Hi: I am new to the forum and our family has always been a "Ford family" when it came to trucks. The new boat I just obtained weighs 3,500 lbs. and I bought a used 4.2 V6 F-150 with 98,000 miles to tow the boat with.

The truck runs good yet is losing oil somewhere at the tune of two quarts every 600 miles. It pulls the boat well (manual shift) but just yesterday after pulling the boat out, I had to relaunch the boat again to refloat it on the trailer correctly. Upon trying to pull it out a second time, the engine bucked and knocked and the truck would not move at all. I noticed the check engine light flashing and I left the engine off for a half an hour, hooked up a tow strap and a Rover helped me power out off the boat ramp. As we were going down the road, it felt as if the clutch was slipping but by the time I got home I had no problems backing the boat on the upsloping ramp of my driveway.

Could this be a worn or slipping clutch? I thought a manual transmission would be better for towing, am I wrong on that? Any ideas on the oil leak?
No spots anywhere on my driveway.

 

The problem with buying used is you have no idea how it was serviced, if at all.

If your motor is eating 2 quarts of oil every 600 miles, it is time for a rebuild. It could be in the upper or lower end. By just rebuilding it you will solve the oil delemma. Next, when the engine is out, replace the clutch disk, pressure plate, throw out bearing and pilot bearing. Now you're starting from scratch.

 

The odd thing is that this truck does not throw out black smoke.

I know you are right about the servicing. The oil gets black very quickly and when I first drained it, it was very thick and black. After running a thousand miles, it is pitch black. I have done four oil changes in the last 5,000 miles in hopes that I can clean the inside of this engine out. I have ran Rotella to help clean it out.

I figure that the clutch is about done with that many miles on it. Replacing a clutch should be cheaper than a whole automatic transmission. That's why I bought a manual.

I wish I had $28,000. I might have bought new, but if these Ford trucks are so "tough" then they ought to last regardless of abuse.

My Grandpa ran one of his old Fords 100K miles without a tune uo, plug change, and a oil change every year. It is a 62 and still runs.

 

Yep, Automatics can usually pull alot more.


I have a 2004. It says in the owners manual that a 4.2 with an Automatic and 3:55 rears can pull 4200 pounds. A 4.2 with a Manual and 3:08 rears can only pull 2000 pounds.

While an over haul will probably fix your oil problem, Im afraid there isnt much you can do about your clutch. Pulling almost twice the vehicles towing capacity will eventually cost you some serious $$$.

Sorry { just a side note. If your lugging your engine, It may be adding to your oil burn problem?}


This thread might help https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=78435