v8...no real get up and go?

[mcompton1973]

I drove a 97 mounty today.
d4 axel code (3.73 rear end)
99k miles.

The engine seemed to have pretty good power...but it really reved the RPMs, was kind of loud for a newer SUV and did not seem to have a lot of get up and go.

I am wondering if that is normal? In otherwords....with that v-8 in there, I kind of expected it to really take off. It did not seem like it really wanted to get out and move. I guess that I will try to drive another one to compare it too....but wanted some good thoughts from others. Am I expecting too much? I realize it is like driving a brick into the wind...but I expected more.

Also, are the v-8s mormally noisier than the v-6? I thought I had read that the v-8 was much quieter. is that wrong? Thanks in advance for all your help....again.

 

[section525]

I'm thinking something wasn't right. When I first started driving V8 Explorers... back in the day.. that was the first thing I noticed about them. I wasn't used to the front tires coming off the ground when I gave it gas.

But seriously.. there should be a noticable difference in the V8. The real test would be on the freeway. Do a nice little 60-85 sprint. You should get to 85 in a jiffy and you should have done it in peace and quietness.

 

[DonM]

I have a v-6 in mine and thought the same thing. It's pretty noisy and doesnt take off like I think it should. Even with all the mods I have done and Ive had it checked out and all is good.

I though maybe I wasnt running on all cylinders, but i am.

Maybe I'll test drive a similar Explorer...

 

[DarkFox1]

heh, well aside from some mielage thats mine.. and no.. they dont have any get up and go, brick in the wind is right, more like a dump truck in the wind hehe

I havne't noticed anything about noise, I mean its not exactly quiet, but i like that about it, gives it a truck feel.

I expect more out of my truck every time I try and go anywhere, its gotten to where I am very disappointed in the vehicle, as such, I feel the only thing I personally can do about it is put up with it until I have the finances to sell it.

Most of the shops I talk to about these performance issues say I'm asking too much.. but I dont think neither of us are.. I simply thing ford hasn't given enough to these trucks, not that we're expecting too much out of them..

just my $1.00

 

[X~FACTOR]

I always thought the sound that comes out of the V-8 when coming off the line is TORQUE. Kinda like when you see a big 18-wheeler start going from a stop light.

If you're looking to buy an eXplorer and going to modify it to go faster, I'd suggest you get a V-8 since they respond better with modification than the V-6. If you gonna keep it stock then get the V-6 because they have about the same HP and get better gas mileage.

 

[Morgan97Ltd]

from what i've noticed the 5.0 in an explorer doesn't have much get up and go from a dead stop. drive around with the overdrive off and then u'll really see where the power is. and the sound isn't really all that loud IMO, but i'm used to loud mustang 5.0s so i might be biased

 

[GJarrett]

You drove a 2 1/2 ton vehicle with the wind resistance of a parachute. The V-8 helps, but you may be expecting a bit too much out of it in stock form.

 

[james t]

also, compared to "other" brand V8's, the X 302 doesnt make alot of torque down low. this can give a feeling of minor sluggishness. our 5 liters like midrange rpms, and dont put out alot around 2k. remember, the explorer 302 is more of a "car" V8 instead of a "truck" V8.

 

[SaleenEXP]

Originally posted by DarkFox1
heh, well aside from some mielage thats mine.. and no.. they dont have any get up and go

If anyone reads a V8 thread, don't pay attention to Darkfox's post, his 5.0 is secretly running on 4 cylinders and he's in denial and won't get it fixed

Originally posted by X-factor
If you gonna keep it stock then get the V-6 because they have about the same HP and get better gas mileage.

Not really, almost rarely, go through the gas threads and most of the V6 guys get less mpg or about the same as us 5.0 guys. We get 15-16mpg in the city with lead feet and 21mpg at 80-85mph in our 5.0 Mountaineer. My sisters 01' 4dr Explorer with the sohc and 3.55 gears can only get 14mpg in the city and my sister is nowhere near as lead footed as my mom or I.

Originally posted by mcompton1973
The engine seemed to have pretty good power...but it really reved the RPMs, was kind of loud for a newer SUV and did not seem to have a lot of get up and go.

Something must have been wrong with that truck, we had a 97' Mounty that was fast. And now we have a 00' 5.0 Mounty 2wd w/ the 3.73 rear, I don't know what was wrong with that truck but ours is very powerful off the line and flys when floored. Talk to any member on here with a 5.0 that runs correctly, it's not a sports car but then agin how many sports cars weigh 4500lbs.

The last time I was at the track I ran the 1/4 at 16.1 at 86mph. A member on here, Troll, when his Explorer used to not run 11's lol, ran the 1/4 at basically the same times I did in his 96' 5.0 Explorer. Basically 0-60 in 8 seconds flat if not very high 7's when stalling the convertor. I mean, the only other trucks at the time that were basically faster were the BMW X5 4.4 and the Grand Cherokee 5.9 who both ran 0-60 in under 7 seconds but range only 15-15.5 in the 1/4.

97.5' and up Explorers/Mountys have 5 extra hp and close to 15 extra tq.

Our trucks aren't rockets when stock, as no truck is right now for the Cayenne TT which makes a lot of sports cars look slow, but our 5.0's are very quick when stock.

JamesT is right though, our 5.0's love the mid range, if your rolling at about 20-30mph and floor it, it will kick down and take off (the front will even lift when the torque comes on).

I just think you we're expecting it to accelerate like a Mustang lol. I have friends who drive very powerful cars from a Viper to a 500rwhp 03' Cobra, and their pretty suprised at how fast our truck is for what it is, a 4500lb brick, especially when annoying ricers want to play.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Re: Re: v8...no real get up and go?

Originally posted by SaleenEXP
go through the gas threads and most of the V6 guys get less mpg or about the same as us 5.0 guys.

All things being equal, don't you think a V-6 gets better mileage than a V-8 eXplorer?

 

[james t]

you would think so, but there is a mileage thread here somewere thats like 8 pages long and just about everyone with a V6 got about the same as the V8's, with exception of the one or two V8 guys that have issues (11-12 mpg in a V8 X means somethings screwed up).

 

[section525]

Re: Re: Re: v8...no real get up and go?

Originally posted by X-factor
All things being equal, don't you think a V-6 gets better mileage than a V-8 eXplorer?

I don't. My GF doesn't get much better gas mileage than I do now. She's stock SOHC with 4.10s. I'm 32" MTs with 5" lift.

We don't come to the V6 forum and start talkin trash!

 

[aldive]

Re: Re: Re: v8...no real get up and go?

Originally posted by X-factor
All things being equal, don't you think a V-6 gets better mileage than a V-8 eXplorer?

I know mine sure does.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Oookay... I guess not.

 

[IAmTodd]

Re: Re: Re: Re: v8...no real get up and go?

Originally posted by aldive
I know mine sure does.

Your's gets better gas milage than most Hondas!!

Go for the 4.6L in the new Explorers. It rocks!! Except it seems more partial to higher RPMs and is noticably louder than the V6s in the new ones.