Checking Your E350 & E450 For Power-Robbing Mistake
There is one thing you will want to check for on your E350 or E450, something that will rob power and reduce your fuel economy. It is a very easy mistake for a mechanic to reassemble incorrectly, and it is very easy for you to inspect for.
Make sure the large black flat engine air inlet piece is assembled over the radiator properly. It is the piece that the oval air inlet from the air filter snaps into. In cleaning out a dead bird from my a/c condenser, I had to remove that large black plastic piece, held in with 4 plastic push-pins. If the back-side hidden hinged plastic part is positioned incorrectly when installing it, air for the air filter to the engine's throttle body will be severely restricted.
There was a recall around 2010 concerning that piece. Apparently a Ford line worker misunderstood it too. I can easily see a good mechanic making the same mistake. I almost did it myself had I not previously known of the problem.
To check is extremely easy, takes all of about 5 seconds. Just grab the oval engine air inlet to the air filter, give a jerk upward to unsnap it and continue pivoting upward. Then look in the hole it was snapped into. If you see a black plastic obstruction, you need to take that large piece out and swing the hinged plastic piece on the back side of it in the opposite direction, then reassemble.
Make sure the large black flat engine air inlet piece is assembled over the radiator properly. It is the piece that the oval air inlet from the air filter snaps into. In cleaning out a dead bird from my a/c condenser, I had to remove that large black plastic piece, held in with 4 plastic push-pins. If the back-side hidden hinged plastic part is positioned incorrectly when installing it, air for the air filter to the engine's throttle body will be severely restricted.
There was a recall around 2010 concerning that piece. Apparently a Ford line worker misunderstood it too. I can easily see a good mechanic making the same mistake. I almost did it myself had I not previously known of the problem.
To check is extremely easy, takes all of about 5 seconds. Just grab the oval engine air inlet to the air filter, give a jerk upward to unsnap it and continue pivoting upward. Then look in the hole it was snapped into. If you see a black plastic obstruction, you need to take that large piece out and swing the hinged plastic piece on the back side of it in the opposite direction, then reassemble.
