no redline on tach of explorer sport?

[BenS]

I've had my 97 explorer sport 4x4 or a year now and always wondered why there is no redline indication on the tachometer. Is there a rev limiter for the engine? That said, does it stop you from over revving the engine and potentially blowing it up? On heavy acceleration I get to 4000 rpms easy but I dont think that is too hard on the engine. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[mmpc]

I know that my Sport, with the SOHC engine (and 5-speed auto tranny), can easily rev to around 5500 RPMs on heavy acceleration. I assume this transmission won't allow over-revving, but in certainly gets the job done!

 

[Paul Gagnon]

Built in rev limiter

There is a rev limiter built into the computer. I have bumped up against the rev limiter more than a few times. As is typical with Fords, the rev limiter does not completely cut off the spark it selectively stops certain cylinders from firing. This is the safest way to limit rpms. Also the speed limiting function of the computer is achieved the same way, unlike certain General Motors products that cut off fuel delivery giving you a dangerous (for the engine) lean condition.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by rafar99
I've had my 97 explorer sport 4x4 or a year now and always wondered why there is no redline indication on the tachometer. Is there a rev limiter for the engine? That said, does it stop you from over revving the engine and potentially blowing it up? On heavy acceleration I get to 4000 rpms easy but I dont think that is too hard on the engine. Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.

Yes, the computer limits your engine RPM to 6000 if you have the SOHC V6. The base 4.0L is lower. My '94 Ranger RPM limit was 5200 RPM. Since my Ranger had a manual transmission, it was easy to tell when I hit it. It felt like my foot slipped off the gas. You can't over-rev it. My '97 SOHC shifted at 6000 before my SuperChip. It now climbs easily to 6500 RPM before it shifts. As long as you aren't cruising along the highway at 4000 RPM or higher, you aren't hurting it if you occasionally go over it. When I pulled a trailer from Ohio to Arizona, I turned my OD off and cruised for 2000 miles at about 3500 RPM (75 MPH). My Explorer sees 6000+ RPM several times a day and has for 56,000 miles.

 

[rock883]

Man, I must be shifting pretty early then. I shift at 3000 or maybe less. I hate the way the engine sounds when I go up there. It just sounds like its gonna explode. I am sure it won't just it gets real loud and I am pretty sure I get better mileage if I keep the RPM's lower. The farthest RPM's I have shifted at was probably 4000, but I was just messin around, and I just like shifting at 3000. What do you guys shift at?

 

[Paul Gagnon]

With my automatic in the Explorer I let it upshift by itself which at full throttle is about 4850 rpm for 1-2, 2-3 is a little less and 3-4 is a little less again. In my Mustang I used to shift at a hair over 6000rpm if I was in a hurry.

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by rock883
Man, I must be shifting pretty early then. I shift at 3000 or maybe less. I hate the way the engine sounds when I go up there. It just sounds like its gonna explode. I am sure it won't just it gets real loud and I am pretty sure I get better mileage if I keep the RPM's lower. The farthest RPM's I have shifted at was probably 4000, but I was just messin around, and I just like shifting at 3000. What do you guys shift at?

For everyday acceleration, 3000 is fine, maybe even a tad high if you are concerned with saving gas. For all out acceleration, my '94 Ranger liked to be shifted at 5200. I don't know where your '91 likes to be shifted.

 

[rock883]

5200..man I can't even think of going that high, lol. I would be shreiking as the rpm's got up there. I think that my explorer "likes" to be shifted aorund 3000, although I have never tried it over 3000 so...Maybe I will do it tomorrow and see how it is.

 

[mmpc]

A quote is applicable here - "Sometime's you've got to feed a little speed to your ride..." [from the movie "Blue Streak"]

GO FOR IT!

 

[Sam Mason]

Burnin' off the carbon

That's what my dad used to say. I just purchased a 2001 Sport (still under 800 miles) so I haven't really "played" with it much. I did notice on the freeway yesterday that it shifted at 5500, probably into 3rd as I was "merging" in front of an idiot mini-van. I've bumped the limitter in my Mark VIII at around 6500rpm a couple of times "by accident" . That 4.6 DOHC 32valve aluminum block has to be the best engine ever made, too bad Ford doesn't offer it in the Sport. Could probably run 0-60 in about 7 seconds, ah well, can always dream.

Sam

'01 Sport 4x4

 

[WellsLaw]

I also shift at about 3,000 RPM and feel like $,000 RPM is pushing it ... BUT I used to ride a Harley Chopper that was built to drag race and used to shift that at about 3,000 too. Then one day I decided to "find the power range" on the chopper and when I hit about 4,500 RPM that sucker took off!! I almost lost my grip and slid off the back ...

Maybe tonight I'll try and find the power range for my 6OHV ... I've got the mods and I can't fall off the back of the Explorer ... Tally ho'

 

[jimbo74]

i have a 94 4.0l ohv and it reds at 5200 also

 

[CougarX]

Anyone know what a 5.0L revs out at? I havn't tried mine yet and there aren't any red marks on the 6000rpm tach... I have more motivation not to floor my 5.0L because when I look down at the computer you can literally watch the average mpg drop... I floored my 92 all the time because a)it was underpowered and 2)it sounded pretty good regardless. Maybe I'll try it and then reset the mileage so I don't have to look at it

 

[01EB5.0]

My truck winds out to 4,900 or so on full throttle in drive. i have never had the limiter kick in.

NOTE: I recently read there is a recall for 99 and 00 explorers for a speed limiter set too high. The speed limiter on the 99 and 00 may be set as high as 120 MPH, while the stock tires have a max speed of 112 MPH. I guess some guy at ford wanted to push every little bit out of the explorer he could, but personally i would NEVER drive 120 MPH in my truck and if someone does they are just asking for trouble not just from the tires.

 

[WellsLaw]

well have the 4.0 ohv w/ a 5sp and revved it up yesterday -- the limiter did not kick in at 5,200 RPM and it ran up to 5,500 before I backed it down myself ... anyone know why it kept going .... is the 5sp set higher perhaps???

 

[BExplorer]

Rev it up?

Personnaly I try to keep the rpm down to 2,500 in normal condition, this way I save gas. But when I want to kick some ass, stomp the gas and get to about 5,000. The rev limiter does not come on but then my motor is not neww and need big tune-up. The rev limit all depend on what the motor was build for, our is mainly for torque. My 600cc Yamaha was set 10.500, and I shifted at 4,000 in normal, but then the application is not the same.