My Experience Pulling Trailer w/v8 AWD 97 X

[Wichitagreg]

Stock 1997 Explorer XLT V8 AWD

Just returned from a 1300 mile trip pulling a motorcycle on a trailer. Total weight is about 1400 LBS including beer.

Wichita KS to Montrose CO and return. Here are my mileage notes:

MPG Segment Notes
13.46 Wichita-Dodge City +AC Flat, headwind 65MPH cruise
16.08 Dodge City-LaJunta -AC Flat, calm 65MPH cruise
14.58 LaJunta- Salida -AC Flat some-Hilly, curvy, calm, OD Off
13.35 Salida to Montrose +AC Mountains-second gear-Monarch Pass
17.52 Montrose to Pueblo -AC Monarch Pass-mostly down hill
17.36 Pueblo to Lamar -AC Flat, Calm 70MPH cruise
13.84 Lamar to Kingman +AC Flat, sidewind, 70MPH cruise

15.00 Average for the trip

-AC means no Air Conditioner and windows mostly closed; +AC means AC on. So as you can see, the AC really pulls the HP and ruins the mileage. It's also mostly down hill from Colorado back to Kansas, so every vehicle, every time will get better mileage west to east over those roads. Winds are usually out of the Southwest, so that will impact.

Overall, I'm happy with the mileage figures. I run 40PSI in the tires. Otherwise stock in every way. 99,000 miles now.

Only trouble is with what I think are lower ball joints making noises, and the dreaded shudder of the 4R70W transmission at part throttle and 40 MPH when the OD wants to lock up. I just avoided that condition by manually shifting into OD at about 60MPH.

Question: How do I diagnose the front end noise?

Question: How do I know if I have Mercon V or just Mercon in the tranny. I want to drop the pan, change filter and gasket, and install a drain plug, then drive it a bit and drain and refill a few times to change out all the tranny fluid. Mercon and Mercon V are not compatible, so I should know before I start what is in there. Don't know what was in from the factory, and if that has been changed. Color? Smell? Taste?

Love this truck.

WichitaGreg

 

[Nitrous SSC]

I wouldn't recommend tasting the ATF....as for smell burnt ATF will clear a room. (not like gear oil thou)

It should be blood red in color. One of the easiest ways to change the fluid is to just unhook the return line from the hard lines in the front and let the trans pump it into a pan while you dump new stuff up top. there's quite a few threads on how to do this in detail. You'll need about 12 qts to get a really good flush. you'll want the fluid to come out looking like new.

You can use mercon V in other previous mercon applications but you can't use mercon III in a trans designed for mercon V....

 

[caldi55]

I have a 97 4.0 and I pulled my nissan 300zx (4300lbs) on a double axel trailer (2500lbs empty) 50 miles each way to craston RI from Boston Ma. Pulled it like a champ

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

Only trouble is with what I think are lower ball joints making noises, and the dreaded shudder of the 4R70W transmission at part throttle and 40 MPH when the OD wants to lock up. I just avoided that condition by manually shifting into OD at about 60MPH.

Question: How do I diagnose the front end noise?

Question: How do I know if I have Mercon V or just Mercon in the tranny. I want to drop the pan, change filter and gasket, and install a drain plug, then drive it a bit and drain and refill a few times to change out all the tranny fluid. Mercon and Mercon V are not compatible, so I should know before I start what is in there. Don't know what was in from the factory, and if that has been changed. Color? Smell? Taste?

Love this truck.

WichitaGreg

At 99,000 miles, there is a good chance the shudder you're feeling is NOT the trans, but the engine missing. It as at a relativley high load around 35-40mph, but due to gearing, the engine is only turning at 1500 rpm or less. New plugs, wires, and coils packs cured this problem for me. Yours sounds identical. Worth upgrading your ignition system if it is old.

You have Mercon V in that trans, and you should only put Mercon V in there as that's what the clutches and bands were built for back the Ford factory. I recommend dropping the pan and changing the filter. A little more messy, but changing that filter should keep the trans working longer than just new fluid which will knock crap loose, and clog an already restricted filter.

You got some very good miliage #s, my V8 gets about 13.5 mpg no matter what I do.

Front end noise could be balljoints (I just replaced all 4), tie-rod ends, sway bar links/bushings or torsion bar adjusters.

 

[plrs x45]

Great milage on the X. However, you weren't towing much. My X also is a V8 and does not notice the towing when I am towing a double place jetski trailer. When I tow my 3800 Ebbtide ski boat: 8.12mpg on a 384 mile trip.

 

[Nitrous SSC]

Oh yea I forgot to mention I had the 35-40mph sputtering too. It was my plugs. After I changed them everything was fine.

 

[mvoeller]

I have the same year vehicle and my manual says to use regular Mercon fluid for the 4R70W tranny.

 

[V8BoatBuilder]

I have the same year vehicle and my manual says to use regular Mercon fluid for the 4R70W tranny.

Odd.... very odd. What's your disptick say? My 97 dipstick specifies Mercon V.

 

[LiKuiD]

Oh yea I forgot to mention I had the 35-40mph sputtering too. It was my plugs. After I changed them everything was fine.

Just curious...could you elaborate a wee bit more on this sputtering? Mine does something, but its on the slowdown and I dont think its sputtering...im just trying to figure it out. It's like around 30-40mph when your coasting to a stop, you can feel the tranny coast then slow the truck down until it shifts into a lower gear then normally coasts again. Hmmm.....

 

[Nitrous SSC]

The only time I felt it was at very light part throttle at those speeds. Basicly maintaining those speeds.

 

[Wichitagreg]

Thanks for the responses. I don't think it's an ignition miss, I just put new plugs in and it's smoooooth running. All gears, all throttle positions. The shudder is definantly when the OD tries to lock at part throttle.

I just got 14 qts of Valvoline MerconV and a new filter w/gasket. Will get her up on stands this weekend and do the filter service, and install a drain plug. Then I will change out the 5 qts of MerconV every 10,000 miles like I did on my Mark VIII. Shudder never came back. Ford says do it at 30,000.

I'm interested to see if the little plastic plug is still in the pan of the tranny, indicates pan never removed.

Now if I could just get the right PIE adapter for my XMRadio....

Greg

 

[mvoeller]

V8BoatBuilder,

My dipstick says regular mercon fluid.