Ford Provides New Info on 2.7L Leaking Oil Pans to Dealers

[jmr061]

Apr 25 2018 6410 - 2014-2019 Various Vehicles - Equipped with a 2.7L and 3.0L GTDI Engine - Oil Pan Leak.

Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost engines may exhibit an oil leak from the engine oil pan RTV seal. Replace the oil pan by performing the published Workshop Manual (WSM) service procedures. After removing the oil pan, it is suggested to allow the crankcase to drain overnight to minimize the chance of residual oil contaminating the crankcase sealing rail. Remove all traces of old RTV, clean the engine sealing surface with only Motorcraft® Metal Brake Parts Cleaner then wipe with Motorcraft® Metal Surface Prep Wipes, and allow to air dry as directed in WSM, Section 303-00, RTV Sealing Surface Cleaning and Preparation. If possible, after the new oil pan is installed, allow the new RTV sealant to cure for 4 hours before refilling the engine with oil. Ford is investigating this concern. Monitor OASIS for future updates.

 

[enigma-2]

So what's causing the leak in the first place? The engine is dry and cured when it's built. Doesn't leak until later.

[Beezz]

LOOL, I'm going on my 4th oil pan soon. Considering the 3rd one was done in a manor similar to described above, and it started leaking the same day I got the edge back, I feel like letting the engines sit for those 4 hours to cure the RTV may help. It could also be warpage from letting the engine run too soon after the pan is applied and/or heat warpage in general.

[jmr061]

Hard to say...on my 2nd pan replacement they let it cure. I sat at the dealer for 7 hours, not once did they come back and tell me why it was taking so long or even come back to speak to me even though they knew I was waiting. Never said it was going to take that long either. The 1st time they replaced it, it took a little over 2-3 hours. No leaks so far and its been a couple months (I think, lost track of time).

 

Relying on RTV sealant...a lot of chance of human error in that process.

Edited April 26, 2018 by jmr061

[aerodarts]

This is what is going on with my sport edge. 4 times I have been to the shop to have the repair. The dealer put 200 miles on my car before telling me to come pick it up!

 

When I drive the car and stop it, I can smell a strong oder of oil, but I use to smell oil burning while driving the car. So I guess the car is fixed.

[IWRBB]

It's not fixed if it reaks of oil idling at a stop.

[Thomas70]

Just signed up as I brought in my 2015 Edge Sport with just over 50,000 miles for a second oil pan leak. This is not cool and it's unfortunate since I really like the SUV. Bought it 2 years ago. Any other news on the issue? Obviously a significant oil leak issue is a MAJOR concern!

[Bobs2015EdgeSport]

After only 18,000 miles on my 2015 Edge 2.7 Sport (all that time with a perfectly dry engine), my oil pan suddenly started to leak all over.... and only 3 months after my original warranty had expired! (Fortunately, I have a Ford ESP service contract, so they get to pay for everything going forward). Anyway, the dealer had it for 3 days, and followed the Ford repair manual to the letter; yet I just discovered only 3 days after having it back that it has once again started leaking again, this time from the area of one of the pan bolts (yes, it is tight)! I suspect that they were unaware of the "wait-time" recommendation given above here (but I will make it known to them)! You can imagine my frustration, since this is my only daily driver.

 

My stepson is a Ford mechanic, and he says that the problem is that they're putting a plastic oil pan up against a metal alloy engine block, which results in different expansion and contraction rates, thereby causing the problem to reoccure over and over. He says that, until Ford wises-up and replaces it with an all-metal replacement part, we can all expect the issue to continue. I believe he is correct, as my previous Ford (a 2011 Escape) had a similar-looking oil pan on the engine in that car, but it was actually made out of cast aluminum, not plastic, and it NEVER had a single leak in the 4 years that I had it.

 

I never imagined when I picked it up the other day, that I would now waiting for a callback from my Ford service writer, to make yet another appointment to have them take yet another look at their work... especially since this car has been great (and trouble-free) up until now!

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

I think the real question is going to be whether they are asking too much of the sealant that is currently in use.  We have plastic valve covers already so mating plastic to metal is not the issue.  It is most likely the sealant, or possibly the casting.  Perhaps there is excessive pressure at the engine's bottom end during operation, possibly cavitation, leading to seal failure.  So many questions ...

[Bobs2015EdgeSport]

Actually, you do make a point, as I have seen plastic valve covers on top of engines and they seem to do OK... so why not these?

 

I do think that you're right, in that there are "so many questions" that apparently are still unanswered!

[vipervenom550]

After my first pan leak fix that then started leaking again, it turned out it wasn't the pan leaking but the front cover. Something to keep an eye on as where the oil leaks from front cover it makes it look like the pan.  It did take the dealer three times to get that front cover leak fixed though.

[Bobs2015EdgeSport]

jmr061... by any chance do you happen to have the TSB number (or other reference number) that Ford has associated/assigned to the statement that you first shared above?

 

I was going through my AllData database, and cannot find this one in their TSB listing for my 2015 Sport. IF it applies to my vehicle, I wanted to print it out and take it in to the dealership next week... along with the actual TSB number, for their reference.

 

Thanks!

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

SSM 47446 I believe.

 

Front cover?  Will add to the list of probable causes for oil leaks on the Gen 2.  Thanks for the tidbit, viper!

[1004ron]

When my Sport was a few weeks old I saw the oil covering my pan, and reading the reports on here I was worried, but it turned out to be the oil solenoid near the main crank pulley - my pan has been bone dry since the solenoid was replaced.

 

 

Edited January 17, 2019 by 1004ron

[anile_eight]

On 1/16/2019 at 7:42 PM, Bobs2015EdgeSport said:

Actually, you do make a point, as I have seen plastic valve covers on top of engines and they seem to do OK... so why not these?

 

I do think that you're right, in that there are "so many questions" that apparently are still unanswered!

Last year I replaced the plastic valve cover on my 2002 Nissan for the first time. Yes, the gasket was hard as a rock but it lasted 16 years so no reason it cannot work just different steps Ford would have to take to ensure reliability vs going the cheap route and doing just enough in their mind to get by. 

 

Our 15’ Edge sport is about 19,000 miles now and luckily, *knock-on-wood we haven’t seen this issue yet but I am watching it like a hawk. 

 

Are there any stats on how many are affected? Is is a small percentage (under 10%) or is it an overwhelming fleet issue? 

[Bobs2015EdgeSport]

UPDATE: My local Ford dealer took the pan off a second time, and this time, they actually followed the above bulletin and (a) let the open crankcase drain overnight, then (b) installed yet another oil pan and RTV sealer, and then (c) let it sit and cure for 24 hours before refilling it with new oil. (Total time in shop this second time around: 5 full days).

 

As I've only driven it home (10 miles Tops) and then parked it (over a week ago now), I don't know if this is going to work or not. However, a follow-up "customer service survey" discussion with their service manager yielded no real hope of a future (and more permanent) fix for the problem! He said that, while Ford is obviously aware of the extent of the problem, he "doubted" that they were really working on a more permanent solution to it, and couldn't even begin to offer an explanation as to why Ford would not make this a priority to get resolved.

 

In the meantime, my Extended Service Plan will likely continue to cost them the big bucks, at least until I might decide to trade it in on something that doesn't have the same engine in it!

[onyxbfly]

Ford was having the same problem with the 2.7 in the 2015+ F-150.   They were having the same and or similar problem with the 3.5 ecoboost engine. Ford eventually went with an metal oil pan and metal drain plug.  Ford did release a TSB which I believe was referenced above. Customers who have had the oil pan replaced following the TSB do not seem to be current issues.  

[WWWPerfA_ZN0W]

Can you link a post/thread with the metal oil pan replacement, info, onyxbfly?  I am only finding the plastic pans available for f150/edge, no metal pans yet.  TIA.

[onyxbfly]

21 hours ago, WWWPerfA_ZN0W said:

Can you link a post/thread with the metal oil pan replacement, info, onyxbfly?  I am only finding the plastic pans available for f150/edge, no metal pans yet.  TIA.

 

WWW the plastic pans were replaced with metal pans on the F-150 3.5.  Ford went back to metal oil pans on 2/26/18 on the F-150 3.5

 

Ford has not implemented a metal pan replacement for the 2.7 ecoboost engines.  In theory there is nothing wrong with a composite aka "plastic oil pan" Auto manufacturers have been using them for a while now across a variety of applications. 

 

The issue is when problems occur within a specific engine model across a variety of lines. The bigger issue is when manufacturers decide to band aid it. When the TSB is followed exactly as per instructions the problems with the oil leak seem to be resolved.  

 

 

Edited February 3, 2019 by onyxbfly

[Young]

I bought my Ford Edge sport in 2016(2015 model), already replaced the oil pan 3 times, now I see the oil leak again.

Called Ford directly to claim the lemon car, and they asked if you bought this car in where you live now(CA), yes, they asked mailing address and other info. 

Finally, the operator said he escalated this to a specialist who will review this and reply to me in 30 days if this fits the lemon car law or not.

 

Let's see what they say, but probably will trade it and never deal with Ford again.

[jmr061]

I have had my pan replaced twice.  I think the Edge is a really nice vehicle.  Since they followed the new procedure it hasn't leaked.  Well over 10000 miles since it has been replaced.  I'd have to pull the exact mileage.

 

Not sure what causes it to leak in the first place (it would be nice to know if robots put it on or humans and how long it is allowed to cure before putting oil in etc) but as far as dealer replacements go it brings in the human error factor.  One tech could be great at the job and another might suck at it.  It involves having to scrape the old sealer, clean it, dry it, run silicone gasket sealer around the mating surface by hand, etc, etc.

[St3vo5662]

This is all pretty interesting, where I work we have two 2017 F150’s with the 2.7 eco boost and both have plastic oil pans. Neither one of them has developed any leaks, one has 93,000 miles and the other is around 70,000 miles. I guess we are just lucky so far.

[traverse517]

2019 Edge ST has a leaking oil pan. Dealer tried to order a replacement pan but the part is on nationwide back-order. FCSD release to the dealers is unknown.

 

Has anyone heard about a release date for this part: KT4Z6675B

 

Dealer said keep cleaning up the garage floor and check the oil level often.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

[TXFRDOwner]

A 2019 ST , ... Well one would think they'd keep your vehicle and give you a loaner until they can sort out the part problem 

[onyxbfly]

1 hour ago, traverse517 said:

2019 Edge ST has a leaking oil pan. Dealer tried to order a replacement pan but the part is on nationwide back-order. FCSD release to the dealers is unknown.

 

Has anyone heard about a release date for this part: KT4Z6675B

 

Dealer said keep cleaning up the garage floor and check the oil level often.

 

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

Oh Hell no! That answer is simply UNACCEPTABLE! "Keep cleaning your garage floor" GTFOH They can clean up the garage floor or wherever they park it till they get you an oil pan. I bet if it was on their lot they would put pressure on FORD to source one. They would give me a loaner and I'd patiently watch the clock till I could initiate the buy back process.