Ok so I have a 94 explorer 4x4 4.0L A4LD XLT 4 door with 295K on everything but the engine which has 195K. Only drivetrain mod is an upgraded torque convertor.


So far in the past year I have replaced the water pump, hoses, thermostat twice, and radiator cap. I also did a full tune up and oil change although it may be due again soon.


This explorer is my daily driver (well was till this happened and I was forced to park it and drive mom's car till I get my F150 going). I usually leave early in the morning when it is really cold (below 40). Last Friday I drove it to work and on the way made a stop and noticed it was leaking in the front left corner of the truck mostly off the frame rail. I had to get to work which was less then a couple blocks away so I drove the car their all the way to work the temp gauge would go from between N and O (where it sits usually) gradually up to the L then quickly go back down.


I towed it home worrying that I might blow it up.

When I got it home I tried everything I could to make it act like it did and it ran normal. This was the afternoon when I tested it.

So figuring it was a glitch I decided to drive it to work today and instead of the temp gauge getting to its normal area (between N and O) it stayed below N but would do the same thing gradually go up then quickly go back down. I had no choice but to drive it 20 miles to work today with the heater on full blast. Again pulled into the parking lot at the local store and it was leaking same general area but not as bad. Got it to work and again towed it home.


Also I noticed it felt a little gutless and was blowing a bit of white smoke.


Well I can't figure it out. I had no choice today but to park it and deinsure it as I can't afford right now to be insuring a broken truck. I was going to deinsure it soon anyways since my truck should be running soon but I wanted the explorer to be ready for back up in a worse case scenario. Last time it did this the thermostat fixed it and it had ran great till now.


I am thinking I blew a head gasket but their is no coolant in the oil or vise a versa. I have no idea if it is over flowing in the coolant overflow box or what.


Any help will be appreciated as I need this thing for back up and it may be a daily for my brothers while their trucks are down.


Thanks
Trav

 

We have a 96 with the same motor that blew out the intake manifold at the front left corner, behind the alternator. I pulled the alter, and steering pump and lowered the compressor to get access. Intake bolts were not much more than finger tight. The water port had blown the gasket OUTWARD and leaked behind the alternator. The front cylinder intake port is right next to the water port so would be possible to suck water into the cylinder also... therefore the white smoke. ------ 178K miles.

 

I thought 96s had the SOHC? Either way I guess what you are saying is possible. How hard is it to tell if that happened?
The upper intake gasket was replaced when I put in the new engine.
Also I remembered that this car has had a hard start condition every once in a while and it happened yesterday when I went to go park it in its new spot in the yard. (it was maybe 300 ft away and the truck never got warmed up).
Trav

 

It just sounds familiar when you said "front left corner leak" If your leaking external, it has to be the water pump, head gasket, intake gasket, or core plug....... if its blowing white smoke ( burning water) it has to be the head gasket or intake gasket. You cant tell for sure until you can see it.. I had to remove the alternator and steering pump to actually get a good look. I refilled the radiator and looked for the leak. You can also put a hand air pump on the radiator and put a little pressure on the water to make it leak to see easiler. In the end, you will need to at least take off the manifold and look at that gasket. If you see absolutely NOTHING, then your going deeper to the head gasket.

 

Ok so that is what I hoped it wasn't but it is what it is. I will have to work on that after I get my F150 running. Thanks for your help.


What I don't understand is that when it isn't moving it won't leak. If it is just sitting idling it won't leak and won't overheat.
Trav

 

SOHC into'd 1997. Says "SOHC" on the top of the motor. Be glad you don't have one, at least an early one for sure.

 

Ya I am glad I have a OHV one. Buddy had a 97 explorer sport sohc and it was seized a week after getting it due to timing chain problems.
Trav