Updated pistons and ring packs for MY18+

[Hack]

And you don't think there is any issue with this voodoo engine? I think that Ford is replacing these engines so freely because they don't want to wind up with a class action lawsuit on thier ass.

Somewhere somebody figured out that replacing these motors on a case by case basis is much cheaper than a recall or lawsuit.

I know this wasn't addressed to me but I want to chip in here. We all realize and most would acknowledge that there have been individual engines that had problems. I'm aware of a number of different problems.

But I think you are saying you believe it's obvious that the entire design is flawed in some way. I don't agree with that. Other than I wish the engine made a bit more power and revved even higher, I think the Voodoo is a great engine. I don't think I've owned or driven any car that had an engine I believe is significantly better. There may be some trade offs between performance and reliability, but I haven't had any engine issues in the 30,000 + miles I have on my GT350. And I have used in in a variety of conditions, very hot temperatures, below zero temperatures, on the track, etc.

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[swooshdave]

Isn't this the exact same issue with the Coyote? BBQ Tick and all?

 

[Tomster]

I know this wasn't addressed to me but I want to chip in here. We all realize and most would acknowledge that there have been individual engines that had problems. I'm aware of a number of different problems.

But I think you are saying you believe it's obvious that the entire design is flawed in some way. I don't agree with that. Other than I wish the engine made a bit more power and revved even higher, I think the Voodoo is a great engine. I don't think I've owned or driven any car that had an engine I believe is significantly better. There may be some trade offs between performance and reliability, but I haven't had any engine issues in the 30,000 + miles I have on my GT350. And I have used in in a variety of conditions, very hot temperatures, below zero temperatures, on the track, etc.

Your lack of issues over 30K miles is great news. I'm happy for you. Many were not so fortunate. I hope you bought the extended warranty like I did.

 

[JR369]

I’ve gotten reliable information from 2 different sources that there has been some silent but very big changes to the rotating assembly of the voodoo motor starting with MY18.

I’m trying to track down more info as far as build dates etc would be concerned but may never narrow it all the way down. Depends on how forthcoming I can get these sources to be and if they will allow me to publicly name sources.

The changes I’ve been told are to the pistons and ring packs.

The pistons have been modified to tighten up the piston to wall clearance to alleviate the slap that has been a known issue that even ford issued a TSB about. I myself have noticed on my car that there is very little slap that you would have to put your head in the wheel well to hear and if dissipates very quickly. With forged pistons there will always be some movement to cold pistons but it’s negligible on my car. Not sure if any other 18 owners can chime in. My build date is 6/18.

The second change is to the piston ring pack. They switched to steel rings with tighter clearances to hopefully alleviate oil consumption issues that have haunted the voodoo motor.

Both of the changes are good things for the motor as it stands N/A but not so much for boost ‍

There was also mention of water jacket modifications but nothing reliable

Like I said I got this from 2 very reliable sources with access to engineers from ford. Hoping to get more info in the near future.

This also fits ford MO of silently making changes to known issues. So take that as you like

Verdict is still out. As I only have 500 miles on the R. I can tell you I don't have piston slap in the cold mornings. I know what piston slaps sounds like too. My wife's 15 Z51 Vette has it on cold startup. Goes away after the engine is properly warmed to temperature. I always make it a point to NOT drive either car until the engine reaches operating temperature. The R is a cold blooded bitch in the mornings. Takes a while to warm 10 qts of oil.

 

[Tomster]

Verdict is still out. As I only have 500 miles on the R. I can tell you I don't have piston slap in the cold mornings. I know what piston slaps sounds like too. My wife's 15 Z51 Vette has it on cold startup. Goes away after the engine is properly warmed to temperature. I always make it a point to NOT drive either car until the engine reaches operating temperature. The R is a cold blooded bitch in the mornings. Takes a while to warm 10 qts of oil.

They say idling to temperature is not good either. I just drive real easy until oil temp gets to 190

 

[JR369]

They say idling to temperature is not good either. I just drive real easy until oil temp gets to 190

I suppose everybody has a method. Mine is, I don't put a load on a cold engine. To your point tho, I've not even seen 190 yet. Even after driving it to work 10 miles it gets to 186 ish. Tellin you it's a cold blooded bitch. But I have left the garage with the coolant warm and the oil above 130.

 

[Austinj427]

I suppose everybody has a method. Mine is, I don't put a load on a cold engine. To your point tho, I've not even seen 190 yet. Even after driving it to work 10 miles it gets to 186 ish. Tellin you it's a cold blooded bitch. But I have left the garage with the coolant warm and the oil above 130.

The thought is, from my understanding, idling a cold engine until warm will consume more oil as it takes longer to heat up and there is less load on the rings.

I let my head temp get to 100 then start to drive easily. To avoid the piston slap noise I put a slight load on the engine, then let off, and get back on the throttle. When oil temps are around like 140 or so (if I remember right), it's pretty much gone.

 

[s2ms]

I suppose everybody has a method. Mine is, I don't put a load on a cold engine. To your point tho, I've not even seen 190 yet. Even after driving it to work 10 miles it gets to 186 ish. Tellin you it's a cold blooded bitch. But I have left the garage with the coolant warm and the oil above 130.

190 is tough this time of year as well for me. Took a 30+ mile drive this weekend and the highest I saw was 187. Outside temp was 45-50F.

 

[Hack]

Your lack of issues over 30K miles is great news. I'm happy for you. Many were not so fortunate. I hope you bought the extended warranty like I did.

At the worst case I have many thousands of miles and several years left on my factory engine warranty. At this time any money I had spent on extending that warranty would not help me with any repairs. That warranty could only do me some good if I keep the car past the factory warranty.

The other thing about the extended warranty is it wouldn't cover most of my drive train because I bought a technology package car and replaced the transmission and added a rear differential cooler. At the risk of starting something - IMO that was an obvious flaw in the GT350.

I would agree with you that there is an obvious flaw in the engine if they all have short lives. I think that most will last a long time, though.

 

[JR369]

190 is tough this time of year as well for me. Took a 30+ mile drive this weekend and the highest I saw was 187. Outside temp was 45-50F.

Yep I agree.

 

[Tomster]

I suppose everybody has a method. Mine is, I don't put a load on a cold engine. To your point tho, I've not even seen 190 yet. Even after driving it to work 10 miles it gets to 186 ish. Tellin you it's a cold blooded bitch. But I have left the garage with the coolant warm and the oil above 130.

Some put a restrictor on the heat/oil exchanger for cold weather ops. Be careful of cold temps or you could crack your cup2's. Most put a set of street or winter tires on their cars

 

[JR369]

Some put a restrictor on the heat/oil exchanger for cold weather ops. Be careful of cold temps or you could crack your cup2's. Most put a set of street or winter tires on their cars

Ya that would suck. The cup2's that have seen cracked were covered with snow in the north. Still, you're right and I do need a second set of rims/tires. Waiting for Vibe Motorsports to announce BF sale on those forged monos. Lol.

 

[key01]

They say idling to temperature is not good either. I just drive real easy until oil temp gets to 190

Don't we have an idle limiter on this car as well? It shuts down after a certain amount of time at idle, or so I thought.

 

[JAJ]

I think this thread's gotten a bit off track. Piston slap is not a defect, it's a characteristic. People don't like the noise - mine has it and I don't - but the engine is working fine.

It's possible, in fact it's likely that if there was actually a running change to the pistons and rings, that it was intended to save money. That's just as likely as any other explanation.

 

[Mountain376]

Thanks @Shadowblackbeast . Not so much a TSB, more like an “Add Info” to the Supplemental Manual intro...

SSM = Special Service Message, which is pretty much what you are stating - a supplement to service information.

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