Jonno

There is no way to get to the back of the bolt. Jonno

Bump. If no one knows the answer - can anyone suggest where I can find out? I am in the inner west of Sydney. Thanks. Jonno.

As I mentioned in the post below, the bolt connecting the gas strut to the body of my 2006 XR6T has rusted. I took to it with the spanners and it came loose - but cannot be retightened. I can just get my hand behind the bolt (behind the boot trim there are some access points) and it feels like there is a bolt or square piece of metal, but I have no way of clamping it (due to limited access) to see if it can be tightened. I went to the panel beater today and he said the only way to fix it was to drill a hole below the bolt to gain proper access, and then MIG weld it to the body. This seems expensive, and messy (the area will need to be repainted). Does anyone know an easy way to remove the old bolt and replace it with a new one. Or (sob) is the panel beater right? Thanks for your help. Jonno

The bolt connecting the gas strut to the body of my 2006 XR6T has rusted. I asked my mechanic to replace it and he came back to me indicating that the bolt was frozen. I approached Ford and asked that it be repaired under the five year rust warranty, only to be told that only body perforation is covered. It just plain sucks that Ford don't give a toss that their vechicles rust It would also appear that their five year rust warranty is a joke. My Saab has a 10 year anti corrosion warranty. Jonno

Last week I Posted: Today I took my 06 BFII XR6T to the Muppets at the local Ford dealer for its 30K service. Apart from the regular bumbling, half truths, lies, and lack of knowledge, rudeness and disrespect that I have come to expect from this Ford Dealer, something stood out. At each service I have complained about the fuel consumption. Today, the new service manager explained that as well as flashing the ECU with the latest Ford tune, they had reset my octane rating from 91 to 95. Is this possible? How was it set incorrectly to 91 in the first place? Today I took my car back to City Ford Sydney for a follow up to the 30K service. They were meant to replace a pipe to the heater which was out of stock last week, and repair some seat trim which they had not refitted properly. Before leaving for the dealer this morning, I compared service invoice with the service information in the log book. It turns out that City Ford had failed to replace the brake fluid (due after two years), re-torque the inlet and exhaust manifolds (due at every service), or check the pollen filter. The service manager tried to tell me that the brake fluid replacement was optional, and that the manifolds didn’t need re-torquing. When I said this was BS he admitted they had made a mistake, but didn’t apologise for the BS. They also said that I could wait for the car today - so I took my two year old to the dealership with me. Now remember I am dealing with the Service Manager – and he should have some ideas of service times. After an hour he says that it will be another hour and a half. I took my son and myself off to lunch. After the allotted time we returned to be told that the heater pipe is a brand new improved item, and they were having trouble fitting it. He said they had dismantled a significant part of the car and it would be several more hours. I left - caught a cab home. I am as mad a hell. I will not be taking the car back to them. I really feel like I cannot rely on them to carry out even the most basic service items reliably. The XR6T is a great car – nearly as good as the best I big cars I have driven. But the service – well that just pain sucks.

Today I took my 06 BFII XR6T to the Muppets at the local Ford dealer for its 30K service. Apart from the regular bumbling, half truths, lies, and lack of knowledge, rudeness and disrespect that I have come to expect from this Ford Dealer, something stood out. At each service I have complained about the fuel consumption. Today, the new service manager explained that as well as flashing the ECU with the latest Ford tune, they had reset my octane rating from 91 to 95. Is this possible? How was it set incorrectly to 91 in the first place?

The invoice was a list of the problems as reported at check in, with parts and consumables attached. No descriptions of the work done.

The service manager rang me at 4:30 to go through what had been done to the car. When I got to City Ford to collect the car he was waiting for me. I asked to get a print out of what had been done to the car (so I have the service records as I have no intention of going back). He said – “what do you mean”. It turns out they don’t keep computer records of what they do to the car. He did give me the hand written note from the mechanic – which did make amusing reading. So how can they hope to maintain a car if there are no computer records kept? The answer is that obviously they can’t. I have to say that the whole experience has left me bemused. It was like the Faulty Towers of car servicing.

I had a call from City Ford a little while ago telling me that they wouldn’t recommend the Castrol Edge 0W40 I supplied. They said that Magnatec is a much better choice. The thing that gets me about these people is – they appear to know nothing about cars, and seem to have no interest in them. They don’t even understand what 0W40 means. I dream of a Ford mechanic that knows something about cars, and is capable of working with me to maintain my car. I bring in a fully specified XR6T and they treat me like sh1t. No enthusiasm for the car. Nothing but a bad attitude and an empty head.

I dropped my 2006 XR6T off to City Ford Sydney for its 15,000 km service this morning. The car is stock, with all the options. I supplied my own oil – Edge 0W40. The service consultant tried to deny warranty on the rattling sunroof as he said it was aftermarket. When I argued he asked me to prove it – which I did by sending through the original contract. He then went on to argue with nearly every item that I raised. All in all one of the worst customer service experiences I have had. I will not be returning to this nest of jabbering turkeys. Is there a Ford Mechanic in the Inner West of Sydney who offers decent service and is able to treat their customers with some degree of respect? Jonno

Mate, if its a BF I say. Castrol Edge 0W40. Do not be tempted by other oils, including Edge 10W60. It is better to have a lower viscosity oil when the engine is cold (ie 0W is better than 10W). When hot, the 40 weight is fine. In my BF XR6T I use the edge 0W40 and find that there is seemingly no cranking resistance on start up. I had the oil chanked at 1,500kms, and now have 12,000kms odd, and have had no problems, and used no oil. I suggest that to get most benefit from the Castrol, that you run a flushing oil through the engine first.

I have a stock BF XR6T with 11,000Km on the clock. I am interested in increasing the power with an edit, but want the stability control to maintain its full functionality. So my question is - will the stability control be able to cope with the increased power from an edit ? Cheers - Jonno

I use the 0W40 Edge in my BFX R6T and could not be happier. Put it in at 1,500 and now have 5,000 on the clock. I have not used any oil, my engine runs cool and quiet, revs smoothly and starts easily. What else do you want from an oil? In my view $140 or so every 7500 kms is money well spent. Oil is cheap - engines are expensive.

I used Castrol Edge 0W40 at 1500 kms in my 06 BF XR6T, and plan to change it each 7,500 kms. I supply the oil to Jubilee Ford.

My 06 BF XR6T also has the factory installed rough idle. I raised it at my complimentary service and was told there was no problem.

On a recent trip from Sydney to Mebourne and return I travelled 2,500 kms at an average of 11.5 L/100kms. This was in a std BF XR6T with 1,500 kms on the clock (with Castrol Edge 0W40). If I drive in the city and give it a bit of a squirt I do 24 L/100kms. Conservative is around 19. Count your luck stars to do 18.

I used the Edge 0W40 at 1,500kms. I now have 4,000 kms and all is good. The only differences I have noticed are that the car runs slightly cooler, and starts easier from cold.

Mate, I have a new BF XR6T and after about 4500 kms I have found that the car is underdamped. The bump absorbtion is fine, but the car keeps moving up and down long after the initial bump should have been damped. Do the Bilsteins provide less bump absorbtion (ie make the ride harder) or do they just fix the problem I have described above?

Thanks for the advice. A few qustions: Where did you buy the shocks and bars from? Will fitting them effect my warranty? What size rear bar did you fit?

A week after the complimentary service (love the 0W40 Castrol Edge) I took my BF XR6T on a 2500km trip from Sydney to Melbourne and back. I stopped with the family at some great places along the way. Averaged 11.5 L/100 Kms. The T was superb, except that…. I can’t help but feeling it is under or at least poorly damped. The T would still be wallowing after the bumpy roads were a fair way past. So…. Do other people share my view? What mods work? Koni? Bilstein? Other?

Seven litres of Edge 0W40 in the boot, I arrived at the dealer this morning for the complimentary service. I told them I had supplied the oil, and all excited at what great oil I had, I asked the guys what they thought, "wouldn't put that stuff in mate" one mech said. I replied that I had spoken to the Service Manager yesterday and he had recommended 0W40 over 10W60. Same mech "what would the service manager know". Second mech "better ask the warranty guy" At this stage things were looking grim. OK I said, have you seen the Service Manager around? Why don't you go ask him. Well it seems he knows more than his staff give him credit for. He walked over and said that the 0W40 was fine. That sealed it. I got the car back tonight with --- 0W40 in the crank. There is a god and his name is Service Manager.

Previous threads have recommended using mineral oil for between 5 and 10K to allow proper run in of the engine. My car has 1500kms on the clock so, I had a chat to Autotech. Apparently after building a new engine they allow 1000kms of run in with mineral oil, and then switch to full synth. Hence my reason for using Edge 0W40 at tomorrows oil change.

Thanks all for your replies. I called the Castrol Tech Advice line and they said to go for 0W40, so I bought 7L of Edge 0W40 from Auto One for $109 on the way home from work. I am looking forward to seeing how it goes.

The note at the bottom of the castrol Site says "May also use CASTROL EDGE 0W-40 " - So why is 10W60 preferred?

My BF XR6T (1500kms) is going in for its "complimentary service" on Thursday. The service manager at the dealer is happy for me to supply my own oil. Of the two oils, which would you recommend Castrol Edge 0W40 or 10W60? Also should I ask them to flush the engine before adding the new oil? And, should I accept the standard ford filter or ask for another type?