2001 4.0 Sohc

[tootall2]

Hey guys,

My check engine light was on so I took it in to the local garage. The mechanic there said the 4.0 sohc was nothing but trouble and a real pain in the a@@ to work on. He told me these engines are known for cracking the heads, eating timing chains, and intake gaskets. Has anyone heard of these things, I was suprised when he said this stuff. I thought the 4.0 was a good little mill.

Thanks for any replies

 

[gijoecam]

The cracking heads is a new one for me, I've never heard of one eating a chain, although the timing chain tensioners had a 7 year 100k mile warranty on them just in case, and that warranty repair also covered the lower intake manifold gasket which was prone to leaking.... some did it, some never did it... no rhyme or reason to it. It didn't exactly 'eat' them though.... it was a known defect that was found very early-on in the engine's life cycle.

As for being a pain to work on, is it any worse than any other modern vehicle? I don't think so.... It's still intake, heads, cams, cranks, pistons, and conn rods just like every other engine I've ever seen.

-Joe

 

[IZwack]

i umm have the 4.0 SOHC and its been running w/o problems since late 97.

 

[Howard]

I think it is a good engine and there are many members on here with over 100k and no issues. Find another mechanic.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

The only major problem I know of is the timing gear and the fact they had to put a 7 year 100,000 warranty on it just goes to show that design and testing did not do there job properly. This timing set up should require 0 maintains and should last the life of the engine.

Mine has this occasional dieseling sound at the moment; I have found when it happens it is just a matter of sitting at idle for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the oil pressure to work on the tensioner enough to shut the chain up, It has been doing it for the last 10,000k’s and dose not seen to be getting any worse.

Ford mechanics hear in Australia say you would be lucky to get 130,000 kilometre’s out of them if the problem present’s, and then it is a $5000 strip down to replace the timing gear, so I am monitoring mine very closely.

Apart from that I think it is a good engine. Oh year the recall only applies in the U.S not on export explorers.

 

[ExplorerDMB]

and then it is a $5000 strip down to replace the timing gear, so I am monitoring mine very closely.

$5000 for a timing gear install would be stupid at the cost. I would replace the engine at that cost.

-Drew

 

[CDW6212R]

For all pre 2002 SOHC 4.0 engine owners, search for the terms "cam cassette* tensioners." The subject is lengthy, and all of the engines are equally liable to have problems.

Obviously poor maintenance will increase the chances of the problems occurring. The OHC engines cannot take being run low on oil, or with dirty oil(old) for long. The parts prices aren't bad, the labor potentially is huge. Good luck to all.

 

[Aussie Explorer]

"$5000 for a timing gear install would be stupid at the cost. I would replace the engine at that cost."

-Drew


First up that is $5000 AUD not U.S dollars, and it is closer to $4000 than 5

Yes it is $$ but you have to pull the entire motor and strip down the front and back to access the Timing Gear.

Remembering Explorers are not as popular hear as in the U.S means that a lot of the part’s such as the Cam resetting tool is only available from ford dealership’s and that is if they will order it in for you. So that basically leaves only ford or the odd keen mechanic to do the job.

Speak to most descent mechanic’s who have some idea bout the car and they will generally say it is not worth the cost, Ether get a 2nd hand engine from somewhere or sell it.

I am a Mechanical Fitter and I would think twice about doing it by myself.