Looking for some ansewers
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Looking for some ansewers
so im looking for a new truck and due to the fuel prices im looking for a v6 can anyone tell me if ford made a 97' or newer V6 extened cab 4x4 f150 with or with out stepsied bed? or am i waisting my time looking
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From: Southern Louisiana
I agree with polarbear, the 4.2 v6 is an engine that should have never been put in a full size pickup, much less a 4x4. The 4.6 v8 would be a better choice. It also gets about the same mpg as the 4.2 liter.
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From: Oak Harbor, OH
Why would one look at a 4x4 for fuel ecoonmy anyways? NOt trying to offend, but that's like saying "I want a fridge to keep my beer cold, so I'll buy an industrial size freezer". If you have a true need for 4x4 you won;t be happy with anything less than a 5.4. The 4x4 works are heavy and the 4.6 is going to be really doggy. I test drove a few 4.2 2wd 5 speeds that were nice trucks, and weren't really dogs. I don't think it would have handled a 4x4 driveline very well though. We get ~16 out of out '04 E150 with a 4.6, and it's loaded ALL th time.
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From: peggs, oklahoma
i have the 4.6l v8 in my f150 of course mines quite old. But it isnt getting so great of mileage.
I gotta go but ill indulge further later
I gotta go but ill indulge further later
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From: Littleton, New Hampshire
I got a 3.7 V6 in my new Dakota but it doesn't get great gas mileage. It is rated at 15-18 but I found out after I bought it that I could get the same mileage with a small V8. I should have had a V8! 
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From: North Texas
If you need a pickup, or 4x4, you also need enough engine to get it out of it's own way. The cost of a little more gas is nothing compared to the payments for a new truck.
Think about it... let's say a 5.0 v8 gets 18mpg and let's assume a 4.2 6 gets 20. (In reality this probably won't happen because the 6 has less power and you'll have your foot in it all the time to compensate) At 12000 miles per year, $2 per gallon, that's $1333.33 for the 8 vs $1200 for the 6. For $133 a year you get more power and more towing with a V8. Plus the V8 will probably last longer because you'll have your foot in it less, causing less wear.
If you really want better gas mileage... ditch the 4x4. Most people don't actually use it, so you suck gas pushing a 4x4 all the time. Plus a 4x4 costs more than a 2wd. That $1000 option is worth 8 years of gasoline. Also a stick does a little better than a auto.
Think about it... let's say a 5.0 v8 gets 18mpg and let's assume a 4.2 6 gets 20. (In reality this probably won't happen because the 6 has less power and you'll have your foot in it all the time to compensate) At 12000 miles per year, $2 per gallon, that's $1333.33 for the 8 vs $1200 for the 6. For $133 a year you get more power and more towing with a V8. Plus the V8 will probably last longer because you'll have your foot in it less, causing less wear.
If you really want better gas mileage... ditch the 4x4. Most people don't actually use it, so you suck gas pushing a 4x4 all the time. Plus a 4x4 costs more than a 2wd. That $1000 option is worth 8 years of gasoline. Also a stick does a little better than a auto.
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From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Originally Posted by polarbear
They made one- the question is, would you want it. The 4.6 V8 gave better power and mileage, IMO, and that's what I'd be on the lookout for.
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i'd like to take the time to thank all of you for your input reading all of you comments and those to come has mad me lean more towards a v8 knowing that they gas mileage is the same in a 4.6 as a 4.2 v6 any further input is appreciated for i do not plan on getting a truck until the new year....... happy holidays to all
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From: Damascus-Boring, Ore
Originally Posted by 1956MarkII
I agree, the V8 makes more sense: more power, same or better mileage. I only disagree on one point: Ford never built a 4x4 full-sized supercab pickup with a V6, in any year. The inline 300 was last used in the '96 F-150, and the '97 Supercab 4x4 came standard with the 4.6 V8. I sure remember that year- there was a real shortage of 5.4s, so of course everybody wanted one. We had to "force-feed" a lot of 4.6s, just to sell trucks.
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From: Alvin, Texas.
One of the captains I worked with offshore bought off a 4.2L SCab with a 4.2L from his pops.
It gets 14mpg's with 3.73 rear gears. You could get decent mpg's with a 4.2L, but with a 3.08 rear in all likelihood, which kills towing ability and basically makes that a car with a bed on it. Not always a bad thing, but there are tradeoffs in life....like the guy asking me what it would take for a 4.6L swap because the mpg's would be similar. I told him, he liked the idea, but he may just live with what could have been.
Of course, with used trucks and SUVs taking a buge hit for obvious reasons, even a 5.4L truck could be a great deal these days, if you need the utility of such a vehicle.
It gets 14mpg's with 3.73 rear gears. You could get decent mpg's with a 4.2L, but with a 3.08 rear in all likelihood, which kills towing ability and basically makes that a car with a bed on it. Not always a bad thing, but there are tradeoffs in life....like the guy asking me what it would take for a 4.6L swap because the mpg's would be similar. I told him, he liked the idea, but he may just live with what could have been.
Of course, with used trucks and SUVs taking a buge hit for obvious reasons, even a 5.4L truck could be a great deal these days, if you need the utility of such a vehicle.