Great video's, I'm just really puzzled about 3 failed INTAKE valves in 1 head. Was it a valve face problem or a seat breakdown. Do they use powdered metal seats in those apps.? Was the bank 1 head the same as cyl. 4 starting to fail or was it O.K.?

 

Valve seat problems on these are very common so for the other cylinders starting to show and fail right after these sounds right. I just pulled the other side heads today so I will have to leak test them too for the heck of it but this car is getting 2 reman heads though. I have no idea what kind of seats they use we just send them off to the machine shop.

 

Another excellent video that I hope is saved on the site.

 

This is surprising and interesting info. I thought these vulcans were bulletproof. What causes burnt valves? Is it because they did not get a proper valve seat from the factory, or was it a fuel issue? You see more vulcans with valve issues? I thought the ford engine with the most common valve seat issue was the SPI2000 type engines. Which ford car do you think is the most reliable? Thanks.

 

They are pretty bulletproof, but I have pulled more heads on a 3.0l Vulcan for valve seat compression issue than any other engine ford makes. The valve seats don't fall out like the spi in the Focus. I think these are more of a valve issue than the seat but the valve of course then damages the seat. It may have something to do with temp as this one was low on coolant from the front cover leak too. The Ford Fusion is the most reliable for sure.

 

Could be related to the compression ratio that Ford raised after 1996? From 9,25:1 to 9,5:1. Hotter combustion chambers/valves can't manage a poor fuel/air ratio from a bad injector. Change in design tolerances could be the culprit?

I believe it is injectors/compression ratio related.

 

You are probably right either way the valving is definitely not up to the task.

 

Would this cause a misfire on startup only and only sometimes?
Car never misfires when im driving it only on startup sometimes.I've done just about everything.Thanks

 

Plugs, wires, coilpack, headgasket.

Error code helps.
If no code, more likely carbon tracking which ruins the plug and the wire.

-chart-

 

Also since yours is older 1996 3.0l right? I would check for coolant in cylinders from sitting overnight. After that a good induction service is due and check items as stated above. I have had the coil packs cause cold start misfires look for cracks on the coil pack on all 4 sides.

 

On my 04' it was the tps causing misfire!!!