I also posted this in the new members forum, but wanted to make sure I am tapping all the experience I can, so I posted here as well.
My wife and I are looking to purchase a 2002 Explorer 4X4 with the 4.6 V8. It is the Eddie Bauer Edition and is in immaculate condition with 81000 miles. From what I can tell on different websites, the gas mileage I can expect is 13 city and 17 highway averaging 15. I am curious to know if those numbers are what others around here have experienced. Also any known problems that are common for this age Explorer approaching 100,000 miles.
I plan to modify it like others around here are doing to get better fuel economy. I used to have a 97 Tahoe and with the K&N cone air filter, chip reprogrammer and synthetic fluids, and I got it to average 18 mpg with 21mpg on the highway! Not bad for a 5.7 liter. What kind of mpg can I expect by putting the cone K&N air filter on this Explorer with synthetic fluids. And is there a chip reprogrammer I can get for it?
A known Problem with the 96-99 Tahoe's and Suburban's was a gasket would wear out at around 80,000-100,000 miles and allow coolent to start leaking into the heads. That was a $700 fix. Is there any big issues to expect with the 2002 Explorers in the 80-100,000 mile range?
Thanks for your help!
My wife and I are looking to purchase a 2002 Explorer 4X4 with the 4.6 V8. It is the Eddie Bauer Edition and is in immaculate condition with 81000 miles. From what I can tell on different websites, the gas mileage I can expect is 13 city and 17 highway averaging 15. I am curious to know if those numbers are what others around here have experienced. Also any known problems that are common for this age Explorer approaching 100,000 miles.
I plan to modify it like others around here are doing to get better fuel economy. I used to have a 97 Tahoe and with the K&N cone air filter, chip reprogrammer and synthetic fluids, and I got it to average 18 mpg with 21mpg on the highway! Not bad for a 5.7 liter. What kind of mpg can I expect by putting the cone K&N air filter on this Explorer with synthetic fluids. And is there a chip reprogrammer I can get for it?
A known Problem with the 96-99 Tahoe's and Suburban's was a gasket would wear out at around 80,000-100,000 miles and allow coolent to start leaking into the heads. That was a $700 fix. Is there any big issues to expect with the 2002 Explorers in the 80-100,000 mile range?
Thanks for your help!