Edgeplus

If coolant has entered the oil, but the Edge still starts/runs (a little rough), does that mean engine is still good and replacing water-pump is advisable?

(This is a continuation of my 2008 Edge water-pump failure thread from yesterday. That thread is visible just below this thread on the forum front page.) First, thanks again to everyone who responded. I appreciate it so much. I have not been able to raise the $1000 - $2000 required to repair my water-pump, camshaft, etc. And I have no residence at which to store my Edge (I am actually LIVING in my Ford Edge, truth be told, sleeping in the back with seats pulled down! I know. It's a long, depressing story. However, I will say, for your future reference, it is rather comfortable!) Anyway, I will need to place the 2008 Edge in a monthly storage parking spot, until I have raised the money for repairs. My question is, should I flush the engine before storing the Edge? Will allowing the Edge to sit motionless for a month with coolant in the engine damage it any further? Is there anything to be gained by flushing the bad oil first? Again, thanks everyone on this terrific forum for your responses. I will keep you updated on the eventual repairs. Perhaps it will be of interest.

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macbwt, so you are basically saying that if I drive it at all, I'll probably kill the engine? If I flush the engine and get fresh oil, would I still kill it driving < 1 mile a day for a week or so, in your opinion? Probably impossible to say, I know. I took the Edge to Firestone after watching your excellent YouTube video about P0016 codes & coolant loss. They had no clue about the Ford Edge water-pump issue and when I tried to explain the fact-pattern from your video, they told me to take it to the Ford dealership -- basically told me to "get lost." Lol. I really love this car and don't want to lose it. Wish this weren't such a devilish engine-destroyng problem, with no short-term "patch-up". I thought at the very worst I had a bad radiator and would need to spend a few weeks without AC. Never suspected my perfectly functional Edge could be reduced to junk in 3 days! Thanks so much for your help and your great videos. They are a godsend.

Autm8r, thanks so much for posting all that information. I know what's happening now, at least. The Edge has 170,000 miles and it has always taken Valvoline full-synthetic. I've been very good about the oil maintenance. Weird thing is that I never had a single problem with the vehicle until this past year a few things went wrong (rear wheel bearing, door ajar light staying on, AC not blowing, blower motor).

Thanks everyone in this thread for your excellent and kind respones. No one at the garage I visited was even aware of this unique Ford Edge water-pump issue. Your expertise is an invaluable resource. I hope I can save my car, based on what has been said.

Akirby, that is a thought. If I get a cheap oil change every week, could I safely drive a mile a day, I wonder. To get to work. Thank you.

IWRBB, even driving only small distance and shutting off engine (every 200 yards, if need be) when the temperature needle starts climbing? As long as I keep the needle out of the red, the engine is safe, yes? I am not mechanically inclined, obviously, but I had assumed this was correct.

WWWPerfA_ZN0W, autom8r, macbwt, thanks very much for your replies. I am in a position where I rely on my car to drive only a quarter mile back and forth to work each day. I can't walk the quarter mile due to medical reasons. If I have the coolant and oil flushed, replace oil, leave coolant empty, can I drive the Edge 1/4 mile to work and just pull the Edge off road if it starts getting hot? I know this spends crazy, but as long as the Edge has fresh uncontaminated oil and the coolant system is empty, the water-pump/contamination problem is averted, correct? I mean literally only driving the Edge 1/4 mile a day in this state, and letting engine sit and cool if it gets warm. Laborious, but unharmful? I have to be able to get to work in order to afford these repairs. Thanks for your wonderful replies. I appreciate it.

WWWPerfA_ZNOW, What I don't understand is, can the water pump fail "gradually"? All the reports I have read about failing water pumps in Ford Edge have the pump going out completely and the engine dying all at once, without warning. In my case, where is the coolant going if not into the oil, and what is causing the camshaft codes, etc. How long does it typically take to fail completely, I wonder. Thank you for your reply.

2008 Edge Limited "Service Engine" light came on 5 days ago and car overheated next morning. Checked coolant reservoir: completely empty for first time in 8 years. Refilled. Had codes read at Autozone. Result: camshaft timing issue. Checked oil: no coolant visible on dipstick/in oil, no coolant odor in oil. Oil level is slightly low. I am losing 1/2 - 1 inch of coolant from reservoir each day I drive. One other data point: for past month I have had 'sloshing' AC noise when turning /braking plus damp passenger side floor, indicating clogged AC hose (?). Am I looking at a bad water pump? Am I just waiting for the pump to totally fail and fill my engine with coolant? Or could it be explained otherwise? I can't afford to spend $200 to have it evaluated at the moment, let alone thousands for water pump repairs. Any advice? Thanks. Greatly appreciated