Ford Excursion Facts and Cylinder Heads

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Categories: Cylinder Head Tips

Notably the largest and heaviest SUV ever, the Ford Excursion has set records that have remained unmatched by competitors. With competitors like the Chevrolet’s Suburban, Cadillac Escalade ESV, and GMC Yukon XL, the Ford Excursion proved itself to be more solid, more reliable, and more capable than any other vehicle on the market. This vehicle truly embodies the heavy-duty title. While one of its most notable strengths is the size, that is also one of its downsides too. As gas prices increase and people are wanting more fuel-efficient vehicles, the Ford Excursion doesn’t suit the changing times. Nevertheless, there are still people who want to keep their novelty vehicles. Find out more about the Ford Excursion and its impressive capabilities below.

 

History of Ford Excursion

Back in the early 2000s, the auto industry was pushing the narrative that bigger was better. With fuel economy as an afterthought, automakers were pumping out these massive and durable SUVs. Gas prices were lower, there were fewer environmentalists, and the economy was at a different place. At the peak of all of this, along comes the Ford Excursion to blow all other competitors out of the water. This full-sized and heavy-duty SUV was introduced in September of 1999 and released in the 2000 model year. Taking inspiration and elements from previous Ford models, the Ford Excursion was able to combine successful chassis and powertrain to make a solid vehicle. The Ford Excursion shared similar dimensions to the previous F-250 Super Duty series.

As for the powertrain, the Ford Excursion offered its standard 5.4L Triton V8 or 6.8L V10 gasoline engines. Since the Ford Excursion was so large, it chewed through a gas tank so fast. They began offering Powerstroke V8 diesel engines like the 7.3 L OHV V8 turbo and 6.0 L OHV 4V V8 turbo. While this helped exempt them from EPA fuel economy ratings, it wasn’t enough to keep everyone on board long-term. Their first year was a big success, but after the energy crisis of 2000, Ford struggled to produce enough Ford Excursions. A year after its peak, it ended up being one of the lowest-selling Ford SUV vehicles. The reality of their downfall was in fact the reason people were drawn to the vehicle; its size.

Check out this YouTube video below to see a comparison between the V10 vs 7.3 vs 6.0 engines.

Ford Excursion Ultimate Comparison and test. V10 vs 7.3 vs 6.0 Part 1 of 4 – YouTube

 

Impressive Capabilities

Despite production coming to an end, there’s no denying that the Ford Excursion is a vehicle with impressive capabilities. It truly is exactly what caught the attention of so many drivers. Besides being the world’s largest SUV in the early 2000s, the Ford Excursion’s capabilities prove why so many people want to maintain and keep their original vehicle. It may not be for long-distance driving, but for towing and carrying cargo, this is the all-star vehicle for that job. The Ford Excursion boasts the following:

  1. Tows up to 10,000 lbs.
  2. 3-rows of seats for 9 people.
  3. Weighs 3-4 tons, depending on the model.
  4. Fits 165 cubic feet of cargo.
  5. Full-sized rear doors.

 

Awards

While the Ford Excursion still has devoted followers to this day, the vehicle did not excel in the awards department. Since production only lasted 5 years (from 2000 to 2005 model season), the Ford Excursion hit its peak in 2000 and plummeted shortly after. Drivers did speak highly of the vehicle’s durability and capabilities, but not enough to be awarded. Although they did not win any traditional awards, the Ford Excursion did win one award that is worth noting.

Environmental activist group, The Sierra Club, awarded the Ford Excursion the Exxon Valdez Award alluding to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Its excessive size and overall poor fuel economy made the vehicle a target for many environmental activist groups. As for The Sierra Club, they coined this name for the vehicle due to its lack of auto pollution standards. Despite never obtaining any positive awards, the fan base behind the Ford Excursion still runs deep.

 

High Mileage Stories

Similar to any vehicle, the Ford Excursion will only last as long as it is taken care of. But, since the Ford Excursion is such a durable and reliable vehicle, it is known to last much longer than your average vehicle. Scheduling regular maintenance and repairs can ensure you get the most life and power out of your vehicle. By doing this, it is reported that many Ford Excursions last over 500,000 miles. As impressive as that is, Autotrader user, Doug D., reported finding a Ford Excursion with 603,000 miles over the course of 15 years (Autotrader Forum). It is difficult to find a vehicle that will last past the average of 12 years. So for a vehicle of that size to accomplish that, is indeed very impressive.

If you want to find out more information on large SUV vehicles that last the longest, including the Ford Excursion, check out the YouTube video below.

 

Cylinder Heads for Ford Excursion

Cylinder heads are designed to last a similar lifespan to the engine, meaning you should not have to get them replaced often. Nevertheless, at some point, you will have to get it replaced. If your Ford Excursion is showing symptoms of a bad cylinder head, you will want to get a new one immediately. Postponing your replacement can jeopardize the longevity of your vehicle. Some common signs of cylinder head failure are the following:

  • Engine Misfiring
  • Check Engine Light On
  • Leaking Coolant or Oil
  • Engine Overheating
  • Smoking

While these symptoms are general for any vehicle, you will want to keep an extra eye out for engine overheating for the Ford Excursion. Since the vehicle is so large and dense, the engine is working extra hard to keep the vehicle running. If your Ford Excursion cylinder head is in need of a replacement, you will definitely be able to notice from the engine overheating.

 

Buy Replacement Heads at Clearwater Cylinder Head

With over 50,000 happy clients and 25+ years of business, Clearwater Cylinder Head prioritizes customer satisfaction through our top-quality cylinder heads. With a massive online catalog of heads, you can view our inventory of cylinder heads for your Ford Excursion. Our employees are dedicated to manufacturing, inspecting, restoring, and replacing cylinder heads on all vehicles. If you are looking for a replacement cylinder head or just an inspection, then Clearwater Cylinder Head is the place to call. Our team is happy to assist you with any questions regarding cylinder head selection.

Please call us to inquire about new cylinder heads for your vehicle by calling us toll-free at 1-800-572-1963. We look forward to serving you!

 

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