Does anyone know if you can get a 2000 or 2001 model explorer with the overhead valve engine, and/ or what was the last year Ford offered that engine. I would really like to find a later model with that engine than the overhead cam motor.

 

According to Autotrader, 2000 was the last year the OHV would have been offered. In 2001, the SOHC was standard.

 

Ok, thank you for the info Mrshorty.

 

I found a 1 owner 2001 sport, 5 speed with the sohc engine, has 111,000 hwy miles, and the owner says he has never experienced any problem with camshaft,jackshaft tensioner problems or rattles in engine. Is this possible with this many miles, and did some of these motors run a long time and just never had the problem. Thanks for any input.

 

My '98 XLT 4.0L SOHC 4WD made it 148K miles before I had to fix the timing chain tensioners and guides. It was a very big job but the SOHC engine is much better than the OHV engine. There are good reasons why Ford dropped the OHV and kept the SOHC. Keep in mind the 2003 and newer SOHC models already include all the updated parts.

 

I respectfully disagree with Space Truckin'. The OHV engine was a proven winner for Ford and is virtually bullet-proof unlike the OHC. Ford changed engines for marketing purposes. They needed a OHC to compete with their perceived competition. There was nothing wrong with the OHV except older technology. Though the OHC has higher HP (210 vs 160), torque is similar (240 vs 225). Car companines sell HP but people drive torque. Same thing with the OHC vs the 5L V8. Similar HP (210 for the SOHC vs 215 for the V8) but look at the torque (240 vs 288 for the v8). The V8 will stuff the OHC but it doesn't look so on paper when you compare HP numbers. I'll take a OHV anyday and get 250,000 trouble-free miles over the OHC and its recurring timing chain problems.

Mason
'99 V8 Ex AWD
Formerly happy owner of '95 4L OHV and a '91 4L OHV (both with now over 200k of maintenance free miles)

 

I agree with mason, I own a '99 with the OHV and it's been one of the most reliable engines I've ever seen. Some of the first 4.0L OHV's in the early 90's explorers and rangers had some problems with the heads cracking and head gaskets going bad, but I believe they changed the head design slightly and have had no significant problems since then.

 

I have a 2000 Sport with the OHV engine. According to the late build date, I believe it's one of the very last OHVs produced in the Explorers.

It's been absolutely trouble-free with 99K miles on it since new. I'm hoping to get another 100K out of it.....

 

I have a 94 Sport with the OHV with 130K and when I sit in my truck I sometimes can't tell if it's running. Great trouble free engine.

 

The 4.0L SOHC timing chain problem is not recurring. Fix it once and forget it, unlike the cracked heads and blown gaskets on a 4.0L OHV. Both problems (chains and heads) only affected the early engines. Ford will fix the timing chains for free if the problem shows up before 100K miles. Buy a 2003 or newer SOHC and you won’t ever have the problem. Speaking of bulletproof, you should see what the hot rodders are doing with the 4.0L SOHC now that it is available in the Mustangs too.

For the record, I have nothing against old technology. I love my ’85 5.0L Mustang with a factory Holley carb. My ’69 Mach1 was even more fun! That doesn't change the fact that the 4.6L in the new Mustangs is a better engine. Ford doesn’t make engine decisions based on marketing. If that were the case, the Mustang would still have a 5.0L. Hot rodders have loved that engine for over 40 years and didn’t want to learn a new bag of tricks for the 4.6L.

It’s pretty much the same issue with the 4.0L OHV guys. They love their old familiar design, and with good reason. It has served them well. However, for some reason they still don’t want to embrace the newer 4.0L SOHC, even if the early problems have already been fixed. Maybe they just don’t want to be unhappy with what they already have. I can understand that. (I ignore younger women because I love my wife.) One area where we do agree is that torque is king. Drive an Explorer with the OHV and then one with the SOHC and I’ll bet you buy the SOHC. Either way you will get a good engine. Drive a V8 and you might forget this whole issue and buy it instead.

 

I have a 99 Ranger 4x4 with 4.0 SOHC, auto, off road, ext cab, and 4:10 gears. It has 118K and runs and drives super. I purchased it from a friend, who bought it new and I have all maintenance records. Here is the list of what has been done to it: tires once, brakes once, belt, all fluids changed, and 1 swaybar link, oil and filters. I previously had a 98 Explorer Sport with the 4.0 OHV with 5spd and 4:10 gears, it was flawless for the 5 years and 60K I owned it. Now that you have that info., Even though I may not be comparing apples to apples, my feeling is that the SOHC motor is far better as far as power empty or towing. The mileage is consistently better by 2 mpg with the SOHC.


2004 F-250 4X4 Lariat Crew 6.0
2004 Explorer XLT 4.6
1999 Ranger 4X4 4.0 SOHC