My Ford dealer has a mint condition 2007 F150 XL 2WD longbed trade in I was looking at purchasing. It has the 4.2L V6 engine with automatic trans with 30K miles on it. Really a basic truck, but thats all I'm looking for. I would just use it to commute to work 25 miles and to pull an occasional small trailer loaded with my garden tractor or ATV and to pick up building materials when I'm doing a home improvement project. No boat or camper pulling here.

I drove a 1984 F150 with a 300-6, 3 column shift tranny for 240K miles...and more recently a 1997 F150 with a 4.6L V8 5-speed.

I tried to see if the 4.2L V6 was a decent reliable engine for the 2007 era trucks but the V6 forum only seems to cover 1997 to 2000 range trucks when discussing the 4.2L engine ;and they seemed plagued with a few issues such as gasket failure and hydrolocking...but only here and there. I only saw one post on a 2005 and it was about adding a performance exhaust...so not much discussion there.

Just curious if this engine could make it to 200K...which seems to be the amount I put on them before I get another.

Thanks!

 

I don't know of anyone having any major problems with the 4.2L V-6. I don't think it's nearly as good as the old 300 engine it replaced, but it does get better fuel economy. Most all the engines Ford builds these days can hit 200K miles with proper care.

 

from wiki-

According to Consumer Reports' used car reliability history data, the 2004–2008 F-150 with the 4.2 L V6 engine is the most reliable American pickup truck ever produced in history. It scored a rating of excellent for five straight consecutive years within one body generation, something that domestics had never earned in the past.

 

Thats impossible. My 1984 F150 300 six that grandpa got new and gave to me when I got my license was THE most reliable American pickup ever produced. Consumer Reports has it all wrong.

Seriously though...thanks for the information. I don't see too many 4.2L's in the newer gen trucks.

FWIW...my local LP gas company has a 1984-85 F350 4x4 dually flatbed that they use to transport tanks to homes. It has a factory 300-6 and a 4speed transmission and still looks top shape. It was an amazing engine in my opinion and you won't find todays V6's in any new dually 4x4.

 

In my opinion, the 300 6 cylinder and the 460 engines were the best gas engines Ford ever put in a truck period. Today's engines are very good and get better fuel economy, but are way more complex and expensive to service or replace.

 

hey 3spd, i purchased 1997 f150 4.2 2whl dr. drove till 2005.put 190,000 miles on it.sold to my uncle it has 234,000 on it and justhe did the trans. motor has never been touched.i have a 2005 f150 2whl dr, 4.2 with 132,000 both trucks i bought brand new and i have a construction business that i pull a 12 foot enclosed trailer that weighs just about 3,000 lbs fully loaded.i bought both trucks new with zero miles however just like anything in life you take care of it and it will last. oil change every 3,000 trans fluid every 20,000 because i tow alot.antifreeze 50,000 miles rearend gear lube 75,000 miles i plan going 200,000 on 2005 because of current economy. i hope this helps.good luck.

 

I have never owned one nor have I driven one of these 4.2Ls.

I drive a 2005 F-150 XLT 5.4L 4R75E 3.55:1 gears 2-wheel-drive and 30"X8.5" tires on 17" rims. I had some custom exhaust work done too but mostly stock.

I feather the gas-pedal in third-gear to go 70-85 mph on the up-hill portions of interstates. (I-8 east out of San Diego Ca).

My peak horsepower figure matters about <5% of the time. The rest of the time I am feathering the gas pedal enjoying throtel response and low-end torque.

As for this truck, keep your foot out or it, change the fluids and spark-plugs adequately, keep the exhaust from leaking, don't burn up your catalytic converter or transmission.
-enjoy your new truck.

 

About a year ago,I traded my old 97 XL with the 4.2,automatic LWB and she had 186000 miles showing on the clock.While I considered that truck indestructable,I had to take advantage of the CFC(Cash for clunkers) program.I found an 07 F-150XL with the exact same powertrain,and box.
It had 36,000 showing and was absolutely pristeen.
I bought it,and have NEVER regretted it.
Granted,its not a powerhouse,but extremely reliable,and runs quieter than the wifes Impala.
The original 4.2,s had some issues,but those issues have long since been corrected.
If you perform routine maintenance on it, youll easily see the clock turn over 200,00 miles with virtually no problems.I would suggest running Motorcraft syn-blend,and motorcraft filter as the maintenance schedule suggests.
Economy on mine is around 18 city,and if I keep the foot out of it,20 Hwy.
I purchased a ScangaugeII from Autozone with the mirror mount.It looks OEM,and gives real time economy.
I have serious doubts that youll be disappointed in the truck.

 

Well all in all i really enjoy this powertrain, i have one in a 2003 f150 with a manual transmission. It does have limitations, for example due to the short crankshaft it does not have the torque that the inline 6 cylinder has, which everyone knows that is what gives you the umph when pulling a heavy load. I have found when pulling a heavy load keeping the rpm's "up" is a must. (this is with a manual transmission) My fuel milage around town is not the most stellar for a 6 cyl usally it is 13 to 14 mpg then on the road I have seen 18mpg however it likes to hang around 17 mpg. I have 83k on the clock and trust it will do much more. I work in a local dealership and this engine is used a lot with contractors as well as personal ownership. I would believe this engine coupled with the automatic would make a great power combonation, if you do get one with an automatic i would highly recomend getting transmission oil flushes every 40 - 60 k miles if you will be pulling heavy loads on a regular basis, just for the lack of torque and the transmission needs to work harder.

 

My 2007 4.2L 5-spd is an incredible truck. Just passed my four year anniversary with it and it still doesn't have 10,000 miles. I think I've changed the oil six times . The 5-spd is 'notchy'-shifting but the V6 is fun, free-revving engine. The truck came standard with the four-door cab (not extended cab) and four-wheel ABS disc brakes. It's more important to be able to stop a load than to be able to burn rubber up a hill with it. I like the manual trans - makes good truck noises and is very rare these days in a full-size truck.

 

Guess I dont have anything different to say about the 4.2 than what you have already read but I have definately not regretted my wife buying the 97 5spd 4.2 I now drive. Just clicked 234,000 with nothing but two sets of spark plugs and keeping fluids changed. I drive 85 miles a day round trip and it averages 21 mpg at the speed limit, 18 to 19 above it.