Ford Engines rusty as hell in new cars?

[XCwillo]

Hey guys i dont know whether its just something i dont know about or what
But today i was at the ford dealership having a gander at an FG XT falcon ute
and i looked under the bonnet, and noticed that the entire engine block was rusty as hell, as well as the exhaust manifold?
Like
rusty as in it looks like its been left in the ocean for 3 years rusty :|
I dont know how its possible?




You can see the actual part is rusty in between the added on parts


Connecting to the bell housing of the gearbox

[gthofan]

I think its normal because these parts are put in the cars un painted. The cars life will end before this rust becomes a problem anyway.

[Jastel]

They haven't been painting blocks for a long time now.

The higher the model the more painting the rocker cover gets

The normal colours are only done very thinly and roughly under the bonnet as well
Some would say the whole car is done is done very roughly...

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by XCwillo

Hey guys i dont know whether its just something i dont know about or what
But today i was at the ford dealership having a gander at an FG XT falcon ute
and i looked under the bonnet, and noticed that the entire engine block was rusty as hell, as well as the exhaust manifold?
Like
rusty as in it looks like its been left in the ocean for 3 years rusty :|
I dont know how its possible?

Umm, that's what virgin cast iron looks like. What did you think they made the blocks out of?
After the block and manifold has had a chance to heat up, it will go a darker shade more typical of cast iron.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Umm, that's what virgin cast iron looks like. What did you think they made the blocks out of?
After the block and manifold has had a chance to heat up, it will go a darker shade more typical of cast iron.

Agree 100%.

[Bundy]

Originally Posted by ltd

Agree 100%.

Maybe 100% right, but it still looks 100% "CRAP" for a new car.

[ltd]

Originally Posted by bundy

Maybe 100% right, but it still looks 100% "CRAP" for a new car.

Agreeing with you 100% on that too.
If this were an EA engine, rust would never be an issue due to oil from head gasket leaks.

One other potential issue though is that painting them or having them powdercoated will act as an insulator and reduce effective dissipation of heat. Fine in winter but a real scheizer in summer time with the AC on, sitting in traffic etc.

[jpd80]

Originally Posted by ltd

Agreeing with you 100% on that too.
If this were an EA engine, rust would never be an issue due to oil from head gasket leaks.

One other potential issue though is that painting them or having them powdercoated will act as an insulator and reduce effective dissipation of heat. Fine in winter but a real scheizer in summer time with the AC on, sitting in traffic etc.

Dissipation of heat is achieved by water cooling not air cooling from the outer surface,
Ford gave up painting blocks quite a few years ago because it is hardly noticable under all the other anciliaries.

If it disturbs owners that much just paint a bit of something like CLR on there and it will clean the rust off.

[aquahead2001]

Originally Posted by Crazy Dazz

Umm, that's what virgin cast iron looks like. What did you think they made the blocks out of?
After the block and manifold has had a chance to heat up, it will go a darker shade more typical of cast iron.

It also indicates that the cast iron has been "aged & weathered" which allows all the casting stess to reduce etc. Well thats what an old foundry man told me once....

I wonder how much Ford save by not painting the engine blocks? Also if these were Holden motors, does this point towards calling them the "rust motor" in reference to Holden motors being named after their colour?

[DJM83]

No rust on my Focus

[jmack]

if a layer of paint is all that these motors are away from cooking themselves then we are in real trouble.cost cutting and 99% of people prob wouldnt no where the oil goes let alone if the block,suspension is painted.unfortunately we are a minority

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DJM83

No rust on my Focus

Either on my Fiesta,

Looks a bit odd to be honest.

[OzJavelin]

Buy an aluminum V8 from the dark side .. They don't rust ..

[flappist]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Buy an aluminum V8 from the dark side .. They don't rust ..

But isn't that due to the cloud of oil vapour that always seems to surround them.......

[Falcon Coupe]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Buy an aluminum V8 from the dark side .. They don't rust ..

Or an Coyote V8 from the light side.

[OzJavelin]

Originally Posted by Falcon Coupe

Or an Coyote V8 from the light side.

touche ..

[vztrt]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Buy an aluminum V8 from the dark side .. They don't rust ..

Well they need that when the GTS owner is looking at the engine and scratching his head when the Ford performance models keep destroying them.

[tex]

Originally Posted by OzJavelin

Buy an aluminum V8 from the dark side .. They don't rust ..

Or a GT40 supercar alloy block and fill it with the good stuff.

Yes, that is a great solution

[pottery beige]

Dont panic its cast iron.... some people attach it to ends of solid bar and repeatedly lift it.....

[FNQracing]

Just a sign of Fords continued cost cutting. It won't cause any harm - apart from turning potential customers away. I'm continuously being told by people "in the trade" that modern Fords have rust issues. This spreads like wildfire in "over the fence" conversations between neighbors.

No wonder Ford have trouble shifting FG's. Just adds to Ford's "poor quality" image.

[DanielXR8]

Unfortunately it is an example of Fords "Save a dollar to make, loose five in sales" thinking in action.

[mrbaxr6t]

once everything moves away from cast iron to cast alloy then nobody will care if its painted or not, aluminum don't rust, and the weight savings

[jason71]

Have a look at the control arms and tail-shaft they have no paint on them either.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by jason71

Have a look at the control arms and tail-shaft they have no paint on them either.

My driveshafts on my Fiesta are rusted, theres no paint on them from factory which is odd as well because other manufacturers they're painted.

[V8 Man]

I'm pretty sure it's a weight reduction ploy, for increased performance.
As most of my cars have painted blocks, I always drive around without a T-shirt on, to offset the extra wieght.

[Mr Hardware]

Originally Posted by V8 Man

I'm pretty sure it's a weight reduction ploy, for increased performance.
As most of my cars have painted blocks, I always drive around without a T-shirt on, to offset the extra wieght.

ahaha

[FocusLX06]

Originally Posted by V8 Man

I'm pretty sure it's a weight reduction ploy, for increased performance.
As most of my cars have painted blocks, I always drive around without a T-shirt on, to offset the extra wieght.

Good stuff

[XR Martin]

Whats even worse is rust on the brakes, sh!tbox Fords......

[JimNiki]

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

Whats even worse is rust on the brakes, sh!tbox Fords......

you mean rotors?
I'll forgive ford for that one cause the pads needs raw iron to bite onto.
(for us mere mortals who will never afford ceramics anyway)

but the rest is inexcusable...
how many guys have rebuilt their old skool engines (clevos and W's) and not painted the blocks? none! any repercussions? nup!
It's ford saving 2 bucks on paint.

[Ohio XB]

Originally Posted by JimNiki

you mean rotors?
I'll forgive ford for that one cause the pads needs raw iron to bite onto.
(for us mere mortals who will never afford ceramics anyway)

but the rest is inexcusable...
how many guys have rebuilt their old skool engines (clevos and W's) and not painted the blocks? none! any repercussions? nup!
It's ford saving 2 bucks on paint.

In about 1993 Ford stopped painting radiators on cars here too. Money not spent on painting iron engine blocks and aluminium radiators (bet you thought I was going to spell it aluminum) adds up when you consider there is a radiator in EVERY car Ford sells, and Ford still makes millions of cast iron engine blocks. If they are saving $2 on each one then that adds up to real money.


How many "Average" people even really look at an engine compartment because they don't even know what they are looking at, I don't know, but I think that notion comes into play.

Personally, I'd rather pay the $2 to have the paint on my iron engine.


Steve