2003 Ford Explorer Question's on fluids

[Coolhand20th]

I just purchased a 2003 Ford Explorer XLT 4.0 Vin K Flex. It has just under 63,000 miles on it and while it has been used less then 48,000 miles by the original owner and then 15,000 miles by her daughter, it still has a lot of the stock fluids and parts on it. It is in mint condition and got it for $5,800. I can't complain as it is loaded, rides like a dream and so far is very easy to work on compared to my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I just sold.

So like any normal person I am going to go through it and change everything as it should be done. Now I have 75w-140 Valvoline Synthetic for the rear diff along with a bottle of the Motorcraft Friction Modifier to put in, 8 quarts of Mercon V along with a new OEM transmission gasket that I got for 15 bucks and a new Motorcraft transmission filter.

My main questions are....

1st. For the front differential back in the day they used to make 80w90 Synthetic and these last few years they have quit making it. Is it possible to go to 75w-90 Synthetic or should I just use the 80w-90 Standard Gear Oil for the front differential? I like to use Synthetic whenever possible but I understand that it can't always be used do to OEM specifications.

2nd. Transfer Case Fluid change...What should I be using in the transfer case? I have seen a couple different fluids for it and I want to make sure before I go and drain it.

3rd. How much of a pain in the you know what is changing the spark plugs? I know it shouldn't be due but I'd still like to replace them and put in Autolite Double Platinum's since I got 8 of those for 22 bucks shipped.

4th. Rear Cargo Cover...I have Dark Graphite Interior and I can NOT find one of these used at any junkyard near Green Bay or Marinette, Wisconsin. I am wondering if someone knows where I can pick one up used for a decent price?

5th. Has anyone put Cooper Discoverer AT3's on their Ford Explorer? If so how was the ride, noise levels and traction in snow/rain? Of course living where I live in the Northwood's of Wisconsin we can get some decent snowfalls now and then so snow traction is a big deal to me. Right now it has ugh Firestone Destination LE2's on it and I hate those tires had them on my mom's Jeep Liberty. Those tires are junk imho.

Thank you in advance for any information and help you can give me. Hope to be around here more often as I work on this during my years of ownership. I don't drive but 3,000 miles a year due to disability but I drive 50 miles one way for all my doc appts when I do have them so a reliable vehicle is a must hence doing all this maintenance before winter hits!

 

[drdoom]

1. 75/90syn
2. XL-12 or equivalent
3. Middle level difficult
4. eBay
5.

Change the coolant as well, and don't forget about the 8oz overfill at rear axle.

 

[Mbrooks420]

1. Amsoil makes a 80w90 synthetic oil. Almost everyone makes a blend. I'd not be concerned with using the 75w90 though.

3. Plugs are a chore but not terribly so. I might do a little reading here before using those plugs. The older Explorers, at least, can be finicky about plugs.

5. My buddy has AT3s on his Silverado and they are decent, traction wise. Not very loud. They haven't wore very well at all, and he's going to be lucky to get two years out of them. Not sure of his mileage, but he only lives 8 miles from work. I had Grabber AT2s and absolutely loved them. Great snow traction, decent dry grip, and they wore like iron. Just sold the rears with 30k on them, and still had about half tread.

 

[Coolhand20th]

Thank you! I kinda assumed that the 75w90 synthetic would work but I wanted to make sure before ruining the front differential. Motorcraft XL-12 is non-existent around here but Valvoline's Synthetic is available for a decent price at 8-10 bucks a bottle. I normally use Mobil 1, Valvoline and rarely Royal Purple if I can find that on sale but that is hard to do. Wish my dad still worked for Mobil making all that stuff. It was nice once a year having scratch and dent sales for 2.50 a case of oil at the refinery, we always had 25-30 cases built up of oil and10-15 cases of atf/gear oil.

Yeah I've looked at Ebay for the cargo cover none used only new at 150 dollars which I am trying to avoid living on disability for life. Maybe one day I will get lucky and find one for next to nothing.

I had thought about the coolant as well. I just have to look and see what color it is as iirc some came with yellow some with green.

 

[Coolhand20th]

Amsoil would work as well. Now to just find it locally maybe the local Fleet/Farm or just order it direct from Amsoil. I used their stuff many times before and always high quality.

The plugs I've done some talking to with a buddy of mine who put them in his 2004 and said he had no issues with them. I can always go back to the Motorcraft Platinum's if they give me issues

 

[swshawaii]

I had thought about the coolant as well. I just have to look and see what color it is as iirc some came with yellow some with green.

Regardless what color coolant is in there now, 2003 Explorers had YELLOW coolant from the factory.
https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/main/quickref/coolantsEN.pdf

If you can't find, or don't want to buy Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant,
Zerex G-05 meets Ford's WSS-M97B51-A1 spec, and can be easily found.
https://www.valvoline.com/our-products/antifreeze-products/g-05-antifreeze-coolant

 

[Coolhand20th]

Thank you everyone who has responded so far!

Any information on this vehicle is a great help to me. Trying to find the right information with regards to parts and fluids for this is important to me.

Looks like I found the right forums to get the information I need on this New/Used Vehicle. Thanks again!

 

[TechGuru]

My recommended fluids: http://txnj.net/Explorer/ExplorerFluids/

Transfer Case Fluid needs to be

or

only pretty much.

I'd stick with Motorcraft SP500 spark plugs.

Tires I'd go with Michelin Defender LTX M/S for year round. If you insist on AT I'd go with Goodyear Wrangler All Terrain Adventure with Kevlar

Fluid capacities:

 

[Coolhand20th]

Another question

What are some of the normal issues that I should watch for with these vehicles?

 

[imp]

@Coolhand20th
Your questions mostly all strike me as being reminiscent of someone seeking to find answers from others without doing any work yourself.

Shame on you. imp

 

[Drewmcg]

Regardless what color coolant is in there now, 2003 Explorers had YELLOW coolant from the factory.
https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/main/quickref/coolantsEN.pdf

If you can't find, or don't want to buy Motorcraft® Gold Antifreeze/Coolant,
Zerex G-05 meets Ford's WSS-M97B51-A1 spec, and can be easily found.
https://www.valvoline.com/our-products/antifreeze-products/g-05-antifreeze-coolant

Actually, in '03 Ford Trucks transitioned to GOLD (not yellow--I know that the chart calls it that, but look at the "NOTES" at the bottom; the actual jug from Ford says "gold") HOAT coolant, which is supposed to last 150k miles. I just converted my '02 to HOAT coolant ( the Zerex G-05 is easy enough to find, and I got the service guy at Advanced Auto to give me a deal on 2 gallons concentrate, which is enough for the whole system). The stuff ain't cheap. I did full distilled water flush after putting in a new radiator, water pump, hoses, thermostat, etc. as part of an engine overhaul. The OEM coolant type should be indicated on sticker near radiator, coolant reservoir, or fan shroud. DON'T MIX COOLANT TYPES.

So you COULD save some $$ and leave that coolant in until you rack up 100k miles or so (in spite of the 5 year service interval). This is far less than the 150k service interval, but makes sense b/c you'd be way over the 5 years. But you might help preserve your system a bit better by changing it out now. Flush and re-fill w/50/50 mix of Zerex G-05 (or the Ford GOLD coolant from the dealer, same thing--HOAT). 2 gallons should give you approx. that mix.

BTW: The OEM transmission filters are great on these trucks and really don't need to be replaced before 150k miles. And the transmission pan gaskets are re-usable. You might want to save that new one until you get over 125k miles on this truck.

 

[Drewmcg]

Another question

What are some of the normal issues that I should watch for with these vehicles?

Most important are the 5k oil changes w/good (preferably Motocraft, or Wix) filter. This to minimize risk of premature timing chain failure due to worn guides. With scheduled oil changes and good filters (and any premium SN 5w-30 oil, conventional or synthetic), you should get 150k (maybe even close to 180k) miles before the timing chains/cassettes need replacing. They get noisy when they need attention.

The other big issue is the transmission. Mine is still working great at 185k, but many others have experienced problems. Periodic drain and fill w/Mercon V or Redline D4 (much more $$, but excellent) is about all you can do preventatively for that.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I'd add a larger cooler to the v6 transmissions. If you can cool the fluid a few degrees, it's life is increased quite a bit.

 

[Coolhand20th]

@Coolhand20th
Your questions mostly all strike me as being reminiscent of someone seeking to find answers from others without doing any work yourself.

Shame on you. imp

Really? So asking questions on a new vehicle that I have no knowledge of is trying to get other to do my work? Wow You must be a lot of fun in real life. I asked these questions because I saw different information out there online, from ford techs and from repair manuals. I would rather be safe then sorry. Being disabled for life I have limited financial resources and physical ability. However I still need this information so my father can do the physical labor for me since I am no longer able to after 89 surgeries at the age of 40 years old.

For oil changes all we use is either the Wix filters or the Ford version for our Ford vehicles. My dad was a machinist for Mobil Oil for 30 years so yeah I got taught a long time ago Synthetic and Wix filters were the way to go.

See the miles don't concern me on some of this, it is the age of them in the vehicle. It wasn't driven much and tbh I don't drive buy maybe 3,000 miles a year at most.

To the rest of you I really appreciate all the information you have given me! This is really going to help make this vehicle last a long time.

 

[TechGuru]

I'd add a larger cooler to the v6 transmissions. If you can cool the fluid a few degrees, it's life is increased quite a bit.

Mine came with a aux trans cooler between the condenser and radiator...

 

[imp]

Really? So asking questions on a new vehicle that I have no knowledge of is trying to get other to do my work? Wow You must be a lot of fun in real life. I asked these questions because I saw different information out there online, from ford techs and from repair manuals. I would rather be safe then sorry. Being disabled for life I have limited financial resources and physical ability. However I still need this information so my father can do the physical labor for me since I am no longer able to after 89 surgeries at the age of 40 years old.

To the rest of you I really appreciate all the information you have given me! This is really going to help make this vehicle last a long time.

At first, I was going to say nothing. Perhaps it was the way in which you asked your questions, perhaps I misunderstood. Now that you have clarified things, an apology is in order. There is no way of judging the intent of others in this new computer world, unfortunately, and no one appreciates being trolled, nor does one always know.

Sorry. imp

 

[Coolhand20th]

Understood on how it came across on the net, we've all been there it's not a problem and apology accepted. I have the knowledge to do all my own work I just don't have the physical ability anymore. Dad taught me from I was 8 to do my own work on our vehicles but with all the medical issues I have it is just not doable anymore. Trust me I'd much rather be physically able to do this and still work but I can barely walk at this point without the use of a cane so crawling underneath a vehicle is not in the cards.

Plus where I live I drive a minimum of 50 miles one way to all my doc appts and sometimes I have a trip out to Mayo Clinic as well once or twice a year. That is the majority of my miles right there.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Mine came with a aux trans cooler between the condenser and radiator...

That's why I said 'larger', and not 'a cooler'....... I've never seen one mounted between them, my three have all been front of the condenser, along with the power steering cooler. I'd add a secondary in series with the factory unit. The factory coolers aren't that large, and the garbage V6 transmissions (first and second gens) can use all the help they can get. I'm assuming they've improved the v6 transmissions by now.

 

[Joe in NY]

That's why I said 'larger', and not 'a cooler'....... I've never seen one mounted between them, my three have all been front of the condenser, along with the power steering cooler. I'd add a secondary in series with the factory unit. The factory coolers aren't that large, and the garbage V6 transmissions (first and second gens) can use all the help they can get. I'm assuming they've improved the v6 transmissions by now.

There is no "V6" transmission. There is only the 5R55 for the 3rd Gen. V6 or V8. The stock cooler is actually equivalent in terms of physical size to an F250 cooler! Yet someone stuck it behind the AC condenser which easily gets over 120*+... (Good job ford...) I added an external cooler from a 3rd Gen Sport Trac. It provides a 20* drop which I'm sure will help greatly. (It can't hurt!)

 

[Drewmcg]

Stock trans cooler sandwiched between condenser and radiator on '02 XLS (2wd) reported 170-ish degrees Fahrenheit not towing anything in 90-degrees Texas/Louisiana heat the past July (mostly highway speeds). This is after a Mercon V fluid change and new transmission filter. 180 k miles on the trans and the trans cooler.

Obviously pulling something heavy and/or with lots of wind resistance in hilly terrain in like heat would be a bigger strain/higher temps....