I'm new to this forum and I need some advice. My dad's 97 v6 with 70,000 miles on it is about on it last breath. From reading your other posts it seems to have symptoms of "hydro-lock" but I don't know.

First, he lost coolant around the water pump, and had a new one put on. After that he found coolant in the oil and has changed it 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Now it knocks pretty hard if he goes anywhere in it. All of this happened in about 3 weeks.

My dad has taken his truck to the dealer and they gave him an estimate of a little over 3 thousand dollars to put in a new v6 and it has a 3 year warrante.

I really would like any advice you could give me and my dad. sorry for the long post.

 

After you installed the water pump,did the leak stop?Reason I ask is,the timing cover on the 97and some 98s were under a recall for bad gaskets that leaked coolant both externally and internally.Did your dad take it in to Ford for the recall fix?Also,the lower intake gaskets can go bad too and leak coolant into the cylinders and pan.These gaskets "are" not covered under a recall and if you call Ford they will only kick you to the curve.AJRagno,a member here will probably reply soon to this thread.He will have all the info you need to know.Good luck!

 

thanks for the quick reply, no it hasn't leaked any coolant since he had a new water pump put on, and no he didn't get the pump put on by the dealer. My dad and I don't know of any recalls and he's only had the truck about 8 month's. I really appreciate any help and would like to see dad's truck survive.

 

Go to this link ajragno@leakingfords.com and do some reading

 

What advice do you want? The engine is blown.

Unless you qualify for a recall repair, you will foot all of the bill. The engine is no good now, regardless of who pays for the replacement.

 

(What advice do you want? The engine is blown.

Unless you qualify for a recall repair, you will foot all of the bill. The engine is no good now, regardless of who pays for the replacement)

Unfortunately this is prolly true.
But your best bet is to have it towed to a good machine shop and let them tell you if theres anyway it can be saved.
This may come as a surprise to you -but there are lots of machine shops that fix these things all the time-as long as there not too far gone-consider yourself lucky-my truck blew one morning on me during a COLD start-no warnings at all.
3400.00 to replace the engine-thats a rip off-for a POS like this .

I could'int beleive it when I was told by the mechanic-who seemed to know his ****-that the 4.2L being a long block was more expensive to replace than a remanufactured 4.6L or even a reman 5.7L(350cu in) chevy for that matter!

So not only is this thing a POS-but it's an expensive one too!

Ford really inflicted us with a real POS with this damned engine-too bad.

Good luck.

Regards.

 

thanks guys, I guess I just wanted to know if these motors can be saved by replacing the gaskets, or does it usually require a full break down and rebuild.

 

97,keep us posted on what the outcome is.

 

Ford really inflicted us with a real POS with this damned engine-too bad.

oh, please.

There isn't a truck manufacturer still in business that hasn't had particular problems with some component or part or function in their vehicles, engine or otherwise. To make the leap from bad gaskets in some of the 97s to the engine itself being a POS is just irrational. Ford made hundreds of thousands of these engines, most of which, I suggest, are still on the road and running well.

 

Skoop,I have a 4.2 short block in my shed which I personally witnessed blow up in a 97 F150 at work.I also have a neighbor who owns a 97 F150 which his motor blew up too.Around the corner from me,another 97 F150 with a 4.2 did the same.I was at my local Ford dealership awhile back listening to a customer ranting about his 97 4.2 blowing up.Back in Oct02 I was at Engine Lab of Tampa to get an estimate on replacing my lower intake gaskets and they said they average 6-8 97 F150s a month with blown 4.2s;ALL OF THE ABOVE FROM BAD LOWER INTAKE GASKETS!!!!!!!!! So tell me Skoop,of those hundred of thousands of these 4.2s out there,when is it there turn to blow?The figures I gave above on the ones I have seen blow or heard blow,thats just what 1 person knows of.Just think if everyone in the US who knows of a 97 with this problem spoke up,would that then convince you that the 4.2V6 made in 1997 was a POS?Sure,you could do as I did and get the lower intake gaskets replaced to prevent blowing up,but why should we have to?Ford should be responsible for this.Anyway,you get my point.I agree,the 97 4.2V6 is a POS!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wading in here.....
I don't want to speak for Skoop so I won't. I'll speak for me. But I think Skoop was saying that the problems with the '97 should not imply that all the other model years are no good. I am perfevtly happy with my motor. Tons of torque? Nope.
Chewin' at the bit with HP? nope.
Absolutely touble free so far? Yep.
My point being, yes the 97's are plagued with a few problems, and I do believe Ford fumbled by not meeting this issue head on.
But, I believe that since the bugs were worked out, it is a pretty darned good motor. Won't win any tractor pulls but good e-nuf for me.
I think each of us require something different from our truck/motor combos. For some of us the 4.2 is fine. For others you'd just as well have a moped, because the 4.2 ain't gonna get the job done.
All that said, Yes the '97 was a "bad' year for the 4.2. But later years, well...to each his own I guess.



Brian A

 

" I am perfevtly happy with my motor. "

"perfevtly" is a little known and little used word. It means "very perfectly" as opposed to just "regular perfectly".

Brian A

 

I say its a POS regardless of the year, mine was in an F150 that I bought BRAND NEW in aug of 98'.

Can't remember now,but I think it was goin on 86,000 miles, I changed the oil religiously myself, air filter, fuel filter, pcv valve, alignments, tires, radiator flushes, treated the engine to a motor flushing every oil change too.

And new plugs and wires- first at 36000 miles then again just a few weeeks before it blew(worst location I've ever seen for spark plugs-damned near upside down).
Point is ,I figured I spent 19,900.00 on this reg cab XLT(plus taxes) so I really wanted to take care of it-well it sure took care of me!...lol.
These trucks(w manual) can do some fair amount of work but they can't pull worth a crap! So I took it easy on her,I kept it light (3000lb loaded trailer)and up'd the maintenance alot-did'int help any.Tranny went out on me right around 50K-it came outta me(so I figured no biggie-I prolly pushed it a bit too hard).

I got it replaced for 980.00 -I was back in business(literally).
No mo trailerin' after that-was really sorry I didint just get a base 250 at this point-but, oh well life goes on.

Came home from work one night-went about my usual nightly activities-got up in the morning,had coffee, lit a smoke, got my paperwork together, got in and lit er' up-WHAM BAM buzzzzzzzz!!
rod went right through the block...lol.

Now ,I knew the tranny on this thing was light to begin with-not THAT light,but I kinda knew,so I'm willing to accept my portion of responsibility for it-but the engine? Nope- That one's on Ford's hands alone! Thanks Bill!

 

Franktheman,
I'm happy to say...I do not feel your pain, and I hope I never do!

I'll hit 86,000 within the next few weeks (mine is a 2000). Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Brian A

 

From the symptoms, it sounds like that's what just happened to mine, with over 140,000 on it, after pulling my boat all over Georgia each summer. No, it's not the workhorse, but it's been danged bullet-proof until now. Unfortunately, now is "pick up the pieces" time.. trying to find another engine w/o spending the big bucks for a Jasper. I was quoted $3800 installed.