Replace Engine Winnebago Itasca Sunstar 36Y

RV Sweden · 07-05-2024, 01:04 PM

Hello dear forum members
I am living in Sweden.
4 years ago I have import my Winnebago Itasca Sunstar 37Y XL.
At the end of last summer, it started a ticking sound coming from my engine. I change the oil sound is disappear.
After driving 2,850km to Greece from Sweden at the middle of custom control. Engine is dead.
We have pulled the RV to the nearest service found out spark problem.
I have written to Ford company get no response.
Now I am by my own.
43,000 miles Ford Triton V10 2015 YEAR MODEL Need to replace v-10 engine in F53 chassis class A motorhome.
I am looking for professional suggestions on methods which engine is better then Triton V10 and can replace and installation in F53 chassis
I supposed to have a warranty from Winnebago and Ford but nobody is responding. I have written to all.
Maybe I am living in Europa and Europa is not Ford company market!!!
I really need advice about where can I purchase a used good motor or rebuilt motor or new motor and pricing. Me and my family in Greece and are in the middle of our 6 week holiday and first week this happened.
Please help and give info about where can I purchase new or used engine for my motor home.
Looking forward all response.
All the best to all RV Drivers and Winnebago owners.

**Eagle5** · 07-05-2024, 01:39 PM

Hi RV Sweden,
I believe 2015 was the last year Ford recommended 5W-20 oil, and afterward recommended 5W-30 oil. The thinness of the 5W-20 oil was meant to get 0.1 more Miles-per-gallon out of the engine, but the oil is so thin, some engine failure could be traced to that recommendation.
Oil Viscosity and the Ford V-10
Can you get a remanufactured two-valve V-10 engine in Greece?
https://fraserengineco.com/ford-6-8-...ines-for-sale/ ($3,399 + $800 Core + Shipping)
Once you have that installed, I would not run over 4,000 rpm, except for brief periods of time.
Good luck; Eagle5
P.S. I run 0W-40 in my V-10

Americanrascal · 07-06-2024, 06:01 AM

Sorry to hear of your engine problems. We were crossing the US this past winter and unfortunatly had the deadly "ticking" sound arise from the valve train in our V-10 about 2500 miles into our 5000 mile round trip. We were lucky that we were about to limp home the remaining 2500 miles.

When we returned home, I pulled the right valve cover and found a missing lifter and that a cam follower had fallen off. Knowing I could not and should not attempt to drive it, I had to call on a commercial truck towing company to take the rig about 100 miles to a Ford Commercial Truck service center. That ran us about $1000.00. No truck shop closer to me would undertake a diagnosis and repair.

The Ford shop said they could rebuild the entire valve train , but becasue parts had fallen down into the engine block the company with the servce contract insisted the entire engine be replaced. Thankfully there are Ford replacement rebuilt 3 valve V-10's on the shelf in the US, but getting it shipped to the service center took about 2 weeks. Once they had the new engine in hand the replacement only took 2 days to remove and install the new engine.

The entire cost was a bit over $17,000- most of which was labor and shop material. The engine was about $7500 of that. The Ford replacement engine comes with a 3 years unlimited mile warranty. Ford service centers supposedly will not install other remanufactuerd engines?

I do not know if other engines can be used to repower a rig and the service contract company did not give me a choice. I am pleased with the rebuilt Ford engine as I have made several long trips with it and it runs so well.

I hope you have a speedy resolution to your dilema.

Morich · 07-07-2024, 08:27 AM

I suspect but don't know, that the V10 is likely to be the best option. Size and power of other size engines is not likely to be good.
But a point to keep in mind is that we find there are two things in the RV. There is the house part and we need RV help for those.
But if we need the chassis part, we are often better if we take it to a truck shop!
It is a house built ona truck, so if we can get past the mental problem of truck shops not wanting to work on RV, they know the truck much better than the people who deal with the "house" built on top!
Do you have shops who would normally fix a Ford truck? If willing, they would certainly be the best trained and equipted to work on the engine!
Has somebody taken the engine apart and found it is actually the full engine ruined and not just some parts which have gone bad? If they have, they may also be the best for knowing what to do next!
Best of luck in a bad situation!

wyocamper · 07-07-2024, 10:13 AM

Rather than replace the missing 15 dollar oil filler cap on mine, someone at the dealership put a nitrile glove over the fill tube. It got sucked in and plugged oil ports in the heads and the oil sump in the block. Long block replacement was $12k at Rush in Denver, but that was 2017 and everything costs more now.

RV Sweden · 07-09-2024, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle5

Hi RV Sweden,
I believe 2015 was the last year Ford recommended 5W-20 oil, and afterward recommended 5W-30 oil. The thinness of the 5W-20 oil was meant to get 0.1 more Miles-per-gallon out of the engine, but the oil is so thin, some engine failure could be traced to that recommendation.
Oil Viscosity and the Ford V-10
Can you get a remanufactured two-valve V-10 engine in Greece?
https://fraserengineco.com/ford-6-8-...ines-for-sale/ ($3,399 + $800 Core + Shipping)
Once you have that installed, I would not run over 4,000 rpm, except for brief periods of time.
Good luck; Eagle5
P.S. I run 0W-40 in my V-10

Dear Sir I have tried to contact Fraser Engine but no answer. no response, Are you shour is the engine 2 valve or tre valve?

RV Sweden · 07-09-2024, 03:56 AM

Dear Sir I have tried to contact Fraser Engine but it is very hard to contact them no response, Then after 18-time calls they said that the engine cost is 8000$ cour is 2100$ but it is written on the web page 5149$
Are you sure if the engine is 2-valve or 3-valve?
I am confused.

RV Sweden · 07-09-2024, 03:59 AM

Fraser engine is not responding my email or call, I have arrange shipping but haven't get sales support to create my order

Americanrascal · 07-09-2024, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Sweden

Dear Sir I have tried to contact Fraser Engine but it is very hard to contact them no response, Then after 18-time calls they said that the engine cost is 8000$ cour is 2100$ but it is written on the web page 5149$
Are you sure if the engine is 2-valve or 3-valve?
I am confused.

Earlier versions (I am not sure which year Ford made the change)of the V-10 had 2 valves. Newer versions are the 3 valve engine, having 2 intake and one exhaust valve on each cylinder. I believe that as you have a 2015 engine it is likely a 3 valve engine as my 2016 engine is. Hope that helps

**Eagle5** · 07-09-2024, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Sweden

Dear Sir I have tried to contact Fraser Engine but it is very hard to contact them no response, Then after 18-time calls they said that the engine cost is 8000$ cour is 2100$ but it is written on the web page 5149$
Are you sure if the engine is 2-valve or 3-valve?
I am confused.

RV Sweden,
So sorry, I guess I am not sure how many valves are in your engine. I believe my 2019 Class C has a two valve engine, and now I am seeing that your 2015 F53 chassis has a three valve engine.
Do you have a mechanic helping you find the correct engine replacement?
There are other engine companies which supply remanufactured V-10s. Search Google for:
remanufactured ford V10 engines for 2015 F53 motorhome chassis
I just do not know the market there in Greece, nor a good shop to recommend to you.
Eagle5

powercat_ras · 07-09-2024, 09:14 PM

You may want to get the engine removed and torn down and diagnosed before you do total replacement. You don't really have a choice of engine, as all of the engine associated electronics (Engine Control Module, sensors, etc.) are all coded to your specific engine type - Ford 6.8 L, 3-valve. Your vintage uses the 5-speed transmission and it's transmission control electronics is also tuned to the same V10 engine.

If no pistons are damaged and there is no metal in the oil pan, you might just be able to have the heads replaced or rebuilt.

Ford now uses a 7.3 L V8 and 6-speed automatic transmission. I suppose it would be possible to buy a salvaged Ford F53 RV with a different engine type and try to transfer everything to your RV but that would probally cost more than a crate motor replacement. The V8 / 6 speed has more torque but about the same max horse power and only slightly better fuel economy.

Good luck.

Englishjay · Today, 05:38 AM

do you have recovery insurance?

I'm not sure i would trust an unknown garage in Greece to fit a 3rd party engine, Do you have a specialist American rv companies in Sweden?

In the U.K. we have www.empirerv.com they maybe able to help.

or what these people don't know about engines is not worth knowing! Home Page - ABM RV

but i think ABM would require the vehicle recovering but he is a font of knowledge and if you spoke to him i am sure he can give good advice over the phone.