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I have 2000 F150 4x4 That I have had since new with 250,000 wopping miles on it. Today on my way home the heater core went bad. So I thought no big deal I'll bypass it for the time being so I did. So I put antifreeze in it and go down the road and it overheats. The thermastat Was bad to, So I go get one now it no longer overheats but now it runs real ruff. Most likely from it overheating. It was not hot for more than 2or3 blocks at the most. Any ideas other than the heads or head gaskets before I throw away needless money at it

Do a compression check on each cylinder.Some times when overheat it you cook the oil off the rings,sometimes just need pour oil in each cylinder and bump it over a few times but not crank it yet til done.But first check compression.That many miles more than likely the gaskets.But try this first may save you in long run.You could possibly use marvel mystery oil in cylinders.DON

Those plugs on the f150 can be such a pain in arse to get out with out breaking them but i'll try it. I would love to buy a new truck but its been the best vehicle I have ever owned.

the ruff running may be due to a overlooked vacume line or sensor not hooked back up properly when yor reassembled it after the t-stat. Possibly the mass air flow sensor. Head gaskets are pretty common to go bad in thoes engines after a overheating. With that many miles it may be better off to put a used engine in because if you do the top end on such a high millage one i've seen the bottom end go bad right after.

Easiest way to do heads or even replace the motor is to lift the cab off the truck first, makes life way easier.

What size motor? Individual coil on plug set up? I remember same era Ford products with the V8 used to leak coolant onto rear coils on passenger side-right under heater core. Maybe some got on them?

Reset the computer,take the pos cable off for three mins,see if it resets....JohnnySr

Good luck not breaking any of those plugs. they are a pain and not cheap to replace!

the earlyer f150's dont have nearly the trouble with breaking plugs that the newer ones with the 3v v8 have. I avoid them like the plague.....

The 5.4 3v you have to worry about breaking plugs. The earlier modulars you have to worry about taking out the threads from the head.

fordtransman wrote:The 5.4 3v you have to worry about breaking plugs. The earlier modulars you have to worry about taking out the threads from the head.

Thats what I'm worried about It has the 4.6. If the head gaskets I would hate to just rebuild the top end and not the bottom end with 250,000 miles on it. I might as well have the whole engine rebuilt.

fordtransman wrote:The 5.4 3v you have to worry about breaking plugs. The earlier modulars you have to worry about taking out the threads from the head.

Unless you have the special ford tool for pulling out the broken parts.....

illshou wrote:Unless you have the special ford tool for pulling out the broken parts.....

Like the Al-Jon LC90?

Would have made more sense to use a proper plug to begin with. Glad I work in a GM dealership and not a ford one. I have to give alot of credit to the Ford techs. You have to be dedicated to work on those all day. I have been with gm for 10 years now. I would have quit long ago if I had to work on fords.

Nick

I hear Ford techs saying the same thing about GM's... Whats funnier is that I hear Chrysler techs saying the same thing about GM's too, LOL Must be a trend,

Orange wrote:I hear Ford techs saying the same thing about GM's... Whats funnier is that I hear Chrysler techs saying the same thing about GM's too, LOL Must be a trend,

Any any one tech that can wrench one brand, can do another- unless it's a german car