i just signed up today to gather some information about the f-150's. i'm retiring my '72 chevy p/u and had just about decided on a '98 to '2000 f-150 with extended cab, auto tranny and the v-6. i logged on the general info forum and asked about gas mileage and then found this forum and read a thread or two about it and don't really see a major difference in gas performance. if there's no more than a gallon or two difference between the 6 and the 8 then what's the advantage of the 6?

also, is the blown gasket/blown motor problem specific to a certain year or can it be a problem with all the 6's?

 

Well, bear in mind that this V6 engine produces 200 HP straight from the factory. Some of the 4.2L owners here are getting close to 20MPG. I doubt that any of the 4.6 owners can say that. As I'm sure you know, MPG depends a great deal on driving style and highway versus city traffic, etc.

The 4.2L engines in almost all of the 97 models were built with faulty timing cover and lower intake gaskets. Both are prone to early failure. Some of the later built 97's and early built 98's were made with only bad lower intake gaskets. If you're going to get a 97 or 98, try for one of the V8 engines.

Good luck!

 

thanks for the help 97. that's just what i needed to know. i don't do much hauling any more so i didn't figure i needed the extra power of the v-8 and i really didn't know that the 6's were putting out that much horse power.

anyway, i'll steer clear of those years and keep on shoppin'

 

Gas mileage varies a lot in these trucks. There are many different options, gear ratios, tire sizes, etc... IMO, fuel quality also makes a difference. In California, we have low energy content 'clean' fuel, which seems to hurt the fuel mileage. FWIW, the EPA rates the V6 at 1 mpg better than the 4.6 V8. Some V8 owners say there is no difference in mileage in the real world. Stock, I would get 15.5-16 mpg with my '99, which is a similar truck to what you are looking at.

Stock, my '99 4.2 auto made good power over 3,000 rpm. Rated peak is 205 hp at 4,750 rpm. Torque is 250 lb. ft. @ 3,000 rpm. If you kept the revs up it would accelerate OK. However, the low rpm power was lacking, especially in hills or carrying a load. This is with 3.55 gears - the 3.08 should be avoided, IMO. Some of the common mods will increase power everywhere. You get used to needing to rev the motor up to go anywhere fast, but if you prefer a low rpm torquey motor, you will probably be dissapointed in the 4.2.

The reason I bought my V6 was with the various incentives at the time it was $1,400 cheaper than the same truck with a 4.6 V8. That seemed like a lot of money for 15 hp and 40 ft. lb. of torque.

 

thanks dave...the more research i do the more i'm leaning toward the v-8. 95% of my driving is county/country roads around where i live and work with an occasional trip to dallas/ft.worth. i'm not sure the little bit of gas milege advantage with the 6 is worth the loss of performance.

 

I recently got a 99 f150 with the v-6 and a five speed manual.
The rear end is a 3.08

The area I live in is hilly, I do a lot of work out in San Francisco. Very hilly there.
The truck is quick, hauls very well, even up the hills, and it gets just under 21mpg on the highway (calculates out to 20.9 most of the time now) with 111,000 miles on the odometer.
Although the mileage goes down with excessive speed, it'll cruise at 95mph all day.
No truoubles, no issues, the truck just works great.
I'm running stock wheel size and tire size, stock suspension height, and I don't have any kind of aftermarket body accessories on it.

Stock truck. Great mileage, great performance.
All that and California gas is supposed to net you less mileage than most other states' gasoline due to fuel additives we're supposed to be running to keep smog down.

 

I would avoid the 4.2 in an automatic, but then again I'd avoid anything with a slushpump. The 4.2 doesn't have the power to move that much truck with an automatic and have it be any fun. Mine is a regular cab short bed, and the 4.2 is a blast to drive with the manual transmission.

Mitch

 

thanks everyone...it appears that for everyone that likes the 6 there's another that doesn't.

bronco, i'm making the change to auto because of my knees. i'm old and so are they. i'm just going to have to go out and drive one of each to see.

thanks again..

 

Get the 5.4l.

You'll thank me later

 

If you are comparing the V6 4.2 with the V8 4.6 then the 4.6 is the easy choice. The gas milage on the 4.6 is a good as it is on the 4.2 and the 4.6 has the power if you need more, especially at low rpms.

The V8 5.4 is a whole different beast. If you don't tow or drive competitive then it's more power than you need, and the range of the gas tank is shorter.

I've driven F-150s with each engine, and my first choice is the 4.6. I don't tow much, I don't race much, just like to drive. The truck with the best range was the 97 4.6 4x2 with a 3.08 axle. If your taking a trip you better hit the bathroom before you leave because the gas station is a long way off.

When your boss pushes you to work hard and late, your wife is beating a small point to death, and some jerk in 5.0 Mustang cuts you off only to end up waiting at the same red light before the freeway entrance, the 99 5.4 4x4 with a 3.73 axle is a good thing to have.

 

i'm selling my 00 f150

a few things i couldn't put in the ad (because i ran out of space) is that it the truck comes with the 3.55 non-LS, keyless entry as well as a fully transferable 4 year extended service plan...i got the truck as an inheritance.

http://www.autotrader.com/findacar/v...lor=&cardist=0

 

Same as my last truck, only a black 01. It was my first time with the capt chairs. I realy liked the center console, but the 60/40 is more comfortable. I asked my wife which option she wanted the most and it was the capt chairs.

 

the v6 is fine but gas miliage sucks, it may even be worse then the 4.6 on hwy.

save your self the trouble.. I would if I could go back.

good luck.

 

You've got the auto transmission, don't you?

I did a highway run with my 03 yesterday. I got 20.7 mpg running around 82 mph with a significant headwind on the way there, and the same as a tailwind on the way back. The only mods thusfar on the 03 are an airaid intake and a hard tonneau cover (really helps the milage). My 2001 was at 21.5 MPG with all the mods, and got 23.7 on one trip (with the girlfriend driving).

I had one trip on the new truck towing a 2,000 lb trailer in a nasty headwind. At 80 mph the gas milage was down to 16 mpg.

All in all, I do like the V6. I think if I had the 4.6 I'd just drive it that much harder and get that much crappier gas milage. If I towed anything substancial very often I'd probably want the 4.6L.

I'm going to add the rest of my mods and try Mike T's electric fans. The JBA headers will have to wait a while. I may even experiment with lower gears on this truck, although it is pretty well balanced with the 3.55's.

Mitch

 

I have had a 97 F-150 V6 and now have a 2000 V6. I have been highily satisfied with performance of both trucks. The 97 was a supercab with the 3.08 rear, 235-70 tires, it averaged right at 20mpg local country/ city mix with a light foot and alittle over 22 mpg on four different long trips. I prefer the 2000 which has the 3.55 ls rear and 255-70 tires. Stock it averaged 19.25 mpg local and 20.5 highway trips. I have upgraded the performance which has greatily benefited the mileage and performance of this last truck. If I was to buy a 2003 it would definatily be a V6 as I have been satisfied with both trucks. Also both trucks were autos. My brother bought a 97 identical to my 97 except for being a stepside. He averaged 17.5 mpg, has a rough and hard driving style ( full gas then full brake). Also he put 140k on this truck of hard miles with only replacing the brakes at 120k, water pump at 139k. I didn,t get V8's on these trucks as I felt 205hp was plenty for my uses and a 4.6l was another $650. Hope this helps you, Glenn Taylor. P.S. Hello BroncoAZ.