Hi guys. I have looked at about 5 different Sports from 96 to 02. Most had the SOHC engine. Which is the most desirable? I know the SOHC has more hp, but is it as durable as the pushrod engine?

I previously owned a 2.8L BII. Is the Explorer 4.0 the same basic block? Thanks for any info!
Don

 

SOHC = Big $$$$ for repairs. My 92 4.0 pushrod engine has 144,000 miles and still runs strong. The SOHC is good, if it's still under warranty. Otherwise, if the tensioners let go, say goodbye to the engine and your money...

 

I have read of many problems on this board with the SOHC cam followers (or whatever they are called). I would hope that by now Ford has a permanent fix, because they don't make the ohv engine anymore. Too bad. My 91 has 192K on it, runs like it has 30K on it. I just replaced the plugs for the first time since I bought it with 121K. It was not misfiring at all, even though all the plugs were over .100 gap. It still goes 3000 miles without adding oil and continues to amaze me.

Winford

 

pushrod motor is far better. no the 2.8 is far diff from the 4.0,,,but the 2.9 is almost the same as the 4.0 pushrod motor

 

I took my '99 Explorer XLT in right before I hit the 60,000 mark and had all the recalls that they had for my engine done(I was having no problems wit it, but I had it done anyway and it cost me nothing and only took 2 days). I have never had a problem with my SOHC. I know alot of fellow Explorer owners that have the SOHC and have had no problems either. I have 66,000 miles on mine and believe me, I am not easy on it at all. A lot of people try to make it sound like the SOHC has SO many recalls and that it costs a ton to get fixed, but I have never had that problem and I don't see what parts on the SOHC are so much more expensive than parts on a small V6. I used to have the small V6 in my '98 Explorer Sport and I like the SOHC 100% better. More HP and torque right out of the box, with out having to go to the aftermarket for parts. The only better thing about the smaller V6 is that there are a lot of aftermarket products out there for it, but they are producing aftermarket parts for the SOHC now too.

 

Thanks for the replies. In driving both engines, the SOHC does seem to have more torque. I have listened to the engines real closely, and I don't hear any of the "rattle" that comes with the bad cam tensioners. Maybe those I drove have already been fixed under recall, or maybe the later models have been improved....?

Ford uses the 4.2L engine in their pickups. I know that it is entirely different than the Explorer 4.0. Since the pickup and Explorer are both "trucks", why did Ford put two entirely different drivetrains in the two? Is the 4.0 a better engine than the 4.2?

I am looking for a vehicle that I can drive for several years, and will be trouble free. Thanks for any info. Don

 

I have a 91 2WD XL pushrod engine that has now passed 204K on the original engine. Still runs like a top and has never been apart aside from normal external engine wear items.
If you want to consider the law of averages, any engine configuration with less moving parts has less moving parts to wear out. Pushrod design has been around for well over 50 years and is proven to be reliable.
Mind you, I believe OHC technology is by far superior in power to weight gains if it is implimented correctly with quality design and components. The track record is questionable for now but I think it is improving year over year as more of this type engine are used. Too bad the consumer is being used as the testers however, not a good way to do business.
Look at it this way. Early front wheel drives had a lot of problems and were expensive to repair. Nowdays however, they are the majority and reliability has improved greatly.
I was as stubborn a consumer as was around, refusing to buy into the "new" designs till they were more proven. I now own a 99 Contour 2.5L 24Valve DOHC V6 front wheel drive. So far, (at 40K miles) it has not disappointed me. Runs like a scalded rabbit and gets good gas mileage at the same time.
Of course, I am not totally stupid or trusting either. I bought a 100K extended warranty with the car just to be sure I didn't get stuck with a whopping repair bill down the road later.
Dialtone

 

>...they are producing aftermarket parts for the SOHC now too.

like what? i'm looking for long-tube headers & Y-pipe, and other things for my '01 sport-trac, but haven't seen anything...

 

I see nothing but problems with the SOHC motor. I call it the SUK motor. I would get a OHV engine. I could spend all nite listing the pro's and con's of all year explorer's. Each year seemed to have certain problems. 95-96 seem the best.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Jul-02 AT 08:27 AM (EST)]Check out performance products.com (no space, it blanks it for some reason when I put it together) and explorerexpress.com , I would not go back to my old 4.0 for any amount of money, the added hp and tq is just too nice and I know my old 4.0 would not do any where as good a job pulling my 14' trailer with the BII on it.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Aug-02 AT 09:04 AM (EST)]Pushrod Pushrod Pushrod, the SOHC is difficuit to repair and has a complex nightmare of chains, sprokets and balance shafts in it