My Girlfriend's Taurus is Confusing Me (Updated)

"Logansteno: Bought a VW?" (logansteno)
10/07/2014 at 20:26 • Filed to: Taurus

So today I noticed that her 2002 Taurus SE has this badge:

Now that would signify it has the 3.0L Duratec, correct?

But, it only has the badge on the driver's side and there's nothing under the hood that says Duratec. But there's nothing under the hood that says Vulcan either.

I'm thinking maybe the engine cover was lost at one point and maybe it is in fact a Duratec, or the fender was replaced at one point with one that has the "24 DOHC" badge and it's a Vulcan.

Could someone use the VIN to put this to figure this out? It's driving me nuts.

Edit: Found a thing, the 8th digit in the VIN being U means it's a Vulcan.

Which also means her car has probably been in an accident at one point.

DISCUSSION (17)

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:32

Been in an accident? Sometimes a body shop will luck out and get a used fender of the exact same color. They'll just stick it on. The fact that the badge didn't match may have been overlooked.

ps: a photo of the engine may help more than the VIN

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:35

I decoded the VIN, it didn't help. It just lists the engine displacement, which would be 3L either way.
http://www.fleet.ford.com/maintenance/vi…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK
10/07/2014 at 20:38

Damn Ford using the same displacement for both motors.

For Sweden > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:39

It has a 3.0L V6

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > For Sweden
10/07/2014 at 20:40

There lies the problem, both the Vulcan and Duratec are 3.0L V6s

Brian, The Life of > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:40

It decodes as a 2002 with 3.0L V6 with 155 HP. The Duratec 3L develops at last 200HP so I'm thinking it must have the Vulcan, no?

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:40

It's got the vulcan, decode listed it as an SE and according to wikipedia the SE only had the vulcan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_F…

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Brian, The Life of
10/07/2014 at 20:44

Yup, it's a Vulcan.

Which means the front fender had to have been replaced at some point.

DoYouEvenShift > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 20:45

8th digit of the VIN indicates the motor. S means its a DOHC 24V V6. U indicates its a 12 valve pushrod engine. Both 3.0

Vicente Esteve > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 21:40

VUUUGHGHHGGGLCAAHN

ffoc02 > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 22:59

The U motor is the pushrod Vulcan. If it was a DOHC Duratec, it'd be an S. For additional clarity:

Vulcan

Kinja'd!!!

Duratec

Kinja'd!!!

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/07/2014 at 23:35

My car is badged as an SXT. Internally, though, that trim was known as SE. That's how Chrysler referred to it, that's how the DMV labels the car. Not as SXT. The confusing part is that there's also an ES trim, which makes ordering parts fucking confusing because I can never remember which is which. I might be getting the two mixed up right now, for all I know. Is it an ES? An SE? Who the fuck knows!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/08/2014 at 02:38

I know I'mlate to the party and you've already figured it out, but...

Can it chirp the tires? No? Vulcan.

Are the valve covers more than 6" wide? No? Vulcan.

Do the spark plugs go in the middle of the heads or the outside? Outside? Vulcan.

Suuuubaru > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/08/2014 at 16:46

This is in no way helpful, but I have to ask b/c curiosity: were you the guy that asked out the yoga instructor/friend who drove a taurus or was that someone else? This was a while back, but for some reason I remember that post

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Suuuubaru
10/08/2014 at 16:48

Not me, but I strangely remember that too...

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
10/08/2014 at 23:36

HAHAHAHA, that was me. Did not end well. But I'm so ecstatic that you guys remember this, lol

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > Suuuubaru
10/08/2014 at 23:36

I can't believe you guys remembered this, haha, that's really funny.