4.0 vs 4.6?

[mrtim4u]

I have a 96 explorer with 157k 4.0 4x4...looking at a 04 4.6 160k 4x4...I hear the 4.0 will do 300k if not more..how about the 4.6?? Major issues? Should I trade..or walk away? Reason for looking is looking to pull a camper next gold prospecting year

 

[Joe in NY]

4.6 is by far more reliable. Its used in expeditions, f150's. e150's, e250's, mustangs etc...

the 4.0 SOHC V6 is what makes Explorers -> Exploders!

 

[ExcursionMJ]

I've liked the two 4.0L V6s better than my V8 to be honest, but in fairness the car with the v8 has a lot of issues. Where as the two 4.0L V6s were some of the nicest and best taken care of vehicles I've ever seen. I don't think you can go wrong either way. I will say I like the old 4.6L v8 in my Lincoln Mark VIII and the 4.6 in my mountaineer seems to have more get up and go than the 4.0. It also has worse gas mileage. I will say if you expect to tow, the 4.6 may be better. I wouldn't tow a whole lot with the 4.0s.

 

[Joe in NY]

I wouldn't count on towing with an explorer ever, period. The way the 5r55 drives I'm afraid it will shatter with any trailer...

 

[Tyleryac]

The 4.6 is a great engine. The 4.0 has timing chain issues but it's solid with good HP and Tourque.

 

[Sock Puppet]

I wouldn't count on towing with an explorer ever, period. The way the 5r55 drives I'm afraid it will shatter with any trailer...

I tow my sailboat with mine (about 2900 lbs total) and have been fairly pleased with the transmission's performance. Of course, mine shifts pretty good empty, too.

 

[Joe in NY]

Mine is in great shape. Only 65K miles. But its a v6 tranny that ford just said "Good enough for a V8!" AH! The 302W had an actual mid duty trans. Not a light duty V6 trans! And I can tell that it is still programmed for the V6. The shift points are ridiculous. If this motor has any balls, the trans wont let it show...

 

[Donystoy]

I frequently tow a heavy tandem trailer with a small Kubota backhoe on it as well as a 25 foot house trailer occasionally. I have an 02 with a 4.6 v8 and it has always performed beautifully with ample power. Brought home four loads (two yards each) of crusher run gravel some time ago. Now that was a challenge and was over the limit. I would have had it delivered but it was to be installed past some interlocking stones.

 

[lincolnshibuya]

the 4.6 has proven itself to be reliable, it's used in taxis and limos with mileage beyond 300k (crown vic and town cars) My 98 continental is still running pretty strong. Most of the transmission repair shops admit that the 5r55w/s/n transmissions are pieces of junk that mates to this engine.

 

[mrtim4u]

Great information guys and very fast posting s why you guys are the best still driving my 96 4.0 right now but I'm liking the 46

 

[jd4242]

Should a 96 be the 4.0 ohv not 4.0 sohc?? If so none of the timing issues that have been started relate to the ohv..the 96 ohv motor is about bullet proof

 

[Trac Marks]

I just towed a friends running 67 Impalla (3450 pounds) stuffed with another 500+ pounds of extra parts 450 miles on a flatbed trailer across east Texas. V8 Explorer with 6-speed auto. For most of the trip I didn't even know the load was back there but the fuel gauge sure reminded me. Truck had plenty of power to spare, 2 adults in the cabin.

V8 Explorer will tow your camper just fine, you'll just need to average an ounce of gold a day for fuel.

 

[Joe in NY]

Well now that is different. If you have the 6 speed then you also have the 3V 4.6.

The 6 speed has proved far better than the 5r55. And the 4.6 you have feature 3V heads, intake, VVT, and exhaust. Much better power band on that motor than the 2V.

2V: 240HP 280 FT LBs
3V: 300HP 320 FT LBs

Big difference. Plus on top of the extra power, you have a much better spread transmission. Understandable how the 2005+ explorers tow better than the 2002-2004 explorers.

 

[dieselscout80]

Can the 2006 and newer six speed auto be swapped into a 2003 with a 4.6?

 

[Limited02]

Well now that is different. If you have the 6 speed then you also have the 3V 4.6.

The 6 speed has proved far better than the 5r55. And the 4.6 you have feature 3V heads, intake, VVT, and exhaust. Much better power band on that motor than the 2V.

2V: 240HP 280 FT LBs
3V: 292HP 300 FT LBs

Big difference. Plus on top of the extra power, you have a much better spread transmission. Understandable how the 2006+ explorers tow better than the 2002-2004 explorers.

Fixed

Can the 2006 and newer six speed auto be swapped into a 2003 with a 4.6?

It's very possible to make it work, but I personally don't think it's worth it. The 5R55 isn't that bad of a transmission IMO. Yes I had it rebuilt at 90K and I now have 190K on it and it shifts and pulls loads just fine.

OP - I personally would go with the 4.6 V8 because it's a very solid engine. As mentioned, I have 190K (bought it with 67k) and in the 8 years I've owned it, I've only replaced the COP's. I average about 18.5mpg on my daily commute (70 miles) and it provides plenty of passing power. I have a cat-back exhaust, CAI and tune.

 

[Joe in NY]

How big of difference was the tune after cat back and cai?

 

[Limited02]

How big of difference was the tune after cat back and cai?

Cat-back only and full weight (minus spare tire only) I ran a 15.9. Added the tune and went 15.4 full weight (minus spare tire only). Removed the second and third row seat and spare and went 15.1 with the cat-back and tune only on 20's.

I haven't run with the CAI yet as I'd like to have my tune tweaked to reflect it. From the butt dyno, it seems to pull a little better in the mid to upper RPM's and if anything, it just sounds plain awesome! I did take it to the dyno a few months ago and she laid down 216hp and 270tq.

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=408223

 

[Exproblems]

Should a 96 be the 4.0 ohv not 4.0 sohc?? If so none of the timing issues that have been started relate to the ohv..the 96 ohv motor is about bullet proof

I had a 1992 Explorer that had a 4.0L V-6 in it, not certain if it was an "OHV" engine or not but that engine was great. I towed my boat (22ft Regal, cuddy, w/350 V-8) and a dual axle Shorelander trailer back and forth from my house to Lake Erie all the time and had no problems towing with it all. Plenty of power, even when taking it out of the water up steep boat launches at the "Small Boat Harbor", Buffalo, NY. I even towed the boat down to Chautauqua Lake which was roughly a 70 mile drive (one way)with a lot of rolling hills to go up and down with no issues. The engine in that Explorer ran flawlessly and was still running great when I junked the truck. The tranny crapped out and the body was rusting out, wasn't worth the money to keep it on the road.

 

[jd4242]

I had a 1992 Explorer that had a 4.0L V-6 in it, not certain if it was an "OHV" engine or not but that engine was great. I towed my boat (22ft Regal, cuddy, w/350 V-8) and a dual axle Shorelander trailer back and forth from my house to Lake Erie all the time and had no problems towing with it all. Plenty of power, even when taking it out of the water up steep boat launches at the "Small Boat Harbor", Buffalo, NY. I even towed the boat down to Chautauqua Lake which was roughly a 70 mile drive (one way)with a lot of rolling hills to go up and down with no issues. The engine in that Explorer ran flawlessly and was still running great when I junked the truck. The tranny crapped out and the body was rusting out, wasn't worth the money to keep it on the road.

92 was ohv..if I remember the sohc started in 97..

 

[Exproblems]

92 was ohv..if I remember the sohc started in 97..

Ok thanks. It's probably why (OHV) it was such a solid motor.