NHTSA Complaint #10073122 — 1997 FORD MOTOR HOME

ON MAY 5TH AT A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE THE MECHANIC NOTICED A SMALL AMOUNT (APX. 2 TEASPOON) OF ANTIFREEZE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN. PREVIOUS TO THIS THE OIL HAD BEEN CHECKED & THE LEVEL & COLOR WAS NORMAL. ANTIFREEZE LEVEL WAS NORMAL. DRIVEN 1 MILE HOME TO BE CHECKED OUT COMPLETELY NEXT DAY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ENGINE WAS NORMAL & OK. 2.MAY 6, 2004: STARTED ENGINE - TERRIBLE CLUNKING & KNOCKING NOISE. WHITE SMOKING OUT OF TAIL PIPE. DETERMINED BY FORD MECHANIC: ROD WAS BENT & THE CYLINDER SCORED. THE HEAD WAS EXAMINED: HEAD GASKET & INTAKE GASKET NORMAL. NO CRACKS IN HEAD - IT WAS SENT OUT FOR INSPECTION; NO VISUAL OR NON-VISUAL CRACKS IN THE HEAD. MECHANICAL REASON COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. 3B. WE HAD TO HAVE A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE PUT IN. WE WERE UNABLE TO KEEP THE ENGINE. *NM