Pizza boss said he doesn't want me delivering in my Explorer if it's leaking.

[DemonMudder]

Oil, gas, transmission fluid; prime example of fire starters, not going to lie I didnt know about trans fluid being real flammable till the other day. Another reason why I stopped driving my X too, oil was leaking on the passenger side onto the exhaust pipe, causing it to smoke constantly, that alongside the chain issue, she was restricted to short drives like home to work and that was it, till I could nab something else. Even if yours doesnt look to be on the pipes, I'd still be incredibly careful and as said keep an extinguisher, just in case and that way you ain't screwed watching it go down.

I've found that for a lot of food places, especially fast food wise, they cheap out. I never went into delivery the reason of the wear and tear plus everywhere told me the X was too old to trust, even being flawless at the time. May not be a horrible idea to check out another gig, could get paid more, not rely on driving everywhere meaning less wear on the honda, just food for thought.

And dad gum, typing that and I missed a whole dad gum conversation, now I'm late to it and yall pretty much summed it all up fine.

 

[98FordLove]

Oil, gas, transmission fluid; prime example of fire starters, not going to lie I didnt know about trans fluid being real flammable till the other day. Another reason why I stopped driving my X too, oil was leaking on the passenger side onto the exhaust pipe, causing it to smoke constantly, that alongside the chain issue, she was restricted to short drives like home to work and that was it, till I could nab something else. Even if yours doesnt look to be on the pipes, I'd still be incredibly careful and as said keep an extinguisher, just in case and that way you ain't screwed watching it go down.

I've found that for a lot of food places, especially fast food wise, they cheap out. I never went into delivery the reason of the wear and tear plus everywhere told me the X was too old to trust, even being flawless at the time. May not be a horrible idea to check out another gig, could get paid more, not rely on driving everywhere meaning less wear on the honda, just food for thought.

You bring up very good points. I will pick up a fire extinguisher for sure, hope they're not too expensive. I don't see or smell or hear any smoking under the truck which is good. I believe when I had both valve covers and the timing chain cover gasket leaking that I was leaking more oil then and it could have gotten on the cats then. I just remember when I had the o2 sensors changed last year, all the cats were dry.

But I had no idea about the cat right at the oil filter. I'm hesitant now using the truck anymore for deliveries. The Honda can handle it no problem, I'm just not looking forward to when I have to rebuild the entire front end suspension (costly). Hopefully by then I'm no longer doing deliveries or at least only 2 nights a week.

The past 3 weeks have been trash for money at the pizza place, not normal. it's usually pretty decent money as a second job. But November will be the telling month. If it remains the same l have no choice but to drop to 2 or 3 nights a week and make more time to my other job (which is priority of the two)

 

[Fix4Dirt]

You bring up very good points. I will pick up a fire extinguisher for sure, hope they're not too expensive. I don't see or smell or hear any smoking under the truck which is good. I believe when I had both valve covers and the timing chain cover gasket leaking that I was leaking more oil then and it could have gotten on the cats then. I just remember when I had the o2 sensors changed last year, all the cats were dry.

But I had no idea about the cat right at the oil filter. I'm hesitant now using the truck anymore for deliveries. The Honda can handle it no problem, I'm just not looking forward to when I have to rebuild the entire front end suspension (costly). Hopefully by then I'm no longer doing deliveries or at least only 2 nights a week.

The past 3 weeks have been trash for money at the pizza place, not normal. it's usually pretty decent money as a second job. But November will be the telling month. If it remains the same l have no choice but to drop to 2 or 3 nights a week and make more time to my other job (which is priority of the two)

even if its not a DD fire extinguisher is key for these.

yes, i too would be hesitant. if you are not looking forward to the rebuild then get a cheap beater honda that gets good gas mileage and drive it till the wheels fall off, and put em back on. save the gas money on the X and pay for its insurance and gas. also eventually will save enough to do a real fix on the X. though being honest depending on rust, etc, id be hesitant to do any major repairs if there was major rust. these arent for those who cant swing wrenches imo, or else youll have a thick stack of reciepts!

 

[98FordLove]

even if its not a DD fire extinguisher is key for these.

yes, i too would be hesitant. if you are not looking forward to the rebuild then get a cheap beater honda that gets good gas mileage and drive it till the wheels fall off, and put em back on. save the gas money on the X and pay for its insurance and gas. also eventually will save enough to do a real fix on the X. though being honest depending on rust, etc, id be hesitant to do any major repairs if there was major rust. these arent for those who cant swing wrenches imo, or else youll have a thick stack of reciepts!

I couldn't see if the cats were wet today. I can't find the one that's right near the oil filter. I've been driving the truck like this for the past 46 months. I think the leak before was worse as both valve covers were leaking and the timing cover gasket too.

If oil burns on the cats, will it always smoke? I'm guessing you will smell and hear it?

The explorer is rusted pretty good on the body panels but the chasis is still pretty rust free. Though I will admit the ride is pretty soft even with new shocks and off road ball joints put in over a year ago.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Off road ball joints……

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I couldn't see if the cats were wet today. I can't find the one that's right near the oil filter. I've been driving the truck like this for the past 46 months. I think the leak before was worse as both valve covers were leaking and the timing cover gasket too.

If oil burns on the cats, will it always smoke? I'm guessing you will smell and hear it?

The explorer is rusted pretty good on the body panels but the chasis is still pretty rust free. Though I will admit the ride is pretty soft even with new shocks and off road ball joints put in over a year ago.

usually you smell it, dont really hear it like cooking oil.

also, was wrong. both are on the PS i thought the bank 1 one ws on the driever side and both merged, but guess not.

 

[98FordLove]

usually you smell it, dont really hear it like cooking oil.

also, was wrong. both are on the PS i thought the bank 1 one ws on the driever side and both merged, but guess not.

View attachment 435545 View attachment 435546

I wonder what the smell is like. I'm guessing it's a strong burnt smell like burnt ATF.

How come your oil pan looks so different from mine? My driver side is the wet side of oil and the passenger side is completely dry. Guess it works out with the pics you posted.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

I wonder what the smell is like. I'm guessing it's a strong burnt smell like burnt ATF.

How come your oil pan looks so different from mine? My driver side is the wet side of oil and the passenger side is completely dry. Guess it works out with the pics you posted.

close enough.

the sohc has a 2 part oil pan, and the pan you see there is the trans pan

 

[98FordLove]

close enough.

the sohc has a 2 part oil pan, and the pan you see there is the trans pan

I don't know what Ford was thinking by not making the same 2 part oil pan on the OHV models.

 

[DemonMudder]

I don't know what Ford was thinking by not making the same 2 part oil pan on the OHV models.

We all know the stereotype, ford tries to overcomplicate things to make ya have to come back (they all do it these days, but ford definitely was one of the early on ones compared to chevy, dodge and such). Though the pan thing may just be an honest design, may be required like that in order to work properly; but the stereotype still stands from experience with my '99 explorer, my moms previous '02 f150, and my moms previous '02 Expedition.

And no, ya wont hear it, but you'll definitely see it and should smell it if your nose is any good. Smells just like you'd think burning oil smells like, burning oil lol

 

[410Fortune]

the sohc bottom end is WAY different then the ohv, the sohc basically has a girdle that creates 4 main bearing supports for the crankshaft
the ohv design goes back to 1990
sohc 97+

Your 96 Y pipe is way different then the 98+ Y pipe in 98 they started putting mini cats in the Y pipe

 

[donalds]

We all know the stereotype, ford tries to overcomplicate things to make ya have to come back (they all do it these days, but ford definitely was one of the early on ones compared to chevy, dodge and such). Though the pan thing may just be an honest design, may be required like that in order to work properly; but the stereotype still stands from experience with my '99 explorer, my moms previous '02 f150, and my moms previous '02 Expedition.

And no, ya wont hear it, but you'll definitely see it and should smell it if your nose is any good. Smells just like you'd think burning oil smells like, burning oil lol

Give me $1,000 and 2 weeks with your explorer just saying

 

[410Fortune]

CHEVYS are a PITA to work on especially the v6
once familiar with the Fords we don't call it "overcomplicated" we call it ENGINEERING

 

[DemonMudder]

CHEVYS are a PITA to work on especially the v6
once familiar with the Fords we don't call it "overcomplicated" we call it ENGINEERING

Compared to the amount of space in the engine bay one Jimmy or blazer versus the explorer, they do have more space than us, less packed and squeezed. They also get better mileage and power if I recall correctly. They're all a pita in ways, but I wont deny ford ain't bad once your familiar, especially if it's an older one, but the same goes for chevy and such, they're all easy once ya learn it. But that's just me, I grew up between chevy and Ford for the most part, so I love 'em both even with each having their flaws, like chevies crappy 90s 4l60e...lol

Donalds, that legit would be tempting had ya been closer, and if I could even afford that right now.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

the sohc bottom end is WAY different then the ohv, the sohc basically has a girdle that creates 4 main bearing supports for the crankshaft
the ohv design goes back to 1990
sohc 97+

Your 96 Y pipe is way different then the 98+ Y pipe in 98 they started putting mini cats in the Y pipe

interesting! when in 98 was it addrd? this is a mid year (summer) build and it only has 2 cats, no mini cat etc

 

[98FordLove]

We all know the stereotype, ford tries to overcomplicate things to make ya have to come back (they all do it these days, but ford definitely was one of the early on ones compared to chevy, dodge and such). Though the pan thing may just be an honest design, may be required like that in order to work properly; but the stereotype still stands from experience with my '99 explorer, my moms previous '02 f150, and my moms previous '02 Expedition.

And no, ya wont hear it, but you'll definitely see it and should smell it if your nose is any good. Smells just like you'd think burning oil smells like, burning oil lol

Oh ok, no burning oil smell here. I regret not getting the SOHV explorer now. I know the SOHC has its own issues but I really should have got the SOHC

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Oh ok, no burning oil smell here. I regret not getting the SOHV explorer now. I know the SOHC has its own issues but I really should have got the SOHC

being honest, the ohv has less overall problems. they may not be fast, but they sure do last a good long time. sohc timing chain or ohv heads and oil pan is the real question

 

[DemonMudder]

being honest, the ohv has less overall problems. they may not be fast, but they sure do last a good long time. sohc timing chain or ohv heads and oil pan is the real question

This exactly, the ohv is definitely better known for reliablity in the long run, that includes the 5.0 ohv. I'm partial to the SOHC though, always will be

 

[DemonMudder]

Oh ok, no burning oil smell here. I regret not getting the SOHV explorer now. I know the SOHC has its own issues but I really should have got the SOHC

Honestly I'm surprised ya dont smell any with as much as there looked to be leaking

 

[RoyKelly2]

Donalds, that legit would be tempting had ya been closer, and if I could even afford that right now.

Yep, it is tempting.... and FL is a lot closer to NC than CO