2024 maverick leaking coolant into spark plug cylinders

[cvano003]

If caught early it should be fine. Sounds like it was.

Did you notice a small decrease early on or was this all at once? Just wondering what to expect. It's been such a small decrease over 4k it's not going to show up in an oil analysis. We have a 2010 Prius that has lost small amounts of coolant over its 15 year time as well.

I did notice a small decrease in the coolant level early on but to honest i hadn't really checked it often. I guess just try to be sensitive to any "bumps" or "jumps" in your engine (misfires), also checking coolant level. I will from now on since it seems from the other thread mentioned above, people are losing coolant in this vehicle. I started noticing the engine jumping slightly almost 3 days before the code. It escalated quickly to an undriveable condition.

So does that mean you had some engine codes available - since misfires for sure have 1 for each cylinder and overall?

And you can have an issue where while engine is running there's enough pressure to prevent leaks, but when off and coolant system still pressurized then it leaks.
With as often as hybrid engine is off but coolant pressurized - yikes.
That would normally show up in oil before it might even show up as white smoke.
Nothing like a cup of coolant in the oil over 3-4 months, ugh.

What was your mfg date?
Mine's 3/24.
About same 6.4K miles.
And coolant at minimum last fill-up, from full during July.

It was the 2nd and 4th cylinder codes. Also a "multicylinder misfire" code. I believe there were two others as well. When i did the oil change, the oil looked normal, but i didn't get the lab analysis done. Not sure of the mfg date, the truck is at the dealer so i cant check.

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[Hot Runr Guy]

Not the Hybrid 2.5, but I went thru the infamous "coolant intrusion" problem on my 2018 Escape w/the 1.5L/4cyl EB at 25K, which necessitated getting the short block replaced under warranty, a 6-week process. Had a loaner the entire time, put 40K more miles on the replacement until we traded it off earlier this year.

I see no data that the problem with the 1.5/2.0 EB's prior to 2019 redesign has anything to do with your 2.5, so hopefully an isolated incident.

HRG

 

[cvano003]

So the dealer just got back to me and said that there is water in my fuel and basically they are not liable. Not sure where to go from here... Sue the gas station? I dont know how i would even prove that besides credit card statements.

 

[Ray-n-AVL]

I'm going to assume you always get gas at the same station? Wouldn't hurt to let them know and ask if they had any other complaints. They might step up and do the right thing.

 

[MM Mav]

@cvano003 a coworker claims she had a vehicle totaled by her insurance due to bad gas. Not sure if you're willing to go that route.

 

[AzureBlueBill]

Bad gas would not affect only 2 cylinders. Dealer is full of B.S.
Drain the gas tank and see what's in there. I'm betting the dealer didn't.

 

[pi3]

What's a "spark plug cylinder"?

I don't think English is their first language.

 

[Jalopy Technology]

Eco boost engines are famous for blown head gaskets and bad engine blocks. Tens of thousands are bad.
That said most of the bad ones had opendeck blocks while the later 2.0s have a design closer to the old school way of casting engines rather than the modern style.

Ford started using blocks made in Spain a few years ago since the domestic blocks were junk.



You 2.0 is now cast in Cleveland IIRC. .

 

[Hot Runr Guy]

You 2.0 is now cast in Cleveland IIRC. .

He has a Hybrid, which uses the 2.5 block, cast in Mexico.

HRG

 

[inline_five]

So the dealer just got back to me and said that there is water in my fuel and basically they are not liable. Not sure where to go from here... Sue the gas station? I dont know how i would even prove that besides credit card statements.

Bad gas doesn't cause a head gasket failure.

To confirm head failure, a leakdown and/or pressure test should be performed. This truck has a history of coolant loss, this is the #1 sign of head gasket failure. How does the oil look? It is milky in appearance?

This is total horseshit on dealers part, but I can't tell you how to proceed. I would push for proper diagnosis. If they refuse, seek out another dealer who isn't trying to wash their hands.

The coolant intrusion into the head needs to be confirmed before moving forward, even paying a competent indie shop to do the test won't cost much and can be used in a lawsuit.

 

[OleFordGuy]

So the dealer just got back to me and said that there is water in my fuel and basically they are not liable. Not sure where to go from here... Sue the gas station? I dont know how i would even prove that besides credit card statements.

I'm certainly not a mechanic but at this point I would agree with several of the other post that your dealer is full of BS. The loss of coolant would be a concern to me especially with so few miles on the truck. Seems if it was water in the gas all cylinders would have mis-fired and through codes, not just two of them. It does seem the issue would likely be head gasket related. Think I would have a different dealer to check it out. Good Luck and keep us informed on developments.

 

[Toddman45]

Yeah the water in the fuel sounds like a BS way out of fixing the issue your truck has.

 

[PNWMaverick]

So the dealer just got back to me and said that there is water in my fuel and basically they are not liable. Not sure where to go from here... Sue the gas station? I dont know how i would even prove that besides credit card statements.

Your dealer is full of sh**.

The amount of water that would have to be mixed in with the fuel to cause what you are describing is absolutely insane. You are talking about a substantial ratio of water to fuel. Additionally, it would impact all of the cylinders more, or less, equally. It wouldn't be an issue present on just two of the cylinders. A quick look at all the spark plugs will tell you this.

Contact Ford and report the dealer while trying to find another.

Edit:

We joke about bad fuel a lot but in reality our fuel is regulated enough that even fuel that isn't Top Tier rated is still fine. There isn't a scenario where enough water is mixed in at the pump to cause any issue with a vehicle filling up. The in ground holding tanks at fuel stations are monitored pretty well these days. Any major fault in the tank that would allow that kind of water in would be found. As it would have to be absolutely catastrophic for that kind of water ingress with how regularly they are refilled.

Further, you can have the fuel tested if there is any doubt. Any tampering with it will be obvious. I would be incredibly suspect of this dealer.

 

[cvano003]

Bad gas doesn't cause a head gasket failure.

To confirm head failure, a leakdown and/or pressure test should be performed. This truck has a history of coolant loss, this is the #1 sign of head gasket failure. How does the oil look? It is milky in appearance?

This is total horseshit on dealers part, but I can't tell you how to proceed. I would push for proper diagnosis. If they refuse, seek out another dealer who isn't trying to wash their hands.

The coolant intrusion into the head needs to be confirmed before moving forward, even paying a competent indie shop to do the test won't cost much and can be used in a lawsuit.

Thanks for this information. I dont have the truck, and i am going to be out of the country for two weeks tomorrow so i wont even get it back for two weeks. I will ask about the head gasket and about coolant in the cylinder head next time i speak to the guy. As well as if they looked at the oil. Depending on what happens i may have to get a second opinion. He did say they will run tests again after cleaning the fuel tank.

I'm certainly not a mechanic but at this point I would agree with several of the other post that your dealer is full of BS. The loss of coolant would be a concern to me especially with so few miles on the truck. Seems if it was water in the gas all cylinders would have mis-fired and through codes, not just two of them. It does seem the issue would likely be head gasket related. Think I would have a different dealer to check it out. Good Luck and keep us informed on developments.

Thanks, i may have to get another dealer to look.

 

[Jalopy Technology]

When I enter a dealership I am very wary of any 18 year old service writer telling me what my car needs.

After 4,000,000 miles of trucking I had a kid at a Freightliner dealership tell me I didn’t really own my own truck… I was just a lessee not a true owner operator.

After I showed him my title with my name on it he just said “oh”…

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