somebody help me

[wesry]

I am looking at buying a 98 ford explorer, but the owner is not sure if it is a xl or xlt. I also don't know how to tell the difference between the ohv motor and the ohc motor. Any description or pics will be helpful. Thanks

 

[IZwack]

Welcome to the site.

Look at the badge on the back (lower passenger side corner of the hatch), it'll say XLT, XLS, etc...

As for the engine, the SOHC engine typically has a large black plastic covering on top of it that will say "4.0 SOHC". Of course that assumes that the owner hasnt removed this plastic piece.

 

[gr8scott]

I am looking at buying a 98 ford explorer, but the owner is not sure if it is a xl or xlt. I also don't know how to tell the difference between the ohv motor and the ohc motor. Any description or pics will be helpful. Thanks

The SOHC will say that on the engine and the OHV will say EFI iirc.

 

[wesry]

Thanks for the info. I looked for a badge to see if it is a xl or xlt, but it did not have one. Is there any other way to tell which one it is.

 

[wesry]

also is one engine better than the other

 

[IZwack]

As far as I know, the XLS did not have tinted windows (the rear hatch window, the rear doors, and the rear quarter window behind the rear doors) standard and the XLT did - although it could have been added as an option. Also, the XLS also did not have fog lights where as the XLT did.

As for the engine, typically, I think most people opt for the SOHC because its design stems from racing and has higher horsepower.

 

[lrlima]

If it is an SOHC do a search on the chain tensioners on this site. I dont have that motor, but have heard there can be issues with them just from reading some of the other posts. They are good motors, but just read up on it so you know what you're getting into and / or what to look for so you know its right.

 

[Papa]

Decifer the VIN # it should tell you everything. A search on this site should help with that.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

Why the hell doesn't the owner know if it is an XL or XLT? It should say on the title if it is an XL or XLT. Personally I would not buy from this person since they don't know their own vehicle.
There are a ton of Explorers out there. Look for some one selling that knows their ass from a hole in the ground.

 

[IZwack]

Why the hell doesn't the owner know if it is an XL or XLT? It should say on the title if it is an XL or XLT. Personally I would not buy from this person since they don't know their own vehicle.
There are a ton of Explorers out there. Look for some one selling that knows their ass from a hole in the ground.

There are some people who drive a vehicle just for the purpose of tranportation and know nothing else about that vehicle. They just have other, more important, things on their mind Sometimes, because these people do not know their vehicle, they often sell them for the cheapest prices - where as the person who has attached every bolt-on accessory to their vehicle, will often sell their vehicle for over what most people would consider as a reasonable price.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

There are some people who drive a vehicle just for the purpose of tranportation and know nothing else about that vehicle

Which would make me wonder how well they cared for their vehicle as maintenance goes.
I would want every receipt for every oil & tranny fluid change before I bougt from this kind of owner.
My thought is if the person knows their vehicle inside & out then they probably took good care of it.