Engine: Description and Operation

Engine
The 3.0L Duratec is a four-valve-per-cylinder, dual overhead camshaft engine. The engine uses a distributorless ignition system. The cylinder block is a two-piece design with the upper portion housing the cylinders, and a separate lower cylinder block containing the main bearing caps. Both sections are made of aluminum, with metal inserts for the bearing areas and caps. An aluminum oil pan bolts to the bottom of the lower cylinder block and to the transaxle to provide greater strength.
The camshafts are mounted in the cylinder heads and act against a roller follower to open and close the valves. A hydraulic last adjuster is located on one side of the roller follower and the valve tip on the opposite end. The camshafts are driven off the front of each cylinder head by two chains (one each side). Both of the chains are driven by a single sprocket that is located on the crankshaft, just in front of the oil pump.

WARNING: The 3.0L Duratec engine is equipped with a composite intake manifold and fabricated exhaust manifolds. The engine should not be supported by these manifolds during "pair procedures. Failure to observe this warning could result in damage to the manifolds and could result in personal injury.