Helping a friend in need. 1998 Explorer, worth fixing?

[mpp313]

Hello everyone, I am trying to help my friend out who is having some rough times. The vehicle is a 1998 Explorer 4.0 x vin. About a year ago he called me and told me it was running rough. Np it had a fouled out spark plug. I didn't think much of it. 3 months later its at it again. The same spark plug. I ask him if he noticed any coolant missing, he said no. I offer to do his intake manifold gasket at this point but he didn't have the cash for parts. 4 months later here comes the exploder again. This time very clearly running on 3 or 4 cylinders. I pulled the spark plugs and #'s 2,4 and 5 all had large amounts of water in the cylinder. I clear the water out and proceed with a compression test to verify damage done. Compression ranging from 105,110 and 108 to 160-180. The truck has 200k on it. At this point its not worth it to tear it apart and put $100 worth of gaskets on it, but its the only vehicle he has. What is the likely hood of the head gaskets being bad? The engine was never over heated.

 

[rb142]

By water in the cylinders, you mean coolant, right? Or is there another water source involved (driving through deep water for example)?

If you have coolant in the cylinders and low compression, head gaskets are a possibility. I'd narrow it down first though. If you have compressed air, pressurize the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Where do you hear the air leaking out? Bubbles in the coolant (head gasket)? Air in the crankcase (past the rings)? Air in the exhaust or intake (past a valve). Is there any external leaking? Is the coolant level dropping? Smoke out the exhaust?

Why isn't it worth $100 of gaskets? If that's all it needs, it's a pretty cheap fix to get back on the road -- a lot cheaper than getting another vehicle.

 

[mpp313]

By water in the cylinders, you mean coolant, right? Or is there another water source involved (driving through deep water for example)?

If you have coolant in the cylinders and low compression, head gaskets are a possibility. I'd narrow it down first though. If you have compressed air, pressurize the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Where do you hear the air leaking out? Bubbles in the coolant (head gasket)? Air in the crankcase (past the rings)? Air in the exhaust or intake (past a valve). Is there any external leaking? Is the coolant level dropping? Smoke out the exhaust?

Why isn't it worth $100 of gaskets? If that's all it needs, it's a pretty cheap fix to get back on the road -- a lot cheaper than getting another vehicle.

Thanks for the reply. Yes by water I meant coolant. He had just been refilling it with water (where in florida). Thanks for the pressurized air solution. I said it wasn't worth the $100 gaskets because of the range of imbalance with the compression readings. I am a marine mechanic by trade and these numbers would never fly on an inboard. Also if it is the head gaskets, is this a normal push road engine? I read some where that this motor uses 2 sets of timing chains. One on the front that runs one cam and one on the back that runs another. Thanks for your input.

 

[J_C]

^ Most '98 Explorers with the 4.0 engine had a SOHC engine code E with the timing chains front and rear. Engine code X was the legacy pushrod OHV 4.0.

IMO, whether it's worth fixing depends on the state of the rest of the vehicle. Being in Florida is in your favor for having low rust unless very near the coast, but then there's life left in the tires, body damage, paint, shocks/other-suspension/brakes/etc. If the gaskets are the only significant work expected to be needed for the next couple years then it's probably worth it depending on what the labor is going to cost (whether you and he are going to do the work perhaps?).

 

[koda2000]

^ Most '98 Explorers with the 4.0 engine had a SOHC engine code E with the timing chains front and rear. Engine code X was the legacy pushrod OHV 4.0.

IMO, whether it's worth fixing depends on the state of the rest of the vehicle. Being in Florida is in your favor for having low rust unless very near the coast, but then there's life left in the tires, body damage, paint, shocks/other-suspension/brakes/etc. If the gaskets are the only significant work expected to be needed for the next couple years then it's probably worth it depending on what the labor is going to cost (whether you and he are going to do the work perhaps?).

another weak point with either of the V6's is the transmission. a rebuild can run over $2.000, a decent used one maybe $400 plus labor. how many miles on the odometer?

 

[mpp313]

another weak point with either of the V6's is the transmission. a rebuild can run over $2.000, a decent used one maybe $400 plus labor. how many miles on the odometer?

Thanks for the replies. I am glad to hear this is a push rod motor. 200k on truck. Body good condition, interior fair, tires are good, suspension is ok I replaced 75% of it a few years back. The transmission though, it goes fine in all gears but takes a good while to engage reverse.

 

[J_C]

^ To me it just seems like given someone who is hard pressed to afford a gasket set, for the time being $100 that would've went towards a gasket set plus ~ $600 salvage value, $700 total excluding labor, isn't going to buy a replacement vehicle without its own share of substantial problems, a vehicle that may also need engine and/or tranny work done sooner rather than later.

Then again a small economy car would save a lot on gas.