4.0 questions

[mr cribb]

I just got the x a few weeks ago. I traded a single cab ranger for it. I thoroughly enjoy the extra room.

My question is what is the HP and TQ ratings?
I know I have the 3.27 gears in the rear because I read the ID tag.
I have the 5 speed, and I shift at 1500 rpm only because it feels like she wont rev any higher....don't get me wrong she does I've had it at like 2200 rpm.

This X reminds me of a dump truck, it runs down the road real good, will do 65-70 mph.

There's no misses or sputters from the engine whatsoever.

Is there some recommended plugs and wires to go with? It still has the motorcraft 8mm wires I have seen the $27 set on summit racing are they good or just get some new Motorcraft wires?

The odometer reads 94750....dunno if its 94k or 194k or more.

All I have in this truck is a $23 heater core, because the car lot changed the water pump as part of the trade deal. Needless to say I am very pleased with my X, just wanting to know a little more about it.

 

[Slowlyvverot]

The HP is around 155 i think for the 92, torque is around 225. I believe they raised the HP a bit for the 93 and 94 models. Obviously you will have lost some of that power if your truck has 194k on it. If you're hungry for a more peppy truck you can find a junkyard explorer with 3.73 diffs and swap those over to your Ex. For plugs and wires I just use basic motorcraft stuff from Napa and it works great.

 

[mr cribb]

Ok thanks.

 

[Joe Dirt]

Agreed- Motorcraft parts have a long history of providing excellent replacement on our rigs. Stay away from Bosch at all costs... Not good...

 

[FIND]

I always put in motorcraft, autolite or NGK plugs. Motorcraft wires are perfect replacements. You won't get anything that works better I guess, but you can certainly get worse stuff. Either way, they are just a wire.... Not like there are any magical formulas to make wire work better.

As for whether or not your wires are still good..... well, normally you change them every 60k-80k miles along with plugs, so, one would have to know how long they have been there. Generally even changing them at that interval, they are still OK to use, so don't get too worried if they are older. You can check the resistance of the wires with a multimeter I guess. I can't remember how much resistance per foot is acceptable... meh who cares. A tune-up won't hurt your truck, and if it has been a while, there will certainly be a power or fuel economy improvement.

 

[Joe Dirt]

I agree with FIND. For what plugs and wires cost vs. what you're saving by not having a payment, I'd toss 'em on anyway...

 

[mr cribb]

I used Bosch wires on a 4 cyl probe one time that made the car come alive....granted I'm sure anything would've considering the probe had 170k on factory motorcraft stuff....yes plugs & wires.... It was my EX GF car and she bought it brand new in 95.....

I worked at AutoZone for a while and Bosch was the best there was for the money....but as I got older and wiser I realized factory stuff is just as good cause the engineers made it that way.

So where do I find motorcraft wires other than the dealer?

 

[Baddecision93]

HP, etc

Here is a nice link that gives a lot of technical specs about your X:
http://www.explorerforum.com/ntrprize/

 

[FIND]

I used Bosch wires on a 4 cyl probe one time that made the car come alive....granted I'm sure anything would've considering the probe had 170k on factory motorcraft stuff....yes plugs & wires.... It was my EX GF car and she bought it brand new in 95.....

I worked at AutoZone for a while and Bosch was the best there was for the money....but as I got older and wiser I realized factory stuff is just as good cause the engineers made it that way.

So where do I find motorcraft wires other than the dealer?

It is just bosch plugs that suck because they get all fancy with the electrodes. Besides, autozone.... well, doesn't take much to be the best parts they sell

If you want plugs

Rockauto.com
Motorcraft copper 1.50 ea
Motorcraft platinum 3.22 ea (oe plug)
Autolite Iridium 4.37 ea (I use these in my explorers, they last forever)

 

[mr cribb]

FIND....Yes Autozone parts are pretty much useless, and their customer service is going to crap each time I go there....which is probably why I use Advance or O'reilly Auto parts more often.

Baddecision93... I already looked at that spec sheet... wasn't as comprehensive as I was hoping for, but thanks for the help.

 

[mr cribb]

So I will post this here since it's kind of a spec question....

Is it wise to use 1qt of lucas trans stuff with the other 1.5qts of dextron?

Trans kinda has a rattle of the gears meshing....it could be low on fluid...again I dunno I just got it a few weeks ago.

On the ranger forum it was mentioned you could use 1 lucas and rest dextron.

The fill capacity is 2.5 qts correct?

 

[nostopin]

I have the 5 speed, and I shift at 1500 rpm only because it feels like she wont rev any higher....don't get me wrong she does I've had it at like 2200 rpm.

1500 RPM!!! do you have the 4.0l V-6? if I drive mine under 2000rpm it lugs bad. mine doesnt seam to make power untill 2100 or 2200. I shift at 2800 or 2900, and cruse at 2300-2600. I commute 115 miles a day and hold it at 2500 I get 20.8 mpg. I have had it as high as 3800 if I'm passing someone etc.

 

[mr cribb]

1500 RPM!!! do you have the 4.0l V-6? if I drive mine under 2000rpm it lugs bad. mine doesnt seam to make power untill 2100 or 2200. I shift at 2800 or 2900, and cruse at 2300-2600. I commute 115 miles a day and hold it at 2500 I get 20.8 mpg. I have had it as high as 3800 if I'm passing someone etc.

Yes I have the OHV engine, I also have 3.27 gears out back so it's kinda like driving a dump truck to begin with. I drive "like an old man" for ease on the engine and best in town economy I possibly can..... The only time mine lugs is under 1000 rpm like in a parking lot.

I drove the X out to Charlotte, NC and back and got 20.5 hwy mpg. My only city tank so far has been 15.5 mpg, keep in mind I haven't changed plugs or wires or even the oil yet. I have had it about 3 weeks so far.

The other day I was passing someone and had it up to 2500 or so rpm... It screamed like a bat out of hell.

 

[mr cribb]

So I will comment on my own post.... Manual trans takes 2.8 qts of cherry juice, just in case anyone was wondering

 

[mr cribb]

Okay... So I installed a flowmaster muffler and 2.5 pipe that I got (from a jeep guy who blew his motor).... and it's amazing how much better the X breathes. I cut off the factory muffler (I think) cause it had a heat shield welded to it. Anyway point being after almost 19 years on the road it must've been pretty choked up. It revs to 2500 with ease now.

I'm very happy with the $20 invested in the flowmaster and 2.5-3 foot of pipe I got with it. Yes $20 for a 40 series flowmaster and pipe, all I can say is thank you craigslist!