hello again,after reading your post hades 281 I tried what u suggested and I still have the vibration. I bought this truck in march 2001 and it has had the vibration and what sounds like an exhaust leah since I had it. My truck has 39000 kilometres (24300miles) so it is definitely not new like yours. I had the I6 before this and it was bulletproof,tough as nails,I never had any vibrations in that truck, also with this truck it tends to have to turn quite a bit before starting up,if all these trucks are like this then I guess i'll have to live with it,but I dont trust this one, If anybody has had the vibration or ticking please let me know. I would also like to know how u got it fixed from ford..

 

I had a ticking sound too that was pretty loud, I heard it best behind the driverside tire. Turned out to be a leaking catalytic converter. Ford replaced it and now it sounds like all the other v6's.

I have friends with v6 F-150s and now that the exhaust leak in my truck is gone, it sounds like the others. These engines don't seem to have that quiet hum that some other engines have - but from everything I've heard from different and reliable sources..

1. Fuel injectors in these trucks are normally pretty noisy (confirmed via stethoscope by other members as well)
2. The roller/rockers make a bit of noise, thats normal too

Keep this also in mind (personal theory). With the smaller engine under the hood, there is more open space for the sound to bounce/echo in the engine compartment. The engine may sound noiser than it is because of the geometry of the engine compartment with respect to the size of the motor inside? Comments welcome on that theory, don't know if it holds water but seems to make sense to me. I had the ticking sound since it was new pretty much, and now with the converter changed it sounds a lot better.

Sorry the little adjustment didn't help dampen the vibration. Try an independent shop for the exhaust leak, sometimes they offer free inspections. I also read somewhere that there is a TSB for ticking noise in 1st gear / park caused by the (automatic)transmission?

Other than the timing cover gasket recall for the 97's, I think the consensus is v6 is a pretty durable and reliable power plant despite the engine being noisy. I think I've even read reviews on the f-150 that said the V6 was "noisy"......

Hope that helps!

 

Thanks hades for your reply, I am not all that mechanically inclined so it helps when someone takes the time to explain a question. I will be visiting my ford dealer in New Glasgow Nova Scotia Canada,I will tell the service manager to check this, my truck has lots of warranty left and for the most part I find my ford dealership excellent in the service area,to be honest thats why I bought another ford,for the service, around here Ford is second to none in that area. I wanted a v8 but money was an issue so I got the v6, overall I am happy but I think the 4.6 triton should be standard in all these trucks,its just more suited to the truck. I believe the main reason most people have had engine troubles with the 4.2 v6 is because the engine is always working so hard to do the work its needed to do, anyway just my five cents worth.

 

Originally posted by FordMX
"SVT 4.2L Diesel"

LMAO! SVT F-350?! A new line?

 

had my v-6 to the shop today to see about the ticking noise and the vibration in the gas pedal, the verdict-- throttle cable was rubbing up aginst an engine part, fixed. The ticking, well thats not a faulty converter,theres no exhaust leak, the noise is coming from "the engine" . I am nervous about this motor,anybody have engine problems with 99 or newer? Oh by the way I go back on thursday to have to new shocks replaced on warranty.

 

I have the same sound and ticking for the last 218,000 km and i have not had a problem with it. Yes A 99 4.2L V6 with 218,000 km.

 

In Canada Alberta you don't need the cats. I took mine out and I Still have the ticking. yes the service engine light will go on but there is a fix go to the posting o2 sensors and the is a web site to fix the light and well I hope to get them soon

 

I guess i dont have anything to worry about with my truck ,at 218000(136000miles) thats more than i've seen on any other v6,I live in nova scotia and we have cold weather but not like yours in alberta, I guess I have nothing to worry about, just drive it till it quits.

 

ive had a clicking noise for a while now, i took it to the ford dealer and they said it couldnt be the lifters. so i got to looking and saw the crankshaft pulley bouncing around like it was fixing to fall off. oh well guess ill get it fixed sometime. The clicking only occours when the truck is warm.