1997 Ford F150 from North America - Comments

For laymen: Think of a V-6 as two 3-cylinder (inline three) engines, and think of a V-8 as two 4-cylinder engines (inline fours).

Alright, first off (with exception of a very limited few) V-6 engines just weren’t meant to be. First to understand engine science, a modern combustion engine (the kind used in most cars and trucks) has four cycles (an even number) and in most engines (I-4, I-6,and even V-8) 2 cylinders move to the top of the cylinder bank at the same time (first the outside 2 then the inside 2, etc).

In a V-8, four cylinders are up at the same time (2 in each bank). What this does is equalizes the pressure within the cylinder bank, therefore having the effect of trying to “push” the cylinder heads “off” the engine.

Now to a V-6 engine, although 2 cylinders are up at the same time (like every other engine) only one cylinder in each bank is up (at top) at a time. The center cylinder in each bank poses no problem as the pressure is equal around this cylinder. It is the end cylinders in each bank that cause the trouble as (because only one cylinder is up, in a bank at a time) their pressure is not equalized, so it has a sort of teeter-totter effect on the cylinder head, something’s got to give, usually the head gasket, as it is designed to be somewhat soft and flexible to offset casting irregularities.

In short inline engines with a even number of cylinders, and V pattern engines with an even number of cylinders in each bank, will far outlast engines with an odd number of cylinders in each bank, based solely on science alone.

For those of you that hear a “bang” or “thud” when you start your engine, MAYBE it would be smart to turn off the engine, raise the hood and investigate further, rather than saying hmm… what was that, and driving off.

And if you aren’t already stuck with one DO NOT BUY A V-6 equipped vehicle!!! Stick with I-4s, I-6s, and V-8s as I’ve seen very few people have engine trouble with these.

For those of you who are going to write comments about how “V-6s are great and wonderful” how they’re “V-8 power closer to 4 banger economy” all I’ve got to say is the V-6 “reaper” just hasn’t found you yet (as I‘m sure most of the writers on this forum will attest). Remember I’m not just bashing V-6s based on opinion and experience, I’ve also listed the science behind behind it.

I have a 1997 with the 4.2 motor. It went out at 107,000 miles. Now the timing is bad.

So far I have spent 3,400 dollars on repairs. I plan to sell it to a junk yard as soon as I have a down payment. I do not want anyone else to own it, is only problems. FORD needs to recall the 4.2 motor.

DO NOT BUY THE 4.2 L ENGINE.

I have the 1997 Ford F-150 with the 4.2L engine. It went out at 124K miles. It's been a total lemon since the day we've owned it. It has spent more time at the garage than it has in our yard, and now (we are still paying for it) we have a nice large lawn ornament that we're going to have to fork over who-knows how much money to fix. 4.2L Ford engines NEED TO BE RECALLED. What will it take???

I have a 1997 Ford F-150 with the 4.2l engine also who ever said it need to recalled your right. We have already done a bottom end on the truck which was about $500 on just that, then the computer went bad and we didn't know that was the problem at first and spent around another $500 for miscellanous parts now it is a yard ornament due to the fact of what we was told hydro locking and now engine is locked up due to the fact antifreeze getting into chamber and locking motor up. We have had nothing, but trouble with this truck do to the engine. I do not like it and it needs to be recalled or people needs to quit buying ford trucks with this engine in it.

I just got my 1997 Ford F150 with the 4.2L engine back yesterday, after paying $1430 for engine repairs.

This truck only has 47,700 miles on it. I went out to the truck one day last week and turned the key, and - nothing. Turns out to be the dreaded Hydro Lock, but I didn't know it at the time.

I got it into a dealer, and the technician thought it needed to be tuned up, plus I was having the heat fade at stops so he flushed & refilled the coolant. I mentioned that I was having to top off the coolant about once a month, but I didn't know where the coolant was going, and it wasn't showing up in the oil. Cost of this visit - $480.

Well, I got it back after that, and it was still running really bad, so I dropped it off again. This time he thought it was the coil pack. They had it again for another day, replaced the coil pack and a sensor, and the cost of this visit - $315.

So I stop there to get the truck, and go out to the lot and start the truck, and it was STILL running really bad. So, I go back in & get the technician, and he came out to check it himself, and he was amazed at how bad it was running. We took it for a ride, and it smoothed out a little, but it was still not right. I told him I would let him consult his boss on what to do next, and call him Monday (this week). I drove it home, and it sat in the driveway all weekend. Never touched it.

Monday comes, and I go to start it to go to work, and - hydro lock again. I take my wife's car to work, and called them from there, and told them what it was doing. They were here within a half hour to get it.

This time I get call from the service manager, and he told me that he put his best technician on it and would call me later. When he called me back, he told me that the head gaskets were leaking, and letting coolant into the cylinders. I said go ahead & fix it. Then they called me back the next day and told me that they found that the lower intake manifold was cracked, and letting coolant pour into my cylinders. So, he said that the work I had done in my second visit was for nothing, and they would undo that and refund my money, which was nice of them. I asked about a used intake manifold, and he said they would look for one, and they did find one. They did have to use the new sensor that they put on the week before because it got ruined by the coolant. Plus they put in a new thermostat. So, that visit was $950. Add the $480 from the week before - $1430. They did finally get it fixed, and it runs really good now, but I will never buy another American designed car or truck again. My next truck will be a Toyota Tundra.

I bought my 1997 Ford f-150 4.2 L new. I have replaced the O2 sensor, water pump, t-stat, coil and wires and have capped off the bad heater core. I am 400 miles short of 200K. I have driven this truck hard, but faithfully changed the oil, oil filter, air filter and coolant. This is the best truck I have ever owned. When this baby croaks, I'll shed a tear and go out and buy another Ford truck.

Ditto on the commentor of the v-6 engine nightmares. I own a wonderful 1991 In Line 4.0 Jeep Commanche, 178K trouble free miles (just a water pump and regular maintenence). The I-4 and I-6 are the way to go if you don't want a v-8. Otherwise you maybe saying, "Oh, I could have had a V-8!" Sorry, happy motoring.

I also am in the middle of replacing my 97 F150 4.2 motor, because of the faulty intake gasket. The number 1 cylinder filled up with coolant, causing it 2 bend the rod and creating a horrible knock. I am a Ford fan, but I am aggravated that they will not remedy a fault that they are responsible for. Why won't you stand behind your product? What will it take?

Hey, what do you know, I also bought a 97 F-150 with 93000 miles on it from a dealership in Texas.

Ran great for awhile (about 15000 miles), then noticed I was using a lot of antifreeze and couldn't find where it was leaking. Took it in to get radiator pulled and dipped to check for leaks. NOTHING!!!

So one day I came out to start it and it wouldn't. Tried to jump it - NOTHING!!! So I pull started it and then came the sound that now everybody is talking about. Number one rod bent because of faulty and bad bad bad building and designing of the 97, 98 4.2 liter V6 motor by Ford. So luckily found another one rebuilt (same thing happened to it, never would have guessed) put it in myself and has ran fine since. Has 135000 on it now just waiting to see if it happens again.

I have never really liked Fords, but I guess if I want to spend a lot of money, I will buy another.