Haha, you are on it today.
CK5
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6.2 What's it good for? Just about everything.
- Thread starter sreidmx
- Start date
I got it, valve cover gaskets. Those are easy on everything...except a 6.2
Omg water pump sucked..
Oh no...
I don't wanna be that guy.. I still like the sound it makes..
FWIW, a failed return line will not whoof like a failed gasoline line. As we all discover every time the temperatures drop below zero (
), diesel fuel is not as flammable as gasoline. It's still a bad idea, but spilling diesel oil on your manifolds is not a guaranteed immediate problem like igniting a fuel tank or blowing out a tire at 110MPH.And we definitely agree on the beauty of an inline engine.
I've posted a few recordings of mine running.
Play these when you're falling asleep at night. Guaranteed to induce mechanical dreams or your money back!
Any engine can suddenly fail. The 6.2 does not have a particularly high failure rate (unless you count overheated early 6.5 engines with 2-piece flywheels
). Crankshaft failures like you're afraid of are typically caused either by failed balancers or the occasional cracked main support. Both problems are well documented and not overly common (though replacing the balancer is a good piece of routine maintenance).Every engine has its weak points, a 46-year-old straight-6 would almost certainly be wanting a rebuild by now. Even if it has spent half its life sitting in the garage, that's a loooooooong time to be trusting factory gaskets.
An exhaust manifold on ANY vehicle with any time in salt country is a b-e-i-itch to remove. I don't see why a 6.2 is any more difficult than any other.
Any time I know I'll be pulling a manifold off I start soaking the fasteners days in advance with PB Blaster. Haven't broke a bolt of yet...(Knock on wood!)
It took my a long time to learn to not get upset and just deal with the issue(s). Getting angry at inanimate objects is just a waste of life force.
Any time I know I'll be pulling a manifold off I start soaking the fasteners days in advance with PB Blaster. Haven't broke a bolt of yet...(Knock on wood!)
It took my a long time to learn to not get upset and just deal with the issue(s). Getting angry at inanimate objects is just a waste of life force.
1.) Depends on what you compare it to. My DD places its one exhaust manifold right in the front of the engine bay.
Super easy, completely unlike what the V8 trucks use. And the square-body frames are narrower than what most trucks have. So there are easier rigs to work on. But I do agree with you that the 6.2 isn't noticeably worse than other V8s. Inline engines FTW!
2.) If you've never broken an exhaust bolt, it's safe to say that your vehicle isn't native to salt country. Exhaust bolts rust thin enough to fail under their own tension forces, the thought of getting all of them out every time is not realistic for someone who has done very many salt-belt manifolds. Yes, PB blaster is your friend, but it can't restore metal that is missing.
And, since @GWeakland620 is nit-picking today...yes, the exhaust manifold bolts don't match (IIRC I got *ONE* of them out in one piece, and that one brought the nut with the stud locked into place), the head is too shiny to be original, and the coolant line on the side of the head no longer has proper factory bends.
And my wheels don't match anymore.
Happy yet, good sir?
And my wheels don't match anymore.
Happy yet, good sir?
I wasn't gonna say nothing!!!And, since @GWeakland620 is nit-picking today...yes, the exhaust manifold bolts don't match (IIRC I got *ONE* of them out in one piece, and that one brought the nut with the stud locked into place), the head is too shiny to be original, and the coolant line on the side of the head no longer has proper factory bends.
And my wheels don't match anymore.
Happy yet, good sir?
Any engine can suddenly fail. The 6.2 does not have a particularly high failure rate (unless you count overheated early 6.5 engines with 2-piece flywheels
Every engine has its weak points, a 46-year-old straight-6 would almost certainly be wanting a rebuild by now. Even if it has spent half its life sitting in the garage, that's a loooooooong time to be trusting factory gaskets.
For some reason and maybe it's my ignorance with regards to the inner workings of a 6.2 but I just do no trust it.. maybe it's all the people that come up to me and say they have installed many engines in their trucks and couldn't believe mine had so many miles like it was some sort of unicorn.
The only other engine I feel this way about is that ford 6.0, it sure runs good but it sure does break often too. Most of the time not at the fault of the owner.
Ya know this could be one of those things that get chocked up as the manufacturer not specifiyng the proper parameters to stay in, for example I read almost everywhere that 200 degrees is way to hot for any 6.2 or 6.5 and the thermostat needs to be a 180. Also the fact that there is a chain instead of a gear drive like most diesels for noise is interesting, because I think I hear mine slapping around at an idle..
I dunno, but I'm not gonna swap it yet because I like the mpg and kind of wanna see if it ever breaks. Just to see.. I'll not neglect it to break it on purpose. It'll stay babied..
Remember when I said that the 6.2 wasn't prone to failing and that they are generally good engines? Those statements don't apply to a 6.0 Ford. I have a buddy who pays a lot of his bills by fixing Ford diesel trucks.
And with that kind of level-headed care and regular maintenance, it will last as long as you want it.
I get the same comments from other folks as you do. When they warn me off and give advice to swap to a Cummins or LS, I just assume they're talking to themselves.
You're already in the family. Keep it, and build another whenever you're ready.
David
Do you ever get folks saying that your engine is a modified small block with a higher compression ratio and no other changes?
my 90 has 286k miles...it's only been sitting 'cause I like my 4x4 so much. even with the puny 86 smog motor in it...something about a clackiting 6.2 just makes me feel safe that I'll get where I'm going.
