Highway Issues

[239]

Hey everyone, well the old Explorer is once again having problems,I had an issue before I had the leaks in my engine fixed(ALL the gaskets were bad and were changed). Back then I couldn't go over 60 mph because of all the leaks from the valve covers to the intake. That's all been corrected now and I can finally hit 70 mph, I've got a problem however. To get there I have to almost floor the thing and it feels like the engine is making a whole lot of struggle for nothing. My rpms are at 2,200 while at 70 and only go up to about 2,500 at 75-80. Is that right? I also have a slight movement while on the highway above 60. It feels just like when a strong gust of wind hits the vehicle only there's no wind out and it jerks to the sides, not too much but still scary. It drives fine in the city, just doesn't want to behave on the highway. Idk, only thing I can think of is clogged up cats since they're stock or a bad throttle or sensor. Mechanic told me the rods and injectors looked fine and two months later still no CEL just a high idle at 1,100 rpms and a noise like marbles in a tin can. Sorry for the long post, I'm gonna be going to school soon and need to take the highway often. Thanks for any help. This forum is awesome and has helped me a LOT in the past.

 

[yavapaires]

Hey everyone, well the old Explorer is once again having problems,I had an issue before I had the leaks in my engine fixed(ALL the gaskets were bad and were changed). Back then I couldn't go over 60 mph because of all the leaks from the valve covers to the intake. That's all been corrected now and I can finally hit 70 mph, I've got a problem however. To get there I have to almost floor the thing and it feels like the engine is making a whole lot of struggle for nothing. My rpms are at 2,200 while at 70 and only go up to about 2,500 at 75-80. Is that right? I also have a slight movement while on the highway above 60. It feels just like when a strong gust of wind hits the vehicle only there's no wind out and it jerks to the sides, not too much but still scary. It drives fine in the city, just doesn't want to behave on the highway. Idk, only thing I can think of is clogged up cats since they're stock or a bad throttle or sensor. Mechanic told me the rods and injectors looked fine and two months later still no CEL just a high idle at 1,100 rpms and a noise like marbles in a tin can. Sorry for the long post, I'm gonna be going to school soon and need to take the highway often. Thanks for any help. This forum is awesome and has helped me a LOT in the past.

Rods and injectors look fine? Which rods he talking about? Did he actually pull the injectors? Sounds like marbles in a tin can, how many miles on it? The marble noise, well that could be a number of things. My 96 OHV with 150k has bad rocker arms and push rods. I replaced the left bank, still need to do the right bank, but it will exceed 80 MPH with ease. Mine cruises at 2100-2200 @ 65 MPH. But it is a 96 with 3.73 gears and 235/75 tires. The valve cover leaks won't have any effect on the speed. The intake leaks however, are a different story. But you say they are fixed.

 

[239]

Rods and injectors look fine? Which rods he talking about? Did he actually pull the injectors? Sounds like marbles in a tin can, how many miles on it? The marble noise, well that could be a number of things. My 96 OHV with 150k has bad rocker arms and push rods. I replaced the left bank, still need to do the right bank, but it will exceed 80 MPH with ease. Mine cruises at @ 65 MPH. But it is a 96 with 3.73 gears and 235/75 tires. The valve cover leaks won't have any effect on the speed. The intake leaks however, are a different story. But you say they are fixed.

The ones visible when you get down to the lower intake(sorry I'm not really a car expert, just getting started). I'm guessing he inspected the injectors since I had the O rings on them replaced too. My X has 161,000 miles and yeah no more leaks, I'm not getting a CEL anymore, could it still leak? The mechanic was surprised when I told him I couldn't hit 70 but I told him that after he had put the engine back together. It has more power since the fixes and idles better, I just get the 1,000 rpm idle when I start the car, after that it idles at 800-900 and lower in drive at a stop. I think it's going back to the shop soon. I'm checking the TB thursday.

 

[239]

Just to update I took it to the shop and the mechanic said it runs right at 70 mph, he said he even took it up to 90 without any problems, I've been driving on the highway since, guess it's just my opinion that it's taking too much throttle to get it there but now that I think about it I shouldn't expect a lot of power from a 13 year old engine that only had 160 hp when it was new . He just recommended a transmission filter and fluid change. As for the movement I'm guessing it was my tires being broken in. They only had about 500 miles on them when it would shake. It's been a long process bringing this X back after sitting for a year but i'm almost done.