Hey! I have heard that back in the early ninetys the 4.0 was an excelent reliable motor. I was wandering if it was true that it had a couple bad years later on, and if so what years they were. Thanks!!
77fordguy

 

4.0 OHV was always a good motor, had some issues with lifters, but in general was a good motor. The 4.0 SOHC had teething issues for the first few years they were out, mainly with timing chains, but they got them mostly sorted out by the end.

 

Well I have a 97 OHV in my explorer. I think the heads were cracked by the way it was blowing white smoke and eating antifreeze. Is this a common problem? New heads are about 1500$ and a junkyard moter is about 150$. Do you recomend trying to find another 97 OHV or something newer? Thanks!!!

 

Head cracking on the 4.0 is not common. $1500 for a pair of heads seems like a lot to me honestly. I'd just go get a junkyard motor of the same year, and be done with it.

 

Thanks for helping! Yeah, they really did want that much for the heads. Maybe i'm just not shopping right. Well i guess if it stops raining i'll hit the junkyard tommarow and see what i can find.

 

hey man just a thought,But why not keep the current engine then once you pull it to install the junk yard special pull it's heads and tossem. then get a set of junk yard heads and rebuild those and that way if any other B.S. should come up with the Junk Yard special you could reinstall the original engine with good heads assuming the block wasn't damaged

 

Hate to say this but WRONG! Cracked heads are the second most common reason for Explorer/Rangers being in the buy&sell/craigslist for cheap. I have 2 91 Rangers with 4.0 and so far am lucky, mine has 175k miles (285k kms) and the wifes is 140 k miles (230k kms) and they still seem good though the wifes has the clatter issue.

 

I have a 97XLT-4.0L, 90K Was a gift (new) and didn't care much for the truck in the beginning but now I would put the truck in the top 99% dependability and economy. The 4.0L engine is one of the best-- in the same category as the 389 V8 that came in my 68 Falcon Sprint.

 

Update pics to follow,changed my intake manifold gaskets...would recommend any high mileage 4.0 OHV owner to do the same . The water passage area of the gaskets were well done @ 285, kms.

 

This is from Y2kford parts, one of the site sponsors:
<table class="tabletext" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="tabletext" style="border-top: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);" valign="top">KIT-REMFG HD ASY CYL - 4.0L
</td> <td class="tabletext" style="border-top: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);" align="center" valign="top" nowrap="nowrap"> 92-97 </td> <td class="tabletext" style="border-top: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);" align="right" valign="top">$454.72</td> <td class="tabletext" style="border-top: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);" align="right" valign="top">$50.00</td> <td class="tabletext" style="border-top: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);" align="right" valign="top"> $409.25 </td> </tr> <tr> <td class="tabletext" colspan="5" style="border-bottom: 4px double rgb(1, 54, 127);"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> </tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>

 

Before you spend a bunch of time and money I would recommend trying this BarsLeak product. It worked for me but understand that ymmv. I've put well over 20,000mi on the truck since it was treated, but you must follow the directions to the "t" Good luck
Bar's Leaks Head Gasket Repair

 

You could try engine oil analysis? The many oil luminati at the forums of BOBISTHEOILGUY.COM could enlighten you.

 

How do these heads get cracked to begin with ? If it is from cheap metal or what ? If so it's no wonder it does not happen to all vehicles when you consider we in America use to have the best top rated steel in the country. I'm sure we could not use it if we still had it due to federal trade policies. Tell me again who the BIG 3 have been working for ?

 

Simple a lot of engines do not have coolant crossing through the intake manifold on the back side of the engine just the front, through in trying to save some weight........

 

Heads are cast iron, not steel. The Cologne series engines 2.9,4.0, etc.. were also not made in America, they were/are made in Cologne Germany.

The reason the heads crack is because the castings are thin in certain areas.