I was thinking of buying a 97 4.2 V6. It has only 153000km. It seems from what I'm reading here that it's ready to hydrolock. Should I look for something else? Thanks

 

Ask if the intake and timing cover gaskets have been upgraded. If not I'd pass on it, unless you think you can replace them yourself, the parts should be less than $200 so it might be worth it. If you really want a v6 find one with a build date after 01/15/1998 and you won't have to worry about the H-lock.

 

If it hasnt hydrolocked, a few hundred bucks and a weekend will have you a better-than-new engine

 

97XL Thanks, I shall inquire. I'm unable to do the work myself. I'm also wondering if it would pull a 2800lb stock trailer with one horse in it? I've read they suck when pulling more than a light boat and trailer. Dang, the truck is in beautiful shape-he bo't a back seat type with the arrrival of a baby.

 

It should haul that no prob. As long as the trip has no big long hills you'll be fine. Not sure I'd try to pull that on just the bumper hitch though, for about $100 you can get a good Class III/IV hitch bolted on, if the trailer has elec. brakes you may want to look at a brake controller as well if the truck doesn't have one. If its got the open diff with 3.08 gears it will be kind of a dog on accel. but once you get up to speed you should be fine. I hauled an 18' travel trailer loaded with gear and the truck bed full of more gear and firewood with the open diff and 3.08 gears and I had no issues.

As for the h-lock issue, if you can't do it yourself its not a cheap fix. Mine cost me about $1200, mostly labour.

 

Thanks 97 I've decided to pass this one up. We do have a lot of long steep hills so I shall look for more power. Every time I think I've found a nice one, it's either a standard (busted knee) or it has a lift kit. The Canadian boys love the lift kits on their 4x4s. I'll be using crutches for a long while so don't need the extra height.

 

I finally got the dreaded hydro-lock on my 97 150 with the 4.2 v6, the thing about knowledge is that it came too late for me about this prob with the intake gaskets being too thin and casusing a failure allowing coolant to seep into the cylynders. I was wondering why I kept having to fill up my holding tank for coolant, any-hoo, the engine had 58k original miles when I bought it and when it hit 61k she locked up on me,when I jump started the motor when what I thought I had a dead battery it happened. it cranked up and ran but it had something tapping like the hammers of hell on the inside! oh and a week before that happened the heater core blew out on me also I'm wondering aloud here, is there a connection here about electrolosys maybe being a factor on the pre-mature failure of the intake/timing cover gaskets and the heater core ??

 

Because of the postings on hydrolock my search for a newer truck led me to a 2003 Ford f150. This has been invaluable information. Thanks. I had been looking at 97s but decided to veer away from them.

 

2003 was the most reliable year of the 97-03 body style. All 3 engines that were available are solid.

 

How much would it be to have the shop change the gaskets to prevent the Hydrolock?

My 1997 has 150,000 on it and its been losing coolant. I've had to fill it i think twice in 1 year.

 

Quite a bit, if you have the time and a secondary vehicle, do it yourself.

 

Yeah i have the time but...Im NO mechanic....Is it a pretty straight forward process? I mean....Im good at putting stuff back together :P I could easily get a second vehicle.

 

get a chiltons or haynes manual and you should be fine. its just a process of removing so many bolts, unplugging things, moving lines, etc. just dont lose anything, and be prepared (i.e: search for people who have done this before, there is TONS of information at v6f150.com) and it will save you a pretty penny. Last I heard someone say they paid $800 to have it done at a shop

 

I guess I got lucky I bought this 97 XLT with all intensions of replacing the engine due to head gaskets the bottom end is fine it tried to H lock a couple times but didn't do any damage. I drained the radiator and pulled the plugs and turned it over a few times .

Replaced the plugs and restarted it , it purred like a kitten no noise no knocks so I have it torn down and the heads are at the machine shop being pressured tested. With all new gaskets I should be able to get a couple good years out of it. I didn't pay a lot for it and it is a nice truck

 

I don't know the cost of having the gaskets replaced at a shop, but I'm doing them my self since I have plenty of time on my hands these day's and we have another truck. I have it tore down to the block. Hardest part for me was un-doing the head bolts, man were they on there! There are many, and I mean very many sensors and hoses and electrical plug-in's, ect. I took several photos during different steps of the teardown to refresh my memory when the time comes of putting it all back together. I Broke my favorite 1/2 " drive craftsmen rachet on a head bolt though.