2.3L EcoBoost P0300 Misfire at 41k Miles, BOTH Camshafts Cracked

[cactustevee]

Figured I’d share my experience in case anyone else with the 2.3L runs into this.

So my 24 big bend has about 41k miles and i’ve changed the oil about every 5k miles, pennzoil ultra plat. randomly my CEL came on and and i took to it to my local dealer so they could tell me definitely what’s up and found a P0300 random misfire code, the car honestly still drove pretty normal so i was like ???

After they diagnosed it, the tech found the valves on cylinders 1, 2, and 3 were “intermittently sticking” they’re words not mine, they removed the cylinder head and confirmed the valves would sometimes stick during a bench testing, and they also found cracks on the back of both my camshafts….. :,(

Ford replaced the complete cylinder head, both cams, head gasket, related seals and hardware, and changed the oil and coolant under warranty(thank God). I also had them replace all four spark plugs and the belts while they were there.

It’s been about 3 days now since i’ve gotten it back and so far it’s running smooth with no CEL. Curious if anyone else with a 2.3 has experienced sticking valves or cracked camshafts like this, or maybe to put this out there so it can be known on the forum?

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[RicL]

How did this start? I have the same engine with the MT and I have had a few episodes where it seemed like it was cutting out or starving for gas. But it could be a misfire there is no CEL . I would change the fuel filter if it had one but I don’t know what else to do at this point. I just went over 10k miles. 25 Badlands

 

[profet]

How did this start? I have the same engine with the MT and I have had a few episodes where it seemed like it was cutting out or starving for gas. But it could be a misfire there is no CEL . I would change the fuel filter if it had one but I don’t know what else to do at this point. I just went over 10k miles. 25 Badlands

2025+ 2.3l engine is different from previous years.

 

[cactustevee]

How did this start? I have the same engine with the MT and I have had a few episodes where it seemed like it was cutting out or starving for gas. But it could be a misfire there is no CEL . I would change the fuel filter if it had one but I don’t know what else to do at this point. I just went over 10k miles. 25 Badlands

there was no signs of any misfire from my pov, like no obvious shaking or engine sounding rough, only thing i got was a CEL, but for your situation i’d take it to ford and have they give it a look over, you only got 10k miles so you’re covered by warranty.

 

[Brian_B]

How did this start? I have the same engine with the MT and I have had a few episodes where it seemed like it was cutting out or starving for gas. But it could be a misfire there is no CEL . I would change the fuel filter if it had one but I don’t know what else to do at this point. I just went over 10k miles. 25 Badlands

There is a recall on the fuel pump, but it was older models. That said, what you describe does sound an awful lot like that. Other folks have reportedly found a kinked fuel line back on the fuel tank that was causing issues too.

 

[Brian_B]

I'll also say, regarding the OP - first I have heard of an issue like this. Hopefully it's a one-off and you just got a Friday build, and it's fault free from here on out.

 

[crenca]

o my 24 big bend has about 41k miles and i’ve changed the oil about every 5k miles, pennzoil ultra plat.

Yikes, that sentence describes mine as well (well, 48k miles and MT). Like Brian says, hopefully just a Friday build. Both camshafts?! Since they could not come out of the same cast (assuming they are cast- AI says so) because one is for intake and other for exhaust, it really makes me wonder what could have caused both to crack...assuming the tech assessed the situation correctly.

 

[cactustevee]

I'll also say, regarding the OP - first I have heard of an issue like this. Hopefully it's a one-off and you just got a Friday build, and it's fault free from here on out.

hoping too but i gotta be honest this has made me feel some type of way about the 2.3, like i wish i had spent the extra coin and gotten a 2.7.

 

[cactustevee]

Yikes, that sentence describes mine as well (well, 48k miles and MT). Like Brian says, hopefully just a Friday build. Both camshafts?! Since they could not come out of the same cast (assuming they are cast- AI says so) because one is for intake and other for exhaust, it really makes me wonder what could have caused both to crack...assuming the tech assessed the situation correctly.

i’m chalking it up to built on a friday or monday lol, because the bronco really has driven normally nothing indicating cracked cams lol

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