Radiator Failure

[zzmoore]

I have a 2006 Ford Explorer XLT 4x4..... (did they make 2 wheel drive.?)
It has 135k miles and gets mild off road use.

Was this year or this generation prone to radiator failure.?
I am on #3
The first one came with it of course, the second was right before the warranty was up, so that was free, but THAT unit blew about one year ago.
I hesitated to spend the money on a car this age, but there were no problems other than that, so i had Ford stick a new one in.
Thank You

 

[Rcflyer330]

yes, it's very common for the radiators on the 4th gens to leak/ fail at the seam between the plastic radiator tank and the radiator core. other members have replaced the radiator cap from the stock 20psi cap to a 16 psi with success to stop this exact issue. it might be worth it to get a 16psi cap or at least get a new 20 psi one if yours has not been replaced with the new radiator. radiator caps can fail where they keep the pressure too high and that will lead to premature failure.

oh and yes i am pretty sure they did make a 2wd 4th gen explorer.

 

[94Eddie]

I strongly second the recommendation to replace the 20 psi cap with a 16 psi one. I did this last January and haven't noticed a single time where the temperature gauge went even a needle's width higher than it did with the 20 psi cap. This includes running the AC on max in the dead of summer with the temperature above 100 degrees in stop and go traffic. This cap reduces the pressure by 25% and puts far less stress on the cooling system. IMO, the higher pressure of the stock cap is what causes the radiator failures due to putting too much stress on the plastic seams. You can get the 16 psi cap at the link below. Ignore Amazon's site if it says it doesn't fit your radiator. It does and I know this because it is the exact one I am using.

Motorcraft RS76 Radiator Cap

 

[zzmoore]

I will definitively check my cap.
GREAT Info.
Thank You So Much