasted longer, and the cats were not destroyed.
     

Share This Page