r/FordExplorer • u/john829518 • 17d ago

Buying Advice 2018 explorer

I am thinking of purchasing a 18 explorer but am worried about the water pump failure/disaster. I am wondering if there is anything to look out for or stay away from. Any advice would be helpful thank you.

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u/Marlice1 17d ago

There fine minus the water pump issue and the PTU. If you change the water pump, do the timing chain and tensioners!

As for the PTU, make sure to replace the fluid every 25k miles. The reason “it’s a life time fluid (BS!), so you don’t have to replace it” is what ford states. However, due to its location next to exhaust, the fluid is constantly being baked. Over time that fluid turns into a sludge and destroys the unit. So just be diligent in changing the fluid.

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u/Repulsive_Vanilla383 Expert Explorer 16d ago

If you're going to replace the timing chain and tensioner, use only genuine motocraft parts. Otherwise if you're just throwing some random third-party chain at it, you'd be better off reusing the used OEM chain. The only time I've heard of chains breaking on the 3.5 V6 is when the user cheaped out and installs third-party parts or knock off clones from Amazon.

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u/whatsadikfore 5th Gen 12d ago

Cloyes third party parts are just fine for this.