tom adkins

No, I don't have a 3.0 with blown head gaskets. I've also never seen one.
Reading posts here it sounds as if some folks are seeing blown head gaskets on at
least a few 3.0 Vulcans. It's certainly not epidemic like on the 3.8s, but it sounds
as if it's also not rare.
I recall in it's early days there were some broken head bolts that caused coolant
leaks, but that was very early in production. I can also see how the "Brown Coolant"
concerns in the late 90s could lead to head gasket erosion. Obviously, it can happen
to any engine, especially if badly overheated.
How many here have actually seen a blown head gasket on a 3.0 Vulcan engine? I'm
just curious, as I've personally seen or heard first hand of it. I'd like to get an
idea of how common it is (is becoming?).

bob urz

i saw a 93 with water coming out if the tail pipe.
did not tear it down so failure mode was unknown.
I have yet to have a 3.0 not outlive the car.
(I am on #4 ),

bob

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tom adkins

Yep, that's a pretty serious failure that "sounds" like a head gasket. Sure it was a
3.0 and not a 3.8?
My personal experience has been like yours, they usually outlive the car. I've taken
3 to well over 150K, the latest being a 98. That's why I'm asking.

jeff

Don't forget that the 3.0 Vulcan was used in the Taurus, one of the best
selling cars of the 90s and early 00s. It was also used in the Sable, Prove,
Ranger, Tempo, Topaz, Mazda B-300, and Windstar.

So seeing a few blown engines in this forum doesn't mean there is a big problem.

trainfan1

I'm on #3. 180K + mi.
#2 rusted & wrecked Aerostar (~155K?)
#1 Taurus traded in @ 220K.

Rob

ford tech

Got a 2000 Ranger and I put head gaskets on my 3.0L 2V last January. Truck
had 98,000mi on it, and engine had 91,000mi on it.

My symptoms were that it would lose heat when drivin down the road. I then
noticed coolant disappearin, and air bubblin out of the expansion tank for a
while after you shut the engine off. Sure nough open the expansion tank it
would be almost empty, and the radiator would be about 1/2 low. Drove it
like that for a couple weeks till we got a 70*F day in January and I tore
the top off the engine and put new gaskets on.. Took me 8hrs, but she's been
runnin like a top since.

Ford Tech