Hey everyone, what engines should be avoided? Are there specific years I should steer clear of when shopping for a car? Thanks a lot!
4.0 OHV - Very reliable
4.0 SOHC - Stay away
5.0 OHV V8 - Very reliable
4.6 SOHC V8 - Alright
4.6 DOHC V8 - Alright
2.3 EB - Excellent
2.0 EB - Excellent
3.5 Cyclone - Water pump issues, be cautious
3.5 EB - Water pump issues, be cautious
3.7 Cyclone - Water pump issues, be cautious
3.0 EB - Excellent
3.3 Cyclone - Excellent
3.0 PHEV - Excellent
3.3 Hybrid - Alright
@Aris
Thanks a lot!
Is this information for all years, or are there certain years where these issues were fixed? Did Ford work out the kinks in the later models? Appreciate it!
@Aris
Well, the 2.0 EB was underpowered, and both the 2.0 and 2.3 EB have head gasket problems, turbo issues, and intake valve carbon buildup. The 3.5 EB also has these last two issues.
Blai said:
@Aris
Well, the 2.0 EB was underpowered, and both the 2.0 and 2.3 EB have head gasket problems, turbo issues, and intake valve carbon buildup. The 3.5 EB also has these last two issues.
Turbos are a potential issue with nearly half of these engines, but it’s not as bad as people say. Turbos can fail, sure, but it’s not as common as issues like the water pump. Turbos are common now and part of modern engines, so avoiding them doesn’t make sense. You can fix intake valve carbon with a catch can or walnut blast for $150-$300. As for the head gasket, that’s mostly a concern with early 2.3 engines, and later ones are much better. I actually recommend the 2.3 for fifth-gen Explorers. The 2.0 might feel underpowered to some, but it works fine for commuting. It’s not my top pick, but they’re not that common anyway. Remember, engines are mechanical and things can break down eventually. This list is about the most common, repeatable problems people run into. It’s not about stressing over rare, minor issues.
@Aris
True, but when buying used, you’ll see a lot of cars with these problems, which is why they’re being sold. Most of these vehicles will end up having turbo issues, but the fleet is still young enough that it won’t be a widespread problem yet, like the 4.0L SOHC, which didn’t have issues until after 150K miles. Most of those engines will eventually fail if they’re still on the road now. If you’re buying a car with other engine options, it’s easy to avoid the turbo models. Your budget will likely determine how old the car you’re looking for is.
Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Yu_P424OY&ab_channel=CarWizard
It’s a big risk, but you might get lucky.