What is the best type of oil to use in a 2009 Ford Falcon XR6T?

A good multi-grade oil is what you’re after; one that is thin enough to circulate and protect quickly in cold conditions, but also able to cope with the heat and stress inferred by a turbocharged engine in hot conditions. Options include a 5W30 oil or even a 10W40, but make sure that the API rating is suitable for your car. The correct API rating ensures that the oil is of a sophistication in keeping with the technology in your engine. The other critical piece of advice is to use a quality oil from a reputable brand. Ignore the supermarket-shelf stuff and, if you’re having the car serviced at a workshop, don’t forget to ask what brand and grade of oil it intends to use. A fully synthetic oil will cost more but will offer more protection for an engine such as the hard-working turbomotor in an XR6T.

Why does my 2002 Ford Falcon idle irregularly and have a delayed throttle response?

An engine that runs well when cold but misfires when It’s warmed up is often a victim of poor air-fuel mixture. That can be caused by an air-leak (such as the intake manifold gasket you’ve already changed) a crack in any of the intake plumbing, faulty fuel injectors, a worn fuel pump, a corrupted ECU (computer), blocked fuel line or about a thousand other things. But in this case, knowing the Ford AU Falcon’s engine, I’d be taking a close look at the ignition system, specifically the coil pack. These have been known to fail regularly, often displaying their problems including a rough idle, once the engine has warmed up; precisely the symptoms you’ve noted. That said, rather than rush out and buy a new coil pack, have the vehicle scanned electronically to rule out any other potential source for the problem.

What oil can I use instead of Ford Engine Oil?

You need to keep using an oil that is compatible with LPG as this fuel places different stresses on the lubricating oil compared with an engine burning petrol or diesel. Provided you stick with the correct grade and API rating and choose a known brand (not the Brand-X supermarket stuff) you should be fine. Don’t forget to change the filter every time you change the oil.

What is causing my 2001 Ford AU Falcon ute to miss?

A miss is fairly common on these engines and is usually tracked back to either a dud spark-plug or a crook ignition lead. If you’ve already changed the plugs, I’d suggest checking the ignition leads for excessive resistance. The other major source of misses in these engines is usually a fault with the coil-packs. Swapping these for another set is a pretty easy way to check whether they’re the culprits. Don’t forget, however, that a miss can also be fuel or mechanical-related, but experience with these engines shows that the ignition system is often the cause. According to government websites, the 2001 Falcon six-cylinder can, indeed, use E10 fuel. You may find, however, that you use a little more E10 over 100km than normal unleaded, so the savings at the pump might not be as marked as they seem on paper.

Ford Falcon 2003: Leaking coolant and replacing remote locking

If you can’t see coolant on the ground where the car has been parked, you need to start a more thorough investigation. Your car is now 17 years old, so every hose, clip, clamp and junction that carries coolant is a prime suspect to be the cause. The lack of any evidence could mean that the coolant is only disappearing when the engine is running and/or the engine is hot and the coolant is under pressure. So a close check of things with the car up to temperature and idling is a good start. Don’t forget, though, that a running engine has all sorts of belts and fans to get tangled in, and that the coolant – if it is spraying out anywhere – will be scalding hot. The other possibility is something to which Falcons of this era are a bit prone. And that’s a faulty transmission cooler which can fail internally and allow the coolant to escape into the automatic gearbox. At that point, the transmission is usually damaged to the point of needing replacement, so it’s a big deal, but it could explain the mystery disappearance of your coolant. As for the central locking, these functions are handled by the car’s body computer. Again, it’s common with this model Falcon for the computer to start playing up and require replacement. But before you do that, check that the battery in the remote unit hasn’t gone flat. If it’s not that, a trip to an auto electrician is the wise move. But if both the body computer and the transmission need replacing, you might just find that the repairs will cost more than the value of the car itself.

Ford Falcon 2002: Why does the engine keep cutting out?

Computer-controlled engines like the one in your Falcon, Tony, require a range of sensors to provide the information to the computer to allow the engine to run properly. If just one of those sensors sneezes, the engine can shut down without warning. As well as a throttle-position sensor, there are also camshaft-angle, crank-angle, air temperature, coolant temperature, oxygen sensors and more. So the best advice is not to start replacing the sensors one by one, but to have the computer interrogated electronically. The computer will be logging problems as they happen and should be able to tell you exactly which sensor is nodding off intermittently. A Ford dealership along with many independent workshops will have the computer-scan gear to do this. It will save you time and money in the long run. For what it’s worth, since the car cuts out completely, my hunch would be the crank-angle sensor is overheating. So, if you want to persist with a home diagnosis, try this: Carry a bottle of cold water in the car. Then, the next time the engine cuts out, pour the cold water over the crank-angle sensor. If the car suddenly restarts, you’ve found your problem. But to be honest, you could also be looking at a dud fuel pump, a blocked fuel filter and literally a hundred other possibilities.

Ford Falcon: Can I use premium unleaded fuel?

No, using premium unleaded won’t cause any engine running problems, if anything it would improve the running.

Ford Falcon 2010: Is semi-synthetic oil appropriate for my car?

If it’s a good quality the semi-synthetic oil will be fine for your car. Next time you have the oil changed ask the mechanic what oil he plans to use, and don’t be afraid to specify the one you want if it’s different.

What is the best tow vehicle to buy?

The GQ Patrol was a tough old bird, but it’s old and buying one now is a gamble. You could consider a Toyota Landcruiser, but again your budget will limit you to an older vehicle and that is always a risk. You could perhaps consider fitting power steering to the XF ute.

Ford Falcon 2009: Are there issues with the timing chain?

There’s no issue with the chain, they rarely break, but they can wear over time. If it does wear it usually becomes noisy, which in itself is not a problem. If it gets too bad the timing can be affected, and it’s best them to replace the chain.

Ford Falcon 2004 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Ford Falcon 2004 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Idle Falcon V8 ute

Answered by CarsGuide 11 Nov 2010

From your description it appears it only happens when the brakes are applied so I'd be looking for a vacuum leak associated with the brakes, such as a split or cracked hose or fitting on the brake booster or manifold.

Engine

Ford Falcon 2004: Brake shuddering

Answered by CarsGuide 3 Nov 2010

Front-end vibrations are an annoying part of BA ownership and there are a number of possible causes. Check the wheel bearings to make sure they are adjusted correctly, and make sure the wheel nuts are not over-tightened as that can warp the wheels. Other owners, and brake mechanics, have reported problems with the brake master cylinder/booster holding the brakes on slightly, which can be enough to warp the discs quite quickly.

Another vibrating Falcon

Answered by CarsGuide 26 Aug 2010

Thanks for the tip about the brake master cylinder; it's something worth considering by anyone with a vibration they can't fix.

Rotor check on BA Falcon

Answered by CarsGuide 1 Jul 2010

Have the rotors checked to see how much they have worn. It could be that they only need a skim, but if they are heavily worn they might need replacing.

Ask Smithy Xtra Ford diffs

Answered by CarsGuide 4 May 2010

Unfortunately it is a common problem and your experience is in line with that of other Falcon owners. For a time there Ford was replacing diffs on cars that were out of warranty, but that seems to have stopped. If you had a dealer replace the second diff I would suggest you go back to Ford and ask for some compensation.

$3000 Flasher

Answered by CarsGuide 12 Feb 2010

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.

Service Standard

Answered by CarsGuide 5 Feb 2010

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.

Ford Falcon 2004: Snapped spark plugs

Answered by CarsGuide 4 Dec 2009

I ASSUME it's a three-valve V8, and if so it is a common problem. I know one case where the heads had to be removed from the engine so the bits of plug jammed in the threads could be removed safely. It took two weeks and cost a small fortune. It's a problem when the plugs are left unchecked for so long; if they were more regularly removed and cleaned etc, it probably wouldn't happen. I agree it shouldn't happen, and you shouldn't be responsible if the plugs do break. You can fight Ford in the event they do, or maybe you could just leave the plugs alone.

Engine

Treat the Falcon Problem

Answered by CarsGuide 30 Oct 2009

I'M NOT sure what your experience has been with the Falcon, but before you dump it and spend money on a replacement, I'd try to fix the issues that concern you. The main problem with the Falcon when towing is the automatic transmission. I'd install an external transmission oil cooler, which will ensure the auto doesn't overheat and will remove the chance of having a problem with the factory oil cooler in the radiator.

Futura transmission

Answered by CarsGuide 25 Jun 2009

THE radiators have been a problem for some time, and most owners only find out they have a problem when the transmission starts acting up. That's usually too late and they end up having to pay for an expensive transmission rebuild. The problem is with the cooler in the radiator, which fails, letting coolant into the transmission. At least Ford came to the party and helped with the cost of repairs, even though you might have liked more.

Transmission

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