2008 Explore

[Skeetor]

Re: 2008 Explore

We used them as fleet vehicles and I had three of them myself over about 9 years.

The first years had tail light problems, but it was fixed on a recall. The later ones had gauge problems, on one of mine the gas gauge would read empty after filling it until it got down 1/2 a tank, then it would read normally. Another guy?s did just the opposite.

Consumer Reports doesn't rate them very high, but in our company they were the vehicle of choice, they were quiet, smooth, comfortable, reliable, and towed a trailer fairly well. They didn't get great mileage when towing, but with 4WD they never got stuck. I don?t think any of the fleet TBs had a mechanical problem with the engine or drive train.

If they were still being made it's what I would be driving right now. Not perfect, but worked well for a work/ family/tow vehicle combo. We probably went through about 30 of them, maybe more.

I love my TB. I'm also a Chevy Tech. and I tell you they mostly come in for service, no major issues with drive train. I don't understand why GM stop making them. Rides like a car and works like a truck. Here's a picture of my rig.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: 2008 Explore

I tow my Stingray with a 2011 Pathfinder and it does a good job. They fixed the SMOD (strawberry milkshake of death) that comes for the coolant leaking into the trans via the cooler around 2009/2010. However most people just bypass the cooler in the radiator and move on with their lives. The key in looking at one of the affected ones is to make sure it hasn't started leaking.

Mine gets about the same gas mileage as anything else in its class. I normally get 16.5 in city/mixed driving, 22 on the highway running 60, and 19.8 on the highway running 80.

 

[Loop_Dad]

Re: 2008 Explore

I tow my Stingray with a 2011 Pathfinder and it does a good job. They fixed the SMOD (strawberry milkshake of death) that comes for the coolant leaking into the trans via the cooler around 2009/2010. However most people just bypass the cooler in the radiator and move on with their lives. The key in looking at one of the affected ones is to make sure it hasn't started leaking.

Mine gets about the same gas mileage as anything else in its class. I normally get 16.5 in city/mixed driving, 22 on the highway running 60, and 19.8 on the highway running 80.

Thanks for this info. I did a search about possible fix. Someone was talking about installing separate transmission cooler and bypass the factory cooler which is mounted on the radiator which is the source of this problem.

But are you saying folks are just bypassing without having transmission cooler? Is that a safe thing to do? Do you happened to have more information (ie. links) about what folks are doing to prevent this from happening?

I also found a youTube video of this milkey stuff. If you just stick a wrench in the coolant reservoir, it is pretty easy to see if it is already happening.

I'm still looking and if there's prevention that can be done fairly easy, Pathfinder looks to be a nice tow vehicle.

 

[bigdee]

Re: 2008 Explore

Thanks for this info. I did a search about possible fix. Someone was talking about installing separate transmission cooler and bypass the factory cooler which is mounted on the radiator which is the source of this problem.

But are you saying folks are just bypassing without having transmission cooler? Is that a safe thing to do? Do you happened to have more information (ie. links) about what folks are doing to prevent this from happening?

I also found a youTube video of this milkey stuff. If you just stick a wrench in the coolant reservoir, it is pretty easy to see if it is already happening.

I'm still looking and if there's prevention that can be done fairly easy, Pathfinder looks to be a nice tow vehicle.

Heat in an automatic transmission comes from the torque converter. Without a cooler you can still control the temperature by adjusting your driving style. Avoid rabbit starts and allow vehicle to get rolling by increasing acceleration ramp time. Accept the fact that your pulling a load and drive conservatively....your foot is the heat creator.

 

[Triangleboater]

Re: 2008 Explore

Loop dad,
Just sold my 99 4runner for $5000. It was in great shape, low miles looked way newer than a 99, and towed great! I installed a tranny cooler and trailer brakes for right around $300 bucks and it towed my 15ft skiff great! Which would be similar in weight to what you want.
Go with a toyota and it will last a lifetime, no joke. I am still driving a 93 corolla with 290,000 miles, all orginal major parts.

I vote is 4runner. Not the best gas mileage, but probally better than the explorers you are looking at! And super reiable. I think you would be able to get a 04, 05 for not too much.

 

[sdride]

Re: 2008 Explore

You might want to check out the Rav4 with the V6 option. It's good to 3500lbs and has the extra cooler's etc. I did a quick search on Cars.com in your area and saw several in the 10k to 15k price range. It's the same V6 that the larger models use.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: 2008 Explore

Thanks for this info. I did a search about possible fix. Someone was talking about installing separate transmission cooler and bypass the factory cooler which is mounted on the radiator which is the source of this problem.

But are you saying folks are just bypassing without having transmission cooler? Is that a safe thing to do? Do you happened to have more information (ie. links) about what folks are doing to prevent this from happening?

I also found a youTube video of this milkey stuff. If you just stick a wrench in the coolant reservoir, it is pretty easy to see if it is already happening.

I'm still looking and if there's prevention that can be done fairly easy, Pathfinder looks to be a nice tow vehicle.

The Pathfinder has 2 trans coolers and the one in the radiator is considered not needed so most people just bypass it and don't add a external, but you can if you want.

Check out the forums at the thenissanpath.com they have tons of info on it.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: 2008 Explore

Here you go:

The Nissan Path :: View topic - I by-passed my in radiator tranny cooler

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 2008 Explore

4.3 GM is great for a boat that size, especially if you get a stick. I had three of them in extended cab trucks, pulling a 2200 bass boat and 2800 runabout.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 2008 Explore

and you will never know how much you need a truck bed until you have had one, then don't

 

[Loop_Dad]

Re: 2008 Explore

Thanks everybody for your input.
Thanks dan02gt for the link.

 

[Loop_Dad]

Re: 2008 Explore

Since the DIY prevention measure for Pathfinder appears to be relatively simple as just bypassing one of the coolers, I started looking at Pathfinder.

Found a couple, 2005 / 60k miles for 11K which is just about right per blue book and 2008 / 90K miles for 10.5k which is about 2K below. Not sure which one is better choice, lower mileage or newer truck, plus higher mileage / newer truck has very good price.

Assuming they are both in good condition, which one would you go for?

 

[lncoop]

Re: 2008 Explore

and you will never know how much you need a truck bed until you have had one, then don't

That's a matter of personal experience. It's funny, My first car in high school was a pickup. I've driven pickups my whole life and made frequent use of the beds. When I bought the Expy it was with the understanding that if I found I couldn't do without a truck bed I'd either get a beater truck or trade the Expy, but guess what? Haven't felt compelled to do either.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: 2008 Explore

Since the DIY prevention measure for Pathfinder appears to be relatively simple as just bypassing one of the coolers, I started looking at Pathfinder.

Found a couple, 2005 / 60k miles for 11K which is just about right per blue book and 2008 / 90K miles for 10.5k which is about 2K below. Not sure which one is better choice, lower mileage or newer truck, plus higher mileage / newer truck has very good price.

Assuming they are both in good condition, which one would you go for?

At some point I think 08 or 09 they did a update/facelift on them. So I would probably go with the newer one if it's a higher trim levels (SE or LE) and in good shape.

 

[Loop_Dad]

Re: 2008 Explore

At some point I think 08 or 09 they did a update/facelift on them. So I would probably go with the newer one if it's a higher trim levels (SE or LE) and in good shape.

They are both SE level.

I'm not too concerned about the looks, but more wondering about better buy as a towing in mind...lower mile older truck or higher mile newer truck. BTW pictures look very similar between 2005 and 2008 with only small difference, hardly noticeable to me.

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: 2008 Explore

I pulled my 17' Bass Tracker with a 2001 Jeep Cherokee and couldn't tell it was back there. I pulled my 21' Whaler with a 6 cylinder Jeep Cherokee. Both did a fine job. I pull my 17' Proline (about 3,000 lbs) with a 2010 Sport Trac which is basically an Explorer frame with a small truck bed. The truck has a 5,000 pound tow capacity. Either way it's a six cylinder and pulls and rides fine. Personally an 8 cylinder would pull easier but it is what it is. By the way...my mileage averages about 6mpg with the boat on.

 

[dan02gt]

Re: 2008 Explore

They are both SE level.

I'm not too concerned about the looks, but more wondering about better buy as a towing in mind...lower mile older truck or higher mile newer truck. BTW pictures look very similar between 2005 and 2008 with only small difference, hardly noticeable to me.

In that case go with the one with lower miles. Less of a chance of the trans cooler having let go and caused the SMOD.