Piston Slap: Fusing the Perfect Ecoboost Ford Milan?

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

TTAC commentator MWebbRambler writes:

Sajeev,

I wrote to you earlier about adding aftermarket LED lights on my wife’s Chevy Traverse. Now I’m back with a question about adding aftermarket tint to my 2013 Ford Fusion (photo above).

The reason I’m considering the tint is because the car sits out in the hot Kansas sun all day. My current employer does not have a parking garage and shade is minimal. I keep the car waxed and use Meguiar’s on the interior to protect the plastics and rubber, but I’m wondering if tinting the windows will help. I’ve looked at a couple of aftermarket companies that offer a “lifetime” guarantee on their work, but I’m still leery of chips or bubbles after several years. I’ve also asked my local dealer about tinting the windows, but they apparently outsource the work to a local shop. I’m tempted to stick with my current approach, which is to use a sunshade for the windshield and apply Meguiar’s once a month.

Also, since you’re a Lincoln-Mercury fanboi, what aftermarket upgrades would you consider for my whip? I’m thinking of replacing the stock 18-inch wheels with 17-inchers — at least for the winter season — but welcome your sage advice. Though, you should know up front that an LS swap is out of the question. (HOW DARE U NO LS4-FTW SON! — SM)

Sajeev:

The first — and most important — upgrade a Lincoln-Mercury fanboi such as myself demands is a complete rebadge to a Mercury Milan. Okay, maybe a Ford Milan, as the blue ovals are a bit challenging to re-theme with a Mercury emblem.

From there, get your Ford Milan (*wink*) tinted ASAP and get a performance computer tune for better engine performance, more turbo boost and a far sharper transmission. (I use tuners that use SCT software.) Tint will last 10 to 20 years if you get the more expensive stuff — and keys, seat belts, kids and pets aren’t allowed to scratch it.

While aftermarket computer tunes are fantastic, remember the pitfalls of tuned computers with your factory warranty.

MWebbRambler:

I’m interested in the SCT tune. I’ve also thought about a cat-back exhaust and a boost adjustment. Steeda has a lot of stuff in their catalog, but I’ve been looking at products from other tuners too. The downside is, I’ve got the 1.6 and not the 2.0 Ecoboost engine. Don’t judge me — I did not want MyFord Touch and got a stupid-good deal on a 2013 closeout. The 1.6 makes similar power to my old Infiniti I30, but is quicker off the line. I just wish it had more top end.

Sajeev:

The tune will accomplish the boost adjustment; turbos love to make more power when unhindered by a non-performance factory tune (i.e. there’s no such thing as a Milan/Fusion ST). And if this YouTube video is even mildly truthful, the 1.6 is no slouch: an extra 50+ horsepower at the wheels and 60+ pounds-feet of torque on 93-octane gas? Go on and get that, SON!

The exhaust tubing is probably good enough, except the muffler is usually a mild restriction to turbocharged applications. See if a muffler from a 2005-present Mustang GT (i.e. cheap, high performance and durable) will fit in its place, but I have a feeling you will need to run an aftermarket unit instead.

Or, perhaps mufflers are for wussies!

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • Dal20402 Dal20402 on Feb 23, 2016

    Both of my sedans were tinted with quality tint. Both have interiors that are in very exceptional condition given age and mileage. The LS460 with 8 years and 46,000 miles looks like it was driven off the lot yesterday. The Legend with 21 years and 186,000 miles has some slight wear on the outer bolsters and worn-out seat foam, but otherwise could pass for a car with 40,000 miles. Both cars spent part or all of their lives in sunny places, and I think the tint was very helpful in preserving them.

  • SC5door SC5door on Feb 24, 2016

    I found a small but high quality shop that has been in business for 27 years. There's a lot of customers that come in with "high end" vehicles (Audi R8, Bentley Continentals just to name a few) so I didn't have any reservations about them doing a tint job and plan to take the Tucson over to them once the weather breaks. Plus with a lifetime parts and labor warranty on the tint (and other products they put in) it was a no brainer.

  • Analoggrotto Does anyone seriously listen to this?
  • Thomas Same here....but keep in mind that EVs are already much more efficient than ICE vehicles. They need to catch up in all the other areas you mentioned.
  • Analoggrotto It's great to see TTAC kicking up the best for their #1 corporate sponsor. Keep up the good work guys.
  • John66ny Title about self driving cars, linked podcast about headlight restoration. Some relationship?
  • Jeff JMII--If I did not get my Maverick my next choice was a Santa Cruz. They are different but then they are both compact pickups the only real compact pickups on the market. I am glad to hear that the Santa Cruz will have knobs and buttons on it for 2025 it would be good if they offered a hybrid as well. When I looked at both trucks it was less about brand loyalty and more about price, size, and features. I have owned 2 gm made trucks in the past and liked both but gm does not make a true compact truck and neither does Ram, Toyota, or Nissan. The Maverick was the only Ford product that I wanted. If I wanted a larger truck I would have kept either my 99 S-10 extended cab with a 2.2 I-4 5 speed or my 08 Isuzu I-370 4 x 4 with the 3.7 I-5, tow package, heated leather seats, and other niceties and it road like a luxury vehicle. I believe the demand is there for other manufacturers to make compact pickups. The proposed hybrid Toyota Stout would be a great truck. Subaru has experience making small trucks and they could make a very competitive compact truck and Subaru has a great all wheel drive system. Chevy has a great compact pickup offered in South America called the Montana which gm could make in North America and offered in the US and Canada. Ram has a great little compact truck offered in South America as well. Compact trucks are a great vehicle for those who want an open bed for hauling but what a smaller more affordable efficient practical vehicle.
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