Question about intake manifold

[walleye_hunter]

I've read the intake manifold is designed with a plastic composite, rather than metal. Is this true of both the Vulcan and Duratec 3.0L engines? I thank you in advance, for your response.

[drdisque]

yes, for '00+ cars

[walleye_hunter]

Any problems with that? I've read the old 3.8L had some sort of head gasket problem. Are the Vulcan and Duratec free from that? The reason I ask is that I was considering buying a Focus wagon, until I read Consumer Reports' "New Car Preview 2006". In it they claim they observed 15/32 MPG, for the Focus wagon, and 15/31 MPG for a Taurus sedan with a Duratec engine. Why buy a small car, if a larger one gets almost identical MPG? What prompted my original question was the reliability of the Vulcan or Duratec engine. It's my guess the Vulcan engine gets better gas mileage than the Duratec. You have have to sacrifice something for more horsepower. Thanks for responding, drdisque.

[drdisque]

there have been no reports of any common problem in vulcans or duratecs.

The only prevalent mechanical issue in the Taurus is the AX4S transmission which comes in most Vulcan tauri and has trouble making it past 100k mi.

[TaurusKing]

If you're going to buy one, I'd get the Duratec, you'll appreciate the extra stink you get,, I've got one in my 99, man it just runs up and down the hills, plus the extra of having a nice exhaust sound when you gotta goose it, even an old man like myself feels young again... getting pretty reasonable mileage on the highway too, around 28-29 with cruise, city around 15-16, little less if I'm behind, lol..

[mwt878991]

There was a problem with the original composite intakes.

The car would backfire and cause the composite to grenade.

Ford did a PCM reflash and it went away.

Oh and do not consider buying anything but the Duratec.

I don't think it available though now in the New Taurus
It is going to a fleet only car

Mike

[drdisque]

the '05 taurus was vulcan only.

The only reason not to buy a duratec is that its difficult to work on.

[wafrederick]

The duratec is also expensive to fix.It is also called a durajunk,the duratec is a peice of junk.Most auto salvage yards sell this motor left and right.Looks like the taurus/sable will be discontinued,being replaced by the Fusion and Mercury's name of the Fusion

[drdisque]

yes, the taurus and sable are being discontinued because the chassis is now 10 years old, but they are KEEPING the duratec engine for both the Fusion and 500.

I have no clue why you call it the "durajunk" even though it has no known technical flaws. And DOHC V6 in a FWD car is difficult and expensive to work on, not just the duratec.