MistahYebba
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- June 29, 2015
- Messages
- 275
- Reaction score
- 18
- City, State
- Clearwater, Florida
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2005 Ford Explorer XLT
Hi everyone!
I'm sad today...
Own a 1992 Ford Explorer 2WD for almost 2 years now.
I love(d) it. I've taken the best care of it that I possibly can. I've been on Explorer Forum since day 1 learning new things and taking on new jobs.
The truck has been so good to me.
I will say that it is likely that I neglected the 25 year old engine in more than one way.
Firstly, I totally disregarded the oil filter. It never crossed my mind and I finally saw it and was scared and shamed that I never changed the oil filter. I finally changed it about 2 weeks ago.
I never bothered to get oil changes because of reason #2.
Reason #2 is that I always had a slow oil leak. Since my oil was leaking out anyway, I simply topped it off every couple weeks when I would start to hear any unusual sounds like ticks, etc. This was my justification of never getting the oil changed.
Needless to say, ticks become clanks, clanks became rattles. They started happening more often.
As early as On Monday this week, the truck was my idea of "reliable". However, I still had my oil leak, stronger than ever.
I also started filling my radiator up with DISTILLED WATER instead of coolant because my engine started leaking coolant real bad. Of course, I wasn't going to keep topping off with coolant if it was going to leak.
Well, I was starting to look into head gasket repairs and I was honestly thinking about taking on the task THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND!
I was too late.
I'm sure it was a mix of water in the engine, oil leaking out, general engine neglect, and more...
Yesterday, while driving, the rattling of the end of the engines life started. Even in park at a complete stop, the engine was banging, smoking, rattling to its death. Fortunately, I was able to limp to a mechanic.
I even turned the key OFF and the engine continued to do shake, bang, rattle, smoke; cringeworthy things.... for a good 3 minutes before the mechanic pulled the air intake tube and covered the hole with a cloth to "choke" the engine out.
I have not tried to start it since.
I am now torn between whether I should just get a new engine, or go for a "new" used, cheap car ($2k budget or so)...
I am worried that any ol' cheap car will have more repairs to do, probably ones I have already done on my Ex!
But, how hard is putting in a new engine? I am mechanically inclined (done lots of repairs on my Ex), but I don't have a lift. I also don't have much experience on the inner workings of engines, so if I have to put a bunch of stuff together it would help to have a guide or idea.
Anyway, just hoping for someone to say something positive. I miss my truck already junkyards offering $150 for it is bullcrap.)
Here is a video about 30 minutes before the engine went to complete crap. The rattling and clanking is actually not that bad compared to its final moments.
I'm sad today...
Own a 1992 Ford Explorer 2WD for almost 2 years now.
I love(d) it. I've taken the best care of it that I possibly can. I've been on Explorer Forum since day 1 learning new things and taking on new jobs.
The truck has been so good to me.
I will say that it is likely that I neglected the 25 year old engine in more than one way.
Firstly, I totally disregarded the oil filter. It never crossed my mind and I finally saw it and was scared and shamed that I never changed the oil filter. I finally changed it about 2 weeks ago.
I never bothered to get oil changes because of reason #2.
Reason #2 is that I always had a slow oil leak. Since my oil was leaking out anyway, I simply topped it off every couple weeks when I would start to hear any unusual sounds like ticks, etc. This was my justification of never getting the oil changed.
Needless to say, ticks become clanks, clanks became rattles. They started happening more often.
As early as On Monday this week, the truck was my idea of "reliable". However, I still had my oil leak, stronger than ever.
I also started filling my radiator up with DISTILLED WATER instead of coolant because my engine started leaking coolant real bad. Of course, I wasn't going to keep topping off with coolant if it was going to leak.
Well, I was starting to look into head gasket repairs and I was honestly thinking about taking on the task THIS UPCOMING WEEKEND!
I was too late.
I'm sure it was a mix of water in the engine, oil leaking out, general engine neglect, and more...
Yesterday, while driving, the rattling of the end of the engines life started. Even in park at a complete stop, the engine was banging, smoking, rattling to its death. Fortunately, I was able to limp to a mechanic.
I even turned the key OFF and the engine continued to do shake, bang, rattle, smoke; cringeworthy things.... for a good 3 minutes before the mechanic pulled the air intake tube and covered the hole with a cloth to "choke" the engine out.
I have not tried to start it since.
I am now torn between whether I should just get a new engine, or go for a "new" used, cheap car ($2k budget or so)...
I am worried that any ol' cheap car will have more repairs to do, probably ones I have already done on my Ex!
But, how hard is putting in a new engine? I am mechanically inclined (done lots of repairs on my Ex), but I don't have a lift. I also don't have much experience on the inner workings of engines, so if I have to put a bunch of stuff together it would help to have a guide or idea.
Anyway, just hoping for someone to say something positive. I miss my truck already junkyards offering $150 for it is bullcrap.)
Here is a video about 30 minutes before the engine went to complete crap. The rattling and clanking is actually not that bad compared to its final moments.