Vulcan is slightly easier to work on, +/- 1 or 2MPG between the two. Other than that, Duratec .

/thread

 

Vulcan is slightly easier to work on, +/- 1 or 2MPG between the two. Other than that, Duratec .

/thread [/b]

:werd:

 

:werd: x2.

Both engines are very reliable, parts are easy to find for both, the Vulcan is easier to work on, and the Duratec has more power and a guaranteed AX4N transmission.

FWIW, my next Taurus would be a 'tec.

(y'all better not go turning this into another engine battle, y'hear? )

 

vulcans are a little easier to work on and known for their reliability. duratecs arent hard to work on but not as easy but they do have more power. it really depends in if you are going to be doing more of highway or city driving. if city the vulcan is better because it has better power down low. if highway the duratec is the way to go because it is just a highway beauty because of the better response up high. either way it is a taurus so you will be very happy :ford: ..and or :merc:

 

:werd: x2.

Both engines are very reliable, parts are easy to find for both, the Vulcan is easier to work on, and the Duratec has more power and a guaranteed AX4N transmission.

FWIW, my next Taurus would be a 'tec.

(yinz better not go turning this into another engine battle n'at )
[/b]

edited for your local dialect.

Both engines are great. Just don't pick up the first one you see, Ford made 7.5 million+ Tauruses...you'll find the right one.

 

:lol: Thanks Nick!

 

IMHO.... It's whatever engine's bolted up to a transmission that isn's slipping, making funny noises, or going out alltogether :lol:

Both engines are good for the points made above. Don't get a yahama unless you plan to become your own mechanic and have $ for parts...

 

:werd:

MPG is roughly the same. From what Bob P. said down in Atlanta, the Vulcan is more reliable than the Duratec, but the Duratec has more power.


Yamaha=power like no other, but costs like no other

 

:werd:

MPG is roughly the same. From what Bob P. said down in Atlanta, the Vulcan is more reliable than the Duratec, but the Duratec has more power.


Yamaha=power like no other, but costs like no other
[/b]

That's a great quote!!!

i could see the commercial now

yamaha.....costs like no other. h34r:

 

I recommend the 'tec, personally. I find i get better fuel economy from the 'tec than with the vulcan, as well as 55hp more. I find the overall performance, both down low and in higher rpms better with the 'tec. The 'tec doesn't have the cooling system issues that the vulcan has (brown coolant, clogged heater cores, disintegrating water pump impellers, nor is it prone to blowing out frost plugs/block heaters and losing coolant on the way down the road). I feel the 'tec is the superior engine in every way except for ease of access to work on certain things, since the engine is so much larger and leaves so little room. But if you aren't doing a lot of the work yourself anyway, then don't worry about that. Go with the 'tec. Even if you don't need the extra power all the time, you'll be glad to have it when you do need it.

 

I personally waited for Ford to produce an engine like this - Duratec. It's the high-tec engine of choice between the Sable and Taurus. This engine breathes like no other. Throttle response is top notch in my book. I took my Sable to Pikes Peak and was surprised still how much reserve power I had. With 4-cams and 24 valves it really hard to beat. If you asked me Ford really did an excellent job engineering this engine. I have 138K+ miles on the Tec with no complaints, rarely burns any oil except for extremely cold climates. I added a half a quart of oil during the winter last year in Utah.

I have a gut feeling more Duratec's were installed in the Sables than Tauruses.

Vulcan, my wife had a company car with a Vulcan. I was surprised how much low-end torque it had. Since I couldn't drive I can't tell you what the throttle response was like, for a push-rod engine it seems to be a winner.

Between the two engines is a personal preference but for me I'll take the Duratec. One thing to note the next generation of the Sables and Tauruses have the Duratec (3.5L) as the only base engine. The Ford Edge and Lincoln knock-off use the 3.5L Duratec. I was looking at the Mazda CX-9 and it uses a 3.7L 24-valve engine but I bet it has a lot of DNA from the Duratec design.

 

I have a gut feeling more Duratec's were installed in the Sables than Tauruses.
[/b]

Interesting. I would bet Qwertz or Bull Geek would be able to shed some light there.

 

I recommend the 'tec, personally. I find i get better fuel economy from the 'tec than with the vulcan, as well as 55hp more. I find the overall performance, both down low and in higher rpms better with the 'tec. The 'tec doesn't have the cooling system issues that the vulcan has (brown coolant, clogged heater cores, disintegrating water pump impellers, nor is it prone to blowing out frost plugs/block heaters and losing coolant on the way down the road). I feel the 'tec is the superior engine in every way except for ease of access to work on certain things, since the engine is so much larger and leaves so little room. But if you aren't doing a lot of the work yourself anyway, then don't worry about that. Go with the 'tec. Even if you don't need the extra power all the time, you'll be glad to have it when you do need it.
[/b]

This is one of the best arguments for the Duratec over the Vulcan I've ever read, and Nidan is a Ford mechanic, so you're getting a very knowledgeable opinion from him.

<div class='quotemain'>
I have a gut feeling more Duratec's were installed in the Sables than Tauruses.
[/b]

Interesting. I would bet Qwertz or Bull Geek would be able to shed some light there.
[/b][/quote]

According to the vehicle selection thingamabobber at Autozone's website, the MY 2000 Ford Taurus got the following engine mix:

36% Vulcan
29% Duratec
35% Flex-Fuel Vulcan

The same year Mercury Sable engine mix was:

33% Vulcan
67% Duratec

For MY 2003, the Taurus mix was:

56% Vulcan
18% Duratec
26% FFV

For MY 2003 Sable:

45% Vulcan
55% Duratec

1996 Taurus (SHO mix is not shown):

82% Vulcan
16% Duratec
2% FFV

1996 Sable:

59% Vulcan
41% Duratec

I don't know if all those numbers are correct, but that's what Autozone has listed.

JR

 

Thanks JR

 

Duratecs were certainly more likely to be found in a Sable than a Taurus, I do know that. Much like you are more likely to find an Essex Sable than a Vulcan Sable.

22% of 97 Sable's were the LS model, so that had a Duratec.