Bad Motors
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
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Bad Motors
i have 2 1997 F-150 both are XL and have the V6 in them. One truck i got brand new off the lot with six miles on it and the other was bought use and it had about 50,000 mile on it.
The truck i got new i know was taken good care of and the other from the time i owned it was taken care of.
All maintiance completed at the scheduled time. Oil and filter every 3,000 miles the whole nine yards.
Well when these trucks got about 100,000 miles on them the bottom of the motors went bad. Replaced with new motors from Ford and now they are good to go.
i have heard other people say that at about 100,000 miles that the motor in their trucks went out.
i was wondering is this common? Or just one of those things that happen
The truck i got new i know was taken good care of and the other from the time i owned it was taken care of.
All maintiance completed at the scheduled time. Oil and filter every 3,000 miles the whole nine yards.
Well when these trucks got about 100,000 miles on them the bottom of the motors went bad. Replaced with new motors from Ford and now they are good to go.
i have heard other people say that at about 100,000 miles that the motor in their trucks went out.
i was wondering is this common? Or just one of those things that happen
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 124
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From: Kabetogama, MN
I own a 1997 F-150 with the 4.6L V-8 so I have no first hand knowlege, however from all that I have heard the 4.2L V-6, particually in its first years, was prone to crapping out earlly due to head gasket failer causing coolant to leak into the internal workings of the engine and was said to be unreliable and such.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 282
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From: B'ville, WV
It wasn't head gaskets. The 97-98s had faulty lower intake gaskets and front cover gaskets. Coolant leaked into cylinders, then hydrolocked. If you got 100,000 on both before problems, consider yourself lucky. Most crapped out long before then. Do a search in the 4.2 forum and try this website, www.leakingfords.com
That website will probably give you all the info that you'll want to read.
Rich
2000 F-150 XL,4.2, 5spd, 108,100 miles and counting
That website will probably give you all the info that you'll want to read.
Rich
2000 F-150 XL,4.2, 5spd, 108,100 miles and counting
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 282
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From: B'ville, WV
Originally Posted by pfogle
Didn't they also have problems with breaking camshafts?
Rich
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27
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From: South Louisiana
We have a '97 F150 XLT with the 4.2L V6, and the engine crapped out at 108,000 miles. I guess it hydrolocked. Our mechanic said it looked like water got into one of the cylinders. One of the pistons was toast, and the rod was bent. DH was able to drive it to the mechanic, but it sounded horrible.
As much as I love Ford trucks, I certainly could have done without their "use it once and throw it away" engine.
The new engine has been working fine so far, with 3 years and almost 50K miles on it.
Megan B.
As much as I love Ford trucks, I certainly could have done without their "use it once and throw it away" engine.
The new engine has been working fine so far, with 3 years and almost 50K miles on it.Megan B.
Last edited by mrsbones; Mar 17, 2005 at 10:01 AM. Reason: edited to fix smiley
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Joined: Mar 2005
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My 1997 XL V6 had the engine drop out also. About a month ago it was cold so I went to start it and let it run for awhile, but it wouldn't start. So I jumped it with my Dad's car and it started up, but had a horrible ping and was pouring smoke. The smoke wasn't blue so we knew it wasn't oil. Then we had our neighbor take a look and the engine was shot. Coolant leaked into the bottom end and it threw a thrust bearing and was done for.
So we had to replace the engine...a good $3,000 at less than 70,000 miles.
There was a recall on the gaskets awhile ago. But nothing was sent out cause it wasn't for safety.
So we had to replace the engine...a good $3,000 at less than 70,000 miles.
There was a recall on the gaskets awhile ago. But nothing was sent out cause it wasn't for safety.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 385
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From: Missouri
Originally Posted by mrsbones
We have a '97 F150 XLT with the 4.2L V6, and the engine crapped out at 108,000 miles. I guess it hydrolocked. Our mechanic said it looked like water got into one of the cylinders. One of the pistons was toast, and the rod was bent. DH was able to drive it to the mechanic, but it sounded horrible.
As much as I love Ford trucks, I certainly could have done without their "use it once and throw it away" engine. The new engine has been working fine so far, with 3 years and almost 50K miles on it.
Megan B.
As much as I love Ford trucks, I certainly could have done without their "use it once and throw it away" engine.
The new engine has been working fine so far, with 3 years and almost 50K miles on it.Megan B.
Yes, that'll toast the pistons and bend the rods from the resistance. Can't drive a hydrolocked motor though 