I just came in from the garage, changed the oil on my dad's 2005 Ford Escape. It's got 51K miles on the odo. The engine is a 6-cylinder transverse-mounted thingamajig.
A few thoughts and notes...
First of all, the quality and strength of the castings (example: the oilpan) are NOTHING near as good and heavy as Benz aluminum castings, particularly for older Benz motors like the M117 and M119.
4.5 quarts for an oil change? REALLY?!?!? Benz motors (even my inline 6) are 7 quarts minimum with filter.
Benz motors quite often allow filters to be changed from inside the engine compartment, not underneath the vehicle. It was easy to get at the filter but would have been easy to design it to be accessed from above!
General build and heft of underwood components, wrapping of wiring bundles, etc. seemed cheaper and plasticky-er then Benz stuff.
Overall I'd have to say I was rather unimpressed. Maybe the Diesel motors are better....
I see a lot of them like to rust at the front-rear wheel arches where the rear doors meet. Guess the molding holds water and whatnot in this area and here in the rust belt that means salt too.
The Escape must be considered "almost an SUV" as if you look at them they are not very heavy duty. The V6 engine is most likely a Mazda crossover, but I cant say that for sure, what I can say for sure is that the 626 Mazda engines are similar to the Taurus Duratec engines, except it seems the Mazda engines got a much more sophisticated intake and such.
Damn shame really. But I do agree with PowerStroker with regards to the 6.7 Diesel engine, it's pretty impressive! But I have found inherent flaws that I think will come to pass as being problematic and you can read about them concerns on PowerStrokers Spy School thread which is a sticky.
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What is to give light must endure burning -- Viktor Frankl
So much of what Ford makes is real junk -- Escapes, Focus, etc. Hell, I'd throw Saturns right on that heap, too, LOL !!
Have you ever gotten underneath a Benz, to make a comparison PowerStroker?
Since I live in Texas I keep threatening my wife and friends that I'm going to come home one of these days in an F350 Super Duty, just to piss them off.... I'll do it too !!
-- Edited by gerryvz on Wednesday 13th of June 2012 04:16:21 PM
