4.0L OHV "X" motor advice/help needed

[qwklil4]

Here is the situation. I've got a 2000 Explorer with the 4.0L OHV "X" vin motor in it. The gf drives it daily. Apparently, the oil filter wasn't tightened up enough by the jiffy lube ####ers and it was leaking oil BAD. She came to me one day and asked if I knew what the ticking noise was. I checked the oil level. Dipstick was bone dry. Drained the oil, installed new filter, added oil. The ticking is still there, but not quite as loud as before.

Buddy of mine said it sounds like it could either be a bad lifter or valve. After I added the fresh oil, I got under the truck and was checking for leaks. The ticking was pretty loud under the truck as well. It sounds more like a nasty lifter tick vs. a rod bearing going out. It also appears to have a blown head gasket or 2. The truck has been eating coolant for a while. As I filled up the radiator this time around, I found where the coolant was going, as the radiator was filled with a **** brown liquid.

The motor has 140k miles on it. The previous owner didn't take care of the truck for ****. We bought it in 06, as an 00 model, and only paid $3k for it, if that tells ya the condition it was in when we got it. And the gf dont take care of it either.

I'm trying to spend as little money as possible on this thing. So.....the trans needs a rebuild, possibly 1 or 2 blown head gaskets, possible bad lifter/valve, or a rod bearing going bad. If this POS was yours, what would you do first, to get the most mileage out of it, via the cheapest possible fix? What's an easier job? Replacing rod bearings? Or pulling the heads, replacing valve/lifter?

Any kind of guidance on the matter would help in getting every last mile out of this thing before it dies. Oh, and we still owe on it, BTW

 

[Vinniety]

Here is the situation. I've got a 2000 Explorer with the 4.0L OHV "X" vin motor in it. The gf drives it daily. Apparently, the oil filter wasn't tightened up enough by the jiffy lube ####ers and it was leaking oil BAD. She came to me one day and asked if I knew what the ticking noise was. I checked the oil level. Dipstick was bone dry. Drained the oil, installed new filter, added oil. The ticking is still there, but not quite as loud as before.

Buddy of mine said it sounds like it could either be a bad lifter or valve. After I added the fresh oil, I got under the truck and was checking for leaks. The ticking was pretty loud under the truck as well. It sounds more like a nasty lifter tick vs. a rod bearing going out. It also appears to have a blown head gasket or 2. The truck has been eating coolant for a while. As I filled up the radiator this time around, I found where the coolant was going, as the radiator was filled with a **** brown liquid.

The motor has 140k miles on it. The previous owner didn't take care of the truck for ****. We bought it in 06, as an 00 model, and only paid $3k for it, if that tells ya the condition it was in when we got it. And the gf dont take care of it either.

I'm trying to spend as little money as possible on this thing. So.....the trans needs a rebuild, possibly 1 or 2 blown head gaskets, possible bad lifter/valve, or a rod bearing going bad. If this POS was yours, what would you do first, to get the most mileage out of it, via the cheapest possible fix? What's an easier job? Replacing rod bearings? Or pulling the heads, replacing valve/lifter?

Any kind of guidance on the matter would help in getting every last mile out of this thing before it dies. Oh, and we still owe on it, BTW

As it sounds you really dont have an idea what exactly is causing the noise and by changing this and that its going to run you money. I would go to the junk yard and get a low or at least decent mileage running motor and tranny and swap it out. That way you can also do a coolant flush and way you go. You might want to give it a tune up while you have the motor out and enjoy.

My 2 cents....

 

[Glen4X4]

I agree with Vinniety, go that route.

 

[qwklil4]

The body on this truck is junk. It was in an accident, and the driv. side door doesn't completely seal. So it whistles/howls while going down the highway. Interior is shot. Me spending $1000 on another motor/trans isn't an acceptable alternative. I'd rather junk the truck, and go buy some other beater than drop $1000 into it buying/swapping motor/trans. Plus....my little 1 car garage is too small to do a motor swap in. Also, have no experience swapping engines in these things.

 

[Glen4X4]

Well if you've still got a loan on it, you can't really junk it (most places around here don't take a vehicle without a title these days). I don't know what to tell ya if you don't want to do that stuff, you may find a better deal than $1k for a motor and trans

 

[Vinniety]

The body on this truck is junk. It was in an accident, and the driv. side door doesn't completely seal. So it whistles/howls while going down the highway. Interior is shot. Me spending $1000 on another motor/trans isn't an acceptable alternative. I'd rather junk the truck, and go buy some other beater than drop $1000 into it buying/swapping motor/trans. Plus....my little 1 car garage is too small to do a motor swap in. Also, have no experience swapping engines in these things.

Well you didnt indicate those other issues in the first post so with that said you have two choices. One part it out and try to recoop some of the money or two sell it to someone that will use it for off road or demolition dirby. HAHA

Good luck to what ever way you chose.

 

[96eb96]

Here is the situation. I've got a 2000 Explorer with the 4.0L OHV "X" vin motor in it. The gf drives it daily. Apparently, the oil filter wasn't tightened up enough by the jiffy lube ####ers and it was leaking oil BAD. She came to me one day and asked if I knew what the ticking noise was. I checked the oil level. Dipstick was bone dry. Drained the oil, installed new filter, added oil. The ticking is still there, but not quite as loud as before.

Buddy of mine said it sounds like it could either be a bad lifter or valve. After I added the fresh oil, I got under the truck and was checking for leaks. The ticking was pretty loud under the truck as well. It sounds more like a nasty lifter tick vs. a rod bearing going out. It also appears to have a blown head gasket or 2. The truck has been eating coolant for a while. As I filled up the radiator this time around, I found where the coolant was going, as the radiator was filled with a **** brown liquid.

The motor has 140k miles on it. The previous owner didn't take care of the truck for ****. We bought it in 06, as an 00 model, and only paid $3k for it, if that tells ya the condition it was in when we got it. And the gf dont take care of it either.

I'm trying to spend as little money as possible on this thing. So.....the trans needs a rebuild, possibly 1 or 2 blown head gaskets, possible bad lifter/valve, or a rod bearing going bad. If this POS was yours, what would you do first, to get the most mileage out of it, via the cheapest possible fix? What's an easier job? Replacing rod bearings? Or pulling the heads, replacing valve/lifter?

Any kind of guidance on the matter would help in getting every last mile out of this thing before it dies. Oh, and we still owe on it, BTW

I wouldn't trust jiffy lube to make coffee let alone an oil change. You should have pursued the matter with them and they may have taken care of the engine. Try maxlife oil, I've seen it help certain situations. Its like $12 at walmart.

What are the trans symptoms?

 

[qwklil4]

What are the trans symptoms?

While it's in D, it will slip from a stop. Sometimes it just free revs, then finally drops into gear. If you take off from 1 or 2, then shift into D, it doesn't slip at all.

 

[96eb96]

While it's in D, it will slip from a stop. Sometimes it just free revs, then finally drops into gear. If you take off from 1 or 2, then shift into D, it doesn't slip at all.

Did you check the fluid level when warm? When was the last fluid filter serivce?

 

[99xlsdude]

I would drive it VERY GENTLY until it dies - it is not worth fixing. However, I would perform the relatively inexpensive services listed above to maybe buy a little more time (change trans fluid if old, use maxlife oil and any/all additives that might help).

There is hope that it may last awhile. My brother has a 1994 Taurus with the 3.8L engine (not one of Ford's finest). Around 35,000 miles (3.5 years) ago it started mixing oil and antifreeze (dealer said it was headgaskets). Without any repair, it is still running. He doesn't push it and keeps a close eye on the fluid levels and temperature guage. The heater is weak (probably due to oil accumulation/clogging) and he has to be careful in hot weather (otherwise it overheats) - otherwise it continues to run OK.

Good luck.