My buddy who is always complaining about his milage in his 4.2 with auto, let me take his truck for a spin. While driving I noticed the motor revs way too much holds its shifts too long and produces a feeling of no power. Its a gutless combo. In my 5 speed I can shift way lower get going alot faster and burn way less gas. The auto holds 1st gear until about 30 Km/h spinning 2800 revs while I can get out of 1 at max 2000 to get good push. In my opinion the auto 4.2 combo is a piece of **** you pay more up front and pay about 20% more on gas always, its that bad. So for all you complaining about your mialage there is your answer, a truck should not be making normal shifts at such low rpms.

 

I dont agree. This is my 7th F-150. I know F-150's kinda well. I dont think the combo is a piece of ship at all. I think (know) that it is a pretty good combo as I OWN one along with many others in here. Is it a race truck?. No. It wasnt built to be. It is programmed to shift and respond like a "recliner" not a truck. That is why people who KNOW have the option of a superchip. I bet you are comparing it to your dads 350 Chevy. (When he lets you borrow it). Sorry, but to call a F-150 a piece of crap, kinda gets me jacked up. No jabs intended. But for a 5000 lb truck, it performs well in my limited opinion. (7th F-150 owner).
Thanks for listening
Rick..

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"99" F-150 4x2,ext, med red / silver, 4.2L, auto, 3.55's, 265x16's premium snd w/cd, 4 wheel antilocks, leer "too heavy" matching cap, Mobil 1.

 

Go Ford or Go Home - I'll race you with my V6 auto! :-)

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HotRodSix
'98 STX Flairside 4.2L
Best 1/4: 16.26 sec. @ 84.4 mph
Dyno: 180 rwhp / 228 ft-lb

 

In my opinion a 4.2-auto combination is just right for some folks.

In fact, I think the 4.2 with an automatic just might give you mileage equal to a 5-speed in some situations, and for one reason I'd like to confirm: Lower revs at highway speed.

Can anyone with a 3.55 rear axle tell me what an auto-box 4.2 turns at 70 mph? I'm curious. I'll check again what my 5-speed turns and we can compare.

And the automatics are rated to tow more (not that this is an issue with me and a lot of folks). I think either transmission is good and at least you get your choice.

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

Hhmmmm should I post that my 5.4 w/auto is a piece of sh** because it won't get 24mpg like my 4.2 did,,,,nahhhh. The big thing the poster left out is that the 6 he drove probably had 3.08 gears in the rear end and that would account for a lack of power feeling

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2000 F150 SC XLT
5.4
4-sp auto
255/70r-16
3.55 LS
Heavy Duty electric
Heavy Duty cooling
Trailer Towing Group
Keyless Entry
Soft Cover
Captains Chairs
wedg blue& silver two tone
Fog Lights
Bed Liner
Fender Flairs
Cab Steps
10 disc CD changer

(Just 892 more payments and that sucker is all mine)

 

Shifter, I'll get back to you on the 70 mph tach. I bet we'll be around 2K. C-ya.

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"99" F-150 4x2,ext, med red / silver, 4.2L, auto, 3.55's, 265x16's premium snd w/cd, 4 wheel antilocks, leer "too heavy" matching cap, Mobil 1.

 

Seems like I remember someone comparing them once before and finding them being close to the same.

Here are the ratios for overdrives. This was taken from the '98 factory shop manual:

• 4R70W-0.70:1
• E4OD -0.71:1
• 4R100-0.71:1
• M5OD -0.80:1

The M5OD's overdrive is slightly lower, but I'm not sure how much of a difference in rpms it'll make.

 

3.55's w/ auto, 70 mph = 2000rpm.
Whats the 5 speed doing, around the same??.

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"99" F-150 4x2,ext, med red / silver, 4.2L, auto, 3.55's, 265x16's premium snd w/cd, 4 wheel antilocks, leer "too heavy" matching cap, Mobil 1.

 

I beleave mine is around 2500rpm at 70mph, I've looked at it when towing, and never let it drop below 2200rpms when towing so I have good power if needed.

97 V6 F150 5spd 3.55, K-cab 4by2

 

Shifter posted this awhile back:

[This message has been edited by Ford man (edited 03-16-2000).]

 

Shift or not to shift. Some like the ease of the auto and others like to pick the gear them selfs. I like the tall 5 speed gear shifter.
As Ford Man stated I also run about 2300 rpm @ 70mph.(3.55)

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00 F150 spt/reg flrside
99 Corvette cpe
99 VW passat (wifes)
99 Toyota (sons)
99 HD fxdwg

 

Well then, based on what Karick11 says he's reving at 70 with his auto-trans, then my 5-speed is reving 300 rpm faster at 70 and probably using a little more fuel at cruise speed than an automatic that has a lock-up 4th gear (maybe).

I don't think there's much to chose between the two, really, as far as fuel consumption goes since most driving is a mix of cuising plus going up through the gears.

Enjoy what you got, I say. It's a free country, last I checked.

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

My V-6 Screams!! I don't mean I rev the crap out of the motor either. I am running BFG 265/75 AT's (31.65"), 4.10 gears and a Superchip. I have ample off the line power and when I mash the gas pedal, it flys off the line. With this setup my mileage has been hovering around 15.8 MPG, my last fill-up I yielded 16.66 MPG (376 miles, 40 miles w/ the low fuel light), (22.559 gallons). I did not top off the tank. If your not happy with your set-up, guess what, you can change it! It doeen't take a rocket scientist to figure out a 4.2 auto, w/ the 3.08 gears will be slow off the line. Some folks don't mind the stock set-up, others just don't care. And then there are folks like myself who what more from their V-6. So far, so good.

San Diego Rally in 4 more days! :-)

F&B's

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98 F-150 XLT, SC, SWB, 2WD, Pac. Grn., 4.2L auto, 4.10 gears w/ LS, Tow Pkg., BFG AT's 265/75/16, K&N air filter, Dynomax muffler, Superchip, Edelbrock shocks, Hellwig sway bar, 3" body lift, signal mirrors, ...tons of cosmetic products

 

Shifter:
Although the auto might have a slightly taller ratio in OD, the efficiency of the 5sp overcomes that difference, thus causing the 5sp to get better mpg.. So the slighty lower revs really don't matter.

This even includes the new OD's that have the torque converter lock. Theres still less power loss through the 5sp..

Generally, if your goal is to maximize mpg, a manual tranny will always do better than an auto. (if other options are the same, tire size, rear end ratio).

However, for some, the easier drivability of the auto far outweighs any mpg gain of the 5sp.


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Y2K F250 XLT SC 4x2 5.4L 5sp 4.10LS

 

When and where is the SD Rally at Franks&Beans? I haven't had time to really look into it. Thanks

Bones

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2000 F-150, XLT, 4X2, Ext. Cab, S/B, 4.6L, 3.55 L/S, Tow Package, Premium Sound CD Player.

Future Mods: NONE, I'm broke.