Ford Falcon Engine Problems

RENAULT doesn't market a diesel engine here, so rule that out. You could consider a VW Golf diesel. Both the Peugeot and VW diesels are well built, reliable and economical so that would probably be the best overall option.

YOU can contact both companies through their customer assistance hot lines, but you've probably already registered your interest with this letter. Ford has told us there are no plans to have an LPG option on the Territory, but we have heard Holden is working on one for its V6 engine. Having spent some time in the E-Gas Falcon recently, I have to say I'm surprised at its slow sales. I couldn't fault the way it drove and the savings at the pump suggest you'd be in the black after a year.

FORD'S recommended oil is Mobil Super GF 10W/30 for the XR6 and Mobil Super XHP 15W/40 for the XR6 Turbo, both mineral oils. I would stick with Ford's tip.

YOURS is not an unusual problem. The Falcon radiator has plastic tanks and they usually split, requiring replacement. Taxi operators usually run the heavy-duty radiator that doesn't have plastic tanks.

THE LPG gas engine in the BA has stronger connecting rods than the standard Falcon six. They're the same rods as in the new FPV Typhoon and were put in the gas engine because in at least one instance in development a rod was bent after a back-fire. I haven't heard of a widespread problem in service.

TO RUN it at its best on unleaded you should fit hardened valve-seat inserts to the head, lower the compression ratio and retard the spark a little to suit the lower octane rating of unleaded. You're talking about $1000, so I'd think long and hard about doing that on an old car like your XE. I'd run it on unleaded and add an upper-cylinder lubricant.

Cars Guide reader Stuart Shiell says he's seen a similar problem on EF and EL Falcons. He suggests it could be because the engine is not getting up to temperature, which causes the electronics to over-fuel the engine. Or the muffler could be blocked, causing the catalytic converter to overheat. He says the more common fault has been not getting up to temp.

It's clearly a fuel leak so check all hose connections carefully for signs of leakage, and do it with the engine running so the system is under pressure. When you say you've replaced the purge tank, I assume that means the evaporative emissions canister to which fuel vapour is fed from the tank. If not, try changing that. Also, check the fuel cap to make sure it's sealing properly. And it's worth checking the dash to ensure all the seals are in place.

Your Falcon would have tested about 13 litres/ 100km when new. For comparison purposes, the Commodore V6 would return about 11.5 litres/100km, the 3.5-litre V6 Magna about 10.5 and the Camry closer to 13. Clearly, on that basis the Magna is the car for you.

Unfortunately that's how much a replacement part costs, but I wonder why you need to replace it. Ford's service schedule calls for the EGR valve to be checked and cleaned every 34,000km. There's no need to replace the valve unless it's not working, and if you believe it isn't working, first check the vacuum signal to make sure there isn't a problem with that before you go to the expense of replacing the valve.