What to do with 2018 F150 leak down test failed on a cylinder

[10Key]

Misfire on cylinder 5, swapped plug and coil pack and cleared the code. A week or so later, code came back...obviously a greater issue beyond my part swapping abilities. Shop spent a bit of time on it, compression is half of what the other 5 cylinders are at 70 versus 150. They did a leak down test of that cylinder and it had 80% loss, seeming to be heading out the exhaust. They scoped it and think they saw a cracked valve. I told them to stop at that point as the next step for them would be tear down to see what is exactly wrong, that is real $.

2.7 with 130k, I love the truck, it is my hunting and boat towing rig, but thankfully it is a spare at this point. What do people do in these cases? Back in the day, you pull the head and have a valve job done, no biggie, but this is an overhead cam behemoth. I hate to scrap this thing, just not sure of my options.

Thing runs and drives, have put several thousand miles on it since this has been happening (2 trips to Lake Roosevelt in fact). There hasn't been a significant drop in MPG, maybe running a bit rough, but not crazy.

[lewy]

Trade er in

[Widgeondeke]

Trade er in

  I know someone that did that …. at a different dealership 2 days after it was diagnosed 😉

[CP]

I would retire her.  Sounds like it has served you well but it's probably time. 


I recently sold my truck (2018 F150, 2.7L) to Carvana.  It didn’t have any problems, but the process was super easy, and they paid almost twice what I was offered by a dealer. 

It’s worth filling out their on-line form, be honest with the description and just see what they will do for you.  Takes about 2 minutes and if you do sell to them, they will come to your house and pick it up.  Couldn’t be easier.

[jackelope]

What would it cost to put an engine in it v. what would it cost to replace the truck? Do you have to replace it? Is it paid for? I wouldn’t say it’s worthless with a bad engine, but it’s close to worth nothing as it sits.

[HntnFsh]

Agreed.

[Moose Master]

Karma will bit you if you don't disclose.  Duramax should be in your future

[HikerHunter]

My father-in-law had something similar happen to his older Chevy, 50% less compression in one cylinder on a V6. Cost nearly twice as much to fix as what he paid for it, so he decided to drive it until it died. That was about 90k miles ago. I bet there is reduced mpg and power, but he rarely tows and lightweight if he does. Its his every day commuter, not sure if that helps and not necessarily saying you should try it either...

[10Key]

Yeah, I won't be pulling any fast ones on a dealer or private party. It is long been paid for and I have driven the heck out of it, so I feel I got our money's worth. Luckily, it is now our stand-by rig, so we don't need to replace it right away, but we need the utility of a truck eventually. A similarly outfitted truck will be $50k +/- new, so I am not jumping at that option quite yet and that's with keeping my current canopy and swapping to new rig...new canopies are crazy now!

I will do some more poking around to see if someone even wants to take on a project like this and for a reasonable cost, we will see.

[fishngamereaper]

I've bought motors from BandR auto before with success.
Probably find one sub 2k. Have a shop swap it in if it's not in your comfort level.
Probably be into it 4-5k....
Not sure what those motors run new but probably 6-8k...

If the piston is still in good shape I couldn't imagine having the top end re done would cost more than 3-4k.
But I'm not a ford guy...

[MR5x5]

Sorry to hear this.  At only 130k miles that is more than a little disappointing. I'd be pissed....

[Jpmiller]

Unless it’s cheaper to get a like replacement vehicle that you have the same or more confidence in I’m a fix it, or live with it and run it til the wheels fall off kind of guy. Literally just had this conversation today with my cousin about a piece of equipment. I hate the idea of spending the kind of money new rigs demand anymore so I like keeping what I have. My rigs are all up there in mileage and I’m as confident in them as anything else.

[10Key]

Carvana pulled through, got a decent # with disclosing the issue.