Red Line
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Red Line
I have a 99 F150 with a 4.2 V6. I us this to pull my 23FT travel trailer, which weights about 4800 lbs. I am going to upgrade to a diesel in a couple of years. What I would like to know is what is the red line on the V6. It does not show it on the tack and I do not want to damage anything so I don't go over 3000. Is that even close or not? Is there anything I can do to get more horse power with out doing huge changes?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Lancaster SC
Red Line
Welcome to FTE, I also tow a TT with a 4.2 and it has run up somewhat going up hill with no apparent problems. I thnk it went up to about 4500 but not for a long time. Like you I will upgrade to a larger engine when I can. Right no there is not much trade value in a 2002 SCab. Upside down is what the dealer says. Funny I don't feel like that.
Try holding the go pedal down to the floor and see where the tranny shifts, that might give you an idea of what rpm you can safely turn
Good luck
Steve
Try holding the go pedal down to the floor and see where the tranny shifts, that might give you an idea of what rpm you can safely turn
Good luck
Steve
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Red Line
really? i was late for work one day, open freeway my speedo read 102 mph in 5th gear. that was once. another time i hit about 98 mph in 4th gear and it cut out, but have no tach so i don't know if i hit rev limiter or governor. interesting, eh?
Postmaster
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From: La Tech University, La
Red Line
You hit govenor the rev in 4th at 98 is roughly 4500 rpm to get a tach on your truck push in the tripmeter reset button before you put the key in, hold the button down put in the key start the truck, it will son come up in 'test' mode, release the button, hit the button to change modes, you will eventually get to a digital tach, you will hae to do this everytime you turn on the truck.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Trussville, Alabama
Red Line
The 4.2 makes max torque at 4950 rpm, and max HP at 3,700 rpm. So I'd guess about 5,500 for redline is reasonable.
If you are shifting at 3,000 rpm you are never getting near the peak output for the motor. The 4.2 will perform decent, IF you get it up in the higher end of the rpm range.
It is not what we generally thnk of when we think of a truck engine, i.e. lots of "low end torque". It is not the best choice for doing a lot of heavy towing specifically because it needs to be wound up to make good power. But, it will do the job if it has to.
The 4.2 gets bashed a lot. I am happy with mine. Especially considering at 93,000 miles it has never had any glitch.
edited to add: by the way, you said it doesn't show redline on the tach. What tach? I never knew you could get any 4.2 with a tach?
If you are shifting at 3,000 rpm you are never getting near the peak output for the motor. The 4.2 will perform decent, IF you get it up in the higher end of the rpm range.
It is not what we generally thnk of when we think of a truck engine, i.e. lots of "low end torque". It is not the best choice for doing a lot of heavy towing specifically because it needs to be wound up to make good power. But, it will do the job if it has to.
The 4.2 gets bashed a lot. I am happy with mine. Especially considering at 93,000 miles it has never had any glitch.
edited to add: by the way, you said it doesn't show redline on the tach. What tach? I never knew you could get any 4.2 with a tach?
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Postmaster
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From: La Tech University, La
Red Line
Well, some option groups come with them I think, and I find that most of the autos also have tachs....if your truck has a digital odometer and trip meter, then the built in test function has a a TAC in it if you know how to access it.
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Red Line
I have a 99 F150 XLT w/analoge gauges. Speedo And Tach are the two big ones. Also I Pulled a 25ft 5th wheel and over the grades you really had to keep her wound up to stay in the power . It has 150,000 miles on it and no major problems yet. I have given this truck to my son and now have a F-250 6.0 litre diesel power srtoke w/ 5 speed auto w/tow haul mode. Why in the heck I ever thought you could pull a big trailer with a 4.2 I don't know, but once you go diesel you'll never go back. (17MPG is'nt bad either)
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Joined: May 2003
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From: North Louisiana
Red Line
Big Hands, I have a '97 EXT.Cab all stock, never been upgraded with chip,etc.. I have yet to find a rev. limiter, fuel cutoff or anything else that limits my 4.2's topend except the law and phyisics.
Postmaster
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From: La Tech University, La
Red Line
You do not think that you have a rev limiter? put it in neutral and gun the motor .....tell me at what RPMs it blows up or starts to smoke, trust me you will know if you throw something, burn something or float a valve....if you do not have a limiter you WILL do one of them that is the law of physics.....If you have not found anything that governs it that just means that you have not taken it to the limits that it can handle and where the rev limiter and govener are set at. ...
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From: North Louisiana
Red Line
J.D. I never stated that the truck did not have a rev limit, I simply said that I had not found that point as of yet. I have taken the truck well in excess of the 100 mph listed on speedo but that was before I installed a tach. therefore I am unaware of what the rpm's were. I don't make it a practice to exceed the legal speed limit, but there are times when it becomes necassary,and as of this posting I have yet to reach the engines rev limit.
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Red Line
I have a 2001 F-150 sport V6 4.2
Does anyone know if there have been any problems with the 01 engine? Also does anyone know about what speeds I should shift in each gear? Last question, What is the best tach to get?
Thanks.
Does anyone know if there have been any problems with the 01 engine? Also does anyone know about what speeds I should shift in each gear? Last question, What is the best tach to get?
Thanks.
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Red Line
Originally posted by Jimmy Dean
Redline is roughly 5500 or at least in the five sd. the govenor cuts in a 98 miles an hour, which is at 3000 rpm in 5th gear,
Redline is roughly 5500 or at least in the five sd. the govenor cuts in a 98 miles an hour, which is at 3000 rpm in 5th gear,