How much life can I expect the SOHC V6 too go?

[tchalm]

It depends - on a lot of things, not just the engine - as has been mentioned.

Do you know if the tranny has been replaced or rebuilt or serviced regularly? A tranny that has been serviced regularly has a much better chance of lasting longer than a tranny that has been abused (and I define 'abuse' as 'not taken care of'.)

And here's another way of looking at it: consider the total cost of keeping it on the road; don't look only at what you just paid for it - the rig might actually be worth a whole lot more over the long run. For instance, several years and 120,000 miles ago, I paid $5K for my 98 SOHC. The tranny failed shortly afterwards, so I paid $3K to have it rebuilt. $8K total might seem like a lot but for many years, and 120K miles of service, it's not a bad deal at all. Besides that, I still love the rig even though some of the interior items are wearing, and now it's time to replace ball joints, control arms, and the belt tensioner which broke yesterday.

Of course, anything can turn out to be a bucket of bolts, or a dream machine. And that depends largely on how it has been maintained. If it's been well maintained, it has a better chance of being a great rig. If it's been abused, it could get really expensive.

That's my 2 cents. And yes, your mileage may vary .

 

[C420sailor]

If your SOHC isn't yet making the death rattle, it'll probably last for a good while. Mine has sounded like someone dumped a bucket of marbles in it for the last 80,000+ miles and I haven't done ****---still running. That being said, I'm lining up a replacement engine as we speak...

As for the tranny, my torque converter started to eat itself and a band broke at 140k, so I had it rebuilt---but it was still driving fine.

 

[BustedKnuckles24]

My 2000 Limited is still going strong with 260,000 miles on it. The only thing done to the engine besides tune-ups has been the intake manifold gaskets and the lower thermostat housing. However the 5R55E transmission is showing signs of impending doom, since it shifts fine, except will not go into 4th or 5th gear and the torque converter doesn't lock up. Nursing it right now, since it runs fine until it trips the 'limp' mode and flashes the O/D light. Shutting it down and restarting kicks it out of that.

 

[J_C]

Don't gamble on our predictions. Averages are only averages.

If it runs good right now you have some breathing room. If it doesn't, decide what you're willing to invest in time and money or for a replacement vehicle.

Every older vehicle is a ticking time bomb with something that's going to make it unworthy or worthy of repair depending on your determination and DIY skill level.

Then again you can treat it better than your first born child and still have some moron plow into it and total it.

 

[mark11]

1998 of same

MY 1998 of same model you got went out at 300,000.00 miles. I was pushing it pretty hard though, for about 6 months of tons of road driving on wkds., much of it out in desefrt under grueling heat...and probably didn;t stay on top of my coolant.

Long story short, head gasket went out...water and coolant got in engine and it locked up. I bought it at 100,000.00 miels from a soccer mom who cherried it. So, I got 200,000 miles out of it for 4 grand.

I dropped in a used engine at 100,000 miles few months back; redid my brakes, the rotors; recently popped head gasket but, instead of replacing head gasket via mechanic w/ proper tools in a garage for 2 grand...I put in BLUE DEVIL GASKET SEALER; new thermostat, belts, water hose, spark plugs; flushed out oil, put new oil in -- runs like a champ now. No overheat; no water loss...HUG FANATIC for BLUE DEVIL SEALER now. MAJOR!

I expect to keep my EXPLORER for another 200,000 miles.

MARK11

 

[MakinJeepsWeep!]

96 AWD 5.0 286k before pulling Trans to replace seal and decided to rebuild and Trans was almost shot even though it showed 0 signs of failing and I was still towing time to time with it. 06 mercury mountaineer 4.0 luxury 186 before caskets gave now has 250k somthing i think nothing else done aside normal things. 01 ranger 3.0 270k some odd I think never had anything g done but clutch as a big repair. 96 we got at 86k 06 we got at 110kish 01 we got about the same 120ish more i think. All have had repairs alts water pumps ball joints etc obviously but I personally have had great luck. I do however do extremely regular borderline over kill maintenance though as well run only Motorcraft oils and filters. Including antifreeze diff etc. Hope this helps.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

326k on this one. just fluid and filter stuff. primary guide went out at 310 replaced it and still runs strong

 

[Lee's Automotive]

276K on mine all original and still running strong

 

[C420sailor]

Old thread, but for the SOHC it really just comes down to the plastic timing components. They’re the limiting factor. If you can keep yours intact, the motor will last. The rest is extremely durable.

As for the trans @MakinJeepsWeep! …that’s why I love the 5.0/4R70W. It isn’t often that a manufacturer overbuilds a vehicle with regard to the auto trans, but it’s absolutely overkill in these trucks…and as a result they LAST. The 4R70 is just an absolute tank.

 

[koda2000]

96 AWD 5.0 286k before pulling Trans to replace seal and decided to rebuild and Trans was almost shot even though it showed 0 signs of failing and I was still towing time to time with it. 06 mercury mountaineer 4.0 luxury 186 before caskets gave now has 250k somthing i think nothing else done aside normal things. 01 ranger 3.0 270k some odd I think never had anything g done but clutch as a big repair. 96 we got at 86k 06 we got at 110kish 01 we got about the same 120ish more i think. All have had repairs alts water pumps ball joints etc obviously but I personally have had great luck. I do however do extremely regular borderline over kill maintenance though as well run only Motorcraft oils and filters. Including antifreeze diff etc. Hope this helps.

In my experience of dealing with the Ford 4.0L SOHC engines, around 200K is their typical milage without replacing timing chain components (which in the case of the rear TC set is an engine out job). Many here say that changing the oil often will allow longer engine life, but as the typical damage is broken/worn out plastic timing chain guides and tensions I don't agree with this opinion. The plastic parts wear and/or become brittle with heat cycles and age and then disintegrate. The tensions wear out/become weak at around 75K and should be replaced. I pulled my 2001 Sport Trac's engine out several years ago and rebuilt it with OEM parts. It's a lengthy, difficult process and OEM parts (if available) are expensive and harder to accomplish w/out special tools. Since this major job I have not have any further issues, but I always build oil pressure before cold starting and change my oil at 3,000-4,000-mile intervals using high quality full synthetic engine oil and filters.

Finally, the 5R55E transmissions also seem to have around a 200K life expectancy. Mine bit the dust about 3,000 miles after I rebuilt my engine and added another $3,200 to my costs. Was it worth it? IDK. All I can tell you is that I would not touch another high mileage 4.0L SOHC Ford engine or trans. The one you're considering at 250K is a ticking time bomb. It's not if you will have problems, but when. JMO, but I've owned three 4.0L SOHC Explorers and none of them lived past 200K.

 

[410Fortune]

Changing your oil indeed helps the plastic bits because the tensioners are what keep tension on the chains. When the tensioners no longer pump up due to slow oil pressure the chains slap around and this is when the plastic bits take a beating

This thread was started about a 97 sohc, the worst possible year. The sohc engine was much much more durable by about 2001 and by 2004 or so they are very very strong, we see 02+ trucks usually last 250-300k miles before trans or major engine failure
Not bad! Especially considering how much power they make and how heavy of a vehicle they motivate. The sohc is one tough engine once all the plastic bits are out of the picture… hardly any of them ever fail in the bottom end it is almost always a weak timing component and most of them could be rebuilt, even with 200knplus miles they show very little sign of wear internally, aside from the timing components

 

[koda2000]

Changing your oil indeed helps the plastic bits because the tensioners are what keep tension on the chains. When the tensioners no longer pump up due to slow oil pressure the chains slap around and this is when the plastic bits take a beating

This thread was started about a 97 sohc, the worst possible year. The sohc engine was much much more durable by about 2001 and by 2004 or so they are very very strong, we see 02+ trucks usually last 250-300k miles before trans or major engine failure
Not bad! Especially considering how much power they make and how heavy of a vehicle they motivate. The sohc is one tough engine once all the plastic bits are out of the picture… hardly any of them ever fail in the bottom end it is almost always a weak timing component and most of them could be rebuilt, even with 200knplus miles they show very little sign of wear internally, aside from the timing components

Well, I agree that the bottom end on the 4.0L's are pretty much bulletproof. Changing oil regularly is always a good idea, but IDK that the later Ford timing kits were ever improved in later years (not saying they weren't, but I've never read anything definitive on that subject). My '97 had the engine rebuilt when I bought it w/167K on it. The 97's, and I assume the 96's, also had the 4-speed automatic transmissions, so I guess they may have been stronger than the later 5-speed automatics. IDK if that's true. The thing with buying an old SOHC 4.0L engined Explorer with 250K with probable multiple owners, and an unknow service history is that you may end up with a nightmare. These can be great vehicles, but they're not w/out their issues. If you're mechanically experienced (as we both are) you can repair them, but at what cost does it no longer make economic sense? That's all I'm saying.

 

[410Fortune]

97 4.0 uses 5r55e which is a 4 speed automatic
the 5th gear is actually a fake second gear created by the computer combining first gear with overdrive

the same transmission 4r55e and 5r55e can be a 4 speed or 5 speed depending on the computer controls, these are all derived from the old c3 automatic

the longevity of a 02+ sohc engine vs the first two years, 97-98 is like night and day (the 05-11 version seems to be more like a 300K engine than a 200K engine)
We regularly see 05-11 rangers with well over 250k miles on them with some pushing 320K+
the Gen iii Explorer 03-14seems to go to 250k before trans or engine problems as well
the 97-98 version of the sohc NEEDS the updated timing components, the cassettes, and main chain tensioner are way different and stronger in the later years.
The 5r55e trans also got stronger the 06-11 versions in the ranger are really tough! People getting lots of miles from 05-11 rangers with the sohc and auto

Ford C3 transmission - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[C420sailor]

I don’t buy the oil bit either. I changed my oil with full synthetic every 3-4000 and my ‘98 lasted 120k before the death rattle started.

I do oil analysis and that’s actually what made me switch to a longer interval. At 3-4k the oil was still like new. Now I do 5000 on my new engine (which is out of a ‘10 Ranger) which is probably still overkill. Oil analysis still comes back great. That engine has 175k with zero noise.

No matter what oil you have in there, it still takes time for it to make its way to the tensioners…esp on a cold start. That is what I think causes the failures. People don’t change their tensioners, the springs weaken. Combine that with plastic getting old and brittle…

That first 1-2 seconds before oil reaches the tensioners on a cold start…it’s violent in there with the chains slapping around.

I crank my engine until I see oil pressure before letting it fire. I think that helps with cassette longevity way more than ever so slightly less used oil. Mechanical tensioners or a preoiler are even better. I’m going mechanical soon.

I’ve also heard the newer engines have beefier cassettes.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I’ve also heard the newer engines have beefier cassettes.

can confirm- the original 98 one had 3 leaf backing new oen had 5 or 6 i forget. ill confirm when i can find pictures of the job.

 

[MakinJeepsWeep!]

I read someplace don't remeber where when motor craft made there oil they had a 'special' additive in it to keep the plastic from getting brittle. Is it true? I don't know. Do I run Motorcraft oil in all my Fords including both my Ford tractors? Yes. 10w30 in the 48 8n and 15w40 in 86 1910. I'm also just a Ford guy and I think it's cool you really don't have to go anywhere for Ford parts or maintenance other than Ford.

 

[Accx4]

Long story short once again, just bought a Ford Explorer Limited 1997 w/ 4.0 SOHC V6..... I love it. Best car I've owned (as this is only my 3rd) and I love it much more than my Buick , and toyota i had before.

My explorer has 185,000 Miles and i just fixed some vaccume leaks due to an Idle problem..

About How many miles can I expect out of this engine before the car completely just dies / is no longer worth it?
---
I feel like upgrading the sound system, and stereo ($300+) and do other things to the car but.. I just don't wanna put all this money into it and have to sell the car a year later due to a MAJOR repair, which to me MAJOR means anything over $600.

Thanks.

I had a 1995 fex

 

[Accx4]

Long story short once again, just bought a Ford Explorer Limited 1997 w/ 4.0 SOHC V6..... I love it. Best car I've owned (as this is only my 3rd) and I love it much more than my Buick , and toyota i had before.

My explorer has 185,000 Miles and i just fixed some vaccume leaks due to an Idle problem..

About How many miles can I expect out of this engine before the car completely just dies / is no longer worth it?
---
I feel like upgrading the sound system, and stereo ($300+) and do other things to the car but.. I just don't wanna put all this money into it and have to sell the car a year later due to a MAJOR repair, which to me MAJOR means anything over $600.

Thanks.

Well, depends on care but I had a 1995 explorer sport (the two door not the truck thing) 4.0, 5 speed. When my youngest graduated law school he wanted it to move to Washington DC from Phoenix AZ. We drove it all the way across the country making pit stops in all kinds of places including the house of his future wife which was not exactly on the way. We reached a milestone in

Long story short once again, just bought a Ford Explorer Limited 1997 w/ 4.0 SOHC V6..... I love it. Best car I've owned (as this is only my 3rd) and I love it much more than my Buick , and toyota i had before.

My explorer has 185,000 Miles and i just fixed some vaccume leaks due to an Idle problem..

About How many miles can I expect out of this engine before the car completely just dies / is no longer worth it?
---
I feel like upgrading the sound system, and stereo ($300+) and do other things to the car but.. I just don't wanna put all this money into it and have to sell the car a year later due to a MAJOR repair, which to me MAJOR means anything over $600.

Thanks.

Had a 1995 Explorer Sport (the 2 door not the truck thing). Gave it to my son as he wanted to take it to DC from Phoenix and I had a newer 2004 Explorer and a Cadillac I was driving most every day. Well, he loaded up the '95 and we drove to DC. NOT a direct route either. Somewhere along the way we stopped on the side of the highway as the odometer had reached 300,000 miles. We took a quick photo of and continued on our way #Ford Tough. The end of that Explorer came in the night during the George Floyd riots when it was set on fire almost catching his house on fire. Fortunately no one was injured. I am sure it would still be on the road today if the rioters had any respect for others. Only things I ever had to do is replace the air conditioning. All of it! And I replaced the front seats. I did install a sound system. Good wishes! Enjoy your Explorer

 

[C420sailor]

What assholes. No desire to get political, but if you try to set fire to me, or anything I own, you’re getting shot. It’s not that I value my things over your life—it’s that you value my things over your life.

It’s like these catalytic converter thieves. Not only are you damaging and stealing, but you’re affecting the ability for people to go out and make a living. People rely on their vehicles for their lives.