Ford Falcon Problems

RUNNING a different fuel -- or even a cleaner through the engine regularly -- might well be a way of preventing the carbon build-up that leads to the problem with the plugs in the Ford V8. The problem is most people only realise there is a problem when the plugs break while being removed.

THERE were reports of contaminated LPG in some areas a few months ago and you might have fallen victim to this. Make sure any waxy build-up in the system is cleaned out and use a different supplier and different brand of LPG -- if you can.

ON YOUR own figures your ute is getting 13.3 litres/100 km, which is hardly atrocious, and suggests there is nothing seriously wrong with it. Rather I would say it;s quite normal for that vehicle having done that mileage. You could replace the spark plugs and plug leads, put some fuel system cleaner through it, and take it for a long run where you could get it fully warmed up and make it work a little to blow any carbon build-up out of the engine.

I agree it's a common problem, one that is expensive to fix because it affects the transmission, but I doubt you'll ever get any compensation. The best way to get satisfaction is to buy another brand
next time.

IF THEY'D fitted an extra leaf it would have been to the right-rear spring (that's the one that's loaded rounding left-hand bends), but there's nothing to suggest they did. I don't believe that black was a standard colour, but I do know of one XY Phase 3 GT HO that was black from the factory. That car was a special order.

It's really not good enough, but at least Ford fixed the car under warranty. It's not possible for me to say whether the Commodore will be any better; all cars are subject to failures. Other than the Commodore it's difficult to find a car that matches the XR6 for price, size and performance. Performance models of the sort that I would recommend, BMW 135i or 330i, Lexus is250, are generally smaller and more expensive, and may not suit your needs.

You certainly won't do it any harm by servicing it more often, if anything you're doing the best thing for it. Extra servicing will help ward off those major problems you're concerned about, but it's impossible to say when you might strike trouble.  The engine is generally robust and not likely to need any major work for some time yet. If it's an auto I would anticipate a rebuild in the next 50,000-100,000 km. Apart from that it's the usual things -- brakes, shocks, suspension bushes.

THE V8 engines came from the US, which is where the problem started. It amazes me that Ford engineers couldn't see this problem and do something about it before the engine went into production, but having let that slip through, the company should have been responsible enough to cover the cost of replacing broken spark plugs when they started showing up in service.

THE most likely explanation is cost. I would guess that a taper seat and no gasket is a lot cheaper than using a plug with a gasket, simple as that.

THE one-tonne suspension is the heaviest in the FG Falcon range and when fitted gives the FG XR6 cab-chassis a GVM of 2820kg. There shouldn't be a problem if you're not exceeding GVM. Have the dealer remove the springs and check them, at their expense obviously.