I’m four months into owning my vehicle and recently had a check engine light come on for an emissions code. Thankfully, it was a quick fix, and everything else has been running smoothly so far.
That said, I want to stay proactive. Are there any known issues with the 3.5 V6 engine that I should be aware of? Also, are there any specific maintenance tasks or tips I should keep in mind to keep it running in top shape?
Nice car man, I have the 3.0L V6 and it is wonderful. Truthfully, all I’ve found is to keep up with the oil changes, make sure all your fluids are good and flush them if necessary. I keep a notebook on me to write down all maintenance I do and the next time I need to do it but most would say that’s completely overkill. I’m not certain but I think your transmission is different than my 6F35, which I believe is only in the I4 and 3.0L. It is recommended to keep up with the tranny fluid with those as any damage done to it simply warrants a new car, but someone will probably have first hand experience with your specific tranny. I’ve read somewhere that the factory lug nuts tend to swell so I did the liberty of replacing them with open capped ones. You’re gonna have one bad day if those things swell on you. If it hasn’t been done already, check or/and change the timing chain or belt or magic loop whatever you have, and the water pump, belts for cracks, just normal stuff. In general, just make sure to keep up with the maintenance on these and you’ll be all good. Please ask away but I definitely am not a mechanic, just enjoy taking care of my own. Good luck!
@Sam
Alright thanks man appreciate it. I will definitely keep up the maintenance as I do plan on keeping it for 4 years minimum. The odometer is sitting right at 66k right now.
Ash said: @Sam
Alright thanks man appreciate it. I will definitely keep up the maintenance as I do plan on keeping it for 4 years minimum. The odometer is sitting right at 66k right now.
Damn 66k is pretty low, make sure once you get close to that 100k mark (if you do) to start thinking about the timing chain or belt, and water pump if it’s internal. Other than that you got the right spirit, listen for any unusual noises, the temp gauge, keep them tires full. You got it brother!
Hello Sport brother, the crux of our engine is the water pump that is internal to the engine. Since it’s a wear item, it needs to eventually be replaced so that it doesn’t fail and dump coolant into the engine, which if ran even for a short time can overheat and damage if not destroy the engine. There is a weep hole on the front behind the alternator that you can monitor for liquid breaching the first (out of two) seals.
Other than that, keep up with regular oil changes, once you see enough miles, transmission drain and fill (no flush), and then suspension components. I have 130k on mine from new and that’s what I’ve done so far, she’s been a trooper. Enjoy!
@Zan
Yea I love the car so far, heard water pump was a common issue but didn’t know how much to worry about it. How much do you think it would be to get it replaced? Thanks for the help.
Ash said: @Zan
Yea I love the car so far, heard water pump was a common issue but didn’t know how much to worry about it. How much do you think it would be to get it replaced? Thanks for the help.
It’s a pretty intensive job because of how the engine is mounted in the car. For some it’s easier to drop it if they have the tools. I was able to do it in my garage and replaced all the timing components for about $1k. Figure a good mechanic will be around 1500-2000 and a dealership will be 2.5k+.
Water pump. It’s a 10-hour job thanks to the design. Maybe change the coolant once every year to prolong the lifespan of it so you can keep the car longer.
Wilder said:
Water pump. It’s a 10-hour job thanks to the design. Maybe change the coolant once every year to prolong the lifespan of it so you can keep the car longer.
Seal up those rear wheel cowls where they meet the rocker panels. Common defect on these cars. Water and salt and junk seep in and rots the rockers from the inside. If you look at any pre-2012 Fusion on the road, 75% chance they’ve got rot at the rear rocker panels.
Watch out for your driver side rear light cover. It’s apparently the left sock of Fusions with that style of light assembly. I’ve seen several missing only the driver side cover, including mine. Lost mine this summer at some point.