The Ford F150 is one of the most popular vehicles in America. In fact, the F 150 has been an American classic since the mid-1970s. So, what are some of the Ford F150 5.0 engine problems? We have the details including what led to a lawsuit!
Excessive Oil Consumption of the 5.0L Engine Consumption Leads to Lawsuit!
Although the Ford F150 is one of the most beloved trucks on the road these days, there are some serious issues with the 5.0 engine. Along with the Ford F-150 oil consumption problems, a class action lawsuit was filed, including the F10 trucks that are equipped with the five-liter engines. According to reports, specific F150 trucks that were manufactured between 2018-2020 F-150, allegedly have multiple as well as serious defects, causing excessive oil consumption. Many 2011 F150 owners are also making the claim that their Ford F1-50 trucks are using too much oil. With these oil consumption problems, the engines are eventually stalling and will fail without notice- while driving at various speeds. The lawsuit alleges that Ford tried to conceal this issue from F150 owners.
What is Ford’s Response?
Additionally, F-150 truck owners are also stating that they are stuck with trucks that have absolutely no resale value- due to the alleged issue of excessive oil consumption. In the class action lawsuit, Ford is reportedly refusing to provide an adequate and complete repair of the F-150 trucks that have the 5.0 engine. The lawsuit also alleges that Ford continues to ignore the pleas of F-150 owners, until there is major engine work needed- an engine rebuild-for example. F-150 truck owners also allege that Ford is refusing to pay for the repairs to the trucks, or offer free fixes to the engines.
The Coyote 5.0 Engine & The Ford F150 – Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
The 5.0 L engine, also known as the “Coyote” engine has an oil capacity that is 8.8 quarts. This includes the oil that is within the oil filter. Each F-150 truck that is outfitted with the Coyote 5.0 engine, is also equipped with an Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor. This system helps to determine when the oil should be changed, based on the F-150 and how that truck is used.
What Does the Lawsuit Allege?
According to the class action lawsuit that was filed, the oil change indicator on the F-150 trucks could possibly illuminate with only 3,000 miles on the truck. Also stated in the excessive oil consumption class action lawsuit, the F150 5.0 engines have problems that go beyond the excessive oil consumption. The lawsuit states that the 5.0 engines have numerous defects- some of which allow oil to enter into the combustion chambers where it’s burned off, during each combustion cycle. As a result, the amount of oil in the engine is reduced. Not only is there a decrease in fuel efficiency, but carbon deposits begin to form inside the F-150 engines- thus damaging both emissions components and ignitions.
Defects Found in the Pistons and Piston Rings Too! – Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
Not only is excessive oil consumption a major issue with the Coyote 5.0 engine, but there were also defects found in the piston ring assemblies as well as the pistons. This led to an insufficient amount of piston ring tension- resulting in the engine oil to travel to the combustion chambers.
The plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege the engine oil is not adequately separated from the truck’s combustion cycle as it should be. Instead, the oil burns and is furthermore consumed during the combustion cycle. There is also an issue with the crankcase allegedly becoming pressurized- since gases from the combustion cycle are able to make their way to the crankcases. Not only are there for these issues with the 2011 Ford F150 5.0 engine, but other model years with the 5.0 engine are at risk for issues too. With those alleged issues, comes owners claining that the excessive oil issues are due to inadequate PCV or positive crankshaft ventilation systems which don’t reduce pressure in the crankcases. The gasses are able to escape from the combustion chamber and go past the piston and oil rings- eventually making their way to the crankcases.
Ford F150 Owners and Their Problems with the 5.0 Engines
The 2011 Ford F150 truck owners who have vehicles with the 5.0 engines are not holding back when it comes to voicing their anger about the 5.0 engine. Check out some accounts of issues below!
2011 Ford F-150 5.0 Engine Owner Number One: “It Only has 92K Miles On it!” – Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
This Ford F150 5.0 engine owner states that his truck is too “young” to have the issues that it has. The owner stated that his/her truck has 92K miles on it, as well as low compression in cylinder five. While the owner stated that he/she feels that this is an internal issue, the owner is also quick to point out he/she has owned two F150 trucks that have either needed a new engine or a new head.
2011 Ford F-150 5.0 Engine Owner Number Two: “My truck was at the dealership for 5 full months!”
The owner of this F150 with a 5.0 engine took the truck to his/her local Ford dealership. The dealership reportedly told the owner that the knocking sound heard, was normal. The owner then continued to drive the car, but then took the truck back to the dealership. That time, Ford reportedly kept the owner’s truck for five months. Ford mechanics told the owner that the engine was a faulty one, while the first remanufactured engine for the F150 sounded rough. The second remanufactured engine that was placed in the truck was knocking- so stated the F150 owner. After the installation of the engines, the Ford dealership was not certain as to what next steps to take. The F150 owner had to wait for Ford to get an engineer to look at the truck. The owner pointed out that he/she has an extended warranty on the truck. After several attempts to contact Ford’s customer service, the owner stated that he/she was unfortunately getting the “run-around”. The owner vowed to never buy another Ford vehicle again, after issues with the F150’s 5.0 engine.
What Happens When Your Car Runs Out Of Oil?
Whether you have a 5.0 engine, or another kind of engine- that engine needs oil to stay lubricated. Since a vehicle’s engine has several moving parts that are extremely hot, sufficient lubrication is a MUST. If those moving engine parts are not properly and completely lubricated, things can go bad, FAST. For several Ford F-150 owners, they allege that excessive oil consumption is leading to stalled engines and engine failure that comes with no warning. Just imagine driving down a highway at 65 MPH and your engine locking up! It’s an unsafe circumstance for you as the F150 driver as well as the drivers around you!
Ford Addresses The F-150 Excessive Oil Consumption Issues – Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
The excessive oil consumption lawsuit is layered with several service bulletins from Ford. In March of 2019, one Ford service bulletin stated that F150 truck owners could receive a replacement of the oil filter as well as the PCV valve. F150 truck owners were also asked to check their F-150’s oil and oil consumption every 200 miles- in an effort to monitor oil levels. Ford then asked F150 truck owners to return after 3,000 miles for an evaluation and inspection. If Ford saw that the problem persisted, the Ford dealership was to replace the engine long block assembly- a job that would take about 12 hours to finish. Later, Ford released an additional bulletin telling the techs to quit replacing the engines, and to just add more oil to the F150 trucks.
Head Gasket Along with Engine Issues
In addition to the 5.0 engine issues, the Ford F-150 will also experience a head gasket leak. This happens when engine oil builds and collects in the truck’s exhaust system. One of the biggest indicators of a head gasket leak, is the smell of burnt oil. You will be able to smell it coming from your engine. Thankfully, if you do experience a head gasket leak, you won’t have to spend a lot of money to get it fixed. A leaking head gasket is one of the most solvable issues with the F150. But you certainly don’t want to continue driving your car with a leaking head gasket- as the issue can turn into a larger and more expensive one.
What are Some Other Coyote Engine Problems? – Ford F150 5.0 Engine Problems
In addition to the excessive oil consumption, the 5.0 Coyote engine has its share of issues. Some of those problems include:
Ignition Coil Failure
Ignition coil failure is a condition that can lead to an improper as well as an imbalanced 5.0 Coyote engine- resulting in the “check engine” light illuminating from the dashboard. When you have this occur, it’s time to take your car to a trusted mechanic or back to the Ford dealership.
Faulty Spark Plugs
The breakage as well as the wear and tear of your F150’s spark plugs will happen when they are removed from the cylinder after being stuck. If you decide to drive your truck without strong and sturdy spark plugs, you may experience engine misfiring as well as host of other issues. There’s a great chance that you will experience a lack of acceleration power too. Other issues include reduced fuel efficiency and even difficulty starting your F150 truck.