Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
I had a spark plug blow out. The previous owner had already heli coiled the head, and that blew out, I replaced the passenger side head with a used one. With the timing chains,guides,and tensioners in place and the key way (on the crankshaft)in the 12:00 o'clock position I manually rotate the engine clockwise until it reaches the 10 o'clock then it stops. From there I rotate counter clockwise until it gets to the 10 o'clock then stops. What would cause this?
My car has 160000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
From what you’ve described, it sounds like you have not put the camshafts in the correct positions. You need to use special tools to hold the camshafts in the correct position before tightening the cam gear. Once the first one is done, then you go to the other head and do the same thing. This should fix the problem you’re having. If you need some assistance with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to service your vehicle.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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Design News readers have commented about having to lift engines or make holes in the car body to change spark plugs. This article describes a particularly frustrating spark plug issue with the 2004-2008 Ford 4.6-liter, 5.4-liter, and 6.8-liter 3-valve “modular” engines.
Speaking of reliability, the majority of Ford 4.6 engine owners have nothing but good things to say about it. There are multiple reports of cars that hit 300,000 miles without needing a rebuild. High mileage isn`t the only thing these engines are good for.
The most widely used variant of the 4.6 liters is the two-valve (2v) version that features single overhead camshaft construction and two valves per cylinder. Depending on what year and model you find a two-valve 4.6 in, it will have between 190 and 260 horsepower and between 260 and 302 lb. -ft.
It seems that they either seize before they get off of the transport truck (brand new) or run 200,000 miles with regular service. The 4.6L engines I work with are serviced religiously and run well over 150,000 mile in SEVERE service. The car wears out long before the engines do.
The fatal flaw
The 4.6 was designed with a plastic intake manifold, and from model years 1996 to 2001, this manifold was prone to failure. The plastic is subjected to thousands of heat/cool cycles, in which the manifold will expand and contract.
Repeated overheating of the spark plug tip can cause the plug to prematurely fail. Overheating can be caused by many things like pre-ignition and a malfunctioning cooling system. Pre-ignition can lead to heat building up in the combustion chamber causing the spark plugs to fail.
Even if you manage to fit the wrong spark plugs into the threads, they likely won`t stay attached for very long. Driving with missing or bad spark plugs will likely cause a lot of hard starts and rough idling.
Internal Issues
The 4.6L engine has a good reputation for reliability, but like any engine it has had a few problems. The relatively long timing chain that drives the overhead cams is tensioned by plastic guides on many of these engines.
All Modular V8s, except for the new 5.0 L Coyote, utilize the same firing order as the Ford 5.0 L HO and 351 CID V8s (1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8). The 4.6 L engines have been assembled at Romeo Engine Plant in Michigan, and at Windsor Engine Plant and Essex Engine Plant, both located in Windsor, Ontario.
While the 4.6L engine wasn`t designed for a supercar by any means, it was noticeably faster than similar engines of the past. The 4.6L went from 0 to 60 mph 1.5 seconds faster than the popular 5.0L (302 ci) V8 engine, used in comparable vehicles of the past.
The Ford 4.6L engine is a naturally aspirated V8 from Ford Motor was used to power a variety of different vehicles like sports cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, luxury sedans and cargo vans.
The 4.6 (which is a V8) has an oil capacity of 6 quarts or 5.7 liters.
The 4.6 liter engine was the replacement for the Windsor family of Ford V8`s. Having been introduced in the 1962 Ford Fairlane as the 221 cubic inch V8, the Windsor engines would ultimately be found in many familiar sounding sizes (289, 302, and 351) and would power everything from Falcon`s to F-350`s.
Poor Performance and Cooling. If the intake manifold is bad, it can mess with the engine`s air-fuel mixture, which can then mess with the engine`s performance. You may see a reduction in power, uneven acceleration, and even backfiring. The same is true for the engine`s cooling system.
Malfunctioning spark plugs cause engine problems including, misfires, hard starts, reduced gas mileage, rough idling, and lack of acceleration. Driving with a faulty spark plug will be difficult because the engine might fail to function.
Faulty spark plugs result in an engine misfire due to incomplete burning fuel. An interrupted combustion process can significantly affect the engine performance. Unattended engine misfire may result in intermittent strange engine sounds, power loss, and engine knock.
All the right spark plugs, recommended by Ford Motor Company
Motorcraft® spark plugs are available for a broad range of applications, including domestic and import cars and trucks of all makes and sizes.
The original equipment Motorcraft brand spark plugs that were factory installed in many late model (2004 to 2008) Ford trucks with 5.4L V8 and 6.8L V10 engines, 2005 to 2007 Mustang GT 4.6 & 5.4L V8 engines, and 2008 Mustang GT models built prior to 11/30/07) can break when you attempt to remove them!
Many factors can cause a spark plug to fail; from incorrect heat ranges to improper gapping, to chemical contamination. Yet 90% of spark plug damage claims are due to improper torque. Proper installation torque is critical in the plug`s ability to dissipate heat out of the combustion chamber and into the cylinder head.
Installing the New Spark Plug Wire Set
Improper installation of these wires can result in poor combustion or misfiring of the cylinder, which will cause drivability issues and potentially severe damage to the engine.
If a spark plug or multiple spark plugs are faulty, they will have trouble creating the spark that causes the ignition process in your vehicle. This results in your vehicle having trouble starting, hesitating or having issues with accelerating properly.
Per the OEM Manuals, the 4.6L is an interference engine.
In 2005, Ford eliminated the 4.6-liter V8 engine and made the 5.4-liter engine standard. In this generation, the Expedition offered eight trim levels. Buyers could choose variations from the two-wheel drive XLT 4.6-liter V8 standard trim all the way up to the four-wheel drive Eddie Bauer 5.4-liter V8 trim level.
At a glance, it is challenging to tell the difference between a 4.6L iron block and a 5.4L. Where these blocks differ is deck height with the same cylinder bore size. The 5.4L block has a taller deck. It is also long on beefcake down under for strength.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
ANSWER : From what you’ve described, it sounds like you have not put the camshafts in the correct positions. You need to use special tools to hold the camshafts in the correct position before tightening the cam gear. Once the first one is done, then you go to the other head and do the same thing. This should fix the problem you’re having. If you need some assistance with this, consider YourMechanic, as a certified technician can come to your home or office to service your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
Engine with replaced head using a lot of oil
ANSWER : Hello. One of the biggest problems that happens during overheating is that additional damage to internal engine components caused by the head gasket being damaged. Although a professional mechanic is trained to inspect all components that could be impacted, more often than not, repairs are missed. It’s quite possible that your excessive oil consumption is caused by valve guides or piston rings that have been damaged due to the overheating problem. The only way to determine this however, is through a detailed engine inspection, which might end up costing more money than the 2000 Kia Sportage is worth.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
I removed the left head and the shop found 2 cracks, should I go ahead and replace both heads or just the known bad one?
ANSWER : I would recommend removing the other head and inspecting it for cracks also. I would recommend having the head overhauled, and if needed, replacing it then. If you can get them cheap enough, I would suggest replacing both heads if possible.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
I just replaced my brake master cylinder and the brakes still feel soft. What do I need to do after I replace the master cylinder
ANSWER : From what you’ve described you will have to bleed your brakes. Also, I believe you may have a leak in one of the lines. You may want to use a wrench and tighten the lines a little more. If you’re unable to fix this yourself, consider YourMechanic, as one of our mobile technicians can come to your home to bleed your brakes, diagnose the Check Engine Light, and help you make the appropriate repairs to your car.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
Why am I losing compression on cylinder #4 on my 2006 Mazda 6
ANSWER : Hi there. If you are feeling air pressure coming out of the engine in this area then you have a problem with warpage or a crack that is not seen. Once everything is put together and torqued then you should not get any air. It is possible that you got a bad head or you may have a valve issue if the pressure is coming from the intake. You need to get some assistance from a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, that can come to you to [diagnose why there is a loss of compression] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/noise-from-engine-or-exhaust-inspection
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
Vanos system won’t work after cylinder head replacement.
ANSWER : Hi there. It is possible that the timing chain is the source of this problem. The two error codes P0300 and P0302 typically indicate a random misfire or misfire for cylinder 2 (the P0302 code specifically). However, it’s also possible that the lack of new tensioner is creating an issue as well. I’m rather baffled why you needed to replace the cylinder head with only 69,000 miles, but if it was due to an overheating problem, then it is more likely that you have an electrical wiring harness malfunction; if the vehicle actually overheated. Not sure what advice to offer you since there are multiple variables we simply don’t know. You might want to have a different mechanic try to resolve this issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
Mechanics replaced water pump but did not replace the thermostat. Engine overheated and blew the head gasket? 2010 Jeep Compass
ANSWER : Hello – this is a judgement call. It is common practice, but not a "standard", to replace the thermostat when replacing the water pump. This is mainly due to access to both easily when replacing either one, and the relatively low cost of a thermostat. Thermostats do not have "wearing" items like the bearings in a water pump, and can outlast a water pump. They can, and do, however, fail unpredictably (close down tight) – sometimes. I have experienced this personally. I encourage my friends, relatives, students, and customers to replace both when repairing either – save the labor cost of a 2nd repair, and the somewhat unusual cost you have sadly experienced.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
Do I need to replace valve lifters after having the cylinder head rebuilt on my 2001 Toyota Camry
ANSWER : Hi there. When you have the cylinder head rebuilt and a valve job done then that will change the height of the valves in the head. The lifters are set a specific thickness to offset the depth that the valves are at. The valves will need to be set to the proper clearance using the correct lifters. With that being said you cannot mix them up and just install them without having issues. This should have been done by the machine shop when the cylinder head was rebuilt.
Read Full Q/A … : Replaced a ruined cylinder head with a used cylinder head
