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

[JamesExplorer97]

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.

 

[swshawaii]

Exploring Service Needs On The Ford 4.0L SOHC V6 Engine
(Posted @ MySporttrac.com by Yardsale on 5/11/14)

http://www.underhoodservice.com/Art..._service_needs_on_the_ford_40l_v6_engine.aspx


True or False? (Read comments below article)

Fortunately, the 4.0L SOHC is not an interference engine so a timing chain failure won’t bend the valves.

 

[2000StreetRod]

major repair possibility

Any vehicle that is as old as your 1997 Explorer is a candidate for a major repair. In my opinion, with 185K miles on the odometer and the original drivetrain, significant transmission or engine problems are very possible at any time. By around 150K miles on my 2000 Sport the rear cassette and the front primary tensioner had failed and the transmission valve body gasket had blown out. Often more than half the cost of repair is labor. Most people that purchase older, high mileage vehicles assume the higher risk of failure. Many plan on making repairs themselves to save money.

 

[drdoom]

Your truck is at the age that it can need a lot of repairs. Torque converter, transfer case, wheel bearings, ball joints, lower thermo, fuel pump, e brake, EVAP, O2s...its not just the engine, as a matter fact the engine is your least likely source of trouble.

 

[Mr. Truckles]

My 2002 sohc was originally bought by my dad in '01 and we made sure to change the oil every 5k with mobile 1 since the day it rolled out of the lot. 245k miles later it's still running strong with only a minor oil pan leak. I can't recall a single engine problem which I firmly believe is due to strict basic maintenance.

 

[koda2000]

Exploring Service Needs On The Ford 4.0L SOHC V6 Engine
(Posted @ MySporttrac.com by Yardsale on 5/11/14)

http://www.underhoodservice.com/Art..._service_needs_on_the_ford_40l_v6_engine.aspx


True or False? (Read comments below article)

false. the 4.0L SOHC is most certainly an interference engine.

 

[pbnj22]

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.

depending on what you buy as far as "upgrading your sound system and steareo" you would most likely be able to move it to you rnext vehicle. so that is a plus! but like others have said.. with 185k your really driving a ticking time bomb and thats with any car that is 17 years old and almost
200k miles if you dont mind wrenching on things and getting greasy many repairs can be doen yourself to save on costs and this forum has almost every repair documented and written up to help you..

 

[masospaghetti]

I wouldn't say any 1997 vehicle is necessarily a "ticking time bomb".

Sure, it will need some repairs and maintenance, but the basic drivetrain, IMO, should be expected to last at least 200,000 miles on most vehicles (not necessarily the SOHC and 5R55E, both which seems to be weak links).

 

[pbnj22]

I wouldn't say any 1997 vehicle is necessarily a "ticking time bomb".

Sure, it will need some repairs and maintenance, but the basic drivetrain, IMO, should be expected to last at least 200,000 miles on most vehicles (not necessarily the SOHC and 5R55E, both which seems to be weak links).

will if the "basic drivetrain on a given car should last 200k", and his has 185k then yeah id call it a crap shoot of when it will go! but none the less best of luck! stay up on the little things before they add up. some people on the forum have that same motor and trans going passed 300k so i would just recommend maintaining it well and ill bet youll get another 50-100k out of it!

 

[koda2000]

i'm hoping to get at least 50k out of the '97 SOHC i just bought. i figure anything over 50k is gravy. it's got 214k on a rebuilt motor and trans. zero timing chain noise right now, doesn't use any oil or leak any fluids and everything works perfectly. it will be well maintained and get regular Mobil 1 full synthetic oil changes w/Motorcraft oil filters. other than the engine and trans, i consider any other repairs it may need in the future minor. if the engine or trans goes it will depend what i can find on craigslist as to whether i fix it. it's a southern truck will no rust, with a very good body and a decent interior. how far will it go? who knows, my last SOHC died showing around 175k on the odo.

 

[Bobmbx]

My 02 ST suffered the timing chain guide failure at 245k. Other than that, it was pristine. No leaks, no rust, the paint looked brand new.

 

[bluestream1]

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.

Your truck in Human years is equivalent to an 80 year old man. You ask how long can the old man live? Well, there's too many variables to give an answer. Has the man exercised and looked after himself, or lived a life of smoking and drinking. Has he been to the doctor regularly and under good care, or just living day to day and hoping for the best.
He can cash in his chips any day, or may live to 100.

Good Luck!

 

[J_C]

Would I upgrade the stereo and other items at this point? No, but at the same time if it eventually needs a major repair then it's only going to be worth what, $1000? You consider a major repair to be $600 and up but what would you buy to replace it for $1600, the sum of those?

If it were me I'd just keep everything working and beyond that, save up some money so when the time comes that you no longer like the vehicle then you can sell it and get something else instead of being forced to due to a costly repair.

If there never comes a time that you wish you were driving something else that fits in your budget, then it will be cost effective to pay for a major repair to keep what you want to drive on the road.

 

[JamesExplorer97]

Your truck in Human years is equivalent to an 80 year old man. You ask how long can the old man live? Well, there's too many variables to give an answer. Has the man exercised and looked after himself, or lived a life of smoking and drinking. Has he been to the doctor regularly and under good care, or just living day to day and hoping for the best.
He can cash in his chips and day, or may live to 100.

Good Luck!

Hahahhaha, i like that response. Lol.

In that case, I'm going to try and nurture this car back to good healthy.. No smoking (off roading), no drinking (racing), and other sh*t like that lol. In other words i think i can get 100 years out this bad boy

 

[mikepier]

Original owner of 99 XLT SOHC with 139K, still looks an runs great. No problems other than going through 2 exhaust systems in the harsh winters of the Northeast.

 

[Flash]

Adding replacing the timing chain tensioners at regular intervals to your service regime will help a lot.

 

[bluestream1]

Adding replacing the timing chain tensioners at regular intervals to your service regime will help a lot.

Yes, replace the tensioners, guides and chains at regular intervals.

 

[Flash]

Yes, replace the tensioners, guides and chains at regular intervals.

Once the better steel backed guides are fitted you only need to do the tensioners regularly.

The you first start the car up it revs high until the oil pressure builds up and gets the tensioners working.
If the tensioner spring is weak the chains will thrash around until the oil pressure is up tearing the guides to pieces.

If you have new tensioners, the chain doesn't thrash at start up and the guides last a lot longer.

 

[bluestream1]

I have put in new tensioners and the chains thrash as much as they did with the old ones.

The rear guide has no steel backing even on the new versions. Thats the one to keep an eye one.

 

[2000StreetRod]

rear cassette guide

The Mustang owners keep claiming that they don't have any timing chain problems. However, according to Tasca Ford the camshaft timing components in the Mustang have the same part numbers as the 2002 and later Explorer components. The traction side of the rear cassette guide is still not reinforced with metal and will eventually break due to fatigue.

It's a shame Ford didn't adequately reinforce the cassette that requires the most effort and cost to replace.