Since it’s a 2WD, is there anything else I should watch out for besides the usual maintenance to avoid any big problems?
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Since it’s 2WD, you don’t need to worry about the PTU failing. However, you should be aware of some common issues that aren’t often mentioned, like wheel bearings, lower control arm bushings, and strut mount bearings. As a Ford service technician, I replace these parts fairly often on 100k+ 5th Gen Explorers.
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Thanks for the info! I’m trying to decide whether to wait for a 2.4L EcoBoost with 2WD or go for this 3.5L naturally aspirated one that just had the chain and pump replaced. What do you think?
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The 2.3L engine is quite reliable, and the 3.5L one is too now that the pump and chains have been replaced. It really comes down to whether you prefer a 4-cylinder or a 6-cylinder and which one you can get a better deal on.
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Thxs. I think I’ll go for the EcoBoost so I can tune it, even though I’ll mostly just be using it to drive the kids and pick up groceries.