rmdailey

First Post on this forum. Google keeps using this site to answer my questions, so I figure I'll ask directly.

I own a 2000 F150 Regular Cab Manual XL with the 4.2 v6. It has 160,000 miles on it. I've owned it for 10 years. Its been maintained well, but beat to hell, it's been in a wreck, backed off a bar ditch, used to run an oil field route so it has about 30,000 miles of dirt roads on it. The main issues with it are a power stirring pump that needs to be replaced (no big deal to do myself) and an oil leak (about 1/2 quart between changes). Still runs fairly well.

I have the opportunity to buy a 98 XLT extended cab with the 4.6 v8. It has 133,000 miles on it. The owner is asking $3200. I'm seeing it in person Friday. From the pictures it seems to be in better cosmetic shape than my truck, but I have no idea mechanically. I've got a mechanic I trust that's going to look it over for me.

This is a 17 year old truck. What problems can I expect out of an older truck like this? I plan on keeping it at least until 200k. The main reason I'm upgrading is that I need something I can put a car seat in. Also my wife has trouble with the standard transmission in town, but she primarily drives her explorer.

I'm not going to pull much with it, I've got a little trailer I use with my v6, and may be pulling a uhaul in the near future. My main concern is driving it until the wheels fall off.

ibd2328

iTrader: (2)

Drive it, check for anythign abnormal. Noise of bad wheel bearings, CV joints, transmission shifts. Check tranny oil, enginge oil, and get a code reader or take it to a shope that can read the PCM.

See if differential fluids have been changed. Then pull the PCV valve off the cover and check for clogging. Make sure to listen for lash adjuster and rocker noise.

TheUnforgiven71

I have a 98 f150 4.6 xlt n it runs great with regular maintenance, I'd say just look for rust underneath, ask If the throttle body has been cleaned out recently (these trucks to have bad carbon build up if they have never been cleaned) check for misfires/faulty coil packs, overall as long basic maintenance has been done it's a good investment good luck with it

Jefk

i have a 2002 xlt 4.6 which is essentially the same except for year, i got mine (and i always assume the person before me knows nothing and did nothing to the trucks upkeep and it payed off this time)went through the checklist of basic mechanics, replaced the plugs, fuel filter, airfilter, seafoamed it, did aftermarket exhaust. etc... runs like a beast. you just might miss the mileage. us v8's tend to make 10-13 mpg city. i normally make 11.8 - 12.5 around town myself between normal driving ang the occasional WOT

sportster07

IMO the 4.6 is one of the best motors ford has ever made, if not the best. When looked after, a 2v 4.6 will run forever. I derbied a lincoln town car (93 maybe?) with a 4.6 that had 700,000km on it and still ran fine. The only thing that killed it was rust but that was the original motor.. My grand marquis had 300,000 on it and ran fine without burning any oil, my father's 4.6 truck had 370k on it and my last 4.6 truck had 300k too with no problems. They are great motors and are just plain tough. They're not as simple as an old push rod 302 but for a modern motor, they're tough as hell.

Oh yeah, they're not bad on gas either. I seen better mileage with my 4.6 then a guy from work's 4.2 however driving habits/state of tune may have been a factor.

BlackThundah

I upgraded from a 97 4.2 xl reg cab to a 98 extended cab 4.6 because I needed more room and the v8. I don't regret it one bit. I get about the same mpgs with the 4.6 as I did with the 4.2. I have what feels to me like loads more power (You'll know what I mean if you've been driving the 4.2 and jump to a v8) and have not had one problem with my 4.6. I'd get the 1998 if its been taken care of mechanically.

rmdailey

Thanks for the input. If it's in good shape I'll do as Jefk says, change all the filters, plugs and fluids.

F150-Guy-

Age means nothing. It's all about how it was maintained and who owned it. I just bought the very same truck two weeks ago with 108K and paid 5K for it. I think I got a steal! Maintenance records where very detailed. Oil at every 3K. Tranny at 50 and 100K. They even wrote down the mods they did and what the cost was!! It had been owned by two engineers at Nissan. Truck was clean and body in great shape. Steering was tight. Fluids looked and smelled as they should. So I would worry less about age and more about how it was used and cared for.

Jefk

Not bad at all, i got mine for 7500 with 80k on it, and thats funny 2 nissan engineers bought it lol

rmdailey

Well...This truck had not been maintained. The body looked good from the pictures but underneath was completely rusted. The muffler was gone, the side steps were deeply pitted, and it had a obvious diy paint job. I didn't even bother driving it since it wouldn't even pass inspection.

The good news is that I spent a lot of time cleaning out the inside of my current F-150 and it looks pretty good (was getting ready to sell). If you're looking for a cheap cleaner for your dash. 2TB Dawn 1 Cup Vinegar 3 Cups Water does a great job. Armor all goes a lot further that way too.

F150-Guy, Jefk, I was hoping it had been taken care of like that. My brother in-law has a 98 5.4 that has 250K on it. It's had some work done on it but it's still reliable enough to take on an 8hr trip. My 2003 Explorer has 165k (I'm in the process of redoing the exhaust) and still runs well. My 4.2 is beat up from being a work truck but will still go to 200k. All because I take care of my stuff. It kinda pisses me off that a truck that should have 100k left in it is now barely worth parting out.

I'm going to put off the truck buying until September. I'll have more money then to get a F150 with less than 100k then. Thanks.