I have a 1996 ford exploder is it easier to pull the motor or drop front diff to get at oil pump thanks pat?

Answer 1

Tough Call! Are you sure you can get it off without pulling the motor, even with the axle dropped? If it has a crossmember that can't be removed I'll bet you will have to at least lift the engine up quite a bit.

WARNING ON EXPLORERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They have a TINY oil strainer screen on the pump. It fails often because of sludge clogging its TINY inlet! If you have a symptom of OK oil pressure at first, then it all goes away, the problem is likely the tiny screen has sludge in it and has clogged.

Summit Racing makes a larger one, more like what cars used to have back when they were designed by intelligent people.

I have done MANY of these, and I have always had to lift the motor almost all the way out of the car to get the pan off. I have been able to do it without disconnecting the transmission, but I've had the engine and tranny tilted up at almost a 45 degree angle before the pan would clear the crossmember. That's why I'm not sure dropping the front axle would get you anywhere.

Answer 2

I would drop the diff...there are only 4 bolts holding it all together. It's not hard. Then pull out the motor mount bolts and jack the engine up. You should be able to stick a 2x4 under each motor mount to hold the engine up. Good luck. Now you could just flush the engine with deisel fuel to get all of the sludge and silicone (from the original oil pan seal) out of the screen. Just drain the oil, fill with deisel and idle engine for 3-5 min....then drain and repeat. Then fill with oil and replace filter.

Answer 3

Even if you drop the diff you will still have to disconnect motor mounts and raise the engine up to get the oil pan off.

Answer 4

I would pull the engine. It is much easier and you don't have to deal with all the suspension components being a pain.