14AWD3.5

I have a 2014 Edge Limited AWD. My son has a 2014 Jeep Cherokee Limited.4x4. Lets see, the Edge is bigger, rides less nicc and tows less. It has a less robust 4x4 system. The Edge has the lovely TPU as well as the internal water pump issues. His Jeep has had nothing but fluid changes and tires in 80K miles. Not even brakes. His Pentstar gets 30 mpg highway and is faster than the Edge by quite a bit. i know, I’ve driven both for a lot of miles, we “stored” his Jeep while he was deployed... i bought my my wife the Edge because she liked its looks and ride. After learning about the Edge mechanical issues, and having driven the Cherokee and seeing its gas mileage and power,, I’d take the Jeep. Not hands down but it’s a better vehicle. edit- let me say that my son has the Cherokee which is more “Escape” or Honda CRV sized. The GC is an entirely different and older platform, it rides more firm than the Cherokee, sits up a bit higher and is about 2-3 inches wider and 3-4 inches longer. So I was more comparing the Edge with the smaller Cherokee, however I did test drive the GC just this month. i will keep the Edge despite more mechanical concerns and less power/mileage. Mine is a “pavement queen” with 20’s so the off-road capability is not the issue. It does fine in snow. Since mine is the bigger, older Edge I can’t comment on the newer design vs a GC.

Like I thought, the A9 is at least 2 years out of date on neighborhoods recently built. I stopped in one and the resident had lived there for 1.5 years, their street wasn’t even on the map. However it got me there, which is better than the A6 which didn’t even know the original 6 year old subdivision existed...

Hmm, I actually know very little about Synch as I don’t even use it. I did ask the dealer how to get the Synch checked for updates, the service advisor said it took an hour and a half to go into the Ford system... since I didn’t have that kind of time I deferred. I presume theyd charge for that “diagnostic”? As as far as the map update, I haven’t noticed any changes but then my route is on I-40 and little has changed there. I’d have to go to some newer subdivisions at my end point to see if they are on now. I will update about that. If anyone knows if Ford charges for this Synch update process I’d appreciate your comment.

$139.95 at OKC Ford dealer. Will use it on a 1200 mile road trip on I-40 over the next couple days and will report back. i had an A6 chip in it so I expect a good increase in road accuracy instead of so many times it shows a blank road screen! Till later.

Sheesh, nobody answered you? I suppose. You boughtnthe Edge, hope so. AWD has lots of documented TPU concerns, FWD not. Lots of coolant change for the water pump threads. I cant think of much else. Oh, Flood and maybe one other place are deep discounters for the actual Ford ext warranty.

14 AWD Limited: I am not pleased with the painted chrome wheels, wife rubbed a rim on a curb now the $500 RF wheel looks like poop. I am not thrilled with the extra maintenance required for care of the TPU and coolant (water pump). I drive very relaxed and lower highway speeds (65-70) and never get above 22.5 on the trip computer. Doesn’t match the Mulroney sticker or others experiences. I came from a 2015 2.7 ecoboost f150 and the power/torque difference is crazy, not in the 3.5’s favor. But I bought it for her and the wifes’ top priorities were heated leather seats and short enough to fit in the garage...the F150 was a cloth XLT that was too long.

Well from the picture at least you got good wear out of the Jeep tires...

The “oil wars” are always good reading. Basically the less quality oil you use (that’s still SE or whatever rated) like pure dyno oil, the lower your change interval should be, down as low (often) as every 3K. Caveats are of course winter starting, WOT, idling and stop/go (severe usage). Personally I use the synthetic blend Motocraft that goes on their service specials. I won’t go past 5K with a blend (or 7,500 with pure synthetic) because “why”? At the price of a replacement long block, I don’t pinch fluid change pennies. I don’t really care if I am contributing to climate depletion/change or whatever, I do care that my engine starts, runs and stays well lubricated. I understand about Blackstone Labs and oil analysis, even in my military service career the army was using oil analysis (in the 90’s) and it saved them a gazillion gallons of fluids and labor I’m sure. I just don’t care about stretching out the intervals, period. Course I’m the guy who wants to buy a used car from “me” as far as service goes, and I never get to... sigh

Well congrats to you for sure! I thought I d retired last year from teaching then the Ms said she wanted a new Ford or Dodge 2019 1500 series pickup with leather and heated seats. That means $45-50K after taxes and license, so I took another teaching job... I work for a year for her truck... oh well. Course I’m only 63 and don’t qualify for SS till 66 and 5 months so, what else to do? I don’t do well sitting and don’t have hobbies so I will keep working...

Can’t tell how you rigged it up, maybe explain it for others to see. I’m sure it works well for you. I’m going to get it dealer drained/filled in late December (30K miles since last time) and will see what they charge. You can bet I will try to watch to make sure that I don’t go through the rip-off hassle that one member posted aboutt on Thursday of this week, while at his Ford dealer... took them less than 20 minutes, left no drips, plug still rusted, and he was able to prove they never did what they fraudulently charged for. Sigh...

Wow thats sad. Employees are just people, and people screw up, I know however for some reason I have tended to trust a Ford service employee more than say a Firestone or Goodyear shop. Of course there’s no reason to but I did. The thing I don’t understand this is the “why”. He’s getting paid anyway, so why not do it? Is he trying to get 3 paying jobs done at once? Is the service manager getting some kind of kickback on jobs? It’s all so unfortunate. Moral of the story - ask to watch. Second story - when you ask for the old parts (for proof), remember that an unscrupulous person can bring out the dirty (air filter) and show you, when it’s not even yours... sad

I liked the posted Amazon extractor save one thing, it’s kinda big. I looked at the others that were advertised as possibilities but they are all size large. The electric pumps that are advertised to handle pulling thicker fluids out are half the price but either not well rated or just not many ratings. Too bad. I dont even have ramps and I’d at least want those before I crawled underneath (at 63) and tried manually draining and refilling...

Even though I agree that Ford has sat on this (and many other defects like 2 piece spark plugs in v8 engines in the early to mid 2000’s, the cam phasers on 5.4 Tritons, the 6.0 diesel debacle...) tell me what manufacturor has not done something akin, if not in quantity... I have owned Toyotas and for years they were very high on quality... well tell that to Sienna minivan owners and their $1100 power sliding doors (apiece). Tell that to Honda Odysee owners in the early 2000’s who had to pony up $5K plus for their defective transmissions as well as their own power sliding door issues... Tell that to Chrysler owners with their myriad of complaints, GM and their piston slap of 2007, newer transmission issues all over their pickup forums..., Subaru Boxer engines with head gaskets, the list goes on and on... My point is that you can find crap build quality on every maker, and I am not even starting on BMW Jaguar and Mercedes with their “vaunted” European technologies... If you like a particular product, do your due diligence (so easy these days with forums) and read up. Then make an informed decision. Swearing off a car maker due to a problem or problematic area is, well, kinda uninformed. It’s everywhere in todays business community. Almost no firm does what’s right due to the bottom line being the driving force. If an executive were to fess up and recall or repair problems, they’d be hit with multiple claims and lawsuits from past unsatisfied customers and even shareholders whose stock prices have now been diminished, or whose dividends just took a hit due to payments made to owners for repairs... It cannot be reasonably expected that a multi-billion dollar business will follow a guiding principle to “put the customer first”. Would they get new customers and keep current ones? Probably so however the accountants and attorneys would just point to the actual estimates of costs to be incurred vs. the totally unknown amount of future sales and say: “which one is likely to happen”. I’d like to see the quality control engineers be victors over the lawyers and “bean counters” but its likely not going to happen. So I will read the forums, grumble about having to change my PTU fluid when it shouldnt have to be done, and “drive on”.

Ok thanks WWWPerfa... I’m about 50 miles west of Raleigh but can either call some of those places or simply call around and see if a dealer can do it. Although Firestone Care is a national chain, I’d go to Ford first.

You are talking about the Gen 2 (2015 up) which is quite a different animal then Gen 1. Alot of us have the Gen 1’s and I do too. 2014, AWD with 3.5. I had UHaul install their hitch and wire it. I didn’t have a tow package option so I made sure after I towed 1500 miles with a UHaul 5x8 closed trailer and contents (likely under 2500#) I had the tranny fluid changed. (Just due to the extra strain and heat...). If you dont have or didnt get a tow option just change the oil and tranny fluid as part of the cost of towing, either more often or just afterwards, like I did. I’ve never towed again but also have changed fluids now...

Coolant, coolant, coolant! Or pony up appx $1700 (at the stealership) for the internal water pump possibly. Lots of threads about it. Makulo ford tech has YT on it. Agree with everything else, TPU if equipped, every possible fluid on a regular basis and ignore anything “lifetime” or with a 50K interval or higher. If you want to keep it for years, fluids are cheap compared to long blocks... Besides, regular service will spot other issues, thats why they offer cheap oil changes and inspections - can’t sell you on a repair if you don’t come in...

Agree, his location should negate excessive heat unless he is spinning tires alot (like romping on it in snow and ice). Best to just get it tapped and install a drain plug to make self changes easy. Then change annually, its so little fluid, why not? Who cares what Ford’s definition of “lifetime” is, besides, how many of us own the same vehicle for our/its “lifetime”. Thats all marketing BS. I had “lifetime” Midas mufflers once upon a time, and after 3 changes they pointed to the fine print and told me to buzz off. “Lifetime” in the fine print was a max of 3. So don’t believe Ford either, they want to sell cars and service them.

So you are saying the Ford dealer used the wrong fluid?? Not much a customer can do about that while sitting in the waiting room... at least they fixed it (free). Still makes you wonder about them. Hope it wasn’t their “Quick Lube” guys that changed it, they maybe aren’t ASE certified... just oil change techs.

Overkill reply I know... My used 2014 with 14K got the TPU gear oil changed “just cause” and I wanted to see up underneath while it was on their lift. No leaks so it probably was unneccesary for 2 yrs and 14K but so what... Cost like $98. Now it’s time again (44K) and my local Ford dealer says “we don’t change fluid in the TPU). That’s the “Ford line” and they are stickin’ to it... Why I don’t know as they try to upsell every other BS service possible. So yes get it done and also the coolant due to the $1700 internal water pump...

Definately get it changed, probably going to be quite dark colored, mine was dark brown just at 14K... theres a huge thread (33 pages) complete with pics and make it yourself zip tie dipstick... tons of options to include getting the unit tapped for a drain plug. I wont do that due to having an ESP. If you dont have any warranty and want to change it often, thats the thing to do as far as I am concerned. My purchase dealer change was $100, my new to me dealer doesnt change them (?) so its drive to another that does...

Just a question/comment - (previous member but lost sig-nin so now new again): My 2014, 3.5 TPU was serviced at 14K thanks to this forum. While I was concerned over this flaw, and the internal $1700 water pump issue, I decided to go ahead with the purchase. I had no drippage or TPU leaks, but wanted to see what the condition was. The Ford dealer I bought from (2 yr trade in ??) knew about the TPU, even though their service dept said they’d only done “a few” replacements. For $100 they changed the fluid, it (gear lube) was fine. They showed it to me, normal 75-90 weight looking stuff. Fast forward, now it has 44K, and I am going to get it and the coolant changed. The local (moved to NC) Ford dealer service advisor said he’s never heard of TPU fluid being serviced and said “we dont do it’. Thanks fella, maybe time to read the forums. What do you think of letting my nearby Firestone change it? I have an ESP (Ford) thats good till 2020 and don’t want to invalidate it by having a non-Ford fluid used. Or I can drive 50 miles and try another Ford dealer...