2004 - 2008 F-150
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4.6L vs. 5.4L

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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 03:21 PM
  #16  
Tylus's Avatar
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From: Pearl Harbor
Originally Posted by hllon4whls
Check out the lariat or FX4 with the 4.10 gears. Assuming you are going new.
can only get the 4.10 in the HD F-150...and I think that is only offered in the XL package
Originally Posted by scott1981
I agree
2006, 4x4, 3.55, 4.6 here. 13-14 MPG City & 17-19 HWY
2006 Screw FX4, 3.73, 5.4 here...I get the same mileage you get
 
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 04:26 PM
  #17  
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From: Houston
Originally Posted by Tylus

2006 Screw FX4, 3.73, 5.4 here...I get the same mileage you get
Thats pretty good, I do have 20's and 33"s that dont help but still..
I would have got the 5.4 but they were discounting the 4.6 so much more to help move them that I ended up saving near 2 grand. If I put that 2k into the motor I could walk in the 5.4's all day so it was an easy decision for me.
Truth is though after an intake and hopefully a tuner soon the 4.6 isnt a bad motor
 
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Old Jul 12, 2008 | 11:40 PM
  #18  
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From: clarksville tn
hey wait for the 09's


the 4.6 will be a 3v, and it will get excellent gas mileage compared to 4.6 2v's now. and it has the bonus of 300 hp and good torque.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 12:12 AM
  #19  
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From: Nashville, TN
Get the 5.4...you will regret it forever if you don't!
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 12:56 AM
  #20  
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From: Marrero,Louisiana
5.4 breaks alot more often than the 4.6.i have worked (past tense)at a dealership from 2003 till this year and watched these 5.4 3v hit the streets and slowly come back to the shop.the trucks with the 4.6 didnt come back too often if at all.my truck has 4.6 and it will pull anything i need it to and my mileage isnt horrible.its a damn truck who cares about mileage.i bought my 4.6 for durability.and its fine.this is a biased question though because all the guys with 5.4 says buy 5.4 just like all the 4x4 guys tell you buy a 4x4 and dont lift a 2wd.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 03:02 AM
  #21  
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From: Pearl Harbor
assassinator is right. if you can wait for the 09 models, the 4.6 3v is coming. the 4.6 2v is inadequate, but I think we'll see the 4.6 3v become the favored motor soon. unless Ford bumps the 5.4 to 350+ hp instead of the estimated 320 hp that's being thrown about

Originally Posted by italiano
5.4 breaks alot more often than the 4.6.
could you explain that one? other than the spark plug sticking, these motors appear to be trouble free in the 06+ and the 04/05's are trouble free once the TSB's are performed
Originally Posted by italiano
this is a biased question though because all the guys with 5.4 says buy 5.4 just like all the 4x4 guys tell you buy a 4x4 and dont lift a 2wd.
try towing a real load (what your truck is rated for) and then come back saying that. of course it's biased. the 5.4 is the better motor.

same as getting 4x4. might as well get it 4x4 even if you don't need it. modern 4x4 systems don't make you lose MPG like the older 4x4 systems. I guarantee you that my FX4 gets the same/better MPG as most 4x2's. i just carry around about 500 lbs more than a 4x2.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 04:20 AM
  #22  
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From: Rhode Island
Hitch up a 8000Lb trailer to your 4.6, & one to my 5.43v.......& tell me what one is the "Better", motor!.................
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 05:15 AM
  #23  
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Originally Posted by italiano
5.4 breaks alot more often than the 4.6.i have worked (past tense)at a dealership from 2003 till this year and watched these 5.4 3v hit the streets and slowly come back to the shop.the trucks with the 4.6 didnt come back too often if at all.my truck has 4.6 and it will pull anything i need it to and my mileage isnt horrible.its a damn truck who cares about mileage.i bought my 4.6 for durability.and its fine.this is a biased question though because all the guys with 5.4 says buy 5.4 just like all the 4x4 guys tell you buy a 4x4 and dont lift a 2wd.
now show me how many 04+ F-150's are sold with the 4.6 compared to the 5.4...

I am willing to bet it's at least 4 5.4s sold for every 1 4.6 just guessing...

so naturally your going to see more 5.4s coming in making the illusion they "break more"
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 02:42 PM
  #24  
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From: God bless America
Th 4.6 is a great engine and I love it in my truck. I do some light pulling of a small camper, 4-wheeler and a small tractor and it's fine. I have all the power I could ever need out of this engine. Do yourself a favor and read about all of the problems the 5.4 has had and then decide on which engine you want. I would not touch the 5.4 with a 10 foot pole.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:13 PM
  #25  
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From: Pearl Harbor
Originally Posted by Simple Man
Th 4.6 is a great engine and I love it in my truck.
it is a good motor...for a car and light SUV. great is pushing it, especially in a 5,000 lb + truck. The 4.6 2v is inadequate for the weight of the F-150. I concede that the 4.6 3v is alot better (something about the extra 40 hp)

I have all the power I could ever need out of this engine.
you are one of the few then. I've driven the 4.6 2wd version of my truck. it couldn't power itself out of a wet tissue until revs were 3k+. the engine was constantly in the higher revs for just everyday driving. that 4.6 feared the highway and hills/mountains

Do yourself a favor and read about all of the problems the 5.4 has had and then decide on which engine you want.
please elucidate.
The 04/05's had the diesel sound
the 05's had the injector issues
as far as I can tell, the 06+ is trouble free. once the TSB's are performed, the 5.4 is a great motor. Hungry for gas, but that is any V-8

the spark plug sticking is kinda big, but honestly, it'll take over 8 yrs to get to the 100k mark (12k/yr driving...typical driver). and if you look at production #'s, the PROBLEM is really insignificant. Sorry for the guys it has happened to, but it truly is a small % of people.
I would not touch the 5.4 with a 10 foot pole
rather bold statement. I won't say the same about the 4.6....the 4.2 yes. I've had a few 4.6's, and they were okay motors. But not that good.
please see comments in bold above
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:34 PM
  #26  
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From: God bless America
All I can say is that I have had the 5.4 and 4.6 amd i would pick the 4.6 over the 5.4 any day of the week.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:48 PM
  #27  
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From: Rhode Island
Originally Posted by Simple Man
Th 4.6 is a great engine and I love it in my truck. I do some light pulling of a small camper, 4-wheeler and a small tractor and it's fine. I have all the power I could ever need out of this engine. Do yourself a favor and read about all of the problems the 5.4 has had and then decide on which engine you want. I would not touch the 5.4 with a 10 foot pole.
Yeah, go to www.millionmilevan.com & check out the durability of that 5.4!.....
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:50 PM
  #28  
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From: Mesa, Arizona
Well, its really odd that someone would get a 4.6. Being its underpowered in the heavy 04-08 F150 they really dont get a MPG increase as your right foot has to dig for power. However if you want to tow or actually use your truck to its potental, a 5.4 is the only way to go.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:57 PM
  #29  
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From: God bless America
It boils down to the fact that the folks who have the 4.6 are very very happy with them. Thew folks with the 5.4 are happy with their's too but just experience for problems then us 4.6 guys.
 
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:00 PM
  #30  
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From: God bless America
Originally Posted by IR0NS1N
Well, its really odd that someone would get a 4.6. Being its underpowered in the heavy 04-08 F150 they really dont get a MPG increase as your right foot has to dig for power. However if you want to tow or actually use your truck to its potental, a 5.4 is the only way to go.

Oh, and my 4.6 is in no way under poweered. I have every bit of power zI could ever need and this is even a 4x4 scab running 33x12.50 mud tures.
 
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