Optimistic Paranoid said:
The Wikipedia article on "Ford E Series" is good background reading. Basicly, from 97 on, the only V8s used in Econolines were the ones with the spark plug problems. Ford claims the problems ended with the engines built after 11/something/07 which means most - but not all - of the 2008's on up.
Personally, if one of those engines has 125K, unless the seller can show me the work orders showing the spark plugs being changed, I would assume the original plugs were still in there and were going to be an expensive problem Real Soon Now.
Strange, went around the net checking as the issue I heard about ONLY applied to the following:
Ford Owner Reports of Spark Plug Blowout
Make Model Years
Ford Excursion 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
Ford Expedition 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Ford Explorer 2002, 2003, 2005
Ford F-150 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
I did read the wiki article, but they mention nothing of the engines being used in vans.
I also read the CR article on the spark plugs, no mention of the engines are used in any vans...
Do you have some article that points to the vans as being equipped with them?
I have been looking at some vans, not discounting Ford vans ATM. But want to make sure the hysteria isn't misplaced.