Who has experience with these motors? A few months ago I bought a new F-150 with one in it and it seems to have decent power and torque- nothing exceptional, but good enough for a V-6. What I would like to know is what any major problems with them are, etc...

1/25/2006 8:45:42 PM

they have a 4.2 and a 4.0?

1/25/2006 11:44:41 PM

The 4.2 is a 90-degree pushrod V6, and is a US design. I believe it has its roots in the 3.8L engine found in Mustangs and the (thankfully forgotten) midsize LTD of the '80's.

The 4.0 is the latest iteration of the Cologne V6 engine family, designed and originally made in Germany. The original and most numerous version of this engine is also a pushrod engine, as are all of its predecessors, and is a 60-degree design. The latest version is, of course, a single overhead cam engine.

1/26/2006 12:36:11 AM

The 4.2 and 3.8 are based on the windsor small block, so like you said are 90° engines. The 3.8's are notorious for blowing headgaskets, and I've heard of a few people having head gasket problems leading to piston/rod damage in the 4.2.

you might find what you are looking for here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=50

1/26/2006 1:03:08 AM

I once had an 82 F-100 with a 3.8 and a 3-speed. It was a decent motor, but the main bearings wore out very quickly. (about 100,000 miles) I replaced it with a 302 and drove it for years after that. My aunt also has a 94 mustang with that motor that blew a head gasket.

1/26/2006 6:46:27 AM

We have a Ford Ranger '96 "little red" Long wheelbase, 2wd, 2.3 litre engine. It's one of the most pathetic looking trucks I've ever seen, it's got 106k miles on it.. and is still the best truck we have ever had... it's outlasted all the others (many) It's been wrecked more than a few times... at least three ppl have learned to drive a stick-shift and it STILL has the original clutch!!!!!

Granted, Little Red's electrical system is hainted (I spelled that as I said it), Lights come and go beepers go off...etc... but my hat's off to Little Red... she's what I take to school when it's snowing instead of the Beardawgmobile. The cops stopped me a week ago and wanted to know why I was "stealing" bags of sand from my Dad's storeat 7 am. I had to explain that I was mearly "borrowing" them b/c the roads were slick.

The only problem with Little Red is that she goes through tires faster than Jimmy Johnson in Charlotte... but the tires cost only slightly more than the biscuits I buy at the next-door McDonald's.

1/26/2006 3:46:55 PM

i had a '96 4.0 ranger that had 275k+ on the original engine when i sold it.

1/26/2006 4:15:06 PM

my neighbor has a 95 F-250 with a 351 that has 280+ with no problems. the oil pressure is great, doesn't use oil, etc...

1/26/2006 9:59:48 PM

I currently put 60 miles a day on my 95' Ford Ranger with the 2.0 engine and a 5 speed that I drive everyday. It has little to no power, but damn if it don't work like a champ every day. Clutch is starting to grind a little and make some funky noises, but I'm pretty sure its the original clutch and it has 195k miles on it. BTW it went through my brother and I both learning a stick on it, and he used to drive it as a volunteer firefighter so it got rode like a bat outta hell.

The main problems I have is the starter solenoid is starting to go, so I have to try a couple times to get it to kick in a couple times a week. The clutch is making some funky noises, and the windshield wipers are starting to randomly decide to wipe, hit the fluid, etc. Shit can happen while I'm cruising down the road going 70 with my hand nowhere near the damn turn signal. Thats the weirdest part of all, I think.

1/26/2006 10:09:31 PM

Do you mean '85? The '95's only came with the 2.3 four.

1/27/2006 12:19:45 AM