Preferred brands of water pump, timing chain, spark plugs?

[Road1]

Okay, my Explorer (2016 3.7 155k miles) has just developed post-nasal drip, so a water pump change is in my future.

I see an ACDelco at $65, and FoMoCo at $110 -- is there a reason to buy or avoid one or the other?

While I'm in there, I might as well do the timing chain. I see FoMoCo in the $80 dollar range, and a bunch of aftermarket kits with chain, guides, etc. I also see kits with guides and other parts -- are any of these worth using?

Lastly, what spark plugs are folks happiest with?

 

[ProjectSHO89]

When I did my 3.5's water pump back in Feb, I used parts from the following manufacturers.

Spark plugs & thermostat - Motorcaft
Gaskets & seals - FelPro
Water pump and belt tensioner - AC Delco
Timing kit - Cloyes
Serpentine belt - Continental

I've put about 10K miles on the Explorer since then with no issues so far.

 

[bigdude2468]

I would be very careful when it comes to critical parts. I posted a while back a link to a video on Youtube "I Do Cars". Every Saturday evening a video is posted of a complete engine failure, some catastrophic failures. In one particular case a Honda Odyssey engine was destroyed by the failure of an after market hydraulic tensioner. Upon disassembly it was clear that the engine had the water pump, timing belt, and tensioner replaced.

Personally I had never given it much thought but in the future, I will not use other than OEM part in a critical application. Not a big deal if the serpentine belt were to fail, or a spark plug. Just replaced the two mufflers on our 2014 with Walker. But saving a few $ on the water pump or tensioner, not worth it.

 

[peterk9]

Okay, my Explorer (2016 3.7 155k miles) has just developed post-nasal drip, so a water pump change is in my future.

I see an ACDelco at $65, and FoMoCo at $110 -- is there a reason to buy or avoid one or the other?

While I'm in there, I might as well do the timing chain. I see FoMoCo in the $80 dollar range, and a bunch of aftermarket kits with chain, guides, etc. I also see kits with guides and other parts -- are any of these worth using?

Lastly, what spark plugs are folks happiest with?

Timing Chain - Original 2011-2023 Ford Timing Chain AT4Z-6268-A | Levittown Ford Parts
Water pump - Water Pump for 2017 Ford Police Interceptor Utility | Levittown Ford Parts
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www.explorerforum.com

As for spark plugs, there are several threads on those you can find using the handy 'Search' feature at the upper right. Personally, I'd stick with OEM parts.

Peter

 

[Turdle]

Good reason for Ford parts is not to go back in for 165k miles

 

[bubbaJames2003]

When I did my 3.5's water pump back in Feb, I used parts from the following manufacturers.

Spark plugs & thermostat - Motorcaft
Gaskets & seals - FelPro
Water pump and belt tensioner - AC Delco
Timing kit - Cloyes
Serpentine belt - Continental

I've put about 10K miles on the Explorer since then with no issues so far.

Hello. Maybe you have an opinion on my issue. Just replaced water pump 2019 explorer and followed directions all the way. Put everything back. Chain marks lined up and all. Was told to turn engine over just make sure wasn't binding up and then noticed the cam shafts wasn't aligned like they were when I put cam lock tool on. So couldn't get any help in town so just put everything back together and vehicle starts for few seconds then dies. Sounds muffled and can smell gas.
I'm taking to dealership next week but I need to know, is there a chance I did damage to engine?

 

[FordFlintrock]

When you turned the engine over the one turn are you saying only one cam holder would go on or did both go on? With both cam locks on, the lower sprocket timing mark should have been about the 4 O'clock position with the tensioner pin pulled before turning. The timing chain side links with the different color are for initial setting as they will not come back around to initial setting point until 20 or so turns of the engine.

 

[bubbaJames2003]

When you turned the engine over the one turn are you saying only one cam holder would go on or did both go on? With both cam locks on, the lower sprocket timing mark should have been about the 4 O'clock position. The timing chain side links with the different color are for initial setting as they will not come back around to initial setting point until 20 or so turns of the engine.

Yes the camshaft near front windshield was different angle than camshaft near front. So before turning crank the cam locks were on both. Then after the angles were different. Also when I turned crank the tensioner jumped a few times and I believe due to a lil slack on chain. So maybe caused chain to jump and threw off timing. And also on mine the crank wasn't exactly o'clock position initially, but was close

 

[FordFlintrock]

If the colored side links were properly positioned to the timing marks the first time and the tensioner pin pulled I would not expect it to jump a tooth or two by rotating the engine but I suspect yours is out of time for one reason or another. The tensioner popping in and out is normal due to the force of valves acting on the lobes for a given cam position.
When setting chain to sprocket timing marks after installed on one bank, one must often hold the other cam with a wrench then removing cam lock and rotating cam a degree or two to get the chain on as the chain tension is big time between cams and around water pump then reinstall lock verifying all lined up good with double colored links straddling crankshaft sprocket mark.