In the past I got great info reguarding my f350, need some help on the explorer side. My 98 Explorer ate its timing chain guides, not worth repairing, Loved the 4 liter engine and got good fuel economy on the highway, which is where I spend the majority of my driving(job). I am looking to replace it with a 2004/05 Explorer, here where I am there seems to be 80 % 4.0 L for sale and a few 4.6L out there. My dad has had crown vics with the 4.6L and they have been great engines. I have talked to a few owners of explorers with the 4.6L and they tell me the 4.6 gets better fuel economy than the 4.0L. Your opinions on the two choices regaurding fuel economy would be so appreciated as I am looking at a few right now, some with the 4.0, some with the 4.6. I use my f350 to tow stuff so I dont need it for that. If you know of any Watchout for this type of problems on the 04/05's, please tell me that too. Again, thanks for all the replys, It' appreciated.


Ed

 

4.6 is the best way to go, mpg, tq and resale

 

I've got a 4.6 in my '02 E150--a Romeo engine, which was also used on the Explorer. Engines built before 9/17/03 (which could easily be in an early '04 Explorer) got the early PI heads which had bad cooling to the exhaust valve guides on the rear cylinders. I got a brand new pair of heads under warranty (at 42k) because my van exhibited this ticking noise--TSB 03-25-6 covers this.

So, I'd watch out for early '04 models...not sure how easy it is to see engine production date (maybe a sticker or like that--but I can't see that stuff in my van).

I do believe the V6 will get marginally better mileage, but I'm a fan of the 4.6; little weak in my van, but great in an Explorer. So long as you don't have to pay for a new pair of heads

I may want to swap the van towards an '04/05 Explorer myself, and would probably really enjoy one with the 4.6. The 5-speed transmissions in the '02/03's seemed to have problems, but things look better by '05 for sure.

Good luck,
George

 

You may already know this, but the Explorers with the Class 3/4 towing package (2" receiver) have 3.73 rear ends, whereas the Class 1/2 (1.25" receiver) models have 3.55's, so if you want to get max mileage with either engine, go with the lower tow package.

And obviously if you're willing to go with 2WD, there's another bump in mileage and potentially less repair cost down the road.

Geoge

 

My son has a 2008 2WD Explorer with the 4.6 and they use it for driving to work mainly and they are getting around 21 MPG. They prevoiusly had an '06 with the 4.6 which started developing rear end problems that they traded off for the '08. It got similar mileage. I do know the '06 had the smaller hitch receiver and the the '08 has the larger one. We have a '95 with the 4.0 which is in like new condition. It is the 4WD version. It has never gotten the kind of mileage that the two my son has have. I can't tell you what the gear ratios are on any of these. That having been said, it's obvious that I don't have any real data to make a fair comparrison here. I do however feel that the 4.6 is the better choice and if you don't need the 4WD I suspect that would help. Less weight to push down the road and less stuff to have to take care of.

 

One big difference in the 04/05's that the OP is asking about and your son's 06 and 08's is that your son's Explorers will have the 6-speed auto trans and the 3-valve 4.6. Not sure what axle ratios they are using on these later versions (the 3.55 regular and 3.73 Class 3 towing ratios are numbers that I recall for 04-05, having looked at buying one of those a while ago--but the 04/05 are the 2-valve 4.6 and 5-speed trans.)

Likewise your '95 is gonna have the OHV 4.0, not the OHC version in the 04-05, and only a 4-speed trans, right?

Great to hear that your son is getting as high as 21 mpg on the road with the 3-valve engine...as a 2WD truck, those also have to be really fast and gutsy when unloaded. No problems with the 06/08 6-speed auto transmissions? I remember some of the 06's having some shift quality and logic issues.

George

 

Hi George,
Yeah I knew there was a lot of difference and it was not a fair comparrison to the '95. If anything my comment was aimed more toward the improvements over the years.

My son lives over 600 miles away in the Atlanta area and his wife mainly drives the Explorer. When visiting I have had the occasion to be a passenger and I can tell you that more than one driver has been surprised at the traffic light with both of the Explorer's they have had. There have been more than a few rice rocketeers embarrassed.

I don't recall them having any problems with the tranny in the '06, just the rear end making noise. After four trips to have it fixed on warranty the Ford guys made them a great deal on the '08 just to get them out of their hair. I really believe it was a matter of a poor service department and/or a combination of Ford and the service dept. Having had a bunch of new Ford products over the years I know that in warranty work the service guys have to do what Ford says even if it's wrong or they don't get paid. Ford tends to do some really stupid things in that area. That is coming from me, a hard core Ford guy. Of course I know all too well there are many similar issues with GM and Toyota.

Oh, I almost forgot... There is one thing about the mileage. In both the '08 and '06 the good mileage went to pot just pulling a 900# enclosed trailer empty. I would have to say that the wind resistance was the bigest factor but it does go to show how narrowly they are set up for the mileage.

Later Man...

 

Thanks for the replys guys, I appreciate the help.

Ed

 

I realize it's a somewhat different vehicle but when we were looking at new Explorers and discovered the Edge. We ended up buying the Licnoln version (MKX). Super vehcile. I searched everywhere I could for problems with the vehicle and could not find anything prolems. It was almost cult like, Everybody loved them. I stopped people when I saw them driving one and same answer. If reliability is your biggest concern, this may be the way to go. It is a FWD vehicle but can be had in AWD. It's also very affordable in my mind, Very nice vehicle. If you are doing mostly highway driving, not much off road, and don't need it for towing (though it will tow up to I think 5000 lbs) it's worth looking at. Ford has a real winner with the Edge. We have had ours since the end of October and not a single complaint.

 

BTW, he has a 98, not a 95... so it is the newer 4.0L SOHC

My 2 cents? I like the generation 2 explorers - I don't know why - they just still seem like they are built better than the Gen 3s...

to me, the gen 3s are more for the soccer moms, etc - whereas the Gen 1 and 2's are more like a truck to me...

pros and cons - If your 98 is in good shape otherwise, I'd just do an engine swap - you can get a used engine for like $1K installed, depending on where you live, etc.. there are a lot of 4.0L still out there, and besides the tension guide problem, they were great engines.

But, the 4.6L V8 is, well, a V8! :-) - and it is more effecient than the 4.0L, basically giving more tq at the same RPMs which is everything when towing something, or if you are up and down hills, etc - but those engines are a lot more money too, etc...

I have a 96 sport myself, and I see the new ones all the time, and think I'll like it better, etc - until I look at it, drive it, close the door, etc - and then I get back into my 96, close the door, and feel solid again...

I'm a big believer in "old is gold" - but some people like to have a new car every 5 years, so I guess it's all what you like - I know the days of getting 10 years out of a car or truck are over with the stuff made today - but I guess I'm turning into my Grandfather :-) (nothing is made like it used to be :-)

I have an 89 Aerostar that is all OEM, and purrs like a kitten... love that 3.0! - one of Fords beter engines too. The 3.0L vulcan!

My 2 pennies

 

The idea that the older vehicles lasted longer doesn't float with me. I've been driving for 48 years and I have had lots of vehicles including one that I put over 100K on in ten months, which I still have with over 256K on it. I have friends driving Tuarus's that are hitting 250K with no problems. These cars are less than 5 years old. People don't get tune ups or change the plugs for 100K. the cars of my youth in the 60's needed a tune up every 10K or less. It used to be if a car had 100K on it, it was junk. The reason cars don't last longer now is because people do nothing to take care of them and they drive them more miles per year than ever. People don't get their oil changed when they should. the best most cars can hope for now is a regular wash job. People have created their own throw away world. They don't care if the cars last very long becayse they think they will just get another one. It's not the cars, it's the people.

As for the different generations of the Explorer are concerned, you are right about them being for Soccer Moms. Just look who you see driving them mostly. They catered to the whims of the market section that buys them. Check out the competition, they're all doing the same thing. they have moved to an idiot proof 4WD. They are taking the "U" out of SUV.

We own a '95 Explorer XLT we have had since it was new. It's got 80K on it now and still has the original brakes on it. It was garage kept. It's in as good as shape as most any you will see. My son has an '08 Explorer. It rides better, us quieter and gets better mileage with the V8 as opposed to our 4 L V6. If I had to choose between it and ours for a long trip, it would be in the '08. The older Explorers had a weak transmission and could not stand heavy towing. We have never pushed ours by abusing it so it is still working well. If we had driven it as the average bunch does it would probably be junk by now.

Later...

 

there is more to a car or truck than the drive train...

The reason that the 60's and 70's stuff needed more freq tune ups, was because of the tech that was available, and the lack of computer engineering nowadays that helps in the metal fab of tighter tolerances...

Points got replaced by electronic ignition, and Carbs got replaced by Fuel Injection - better refined gas and oils, etc etc - it all helps to make stuff last a long time.

and, even stuff made 5 years ago was better then today - maybe non ford, but we rented a brand new chevy something or other in Oct, and it was junk - the trim is all junk, the doors are paper thin steel - there is no way your going to get 10 years out of something like that, even if you baby it... and it was a full size sedan, and I barely fit in it, but I'm a big guy though.

Agreed that people don't take care of their cars like they should, but I know many Ford mechanics that would agree with how some of the older designs in frame, and structure were mostly better than what is made now... not in all cases, but in many.

and things will get worse, since all the automakers are broke now, and the unions force them to keep people, so they will have to cut corners somewhere to stay in business, and still expect to get $35K for half the quality you could buy 5 years ago...

There is no way you can compare a late 80's F150 to what Ford has been producing lately - I love ford trucks, but the 150's are no where near the quality they used to be....

Right, an 08 will ride better down a smooth highway for an 8 hour trip, but take it off road for an hour, and do the same with the 95, and the 95 will be fine - the 08 will need new wheel bearings, suspension, brakes maybe, etc... shortly thereafter... I guess that was really my only point - but most people aren't going off road, but there is something to be said for overbuilding suspension, etc...

we can agree to disagree - he asked for options - that's all, so I gave mine.