Hey guys! New to this forum! Got a question.....

I have a 2000 F-150 XL Extended cab with a 4.2 and 5 spd. Love my truck, first new vehicle I ever purchased and will be keep this truck so it's important to me to do whatever I can to preserve it.

Here's what I've done since new.
at 40,000 miles I switched to full synthetic. Been using Pennzoil Platinum with a quart of Lucas ever since. I have a borescope and upon inspection of the crankcase one can see the internal parts are free from any sort of sludge, carbon, etc. Still looking new inside.

Every 50,000 miles I retorque the chassis and engine. By this I mean I go front to back and tighten/retorque every nut and bolt I can reach. My truck has no ratles or leaks since new.

Serviced the manual transmission and differential every year changing fluids, checking slack, etc.

Never really had to change any parts on this engine. Nothing serious at least that would really count. Replaced the alternator once but that was because I accidentally fried it. Changed the EGR and PCV valve. Changed the TPFE (forgot what its called now, basically a equilibrium sensor for the exhause pressure) because it was the old aluminum style and corroded internally. Had to fix the linkage for the secondary set of intake ports, you know, the ones that open up after a certain speed has been reached. The little plastic clip broke on the drivers side linkage so I had to fix it.

Thats pretty much it.

The problem is the engine has grown noticibly noisy over the last couple years. I was thinking about dropping the pan to check clearances and/or maybe put a new set of main and rod bearings in it. But then again it doesn't sound like bearing whine, it's just loud?????

 

PULLING THE PAN IS A MAJOR B!#$@,ALMOST INPOSIBLE.AND ITS GLUED IN LIKE A MOTHER.TAKE THE ACCESORY BELT OFF AND SEE IF THE NOISE GOES AWAY.THESE ENGINE ARE ALSO KNOWN FOR THE CAM SYNCRO TO GO BAD.

 

You know what....I will try this. I really forgot about the accessory's being a source of noise.
I can get the pan off, its not that hard. One of my friends has a similar truck as mine but he never really took care of it and his leaks like a seive so I did a gassket job on his and sealed it. Just remove all fasteners except the ones at the four corners of the pan, loosen thos so it wont drop, then whack the pan on all four sides equally with a rubber mallet. About a year ago something happened on his to the head gasket near #1 and coolant leaked into the crankcase. I heard this was some sort of defect and I've been scared *****less about it since so I was extra careful when I retorqued the heads for the second time.
Should I change he head gaskets????

 

How hard is it to replace the cam syncro????

Would I notice any lack in performance if it were going out?

My truck still gets factory fuel economy (actually around 23mpg hwy) but I have noticed it doesn't take off like it used to. I tow allot so maybe thats why or maybe I need a valve job?

 

....Oh wow I just did a search on the 4.2L here and it seems most everyone that has one doesn't like it or gives them problems? I guess I must have gotten really lucky or my extreme maintenance has really paid off????

Is it really as fragile as everyone seems to say it is?

 

THE INTAKE GASKETS FAIL SOMETIMES CAUSING COOLANT TO GET DUMPED INTO A CYLINDER OR THE ENGINE.THE SYNCROS FAIL DUE TO AGE.I HAVE A FEW FREINDS THAT HAVE THEM AND 1 OF THEM HAS 225K ON IT AND HASNT HAD ANY REAL TROUBLE.