I just bought a used 4.0 liter for my two wheel drive mountaineer but i think this motor is out of an AWD primarily because this one has an oil cooler on the oil filter housing. So what is the primary differences and how can i tell if it is or not. I know the AWD motor has a balance shaft that the two wheel don't. But short of pulling the pan anf seeing the shaft is there another way of knowing?

 

Year/Make. We don't know what you are driving or what your engine came out of.

 

I don't know what it came out of a 2002 explorer I'm told i think AWD. It's going in a 2002 mountaineer two wheel drive. I was told it came out of two wheel drive 2002 explorer everything looks the same except the oil cooler not on the mountaineer

 

They are same year, no differences. AWD and RWD use identical motors. As far as the oil cooler, not sure if its factory of aftermarket, but you can just swap the housing over and run your old one without any problems.

 

There is a difference the four wheel drive has a balance shaft and two wheel drive don't. There theory is i understand that the AWD will pick up a vibration at higher speeds and so ford put a balance shaft in the AWD motor to compensate for it. I know u can see it if u pull the upper pan off but what I'd like to know is short of pulling that pan is there another way of knowing. You're correct either engine will work in my mountaineer I would like to know for my own peace of mind but really not interested in pulling that upper pan off i mean there is no signs of leaks and it only has 60k on it.

 

Adding a different balance shaft is not going to hurt anything. Balance is balance, its either balanced or its not. Its basically the same motor, the minor changes really won't affect anything unless they've done something like used different accessory bracket mounts. For motors from the same year on mirrored platforms, this isn't going to happen.

 

Ok simple question here dude, ( fact in 2002 Ford put a balance shaft in the AWD 4.0 liyer sohc motor that was not put on a RWD 4.0 liter sohc motor, and later as well) and SIMPLY for my OWN. Peace of mind I am wondering is there any true Ford guys out there thats knows if there is a way of knowing (stock motors) how to tell the differemce if they were sitting side by side on the ground , the difference between the two (without) disasembling them? Because I'm about to put this motor in my truck and I would like to know, ( again just for my own peace o f mind) if I am about to put an AWD motor in my truck. To me (a thirty year vetran) they look identical. But I suspect bu and could b vompletely wrong, but there is a true Ford guy out there that can say, (yeah on the AWD they did this or that) which is visable, that they didn't do on the RWD 4.0 liter, and if I'm wromg and the only way to no is to rip off the upper oil pan then so be it. But i do know without dout the AWD motor has a balance shaft from the favtory that the RWD motor does not. Come on not that hard to understand. I know for fact the cam chain kit for the AWD is diffetent than the RWD. Now ask yourself if this was your vehicle wouldnt u want to know (if u could) if the motor you're about to put in your SUV is AWD or RWD?

 

Will it fit? No qiestion Will it run the same no question. I would just like to know is it an AWD OR RWD motor. And im sure there is a Ford guy that can say something like (yeah if there is a ??? In the casting numbers u have an AWD motor. I AM NOT SAYING IT WONT FIT OR WONT RUN I JUST WANT TO KNOW (again for my peace) of mind ) can i tell just buy looking am i putting an AWD OR RWD motor in my truck? Simple deal here they may b a guy out there that can say yeah look for (this) where the such and such was bolted to to the block. IDK???? If not no big deal I'll put it in with the knowledge it could be either. THANKS for all the time,,,,,,,,,

 

What i do know is i have two what appear to me to b the exact same stock 4.0 liter sohc motor. What I. Dont know because I havent pulled pull the upper pan and dont intend to is do i have one RWD and one AWD or what????if i were a true ford guy i probably would know.

 

Actually Ford put a balance shaft in all SOHCs starting in 2002. The 1st gen SOHC (97-01) had a balance shaft in 4wd trucks.

 

it should not make any difference as long as it will go in the hole and mount to the trans and motor mounts.

 

I've read that the basic short block is interchangeable between all years, including Mustangs.

Whatever motor you put in there, do the timing chain tensioners with the newer parts, or if it already has the "new" parts, put new tensioners in it anyway. These engines can go 300,000 miles or they can take a dump at 50k. Later models are better, but it is still a poor set up and requires engine removal to service the passenger side chain.

 

I understand the question but sorry, I don't know if there is a way of picking the 2 engines externally.

What I can tell you is the primary balance shaft is to alleviate a vibration in 4wd low at between 2000 and 3000 rpm.
Apparently the engine has to be really loaded up a relatively low rpm to feel the vibration.

Some Mustangs have it too, I think manual with LSD. Probably because they load up on a fast start.

 

x2, it is the intake and computer connections that make the difference. The balance shaft thing does not matter.

 

It did fit in the hole and runs great. Still wishef i knrw just for myself of it came out of RWD or AWD. I guess I'll wait until the upper pan starts leaking in the rear like they all do and I'll find out when I replace the upper gasket on the oil pan.