Just bought. planning stage. Leaks oil down Lft side of engine - possibly VC. want address that first.
Any tips?
Gonna thoroughly check every system... don't trust anything. Runs solid but sat for a long time...
has over 300k on truck. previous owner (#3 as best i can tell) says engine was swapped about 150k ago. I think more like 200k.

Any advice?

What are the common issues with this motor/trans/etc?

Thanks!

 

Congrats on the purchase. I'm sort of in a similar stage about not trusting the previous owners. I would recommend starting with the obvious things like oil change, new air filter, plugs and wires. From there make sure all of your other fluids are topped up. A common problem for the M5OD manual transmission is that the bushings will disappear over time so you might want to look into that. Also check the oil pan over for rust as those are known to rust a hole right through. I'm sure others can chime in about other areas of concern.

 

thanks "me fast". much appreciated.

 

I've had two 300s with 5 speeds and they have been relatively trouble free.
My 94 went about 200k and was running well when donated. My 95 has over 250k on the original motor and tranny and the truck is only getting replaced because a better deal fell into my lap. My 95 has gone through a starter, alternator, water pump, and MAP sensor. I am 1 quart low when changing the oil at 5k and it doesn't leak any vital fluids. The only "mods" are an advance of 2 deg in the ignition timing, low resistance spark plug wires, and Motorcraft copper plugs gapped to .050. It still runs great and could easily go another 100k.
Best truck I have ever owned.

The oil leak on your left side is probably from the side cover gasket. Cheap and easy to replace if it is.
regards
rikard

 

If the engine ever gets to the point where it seems like its vapor locking and doesn't want to idle of course try a new fuel filter but mine turned out to be a bad idle air control. That little tube is way more important than you think. Also as a question my truck seems to have a dead spot in my throttle. like in first gear i am either accelerating and running at 15mph or slowing down as if I'm idling. I'm not sure what is causing it.

 

thanks everyone. Great info.
Reading the forums I've seen "oil pan gasket" and "lifter cover". Valve cover gasket is an obvious look-see. Plan to do a full tune up ASAP. Will look into Tranny bushings.
My previous truck was a 1999 explorer XLS 4L which isn't much different than this truck oddly. although stuff on this truck is easier to get to all around.
I noticed rust above both wheel wells. Any place else I should look? like my 75 has one door rusted through at the bottom probably due to worn out weather sealer trim around the window. any places that these trucks are notorious for?

 

Brysonw- I don't have an answer for you on this but maybe someone else knows. theres a way to search the forums for specifies items cuz i get google hits here all the time. try that too.
My first stab at this would be throttle body or vacuum but I'm not an expert. Let me know if you get a answer!

 

The radiator support, cab corners, front coil spring towers, rear suspension hangers, oil pan, and fuel tank supports are the areas I would check.
Regards,
rikard

 

I have the exact same truck - just a year newer (and mines a 4x4, don't know if your's is). When I got it, I changed all of the fluids except brake fluid. You just don't know how often the previous owner did it - if at all. Transfer case, rear differential, radiator, oil (of course), etc. If you have a manual 4x4 and not push button, grease the heck out of the linkage where the shifter connects to the transfer case. After that, just give it a once over. Mine needed a new muffler. the shocks were still OK, but pretty rusted and I figured for $20 per, why not? One thing I like to do it when I'm working on the truck, I have a squirt can of oil handy, I I put a drop of oil on every nut/bolt I see. Takes a few seconds each time, but after working on the truck enough, every nut/bolt will have been oiled after a year or so!!

 

Anybody have a sure fire way to degrease an engine in place? I'm trying to pinpoint oil leaks and the stuff is caked on.
Used the heavy duty GUNK degreaser but i don't think it made much of a dent.
Wonder if a good oven cleaner would work?

 

Mine had oil all over it. It was the valve cover gasket. Simple fix but you have to pull the upper intake and expect all the vacuum lines to break in the process.

 

"Anybody have a sure fire way to degrease an engine in place?"

I spray Simple Green degreaser over the motor/engine compartment then drive to the car wash and power wash it. Works for me.

 

Just bought me a 95 xlt 4x4, supercab with an inline six and an m5od. Rust under the extended portion of the cab is common, as well as the rear wheel wells. I have heard of some guys drilling holes in the wells so they can rinse the salt and sand out of the seams and plugging the hole with a rubber stopper.

My truck has 110xxx and I have replaced the coil, cap and rotor, plugs and wire, egr, and new shocks. Rockauto has been my best friend so far, name brand shocks can be had there for less that $20 a pop.

I also had a major oil leak, turned out to be the pan gasket. It can be replaced by unbolting the motor mounts and jacking the engine up to drop the pan. The wiper motor may have to be removed in some cases because it contacts the firewall. if it needs done, get the one-piece gasket from Felpro, it comes with plastic studs to hold the gasket and pan in place while you replace it.

One of the nice things about these engines is that they are way easy to work on, with maybe the exception of vacuum issues. That reminds me, if you are having any running issues, check your vacuum reservoir, they are know to rust out after a while as well.

 

I had the same leaky oil pan gasket - degraded lengthwise. I did not have to move my motor at all just un bolted the pan to drop it then snaked in the gasket.
My M5OD also leaked, check on top next to the shifter - need to go in from the cab. There are three rubber plugs that come out or leak. I just pulled and cleaned them then added some RTV to seal it. Hasn't leaked yet, several years down the road.

 

Thanks Again everyone. Great information. please keep it coming!