familyman12345
New Member
A few months back, and based on the recommendations of YouTube master FordTechMakuloco and his videos about the imminent disaster waiting if I waited any longer I installed a $600 RX catch can on my 2016 Expedition with 145K miles, which at the time was running just fine. (By the way, the YT videos on this are all for installation on an F150 and not an Expedition. While the installation with regard to the engine is identical, the bodywork is a different matter as the grille comes up hood on the F150 and it doesn’t on the Expedition.) I drove the vehicle for about 1K miles to make sure everything was good before taking it on A 3K trip to Montana - 2 adults, 2 kids + luggage, no trailer or off-roading.
On the return trip, the engine started misfiring at highway speeds, and by the time we got back to the KC area, it was running VERY roughly. I took it to a reputable local repair shop, and they told me that the catch can was not installed properly and it had totally plugged my cat converters. They uninstalled the catch can plumbing, replaced the converters, and replaced all 6 fouled spark plugs (brand new NGK ruthenium plugs) to the tune of $3800. The car was still running roughly, so they told me to run through a couple of tanks of 91 octane gas. This didn’t make any difference at all. I took it back again, and they informed me that the ignition coils were bad. I replaced them myself, and now it runs like a champ.
I’m not a professional mechanic, but I know my way around an engine fairly well. I watched the installations videos multiple times and was in constant contact with the technician at RX to assure that it was installed correctly, including pictures of the completed setup.
With the cost of the catch can, the repair bills, and new spark plugs and ignition coils, I’m out close to $5,000, and I’m honestly not sure that any of it was necessary. Has anyone on this forum had a similar experience to mine? Was I a fool to do any of this work?
Thanks and please be brutally honest (but no personal attacks, please) in any comments.
On the return trip, the engine started misfiring at highway speeds, and by the time we got back to the KC area, it was running VERY roughly. I took it to a reputable local repair shop, and they told me that the catch can was not installed properly and it had totally plugged my cat converters. They uninstalled the catch can plumbing, replaced the converters, and replaced all 6 fouled spark plugs (brand new NGK ruthenium plugs) to the tune of $3800. The car was still running roughly, so they told me to run through a couple of tanks of 91 octane gas. This didn’t make any difference at all. I took it back again, and they informed me that the ignition coils were bad. I replaced them myself, and now it runs like a champ.
I’m not a professional mechanic, but I know my way around an engine fairly well. I watched the installations videos multiple times and was in constant contact with the technician at RX to assure that it was installed correctly, including pictures of the completed setup.
With the cost of the catch can, the repair bills, and new spark plugs and ignition coils, I’m out close to $5,000, and I’m honestly not sure that any of it was necessary. Has anyone on this forum had a similar experience to mine? Was I a fool to do any of this work?
Thanks and please be brutally honest (but no personal attacks, please) in any comments.