High mileage AU's - Ford Forums

Bearman · 02-17-2003, 05:11

I currently own an AU1 XR6 HP which has done 148,000K's. I took it over at 116,000K's a year ago and has run perfectly. It's serviced every 10,000K's using synthetic oil, the auto tranny has been serviced once and is due to be done again at the next service.

Have any problems emerged with AU's once they get long in the tooth that I should be aware of? Do they have the head gasket problems of E series Falcons?

To be forewarned is to be prepared. I'm intending to keep it for a fair while yet as I can't afford to upgrade so if there are known problems that afflict AU's I'd love to know about it.

Cheers.........

Martin · 02-17-2003, 05:23

A friend has an AU Ute and she just had to replace the radiator due to the end tanks cracking like they have since the EA. The computer was also replaced at the same time also for some reason.
It doesnt have high miliage though, and was done under warranty

TopGhia · 02-17-2003, 08:52

Keep the cooling system in top condition and change the coolant every 2 years. Spent coolant becomes acidic which reacts with the metal in the system, especially aluminium.

SiX_iN_a_RoW · 02-17-2003, 13:26

Ford supposedly eliminated the head gasket troubles with the AU, also added fail safe cooling. I'd say that the only problems you will have are what every other car experiences, wheels bearings, rotors, diff bearings etc
Just keep her well maintained and your bound to have yourself a reliable, long-lived means of transport

AU1SIXA · 02-17-2003, 15:43

I thought with the au's you never had to change the wheel bearings and that they were sealed for life. I cant see really that they can last for 1,000,000 kms on taxis but hey you never know . i was reading some where can somebody clarrify this

Steve B

maco65 · 02-17-2003, 22:33

The wheel bearing can be changed on the AU's but cost a fortune (even at dealer price!). In the AU taxis I've got we havn't had to cange one yet (Thank god and knock on wood).

One of the more common problems i've heard for the AU's in the aluminium radiators. We have made our own radiators that consists of AU side tanks and EA - EL core. They last shit loads longer and cool better.

Some other problems I have found not only limits it's self to the AU's but also EA - EL is the axle bearing seals. Considering they have the same axle housing and crap, the problem is universal. They usually go and start pissing out oil only when cheap and nast seals are used. I have found to eliminate this problem we use Nok seals and Timken bearings.

Alex

Bearman · 02-22-2003, 03:32

Dudes, thanks for the feedback. I'm relieved to hear there are no known problems as long as the maintenance is kept up.

I've had my car for a year now. When I was looking I was trying to decide between EL XR6 or AU XR6. The advice I'd received at the time lead me to the AU and the fact they have the failsafe cooling setup was also influential. Overheating and head gaskets were a major problem I'd experienced with my ED and EA.

Cheers....

XR_Strider_GuY · 02-22-2003, 03:45

Quote:

Originally posted by Bearman
I currently own an AU1 XR6 HP which has done 148,000K's. I took it over at 116,000K's a year ago and has run perfectly. It's serviced every 10,000K's using synthetic oil, the auto tranny has been serviced once and is due to be done again at the next service.

Great to see an AU running like clock work after 140,000km. Makes me feel safe to keep mine for a while. I'd have to agree that as logn as radiator coolant and system is serviced regularly you won't have any problems. I can see it going to 300,000km without any dramas as rocker gear, head gasket, piston crank etc were heavily revised from the EL.

Bearman · 02-22-2003, 05:58

Quote:

Originally posted by XR_Strider_GuY
I can see it going to 300,000km without any dramas as rocker gear, head gasket, piston crank etc were heavily revised from the EL.

Yeah, my mechanic told me about the revisions done to the engine for the AU. He said because of this you need to run a lighter grade of oil than for EL's. 5W 30 is the factory recommendation for AU's. I'm using Castrol synthetic.

There was another AU XR6 sitting in there, bonnet off, rocker cover off and the engine lifted a few inches. Apparently this car had been serviced (by another garage) using a heavier oil which lead to stripping the oil pump!! They were going to put in a new oil pump, flush out the remains of the old oil, put in the right stuff and hope like hell it didn't spin a bearing. The car was towed in after the driver lost oil pressure. He had the nous to stop straight away so he might be lucky. This is what can happen when mechanics don't read up on any model update.

taximan · 02-22-2003, 09:29

My AU has now clocked 405.000ks replaced 2 thermo fan motors,front disc rotors and sway bar bushes.No oil leaks and doesn't use oil between services if I use Valvoline LO-VIS 10w-30,if I use Penrite 5w-30 it needs a litre to be added between services.Just goes to show how good AU's are if you use the right oil