Ford Cologne V6 engines

The Ford Cologne V6 engine series was produced at a plant in Cologne from 1964 to 2011 and was installed on many popular models of the American concern, better known for the Explorer. These power units are conventionally divided into three generations, the first two being OHV and the third being SOHC.

In 1964, Ford’s German division introduced the first generation of its V6 engines. By design, these are typical OHV engines with a cast iron block and a cylinder angle of 60°, a pair of cast iron 6-valve cylinder heads without hydraulic compensators and a gear timing drive. First, 2.0-liter carburetor power units with a capacity of 85 or 90 hp appeared, but already in 1967, the series was replenished with new engines of 1.8 liters 82 hp and 2.3 liters 108 hp. In 1969, the most voluminous and powerful 2.6-liter unit with 125 hp and 205 Nm debuted. It was on its basis that a 150 hp injection engine, unique for its time, was created.

In 1976, second-generation engines appeared and at first they were assembled in parallel with the first. The 2.8-liter engines received a different cylinder block, a new intake manifold and aluminum cylinder heads with hydraulic compensators, but retained the timing gear drive. The injection could be carburetor, mechanical injector such as K-Jetronic or electronic, and the power of these units ranged from 135 to 160 hp, depending on their modification. In 1988, the most advanced 2.4 and 2.9 liter engines with a timing chain drive appeared; they were already equipped only with electronic injection. In 1990, a 4.0-liter engine was added to the series.

In 1997, the third generation SOHC V6 with overhead camshafts debuted. These engines featured a complex and unreliable three-chain timing system with an intermediate shaft, a variable-length intake manifold, EFI electronic injection and 210 hp.

Separately, we note the 24-valve DOHC modification 2.9 Cosworth, which was installed on the Ford Scorpio from 1991 to 1998 and developed 195 hp in the first generation of the model, 207 hp in the second.

Modifications of Ford Cologne V6 engines of the 1st generation

Specifications of the 1.8-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	1812
Fuel system	carburetor
Power output, hp	82
Torque output, Nm	135
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	80
Piston stroke, mm	60.14
Compression ratio	8.75
Euro standards	EURO 0

Specifications of the 2.0-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	1998
Fuel system	carburetor
Power output, hp	85 – 90
Torque output, Nm	151 – 158
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	84
Piston stroke, mm	60.14
Compression ratio	8.75
Euro standards	EURO 0

Specifications of the 2.3-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	2293
Fuel system	carburetor
Power output, hp	108 – 114
Torque output, Nm	176
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	90
Piston stroke, mm	60.14
Compression ratio	8.75
Euro standards	EURO 0

Specifications of the 2.6-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	2550
Fuel system	carburetor
Power output, hp	125
Torque output, Nm	205
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	90
Piston stroke, mm	66.8
Compression ratio	8.75
Euro standards	EURO 0

Modifications of Ford Cologne V6 engines of the 2st generation

Specifications of the 2.4-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	2394
Fuel system	L-Jetronic
Power output, hp	125 – 130
Torque output, Nm	182 – 193
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	84
Piston stroke, mm	72
Compression ratio	8.75 – 9.20
Euro standards	EURO 0

Specifications of the 2.8-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	2792
Fuel system	carburetor / K-Jetronic
Power output, hp	135 – 160
Torque output, Nm	208 – 221
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	93.03
Piston stroke, mm	68.50
Compression ratio	8.75 – 9.20
Euro standards	EURO 0

Specifications of the 2.9-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	2935
Fuel system	L-Jetronic
Power output, hp	140 – 160
Torque output, Nm	220 – 230
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	93
Piston stroke, mm	72
Compression ratio	9.0
Euro standards	EURO 1

Specifications of the 4.0-liter OHV version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	3958
Fuel system	L-Jetronic
Power output, hp	155 – 165
Torque output, Nm	300 – 315
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	100
Piston stroke, mm	84
Compression ratio	9.0
Euro standards	EURO 1

Modifications of Ford Cologne V6 engines of the 3rd generation

Specifications of the 4.0-liter SOHC version

Type	V-shaped
Displacement, cc	3996
Fuel system	distributed injection
Power output, hp	205 – 220
Torque output, Nm	318 – 349
Number of cylinders	6
Number of valves	12
Cylinder bore, mm	100.3
Piston stroke, mm	84.3
Compression ratio	9.7
Euro standards	EURO 1/2

The assembled weight of Cologne V6 series engines ranges from 200 to 220 kg.

Disadvantages of the Ford Cologne V6

• As soon as the engines of this line received aluminum cylinder heads, problems immediately began with wear of the valve guides and by 200,000 km the play is usually very large. And since the guides here are cast together with the head, you need to be able to drill them.
• The first two generations of OHV engines have a reliable gear or chain timing system. And power units of the SOHC type received a very short-lived drive of three chains, which is supplied by weak tensioners, as well as crumbling plastic guides.
• At high mileage, you can also encounter destruction of the crankshaft damper, lubricant leaks along the rear oil seal, sensor failures and cracking of the EGR tube. Also, hydraulic compensators do not tolerate low-quality oil and may simply begin to jam.

The manufacturer indicated an engine life of 200,000 km, but they usually run up to 300,000 km.