Crazy to consider a high mileage Ford Flex Ecoboost?

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Jun 1, 2013
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Albany, NY
I found a 2015 Flex with around 200K, decent maintenance, had water pump and timing changed by a Ford dealer (~25K miles). Consistent oil changes but some stretched out close to 9-10K.

No services on PTU or Turbos, the Turbos scare me for the amount of labor and may not be a DIY job with the subframe and no lift. No smoke or leaks noted, but there is some residue near the PTU.
Price around $2500, probably could go close to 2K. KBB at a dealer is about 5K, so if all that needed replacement, assuming you could DIY, it would be around that price. I asked in a Ford place and the tech shook his head no. He said MAYBE the N/A 3.5 at the mileage. He told me he makes a living from Ecoboosts and would not own one. He said if the Turbo blows on the highway you will not be able to drive it.
He said there are other expensive parts that can go like the AWD coupler and diff, a pain to DIY or 2K at the dealer. They do them often for that family of cars, along with WPs. He also said to tap the bottom of the PTU and do a few drain and fills, hope for the best.

Retail wouldn't have much of a warranty so it is a risk too.

Then again, the Turbos could have another 50K in them, who knows. I probably know the answer, but what do you think? Fully loaded limited. I would have no problem with a 200K V8. My 6.2L is over that and runs like new, I know it is not a comparison.
 
Power Takeoff unit. It is a FWD platform with a "lubed for life" "transmissionfer case" off the transmission that goes to the right hand halfshaft and rear driveshaft. Filled with 18oz of 75W150, never to be changed, and cooked by the Turbo and Cats. Eventually the fluid turns into driveway sealer, and you can guess what happens next.
Must be AWD?

Why would you not listen to a Ford tech and come here for advice?:unsure:
He seemed to really, really dislike Ecoboosts.
 
For $2k I'd risk it. But the tech is smoking it as I'd totally take an NA 3.5 at 200k. You said the water pump was done 25k ago and that's the biggest concern once turbos don't exist.

Well, actually the PTU but all you can do is change the fluid at this point.
 
For $2k I'd risk it. But the tech is smoking it as I'd totally take an NA 3.5 at 200k. You said the water pump was done 25k ago and that's the biggest concern once turbos don't exist.

Well, actually the PTU but all you can do is change the fluid at this point.
He said only if the WP was done. Otherwise the N/A is as a good as a V8.
 
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$2k doesn't buy a lot of car any more, even if you get a year out of it you'd get your money out of it.
I'll echo this. Throw some new gear oil in the ptu as best you can and run it until something major craps out. Worst comes to worst when a major component fails you can probably get most of that money back.
 
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Water pump has already been done? For those prices (which really doesn't buy much at all anymore) and if the body is in good shape, I'd grab it and run it. The turbo phobia on this board is unreal at times...
 
I'll echo this. Throw some new gear oil in the ptu as best you can and run it until something major craps out. Worst comes to worst when a major component fails you can probably get most of that money back.
Exactly. If you can get it for $2k and it lasts 20 months it cost you a car payment of $100/mo

This is assuming it presently runs "well" and is not a basket case with split CV boots, grinding brakes, leaking struts, bald tires and wandering all over the road.
 
If it is your only car I would be concern, but if it will be just another extra car you can afford to take risk on, probably ok.

15 year old car with 200k miles in NY area? I would imagine rust also?
 
For $2000 it would be a good beater. Can't even buy a running car in my area for $2000. With that said, I would only expect to have it a year or two and then ditch it before it requires something expensive. It may not for a while, or it could start nickle and diming you.
 
Power Takeoff unit. It is a FWD platform with a "lubed for life" "transmissionfer case" off the transmission that goes to the right hand halfshaft and rear driveshaft. Filled with 18oz of 75W150, never to be changed, and cooked by the Turbo and Cats. Eventually the fluid turns into driveway sealer, and you can guess what happens next.

He seemed to really, really dislike Ecoboosts.
Guys are serving the PTU's. I don't know too much about it, but a buddy told me he just serviced his with regular gear lube. There was something strange about doing it. I believe he had to fill through the drain hole. He may have had to make his own hole in the case.
 
I have a N/A 2014 Flex SEL FWD with all the trimmings and I love it as a daily ride. Mine has about 87k miles on it. I bought it with 68k miles and knew it had spent its entire life in the dry, salt and ice free Arizona climate. It must have been garaged or kept out of the sun because the paint shined like a mirror when Carvana delivered it. I get it serviced 1/year at the ford dealer, 5W-20 Ford semi-synthetic . It grew up in Arizona and it has spent the last ~4 years up here in the northeast. I try to never drive it in snow or if the roads are salt covered, no frame or body rust, none.

Fords are,I believe, unique in that the Ford pass phone app lets you view detailed Ford car service records for services done by a Ford dealer. I’m able to see the dealer service history back to the day it was sold as a new car, ~8 years before I owned it. I see the Ford dealer service records done in Arizona and then it shows service records under my ownership. All that is required is the VIN number. You may want to search the app to confirm the claimed Ford dealer service records you mentioned.

It has been trouble free but I’m not dealing with AWD with the PTU and two turbos. Carvana tells me my car is worth maybe $6500. I’d buy it again, a very, very comfortable long drive hauler. I drove it from Marco Island Florida to the NY area last September in one long 20 hour non-stop drive except for gas. Averaged 22.5 mpg and driven 70+ the whole way.
 
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