Looking at buying a used F-150, year 2005. It's the one with the V6 4.2L engine, the truck looks gigantic for the engine, but maybe that's just me. Frame looks great (put it up on the lift), engine looks clean enough to eat off.

But when we put it on the lift and brought her up, water was leaking out of the front of the muffler. The truck has been parked for the whole winter, so I don't know if that's a major issue or not (the muffler leaking, and it wasn't a drip, it was a good leak). It did stop after a bit.

Just wondering what you all think.

 

Its the condensation, the mufflers do have holes in them for this reason. If its been sitting all winter it definitely could be the culprit

 

You've never owned a vehicle before? You honestly never noticed condensation dripping out of a tailpipe and/or muffler drain hole before? This happens when you start and run a cold engine. You would have to drive it for at least ten miles to cook all the water out of the exhaust system and oil. Water forms in the oil because all engines have blow-by and combustion gases contain water vapor.
The 4.2 in my truck with the manual shift is okay. I really don't use the truck much and never tow. The problem is, you don't get as good mileage as the 4.6 V8 w/auto trans. The new V6s are very different - turbocharged, overhead cam, multiple valve, etc.
But, the 'push-rod' 4.2 V6 seems to be a very dependable, quiet engine. Mine is very free-revving and quiet. It just doesn't have the 'oomph' you get used to in a V8 truck. But you work around that by getting on the gas earlier. I don't have any trouble making 75 MPH on the average on-ramp which is usually enough to get into the slow lane. You have to be willing to hold the gas on the floor and let the thing eat. Many people like big engines because they don't like to use wide-open throttle, ever. That's ridiculous. You basically can't hurt today's engine with your right foot, particularly with an auto trans. They all have a rev limiter. You learn to drive what you have. Those who can't buy V8s.

 

Mine drips from both ends of the muffler and sometimes leaves a small puddle on the ground...and I drive the truck 2-3x a week if not my F350. At first I thought I had some holes due to rust...we shall see!

 

I love the wide open throttle in my V-8 and im sure its there way more than it should be haha

 

Sounds like someone has size enzy.