4.0 sohc head problems???

I own a 1998 Explorer with the 4.0 SOHC engine and I was listening to a radio shop talk program on a local radio station recently. A caller said his Explorer had cracked heads, the mechanic/host said that that was a common problem with the 4.0 sohc motor. Is this true??? I had not heard of this before. WADDDA YA KNOW??????

I've never seen a 4.0 SOHC with cracked heads. The 4.0 OHV's crack heads regularly.

Thanks Racerguy! I'm glad to hear that, and I guess you are a Ford Tech at a Ford dealership??? On a recent trip to B.C. I noticed how that really is Ford Country! We have had no trouble with it other than the front timing chain recall issue, the local dealer took care of it. It has tons of power, gets like 20 mpg at 75MPH so whats not to like?? I sometimes wish we had the 5.0 just for the bullet proof durability of the v8 but it would not get the mileage that the 4.0 gets.

Yup I'm a tech at a Ford dealer in northern BC. My wife drives an Exploder with a 4.0 SOHC. I was quite picky when we were looking for one for her. It had to have the 4.0 SOHC and the 5 spd automatic. I think it's a really good combination...contrary to what some Ford techs think. Where I am we really have seen hardly any problems with them...a few timing chain problems but that's it. I sure didnt want a 5.0 as they feel slow compared to the SOHC and dont get good mileage. If we were going to tow with it that would be different as the 5.0 has more torque but for everyday driving the SOHC feels better IMHO. Where abouts in BC did you get to? It really IS Ford country up here.....well Ford truck country anyway. At the place I work at approximately 75% of the vehicles we sell are F series trucks.

I had one come in with coolant loss and blownin smoke. It had over 90k miles. Ok so blown head gaskets, warped heads, cracked head. Nope, It had devloped a hole in the combustion chamber into the coolant passage. Other than that the engine was in perfect shape. Installed a junkyard head and no problem after that. There is always a runt in the family.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: fastback.brian on 8/11/02 11:07am ]</font>

That's a strange one eh?
Yesterday I pulled a V10 out of a 2000 F350 and tore it down to find spun main bearings. I've never seen mains spin before. It killed #4,5,6 mains but I dont see anything else wrong with the rest of the engine. Strange

I've never seen anything internal wrong with the sohc 4.0's. Ever. Timing chain cassettes, etc, but other then that, nada.
Regular 4.0's, tho, quite a few heads/gaskets.
Ford can't make everything perfect........we'd be out of a job, eh?[img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]
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Thanks to both of you qualified Ford techs! the other thing abt that 4.0 sohc that is of some concern is the the damn thing RPMS to 6k at wot before it shifts. Can that be adjusted in someway or do I just need to lose weight in my right foot? My 460 C6 is adjusted to shift at wot at like 4k I just don't see the need for all the RPMS.

6K at WOT is just where they shift and I dont think you can change it other than to pull your foot off the loud pedal a bit more [img]/phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I like the way the 5 spd auto feels when it shifts at 6K...nice small drop in rpm.

I love the way those engines rev. They need to rev and they like to rev. The 5speed auto makes it even better. Dont worry about it thats just how they are. Way cool sound with all four of those chains spinning.
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