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

[98FordLove]

Any kind of pan isn’t really an option. It’s not gonna happen. UltraBlack like suggested above is the way to go if it’s not a repair you can make yourself.

Unfortunately I don't have the space or the tools to do this myself.

 

[98FordLove]

I agree with others, for the time being get the crack area VERY clean and put some RTV sealant on it. That will work, if you get the area clean enough, like use brake cleaner a few times, after you've drained the oil well past the crack (but not completely empty because...) spray plenty of it into the crack, wait, spray again a few times. Apply RTV, use a putty knife (or credit card, etc) to wipe/press the RTV into the crack, then apply a generous layer over it, for a good 1/2" or more around it. Let that cure overnight without running the engine, then drain the rest of the oil to flush out the brake cleaner, and refill.

See above. Wish I could do this but I just don't have the space or the tools to do it myself. It's parked on the street too.

If you put on a super thick layer of RTV, it may need more time than overnight to cure, better to plan ahead when you don't need to drive it for as long as possible.

I have to wonder though, with gas prices inevitably rising again, if something that gets terrible fuel economy is really the best choice for delivering small things like pizzas... unless you get to use the company credit card to refuel.

Someone here just mentioned using a large sponge and duct taping it to the oil pan. I believe this is what I am going to do. The large oil pan is going to be tough to mount as I don't see anything to mount it to. Would all weather duct tape be safe to tape onto something like the oil pan? Worried it would melt or even worse be a fire hazard. Also I think my leak spot is not just where the crack is but the oil runs down along the edges of the pan from what I see. All I know is, in the morning there is a big puddle of about 20 drops and it's fairly spread out in a fairly large area. Would have to see what the largest size sponge I can get is and see where it would be safe to tape it. If this works then I just change the sponge every couple weeks or so. Or however long I can go before I need a new one.

Would you say this Explorer gets terrible fuel economy? I would agree that it's not great but I've gotten so used to driving it so much over the last 3.5 years that I've eased off on my driving style to get decent gas mileage. Gas also went up 20 cents here in the last few days so that hurts.

One of our other drivers delivers in his mom's 2021 Ford Explorer V8, over 700hp! He says it's a gas guzzler, that has to be worse on gas than my 96 Explorer.

 

[98FordLove]

What if I duct tape something like this right under the truck? Would work better than a sponge no?

I just did a search for the most absorbent materials to absorb oil. Impressive about the no soak through promise.

 

[J_C]

^ I posted about the duct tape and sponge then removed that from my post because heat, and the tape adhesive will probably get dissolved by the oil.

?? We're talking about spreading the RTV on with the pan still installed (depending on where the crack is), minimal tools needed, just to drain the oil enough, a good cleaner, and something to spread the RTV on and squeegie it into the crack, like a credit card, a playing card, a piece of a plastic container lid, a stick, your finger, someone else's finger, someone else's toe, an eagle feather, a leftover pancake, the tongue from an old shoe, bologna, an acid brush, or you could 3D print something.

Wait, the obviousness of it escaped me. Use a day old slice of pizza.

The key to this is surface prep. Where it's parked, what tools you need... would take a lot more consideration of these things to put some catch pan thing under the pan.

 

[Mbrooks420]

A sponge would never work. The oil would just leak out of the bottom.

 

[98FordLove]

^ I posted about the duct tape and sponge then removed that from my post because heat, and the tape adhesive will probably get dissolved by the oil.

?? We're talking about spreading the RTV on with the pan still installed (depending on where the crack is), minimal tools needed, just to drain the oil enough, a good cleaner, and something to spread the RTV on and squeegie it into the crack, like a credit card, a playing card, a piece of a plastic container lid, a stick, your finger, someone else's finger, someone else's toe, an eagle feather, a leftover pancake, the tongue from an old shoe, bologna, an acid brush, or you could 3D print something.

Wait, the obviousness of it escaped me. Use a day old slice of pizza.

The key to this is surface prep. Where it's parked, what tools you need... would take a lot more consideration of these things to put some catch pan thing under the pan.

Sorry what I meant was, I don't have the space to even drain the oil. The JB weld that is on it right now is completely hard and not able to spread it.

Do you think all weather duct tape would melt under the truck? Not sure how heat resistant it is. What would be safe places under the truck to apply the tape to?

This has really good reviews.

 

[J_C]

Would you say this Explorer gets terrible fuel economy? I would agree that it's not great but I've gotten so used to driving it so much over the last 3.5 years that I've eased off on my driving style to get decent gas mileage. Gas also went up 20 cents here in the last few days so that hurts.

One of our other drivers delivers in his mom's 2021 Ford Explorer V8, over 700hp! He says it's a gas guzzler, that has to be worse on gas than my 96 Explorer.

At this point I wonder if you are just trolling us. There is no 2021 Explorer with a stock V8, nor with anywhere near 700HP, and even if there were, it would get better fuel economy than a '96 if driven the same conservative way.

This topic feels like a black hole, where everything gets sucked in and there is no escape, lol. Do that to your oil pan, make the blackness get sucked in instead of leaking.

There are too many vehicles to list, that get between double and triple what a '96 Explorer does in city driving, fuel economy... and I don't mean only newer vehicles, going back decades, now almost junkyard salvage vehicles.

 

[DemonMudder]

Sorry what I meant was, I don't have the space to even drain the oil. The JB weld that is on it right now is completely hard and not able to spread it.

Do you think all weather duct tape would melt under the truck? Not sure how heat resistant it is. What would be safe places under the truck to apply the tape to?

This has really good reviews.

View attachment 435421

This may work, claims to be good up to 2000°F, so it claims at least.

https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/tape/p/design-engineering-cool-tape/720651_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:10574827360&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhY-aBhCUARIsALNIC05s7okGsI4Lk62kF6XQY1ETXvmd5KqeBnzvCdqJ-_PXa4dGaMLXR8caArf1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

There are too many vehicles to list, that get between double and triple what a '96 Explorer does in city driving, fuel economy... and I don't mean only newer vehicles, going back decades, now almost junkyard salvage vehicles.

That's agreeable, I mean, my '99 4.0 sohc 4wd was getting about 16mpg at a maximum, I'm now driving a '95 C1500 5.7l and I'm getting usually about 18 mpg, and I've hit higher, max I hit was 21mpg. An older, much larger pickup was getting better mileage than the small midsize more aerodynamic SUV. So yeah, I have to agree, the X wasn't the most efficient vehicle of the time, the blazers of the time were getting 20+mpg, we should have been. Way more as said, but that's not something to get into here

 

[Mbrooks420]

You aren’t going to be able to diaper it. It’s not a viable repair option. And when you try, and the diaper falls off and leaves a big oily stain I’d imagine the pizza boss isn’t going to be very happy.

Besides, you’re risking a fire by trying to trap oil up underneath the truck.

 

[Fix4Dirt]

is putting like a pet pad on some cardboard under when you park not viable? figure it catches it at least when you are parked.

 

[98FordLove]

At this point I wonder if you are just trolling us. There is no 2021 Explorer with a stock V8, nor with anywhere near 700HP, and even if there were, it would get better fuel economy than a '96 if driven the same conservative way.

Just going by what he told me. It was his words not mine so I believed him.

This topic feels like a black hole, where everything gets sucked in and there is no escape, lol. Do that to your oil pan, make the blackness get sucked in instead of leaking.

There are too many vehicles to list, that get between double and triple what a '96 Explorer does in city driving, fuel economy... and I don't mean only newer vehicles, going back decades, now almost junkyard salvage vehicles.

The fuel economy on the 96 Explorer isn't bad at all. Newer trucks will get far worse mileage.

 

[98FordLove]

You aren’t going to be able to diaper it. It’s not a viable repair option. And when you try, and the diaper falls off and leaves a big oily stain I’d imagine the pizza boss isn’t going to be very happy.

Besides, you’re risking a fire by trying to trap oil up underneath the truck.

Well the sheets I would use taped under would absorb the oil. If the oil is absorbed it can't cause a fire right? The reviews look really good.

 

[98FordLove]

is putting like a pet pad on some cardboard under when you park not viable? figure it catches it at least when you are parked.

It would work for me but then he would know I am the one driving with a leak and he would remind me not to drive the Explorer since it's leaking. Need the pet pad installed and tapped underneath to the truck.

 

[98FordLove]

This may work, claims to be good up to 2000°F, so it claims at least.

https://www.autozone.com/miscellaneous-non-automotive/tape/p/design-engineering-cool-tape/720651_0_0?cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:10574827360&gclid=Cj0KCQjwhY-aBhCUARIsALNIC05s7okGsI4Lk62kF6XQY1ETXvmd5KqeBnzvCdqJ-_PXa4dGaMLXR8caArf1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Thanks, I added it to my cart. Looks like this tape should hold up under the truck.

That's agreeable, I mean, my '99 4.0 sohc 4wd was getting about 16mpg at a maximum, I'm now driving a '95 C1500 5.7l and I'm getting usually about 18 mpg, and I've hit higher, max I hit was 21mpg. An older, much larger pickup was getting better mileage than the small midsize more aerodynamic SUV. So yeah, I have to agree, the X wasn't the most efficient vehicle of the time, the blazers of the time were getting 20+mpg, we should have been. Way more as said, but that's not something to get into here

I drive my Explorer like a grandma and am very light on the gas when I accelerate. Driving style plays a big part in determining your fuel economy.

 

[94Eddie]

Trade the Explorer in on a beater economy car that doesn't leak fluids. You win two ways. The leak is no longer an issue and you will get much better gas mileage. There is no way you are getting anywhere close to decent mileage with any 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen Explorer no matter how you drive it. If you don't have the skill, or inclination, to clean up the area that is leaking and apply some RTV, then you likely don't have the ability to properly install some catch system that will work without creating a fire hazzard. Or have a melted chunk of plastic stuck to the underside of the engine bay. IMO, your best and only viable solution that might work outside of a proper fix is to go the route of draining all the oil for 24 hours, scrubbing down the area THOROUGHLY and applying black RTV and letting it cure for 24 hours. Any other "patch" has close to a zero chance of working.

 

[96eb96]

Also permatex stick Epoxy. It holds for years on EXHAUST systems. Wire wheel the area nice and clean, clean with high strenth iso alcohol or brake cleaner, push onto the area. They claim it repairs engine blocks. RTV may work too.
permatex 84333
Amazon product ASIN B00O7NBVQ8

 

[96eb96]

Trade the Explorer in on a beater economy car that doesn't leak fluids. You win two ways. The leak is no longer an issue and you will get much better gas mileage. There is no way you are getting anywhere close to decent mileage with any 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen Explorer no matter how you drive it. If you don't have the skill, or inclination, to clean up the area that is leaking and apply some RTV, then you likely don't have the ability to properly install some catch system that will work without creating a fire hazzard. Or have a melted chuck of plastic stuck to the underside of the engine bay. IMO, your best and only viable solution that might work outside of a proper fix is to go the route of draining all the oil for 24 hours, scrubbing down the area THOROUGHLY and applying black RTV and letting it cure for 24 hours. Any other "patch" has close to a zero chance of working.

I agree. 4.0L OHV in stop and go traffic gets close gas mileage to a 6.2L truck :lol:

 

[94Eddie]

I agree. 4.0L OHV in stop and go traffic gets close gas mileage to a 6.2L truck :lol:

I have owned 1st, 3rd and 4th gen Explorers/Mountaineers and easily the best for fuel efficiency is the 2010 I own. That said, it can get around 21 mpg highway at 65-70 mph. It is lucky to get 15 mpg when doing a lot of stop and go driving. The 1st and 3rd gens I owned all got about the same mpg which was maybe 16-17 mpg highway and 15 mpg city. If the OP traded the Explorer in on a 30 mpg beater it would cut his fuel cost in half. This might save hundreds of dollars a month considering the price of gasoline in Canada these days.

 

[98FordLove]

Trade the Explorer in on a beater economy car that doesn't leak fluids. You win two ways. The leak is no longer an issue and you will get much better gas mileage. There is no way you are getting anywhere close to decent mileage with any 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th gen Explorer no matter how you drive it. If you don't have the skill, or inclination, to clean up the area that is leaking and apply some RTV, then you likely don't have the ability to properly install some catch system that will work without creating a fire hazzard. Or have a melted chuck of plastic stuck to the underside of the engine bay. IMO, your best and only viable solution that might work outside of a proper fix is to go the route of draining all the oil for 24 hours, scrubbing down the area THOROUGHLY and applying black RTV and letting it cure for 24 hours. Any other "patch" has close to a zero chance of working.

I will get pics of the crack today but all I know is that it's in an awkward spot. Going off my memory, I do believe that it's actually leaking from the gasket on the sides of the oil pan as well (though not as bad as the crack). The leak isn't bad but it leaves a few drops within 5 mins shutting off the truck hot. 4 nights delivering I would put in a quart of oil a week to keep it topped up, so have to factor in that on-going cost each month of topping up oil. The crack was really hard for the mechanic to get at last time because it's so close to a bolt. And unless he was willing to apply JB weld right over the bolt, it would be really tough to fix.

I think I'm in a tough spot. Even the mechanic who worked on it 5 months ago said that replacing the oil pan is the best way to go. But it's such a big job and if I am leaking from the head gasket too (which he thought i was at the time) then it's just not worth it since it would be just the matter of time that the head goes. But he's not 100% sure if I am leaking from the head or not. All I know is, the oil stains fall in a few spots within a larger area. Could it be from the oil being blown back as I drive making it drop within a larger area? I just wish the pizza owner accepted the oil stains, it makes the back of the place look nicer.

 

[98FordLove]

I agree. 4.0L OHV in stop and go traffic gets close gas mileage to a 6.2L truck :lol:

Well my other car is a 2010 Honda Accord 4cylinder and when I compared it to the Explorer for gas mileage for deliveries, the Explorer was only costing me 60% more in gas.