Seized engine. Want to keep the truck and perhaps improve on it.

[MyExplorer03v8Lim]

Hi,

I am brand new here and so if this post is unacceptable, please just let me know how to improve it.

My 2003 Limited Explorer with the 4.6 L v8 has a seized engine. I was driving on the highway yesterday when out of nowhere I got a high temp/low oil light. The engine seized before I could make it to the breakdown lane.

I've owned the vehicle for 2 months, and am not aware of its past history. Aside from the seized engine and whatever caused it, the vehicle has been in phenomenal shape. It runs excellent and didnt make any weird noises.

So I want to keep the truck and get the engine repaired or replaced. My question is, what should I be looking for here. What should I ask my mechanic? Should I ask him to tear it down to see if it could be overhauled, or just replace it? If I replace it, can I put a different engine in it, or should I absolutely keep the 4.5 L v8 platform? Could I drop in an ecoboost or something?

 

[shucker1]

It might just be cheaper to get a 4.6L long block assembly from Jasper engines or another big name engine builder. They usually come with a good warranty.

If you get a used engine out of a wrecking yard you could be playing Russian Roulette.

Without major work of rewiring or modifying you are pretty much locked into the 4.6L.

 

[MyExplorer03v8Lim]

It might just be cheaper to get a 4.6L long block assembly from Jasper engines or another big name engine builder

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to be so ignorant but could you explain what a long block assembly is? Is that an entire rebuilt engine, or is it like a kit my mechanic orders to swap into my engine block?

I've done some basic repairs like breaks, alternator, starter, sensors, belts etc but I've never gone anywhere near an engine rebuild. Not even a head gasket.

 

[shadowless127]

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to be so ignorant but could you explain what a long block assembly is? Is that an entire rebuilt engine, or is it like a kit my mechanic orders to swap into my engine block?

I've done some basic repairs like breaks, alternator, starter, sensors, belts etc but I've never gone anywhere near an engine rebuild. Not even a head gasket.

Long block is the entire engine assembly sans accessories and intake.

As far as improving, you can go to a 4V 4.6L out of an Aviator. That comes with 300hp out the gate, but is high compression and will require premium fuel, and you would have to have a custom tune flashed to the ECU.

If you are really serious and want to drop some money, get a built engine from someone like MMR.

 

[extra-medium]

If you are looking for a project build then I would go with whatever engine you want. I could suggest a couple builds that would be sweet but would come with a hefty price tag. If you are using the truck as a to b transportation, I would go with a crate engine from jasper and call it a day.

 

[Joe in NY]

I would stay away from Jasper. I thought they were great... Not so.

Put a Jasper Engine in our 2007 Suburban last summer. It died a month ago with 5,000 miles.... No oil ever got to the heads and the oil pump valve came apart and broke the oil pump...

Well new engine got put in by a bunch of monkeys (approved by Jasper..) They broke sensors, charged us for them, undercharged the AC, and put the exhaust together wrong... (spent a whole Saturday afternoon fixing that... plus they left parts off!) Well after driving 45 miles the engine dies, gets towed, another broken sensor (the monkeys broke it and didn't replace it, charged us for that) and said they hear a noise now... I go listen and hear a bolt go flying through the engine!!! Plus there is a loud top end knocking. I tell Jasper and they ignore me. So I make a youtube video and send it, they call me many times trying to get me, what do ya know.. The engine was sent with bad lifters!!! We need another new engine!

3 Jasper engines in a year... 2 Bad ones DUE TO JASPER. Stay Away!

Every time you get an engine replaced "under warranty" there is $400+ that they don't cover and comes out of your pocket....

 

[MyExplorer03v8Lim]

I wanted to add some information to this post. I have come to realize that the a/c and radiator are in some way tied together. This may be significant because the a/c was not working at any point during the time I owned it. Also, it was hot and the dogs didn't have too much air so I had the back seat blowers set to cold, or what I assumed to be ambient temp. I wasn't thinking that the A/C might have been trying to blow the whole time. Could the a/c have caused the seize?

 

[TechGuru]

Only if the A/C broke the belt causing you to be driving without the water pump running...

 

[Joe in NY]

The only way the Condenser and Radiator are tied is that they are both in front of the engine, both require air flow to do their job, and rely on the clutch fan for that airflow...

As TechGuru stated, that is the only way the AC could have done your engine in. But you would have near instant overheats, no power steering, and low voltage which will quickly become dead battery..

The AC has a low pressure cut off and high pressure cut off. So if the gas is low or non existent the AC compressor can't (shouldn't) run at all.