Newly purchased 01 V8

[TechGuy82]

Might be normal for a lot of city driving, especially if you are driving it like a newer car. Don't get too peppy with it, in other words.
Might check to see if parking brakes are dragging, also check all calipers are releasing well.

Tire pressure. Go for the max your tires can handle.

Thanks! it is probably more so highway then city streets. No parking brake components left to drag haha, brakes are all new and calipers appear to be releasing.

I checked on of the spark plugs and it looks new, a motorcraft platinum and proper .054 gap, I am going assume all of them were replaced at the same time.

 

[EB4X]

Confirm with the AWD people on this forum, I'm sure one will chime in after me, but I think you can remove the front driveshaft to essentially make this a 2wd without issue, which will noticeably improve MPG....assuming you don't really need AWD...... there are some years that doing this is an issue / slight movement/ play upon initial parking on a hill.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Confirm with the AWD people on this forum, I'm sure one will chime in after me, but I think you can remove the front driveshaft to essentially make this a 2wd without issue, which will noticeably improve MPG....assuming you don't really need AWD...... there are some years that doing this is an issue / slight movement/ play upon initial parking on a hill.

eventually if you park on hill you might find your truck at the bottom of said hill...

 

[CDW6212R]

Is 12 MPG combined normal for these V8's haha? It has a new air filter, plug wires, coil packs, and fresh oil change (according to PO). I'll check the spark plugs, not sure if those have been replaced. I've ran a couple tanks of gas through it (although last one was regular) I put midgrade in last night so we'll see if it changes. I should run some BG44k through it as well...

You might also change the front pair of O2 sensors, those when old can hurt mileage.

My MPG was usually in the 16mpg range when I drove almost all highway. Keep good air pressure in the tires, over 35psi, and keep the tune up good.

So currently now at work I go about 70 miles in five hours, which is maybe 9mpg(stop and go constantly). They don't do great, but are very reliable. Also use the best anti-freeze and add a coolant lubricant, you want to save the water pump for as long as possible.

 

[TechGuy82]

Confirm with the AWD people on this forum, I'm sure one will chime in after me, but I think you can remove the front driveshaft to essentially make this a 2wd without issue, which will noticeably improve MPG....assuming you don't really need AWD...... there are some years that doing this is an issue / slight movement/ play upon initial parking on a hill.

I'm in Colorado and the explorer is for my son who is a new driver so AWD must stay haha! I grew up driving a FWD sedan, with manual transmission and no power steering and survived.

 

[TechGuy82]

I replaced the headlights as the old ones were very fogged up and it improved the light output (of course). My question is it worth replacing the stock foglights? Passenger side is broken completely and driver side is pitted real bad. Electrical works on both but is the output on the stock fogs any good or am I wasting 60 bucks replacing them?

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I replaced the headlights as the old ones were very fogged up and it improved the light output (of course). My question is it worth replacing the stock foglights? Passenger side is broken completely and driver side is pitted real bad. Electrical works on both but is the output on the stock fogs any good or am I wasting 60 bucks replacing them?View attachment 454792

the output is ok. for a while i just bought offroad pods and put them there they were amazon units for i think 20 bucks or less. much better.

 

[TechGuy82]

So I think I am finally finished with the suspension! Yesterday I replaced the inner and outer tie rods on both sides, previously had done both UCAs, both lower ball joints, and shocks all around. Took it for an alignment and it was almost spot on!

The explorer has taken up smoking.... From the hazard light switch. Got the new multifunction indicator from Amazon yesterday so I'll install that today.

 

[TechGuy82]

And the CEL keeps coming on... P0351-C Coil pack A. Anyone know which coil pack is which? The one in the driver's side the connector tab is broken so it is a bit loose. I'm assuming that coil pack A and could be the cause of my CEL.

 

[TechGuy82]

Found a foglight at the junkyard, as well some various trim parts and a coil pack harness.

 

[410Fortune]

These are waste spark ignition meaning there are only 4 coils for 8 cylinders inside those coil packs. Very interesting code never really seen that on a 5.0 before

I would remove the coil packs from the mounting tower and have a look at them, they like to crack along the bottom when they fail.

12mpg is normal for Littleton Colorado at 5280’ average elevation. I was born and raised in Ken Caryl (1973) area and I have been driving building v8 explorers for many years. 11-16 is about what a awd gets. You want better mpg there are some tricks you can try but first let’s get rid of all your codes. I would also suggest a new fuel filter if you have not done that already. Keep those Moog parts greased or they will wear out very quickly

Nice work thus far! Perfect truck for Colorado, although I would ditch that awd in favor of a true t case, this is the best of both worlds it deletes the awd which saves your front end parts, tires and wheel bearings also frees up many mpg and passing power. It also gives you rwd, 4hi and 4 low… turning the awd explorer into a real 5.0 truck ( best mod you can do to a 5.0 explorer imo)
I did a thread about converting my old 96 to low range many many years ago

 

[TechGuy82]

These are waste spark ignition meaning there are only 4 coils for 8 cylinders inside those coil packs. Very interesting code never really seen that on a 5.0 before

I would remove the coil packs from the mounting tower and have a look at them, they like to crack along the bottom when they fail.

12mpg is normal for Littleton Colorado at 5280’ average elevation. I was born and raised in Ken Caryl (1973) area and I have been driving building v8 explorers for many years. 11-16 is about what a awd gets. You want better mpg there are some tricks you can try but first let’s get rid of all your codes. I would also suggest a new fuel filter if you have not done that already. Keep those Moog parts greased or they will wear out very quickly

Nice work thus far! Perfect truck for Colorado, although I would ditch that awd in favor of a true t case, this is the best of both worlds it deletes the awd which saves your front end parts, tires and wheel bearings also frees up many mpg and passing power. It also gives you rwd, 4hi and 4 low… turning the awd explorer into a real 5.0 truck ( best mod you can do to a 5.0 explorer imo)
I did a thread about converting my old 96 to low range many many years ago

Thanks! I'll check out the coil packs. Was thinking of swapping them to see if I get same codes before replacement. It only comes back after clearing once you get on the gas. It stays gone if you drive it nice.

I was born and raised in Ken Caryl as well, just 10 years later haha. I'll add fuel filter to the list.

I didn't even know AWD existed until I picked this one up! It's actually perfect for my son so he doesn't need to switch anything on and off and keeps me from modifying it haha. It is tempting to swap it to to true 4wd after seeing how many there are at the local U-pull. I had a '95 that I had to rebuild the t case on and it didn't last long after that, so another reason I'm gun shy on swapping it.

 

[410Fortune]

Well the t case we use to convert these is from an f150 and they are very tough

I graduated from chatfield in 91 when the school was still new hahahaha that was a long time ago now the area has changed so much… I used to do 65-70 mph down Wordsworth all the way from 6th ave south… now it’s light to light traffic all day every day hahahaha
We moved to Idaho in 2017 in search of water…Colorado lakes and rivers so crowded!

. We found it!

We can help w 4x4 conversion when the time comes, it can be a complete bolt in deal. Usually we use a manual version of the t case so switching 4wd is with a lever on the floor. Can also use an electric shift t case but that conversion a little more involved.
If you were to drive a awd 5,0 explorer and then one that has been converted to true rwd/4wd you would see the benefits immediately, especially at 5280 where you are already choked for power (no oxygen)
It is a night and day difference in power and wear and tear on front end parts… especially tires

The awd is good in the snow people swear by them… but it’s a 70/30
Awd meaning 70% of the power is to the rear axle all the time and the 30% being sent up front when not being used is wasted energy as heat. A true 4wd conversion gives you a real 50/50
Split which performs far superior to awd in all conditions, in my Opinion… plus low range!! I have converted many of these lol the awd is the first thing to go on one of my trucks

 

[TechGuy82]

I removed the coil packs today for inspection, no obvious signs of cracking or anything. I swapped positions so we'll see if the same codes come back. I took her for a spin as it usually throws the CEL when you romp on it. no check engine light yet, although it is much cooler today so I am wondering if that has something to do with it.

 

[TechGuy82]

Fuel filter replaced today. It's amazing how nasty the fuel is that comes out of the "in" side of the fuel filter compared to the "out" side!

 

[Fix4Dirt]

The fuel pump should have a sock that does a little bit of filtering- is there alot of crud in the tank?

 

[TechGuy82]

The fuel pump should have a sock that does a little bit of filtering- is there alot of crud in the tank?

Not sure... is there an easy way to tell without dropping the tank?

 

[Turdle]

Not sure... is there an easy way to tell without dropping the tank?

What you described , dirty fuel in an old filter, is normal. The tank probably has dirt in it, that's what the filters are for. No way to see the sock without pulling the fuel pump assembly,which means, drop tank, or cut access hole in floor.

I'd just Drive on.

 

[CDW6212R]

Yes, just drive it and see how it does. If you think the truck may have set for a long time such as 2+ years, then you might think of replacing the filter again and see how the fuel looks coming out of the inlet side.

My 98 Mountaineer went several years with hardly being driven(a hard miss), and finally I noticed a lot of brown coming from a fuel filter I replaced. I dropped the tank to see to discover the steel tank had begun rusting inside, producing a lot of materiel that covered the fuel sock. I have to replace that tank before I can drive it much again.

 

[410Fortune]

98 was the last year of the metal tank I believe..