Ford E-van: Cylinder "missing" question?

BrianW · 05-24-2018, 04:39 PM

I'm considering a used E250 passenger van with the 5.4 V8. The owner says that they have had problems with one cylinder "missing" and that it may be a valve issue. Apparently there are no engine codes being thrown. I haven't looked at it person yet or driven it. Any thoughts on best and worst-case scenarios for what the issue might be? I guess everything from a valve job to maybe just a plug or coil issue? I'm not very knowledgeable about internal engine issues (obviously).

We're toying with the idea of driving to Alaska this summer from Pennsylvania. As much as I'd love to take our SMB, we don't have the time to drive both ways. Our thought is to buy a cheaper, but dependable, basic van here, do a basic "camperize" on it (bed platform and such), and sell or donate it when we get to Alaska and then fly back. Unless anyone knows somebody who wants their van driven to Alaska :-)

Bbasso · 05-24-2018, 06:08 PM

Dont buy into a potential headache, unless it's stupid cheap.
There are plenty of E250 w/5.4 out there to choose from.
Worst case scenario, a hole in the piston and or badly scored cylinder wall.
Simple problem could be a coil...

regis101 · 05-24-2018, 07:13 PM

I am of the opinion that with OBD 2, anything wrong will throw a code.
I concur with Rob.

BrianW · 05-24-2018, 08:38 PM

It is stupid cheap for the overall condition. $1100 EB passenger van with 130k miles, family owned with a clean interior and exterior. I’m kinda looking at it as a disposable vehicle as long as it makes it on the trip. Heck, I don’t really care if it’s only running on 7 cylinders as long as it drives ok :-)

Bbasso · 05-24-2018, 08:57 PM

For that kinda money, I'd be interested too!
Will you be able to have it properly diagnosed before purchasing? Say a PPI at a local Ford dealer?

86Scotty · 05-24-2018, 08:59 PM

I agree with Rob and especially "unless it's stupid cheap." This one obviously is. I would probably go for it. Buy it now and drive it daily until your trip, thus either proving or disproving it's reliability. Any big problems should present themselves.

Great plan Brian!

Bbasso · 05-24-2018, 08:59 PM

As for driving that distance on a down cylinder, it's risky.
The ECU could go into limp mode or just shut down... also the additional stress would be harmful to the rest of the systems.

BrianW · 05-24-2018, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bbasso

As for driving that distance on a down cylinder, it's risky.
The ECU could go into limp mode or just shut down... also the additional stress would be harmful to the rest of the systems.

Do the gas engines go into limp mode? I always thought/assumed that was only the diesels?

Bbasso · 05-24-2018, 09:24 PM

My V10 once yelled at me for a bad MAF sensor... my 7.3 was actually running on 7 cylinders for 1k miles and didn't blink an eye lol
As for actually going into limp mode... could but I don't know if Ford has that in the programming.

BrianW · 05-24-2018, 09:27 PM

Dang, it just sold. Was going to look at it tomorrow. Oh well, I’ll keep looking. Thanks for the info everyone!