New engine or expensive repairs

[DeHart]

Hey guys DeHart here
newbie.
I picked up a 2003 explorer sport trac a little over a yr ago.it now has 209000. I'm thinking not bad considering some of the reviews.
Well now it's just started to run rough and bogs down at 60-65 mph.
1st question - this could be a tune up is due , the fuel injection lines clogging along with a number of other issues.
#2 is this truck is still running descent even at 209000 . Is it worth the repairs the only have the engine going and I'm.sure the tranny as well will soon follow. Or should I just save hope and pray to get new engine and tranny?
I'm just looking for your opinions, which are all helpful and welcomed

 

[Budget Bob]

Before you give it a death sentence, check out the simple stuff first. Are you getting a check engine light and if so, what codes is it throwing? At that mileage it could be a number of things but many are simple fixes.

 

[Josh P]

Sometimes cheap fixes can justify a V8 swap. Welcome to the forum!

 

[DeHart]

Before you give it a death sentence, check out the simple stuff first. Are you getting a check engine light and if so, what codes is it throwing? At that mileage it could be a number of things but many are simple fixes.

Ty and the only code I'm.getting is fuel running lean and the gas cap .
I think looking into it is worth it I just don't know where to begin. It's a little overwhelming being that I have little experience with automotives.i repair houses and floors, never knew much about cars. Outside of the basic care. Ty for the respomse

 

[J_C]

What? You may just need a gas cap that seals? Granted I wouldn't expect that to impact 60MPH as much as near idle.

Check fuel pressure and if in the right range, look for vac leaks (after fixing the gas cap issue).

 

[oklagp1200r]

What? You may just need a gas cap that seals? Granted I wouldn't expect that to impact 60MPH as much as near idle.

Check fuel pressure and if in the right range, look for vac leaks (after fixing the gas cap issue).

Little experience with automotive! Key factor here.
Where are you located maybe someone on here could help?

 

[410Fortune]

It’s likely your fuel pump is getting weak
You can test fuel pressure with a pressure tester
Should be 68 psi +\-
A new strainer pump and filter maybe in order

New plugs and wires
See if you can get her running smooth again
2003 sohc engines and 5r55e can push well beyond 209k
If yours is not making any rattle noises and still shifts smooth
Running out of power and running lean
The factory fuel pump has likely seen better days

 

[DeHart]

What? You may just need a gas cap that seals? Granted I wouldn't expect that to impact 60MPH as much as near idle.

Check fuel pressure and if in the right range, look for vac leaks (after fixing the gas cap issue).

Could.it be that simple a new gas cap wow and I'm getting a fuel.pressure.guage as well.speak..thanks for.the. relief. And directions. I'm going to be going it a tune up.this week and a fluid change. All fluids

Little experience with automotive! Key factor here.
Where are you located maybe someone on here could help?

I'm in vegas

 

[Mbrooks420]

Could.it be that simple a new gas cap wow and I'm getting a fuel.pressure.guage as well.speak..thanks for.the. relief. And directions. I'm going to be going it a tune up.this week and a fluid change. All fluids

I'm in vegas

I’d get it running properly before dropping over $100 in oils.

 

[J_C]

Could.it be that simple a new gas cap wow and I'm getting a fuel.pressure.guage as well.speak..thanks for.the. relief. And directions. I'm going to be going it a tune up.this week and a fluid change. All fluids

I'm in vegas

I'm just going by what you've told us which was "the only code I'm.getting is fuel running lean and the gas cap".

It would be more helpful to instead know the specific trouble codes that a scan tool read. I'm not aware of one code specific to the gas cap, rather those I know would just point to an evap leak that could be caused by the cap but also by any other component in the chain (like a leaking or fallen off hose or charcoal canister, pressure sensor, etc).

Similarly, what is the evidence of it running lean? Long term fuel trims are in the positive above +10? Lean is caused by either too much unmetered air getting in, or not enough fuel. Insufficient fuel could be caused by a clogged filter, clogged strainer sock, bad fuel pump, (less often the wiring or connector to the pump), bad pressure regulator. Too much air could be due to a vac leak almost anywhere or a dirty Mass Air Flow sensor.

As far as a tuneup, I don't know what regular maintenance has already been done or what trouble codes it's causing. If there's a misfire code, or it's been close to 75K mi. since the last spark plug change, then I'd consider checking if not replacing those, and the plug wires if they're very old, but that would wait until I had specific trouble codes to go by.

Certainly I wouldn't get the fluids changed yet, really shouldn't be driving it at all, putting minimum time on running the engine, just enough to figure out what's wrong in order to fix it.

 

[C420sailor]

If that fuel pump is original, I’d put money on that being the culprit.

You’ve changed the fuel filter regularly, right?

 

[93BlueDemon]

Fuel filter is cheap and easy thing to rule out