3.5 NA reliability

[wellcraft]

Hi guys, was reading a thread on Facebook about issues with both 3.5 engines but I'm more interested in the NA as it's what I have. I bought my 2017 xlt with the 3.5l NA and I came to the forum and ask about the new explorer but never read about engine issues. I sold my 2015 kia optima sxl with the 2.0 turbo with 14k miles because they were having catastrophic engine failures and I didn't want to deal with that but now I'm learning the new explorer are having engine failures too.

Is this true, is there something I can do to avoid tany future problems, also read about water pumps going bad. It makes me nervous as we bought the kia for long term, 10+ years and loss $10k in 2 years, decided to get an explorer with the same idea, to keep it for a very long time.

So, it's this really true or the engines aren't really bad?

 

[JAPeterson]

I have the 2016 na and am not worried about all that I read on the failures.

However I do plan on doing oil analisis on each oil change just to see what is in it, and if I start to see coolant in the oil then I will address the water pump. Also regular maintenance on all the other fluids in the vehicle.

You do have to realize that 90% of the members on a forum like this come to find out what happened to their engine or transmission after it died on them. Very seldom do you see a member say how good the vehicle has been with their first post.

 

[Marcus22]

Don’t worry about it. Since the internal water pump, I am getting an oil sample every so often to check on that. But other than that it’s a very popular motor and most people post here when they have problems.

 

[TN13LimVol]

You do have to realize that 90% of the members on a forum like this come to find out what happened to their engine or transmission after it died on them. Very seldom do you see a member say how good the vehicle has been with their first post.

This speaks to me on so many levels...granted bought a used 2013 Limited awd with 96k mi, year and half later, it's been in the shop 4 times, replaced all the seals on PTU, transmission shot, replaced that...then all the little stuff that continues to nag at me. Only hanging onto it until I can break even and trade for something better.

Hoping I just got the oddball and you have better luck with yours.

 

[peterk9]

I don't know what issues you are referring to with the two engines. The reason most engines here have had to be replaced was because of the water pump failure. Water pump failure leads to dead engine There have been very few instances otherwise and I believe they were in the earlier year models. Need new engine
If you are really concerned about the engine you can always purchase the Ford Extended Warranty. Ford ESP at dealer cost to forum members

Peter

 

[tjhuber]

FWIW I just sold my 2008 Edge with the 3.5 NA. It had 228,000 trouble free miles. No water pump or other major issues. Coolant was regularly changed which seems to be key to preventing any issues. Same with the transmission. Regular fluid changes (not flushes) and it also was going good at 228k

 

[gmcv893]

However I do plan on doing oil analisis on each oil change just to see what is in it, and if I start to see coolant in the oil then I will address the water pump.

If you don't mind me asking what does an oil analysis run at the dealer?

Our family has both 3.5 NA, and the 3.5 turbo so we are definitely going to do the preventative maintenance.

 

[JAPeterson]

I doubt that there is a dealer out there that would run a oil analysis for you or even use one as proof that there might be something wrong.

If you have the dealer do your oil changes talk to the service manager about it and see if they will do it for you. If not you can do it yourself at home.

I use Blackstone Labs for my diesel truck and will use them for my Explorer. Once you pull a sample and get it sent to them the results are fairly quick and will be returned to you via email. Also if the dealer does your oil changes you will need to get something to siphon some oil out of the oil pan. You can get a 200cc syringe from Amazon for a few bucks or Blackstone sells one on their site to pull the sample through the dipstick tube.

Blackstone Labs

 

[gmcv893]

Appreciate the further explanation, and I really didn't do any research on the matter. So your post helps me out! Maybe it will help the OP out as well as I'm not trying to sidebar his post.

 

[1995E]

I can tell you personally the 3.5L N/A is a solid engine if it wasn’t for the internal waterpump. I have abused my engine for 7 years and 4 months. I have taken vast long distance road trips about 2K miles roundtrip each time. I have towed a 2003 Ford Taurus hatchback with 7 people in the car and I was probably well over the gross vehicle weight limit but it did it fine. I have floored it a lot. I even went speeds of 110MPH.

The only thing I had regarding the engine was a misfire but that was due to the spark plugs being so out of gap at 86K miles. So replaced them and the engine ran like new, and floored the throttle with no issues.

I’m at 95K miles now and the engine still runs like brand new. I think if I can abuse my engine this much and the car still runs with no performance loss, it would be solid for a long time as long as the waterpump is replaced as preventative maintenance. The only thing is the waterpump is 1,500 USD to replace... I’m going to replace mine once it hits 100K miles.

 

[Sixonemale]

FWIW I just sold my 2008 Edge with the 3.5 NA. It had 228,000 trouble free miles. No water pump or other major issues. Coolant was regularly changed which seems to be key to preventing any issues. Same with the transmission. Regular fluid changes (not flushes) and it also was going good at 228k

You don't post much and showed up out the blue, but if you check back I would like to understand how often you changed your coolant and transmission fluid. It also appears that you were averaging about 22,800 miles/year, so I also assume much of your mileage is comprised of freeway driving.

 

[Sixonemale]

I’m at 95K miles now and the engine still runs like brand new. I think if I can abuse my engine this much and the car still runs with no performance loss, it would be solid for a long time as long as the waterpump is replaced as preventative maintenance. The only thing is the waterpump is 1,500 USD to replace... I’m going to replace mine once it hits 100K miles.

I'll be curious as to what else might be recommended to be replaced when you change your water pump out. I assume they will pull your engine to replace the pump, so I'm thinking they could recommend replacing the timing change, spark plugs, etc. On a positive note, since the engine is pulled labor costs should be reduced significantly for the timing chain and spark plugs. In other words there is no way these should be billed as three separate jobs. Please give us an update after this 100,000 mile service. TIA

 

[Halwg]

The biggest problem with the 3.5L NA engine is that it's a gas hog. Ford has done a really poor job of gas mileage with this engine.

 

[cwescapexlt4x4]

The biggest problem with the 3.5L NA engine is that it's a gas hog. Ford has done a really poor job of gas mileage with this engine.

I average with mixed driving roughly 20-23mpg in my FWD heavy Explorer so I don't think it's too bad for a 3 row SUV.

 

[XLT16]

I had a Acadia prior to my Explorer, the equivalent engine to the 3.5L and I get 10% better mileage with the Explorer. Getting about 22/23 mpg on the highway is not bad for as big a vehicle as this is, with the Acadia I would get 19/20 mpg.

I had one issue , the throttle body failed, it is a known problem for vehicles produced from Aug 2015 thru to about April 2016. Seems a supplier issue with this part. Replaced under warranty, no issues otherwise but I have just 21k miles on it. I liked my Acadia, also like my Explorer, it was a better value , more for the money I thought and I preferred the looks of the Ford to the new Acadia design.

 

[Halwg]

I had a Acadia prior to my Explorer, the equivalent engine to the 3.5L and I get 10% better mileage with the Explorer. Getting about 22/23 mpg on the highway is not bad for as big a vehicle as this is, with the Acadia I would get 19/20 mpg.

I had one issue , the throttle body failed, it is a known problem for vehicles produced from Aug 2015 thru to about April 2016. Seems a supplier issue with this part. Replaced under warranty, no issues otherwise but I have just 21k miles on it. I liked my Acadia, also like my Explorer, it was a better value , more for the money I thought and I preferred the looks of the Ford to the new Acadia design.

I call BS on this. I had a 2014 XLT with the 3.5L and on the highway 18 - 19 was all I ever got doing 68 mph. With my 2016 with the 2.3 L Ecoboost, I get 25 - 26. I've never seen a 3.5L Explorer get 23 unless you live somewhere in the mid-west where the roads are flat. You won't even approach that in WV.

 

[Odrapnew]

I call BS on this. I had a 2014 XLT with the 3.5L and on the highway 18 - 19 was all I ever got doing 68 mph. With my 2016 with the 2.3 L Ecoboost, I get 25 - 26. I've never seen a 3.5L Explorer get 23 unless you live somewhere in the mid-west where the roads are flat. You won't even approach that in WV.

Why is that hard to believe?

I'm in the Midwest and over the summer of 2015, when I was doing a lot of highway driving, I averaged 21.75mpg from June 1st to October 31st. This is in my Sport. I'd say average speed was 65-70mph when I was cruising with some stop and go traffic mixed in. 87 octane with oxygenated fuel.

 

[1995E]

I call BS on this. I had a 2014 XLT with the 3.5L and on the highway 18 - 19 was all I ever got doing 68 mph. With my 2016 with the 2.3 L Ecoboost, I get 25 - 26. I've never seen a 3.5L Explorer get 23 unless you live somewhere in the mid-west where the roads are flat. You won't even approach that in WV.

WV has almost no traffic though. Wait till you drive in the DC MD VA area. Your wallet would bleed lol

 

[tjhuber]

You don't post much and showed up out the blue, but if you check back I would like to understand how often you changed your coolant and transmission fluid. It also appears that you were averaging about 22,800 miles/year, so I also assume much of your mileage is comprised of freeway driving.

Yes - it has been a while since I posted here. I was over on the Edge forum until I recently bought an Explorer. I live north of NYC so my driving has been mixed highway/city. Coolant flushes were roughly every 50k. I used only Ford coolant. I had the trans changed roughly every 75k. Again not flushed. There is a guy on the Edge forum who has had multiple Edge’s with over 150k. He posts a lot of pretty good videos on the work he has done on the 3.5.

 

[XLT16]

Call it whatever you like, been back to forth to Florida twice with this vehicle and averaged that both times. Also did the same trip with my Acadia a number of times. Of course that is the computer telling me that based on those trips , maybe it's lying. That is highway driving only, we do it in two days, straight down from Canada. The Acadia computer measured it's mileage as well, just telling you what the computers told me on identical 1200 mile highway trips. Your really going to call this BS, my Corvette gets 33 mpg on the highway. Technology has come a long way with IC engines.