I've got a 2016 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost (125k miles) that has recently had issues with the engine overheating. There was a leak in the water pump and coolant reservoir hose which were both replaced. It continued to overheat and I just got it diagnosed with a coolant leak from the turbo, and they now need to replace the turbocharger. In addition to that they want to replace the manifold and pipes.

The quote for parts and repair is $3,400. Anyone have thoughts or advice to share?


Thanks

Doesn't look that hard to do, insofar as the parts involved aren't all that hard to reach generally and there's not a lot I recall being in the way, but usually it's something you don't see that causes complications. The parts aren't particularly expensive.

All that said, I haven't actually done one yet.

My wife's 2019 Expedition with the 3.5 has developed a coolant leak, but I am not sure where it is coming from.


*edit*
She just got home, so I went to look under the car. It is dripping from two spots, one on the passenger side front below the radiator. It's a small, slow drip. The other one that is near the firewall on the passenger side. That one is a faster drip.

I need to get it on a lift or ramps to get a better look.

Not 100% sure, but I've heard it is actually easier to lift the cab off to work on the turbos.

It is on the to-do list for my buddy's fiddy. Turbo seals are bad. I have a two post lift so I guess that played into his decision as well.

You sure that is the right diagnosis? Is this work being quoted at a dealer or independent shop?

My old truck 12 boost with 109k miles had a leak just like that. First replaced water pump. A month later more leaks. Replaced turbo on one side 3 months later same on the other side

Hopefully not the same happens to you. Did get another 40k miles before I ditched it

Is the turbo actually bad? Are you getting an underboost code/smoking/ can hear it?

They known to leak from the fittings that go to the turbo. Those fitting can be replaced without getting all new turbo. Now, it may be worth your time to change them when you pull the to change fittings. They are also rebuildable.

Does the manifold have broken studs? Are you talking exhaust as well? The oem cats last I looked were around 800 a piece. You can get a full set of high flow ones from turbo to resonator for ~800. Spacers are typically required though.

I had my fitting/lines/coolant done on both sides within the past year. They pulled the cab and I was out the door for around 1200 with tax.

La Fours said:

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My wife's 2019 Expedition with the 3.5 has developed a coolant leak, but I am not sure where it is coming from.


*edit*
She just got home, so I went to look under the car. It is dripping from two spots, one on the passenger side front below the radiator. It's a small, slow drip. The other one that is near the firewall on the passenger side. That one is a faster drip.

I need to get it on a lift or ramps to get a better look.

---

This forum is pretty active and seems to have some knowledgeable folks, check it out. https://www.expeditionforum.com/forums/4th-gen-2018-2024.110/

I'll check it out. Thanks.

Just had the same issue two weeks ago on my wife's 2020 Expedition. Was leaking coolant slowly and found a leak at the y connection in the heater core hoses.



Check out this video.



The video helped me figure out how to replace the hoses myself and save some $$. Order OEM parts from Amazon as it was a bit cheaper than Rock Auto due to free shipping with Prime. Parts are listed in the video description and below in the two links. Ended up costing roughly $160 plus cost of coolant. Took about two hours to complete but some of that was due to distractions while I had the A&M/Purdue basketball on the tv in the garage.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B07Z8MMQ2J?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09GW9YS2B?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Just replaced the O-rings at both turbos on my '16 F-150 with the 3.5. My mechanic acted like it was a common issue. I've got ~85k miles on mine.

La Fours said:

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My wife's 2019 Expedition with the 3.5 has developed a coolant leak, but I am not sure where it is coming from.


*edit*
She just got home, so I went to look under the car. It is dripping from two spots, one on the passenger side front below the radiator. It's a small, slow drip. The other one that is near the firewall on the passenger side. That one is a faster drip.

I need to get it on a lift or ramps to get a better look.

---

Heater core hose assemblies….or just buy universal Y fittings from the auto parts store and cut the old ones off.

drummer0415 said:

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JamesPShelley said:

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My advice? Next time... drop that $3400 and buy yourself a V-8. An 8-Banger.

Turbo... ecoboost... all those fancy climate buzzwords... especially in a truck... mean trouble down the road.

Good luck on the repair.

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Bro… there are just as many if not MORE threads in this forum about problems with 5.0 v8 f150s, as there are threads about problems with Ecoboosts. I'm not at all an Ecoboost apologist and they're not perfect, but when people spout off BS like this that implies that non-ecoboost engines are perfect and never have issues like this, I have to call it out. None of the major American engine platforms are perfect, regardless if they have 6 cylinders or 8 cylinders, turbos or no turbos, etc., and emphatically claiming that one is definitively better than another is just plain wrong.

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This.

OP I stand by my statement via text that the shop is ripping you off.

Where do you recommend to buy the hose assemblies? Does it matter?

La Fours said:

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Where do you recommend to buy the hose assemblies? Does it matter?

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1agswitchin4lanes said:

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drummer0415 said:

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JamesPShelley said:

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My advice? Next time... drop that $3400 and buy yourself a V-8. An 8-Banger.

Turbo... ecoboost... all those fancy climate buzzwords... especially in a truck... mean trouble down the road.

Good luck on the repair.

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Bro… there are just as many if not MORE threads in this forum about problems with 5.0 v8 f150s, as there are threads about problems with Ecoboosts. I'm not at all an Ecoboost apologist and they're not perfect, but when people spout off BS like this that implies that non-ecoboost engines are perfect and never have issues like this, I have to call it out. None of the major American engine platforms are perfect, regardless if they have 6 cylinders or 8 cylinders, turbos or no turbos, etc., and emphatically claiming that one is definitively better than another is just plain wrong.

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This.

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It's glorious to see the turbo vs non turbo ford owners going at it only to think of the real issue…

drummer0415 said:

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JamesPShelley said:

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My advice? Next time... drop that $3400 and buy yourself a V-8. An 8-Banger.

Turbo... ecoboost... all those fancy climate buzzwords... especially in a truck... mean trouble down the road.

Good luck on the repair.

---

Bro… there are just as many if not MORE threads in this forum about problems with 5.0 v8 f150s, as there are threads about problems with Ecoboosts. I'm not at all an Ecoboost apologist and they're not perfect, but when people spout off BS like this that implies that non-ecoboost engines are perfect and never have issues like this, I have to call it out. None of the major American engine platforms are perfect, regardless if they have 6 cylinders or 8 cylinders, turbos or no turbos, etc., and emphatically claiming that one is definitively better than another is just plain wrong.

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I hear you, although fewer. I realize not all engines are created equal... but when my wife was looking for a G80 I suggested the, what, 3.3 liter turbocharged engine with 75 more HP even my wife said, "**** that. I don't need trouble any sooner". She opted with the 3.8 witth 311HP. Plenty with that 8 speed.

Like my dad used to say, "Less fancy *****.. less **** to break".

If it were my ride (OPs) I'd be tackling the least expensive possible fixes. I work on my own cars G80 and 986, and try to keep it simple.

Have a great day!

I used to be leery of turbos but if the system is designed properly with sufficient cooling, isn't driving at high revs and tons of short trips with lots and lots of cold starts and short drives, the turbos are very simple things and last a long time with proper maintenance.

Coming up on 340K on our '17 3.5, and it runs great. I've replaced plugs, injectors once, added a catch can and weep hole and just done regular oil changes and kept the fluids topped. It's really due for a coolant replacement but other than that it runs good. I did finally have to replace the throttle body at 330K but mostly because I neglected to clean it and it got sticky with carbon, It probably still works fine once I clean it properly and will be kept as a spare.

drummer0415 said:

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JamesPShelley said:

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My advice? Next time... drop that $3400 and buy yourself a V-8. An 8-Banger.

Turbo... ecoboost... all those fancy climate buzzwords... especially in a truck... mean trouble down the road.

Good luck on the repair.

---

Bro… there are just as many if not MORE threads in this forum about problems with 5.0 v8 f150s, as there are threads about problems with Ecoboosts. I'm not at all an Ecoboost apologist and they're not perfect, but when people spout off BS like this that implies that non-ecoboost engines are perfect and never have issues like this, I have to call it out. None of the major American engine platforms are perfect, regardless if they have 6 cylinders or 8 cylinders, turbos or no turbos, etc., and emphatically claiming that one is definitively better than another is just plain wrong.

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Since I have the Coyote, can you document the problems so I can look out for them?

They are right. Avoid Ford entirely…

Thank you. That video was very helpful.

Awesome. Thanks.

Left my wife's car parked for the last 8 days until I had time to get the hoses and replace them. Just got finished with the test drive to confirm everything was good.

La Fours said:

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Awesome. Thanks.

Left my wife's car parked for the last 8 days until I had time to get the hoses and replace them. Just got finished with the test drive to confirm everything was good.

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Was it the Y fittings?

It was the metal crimps on one of the hoses. It was the hose that goes from the upper radiator hose to the fire wall. The crimp at the connection to the upper radiator hose was split and one of the fire wall connections as well.

I just went and looked at the Y connection for that hose and it looks like it was failing too.

One of the YouTube videos I watched about this repair said something about the Y connections and if you see white, that means it's leaking.

Nice. So you just replaced the whole assembly?

Did my 14 ecoboost this summer. Watched a YouTube video about removing the turbo completely. I followed and was able to complete the repair.

Two of the coolant hoses didn't sit right and I had to replace those two new fitting. Did it without removing the turbo. It's possible to do with our removing the turbos or lifting the cab. As long as the coolant lines aren't leaking from the back of the lock, you don't have to remove the cab. It's possible still to replace those fittings without removing the cab but you are working blind.

Do not over torque the replacement fittings. They are aluminum and I snapped one off.

RAM Hemi-Tic says hello.

Yeah, I didn't see splitting until after I got the hoses out.