Oil leak. Oil burn.
It was a nice big conversion van in great phyical condition. Only problem was it was a Ford.
The first thing my mechanic said when I brought it in to the shop for the first time..."Hey, its an oil leaker". He didnt even look at it. He knew.
The oil leaks started and got worse. Its a Ford Van thing I was told. it also burned oil. It got really bad near the end.
The fuel economy on the 4 BBL 351 Windsor mated to 3 speed, no overdrive was positively attrocious. I was getting maybe 10 MPG, even after servicing.
It was pretty quick though, for a full conversion.
I had similar oil leak problems on a 81 Econoline with 305.
I've had 3 Chevy Vans since and they have been much much much better mechanically. A G20 with EFI and 350 CI gets over 25 MPG when driven gently.
The Ford died when it got T-Boned by a Ford ambulance. Thank you ambulance. Never again will I buy a Ford truck.
I liked the Speedometer and dash of the old Ford Vans. They were so dated even in the 80s.
The old econolines. Not many around anymore.
Can you get any more ignorant?
It was a used vehicle that sounds like it was abused if it leaks oil so badly. You really can't bash the manufacturer for a very old used van they made 19 years ago.
If you were looking for good gas mileage, I have to wonder why you chose a (now listen close) 1987 ford e250 Conversion (so its heavier I presume?) van with a 351 (a very big engine, and old too, since its 1987) mated to a 3 speed auto (its what they had).
If you were looking for good mpg then you should of known not to get near this one. I mean, honestly, these things you complain about are just ridiculous since they should have been known or seen when you bought it.
Your chevy vans get better gas mileage because they are probably newer, not conversion vans, and have 4 speed automatics.
I had an '85 Econoline that I bought in 1997 and used every day for three years, had over 260K on it when I sold it, never had any problems, however unlike the writer of this review, I fixed things when they broke. You will have problems with any vehicle if you don't maintain it, especially one with high mileage already.
Try comparing apples to apples!
Not a great review, but I know the Ford Vans had oil pan gasket problems which is why I preferred the Chevys.
The Fords drove nice though. My 1978 305 with 3 on tree was a a blast when I was in high school. After it died, we left in a parking lot for a couple years and just went in there to smoke pot. It had a couch and blankets and an 8track player.
Memories.
But did it ever leak oil before she died.
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