Is the Ford Transit Ecoboost for South America?

[Keyne]

Started doing some research on vans for a US, MX, and South America trip (Argentina, Chile for example) and wondered if the Ford Transit (ideally with Ecoboost) would be serviceable outside the US and Europe? For instance, would a US purchased Ford Transit with:

- Ecoboost engine - nonEcoboost engine choice a better option?
- Quigley 4x4 conversion. I wonder how unique the components are if the parts are obtainable outside the US?


It's obviously gas (vs. a diesel Sprinter) but are they sold and serviced in South America? Is the van even sold there if so which engines? Also, Sprinters are highly complex (and new vans with diesel obviously cant be used South) but I wonder how complex a Transit would be to service yourself (or with a local mechanic) if you brought certain key spares with you... Anyone contemplating or already off doing trips like this with a Transit van?

 

[luthj]

The drivetrain is probably North America specific. We have emissions.controls which they don't. Most vehicles will be running stripped down.variants, usually smaller displacement, or previous generation/older engines. Don't expect local shops to be familiar with your vehicle. Mexico is the most likely to have common drivetrain configurations.

Regardless, for most parts you are just a DHL delivery away from the USA. The real question is if diagnostic tools.compatible with the vehicle are available. If not, you should.carry a capable scan tool with you.

The Quigley bits are pretty standard. Even if the parts need to be shipped from the USA, local mechanics should not have any trouble replacing parts.

When it's all said and done, these vehicles are pretty reliable, you may have more trouble with local mechanics.damaging your vehicle, than with breakage.

 

[rontaki]

Bring a spare Giubo!

The Transit vans currently use a flexible rubber coupling disk on one end of the driveshaft. Known as a giubo, (pronounced JOO-boh), it is prone to frequent failure on these vans.
Ford is in the midst of a campaign to replace those that fail, and is developing a permanent solution in the form of some kind of ujoint or similar.

You can look this up online, lots of info. Meanwhile, if your Transit has a giubo in its drive train, have a spare at all times.
This is something to catch before it fails!

edit - ignore all this if a Quigley does not use the giubo...:sombrero:

 

[sg1]

Ford Transit is sold in most South American countries. I am not sure which engines they use.Just check the Ford websites in the various countries.

 

[Ranchero]

The Transit vans currently use a flexible rubber coupling disk on one end of the driveshaft. Known as a giubo, (pronounced JOO-boh), it is prone to frequent failure on these vans.
Ford is in the midst of a campaign to replace those that fail, and is developing a permanent solution in the form of some kind of ujoint or similar.

You can look this up online, lots of info. Meanwhile, if your Transit has a giubo in its drive train, have a spare at all times.
This is something to catch before it fails!

edit - ignore all this if a Quigley does not use the giubo...:sombrero:

And your intuition is correct. A Quigley Transit DOES NOT use a guibo.