i tell you what.like i said i worked at a ford dealer and i have helped change more 5.4 liter motor than you can count.the only 4.6 motors i have seen woth issues belonged to police departments that dont maintain there trucks and crown vics.also i have towed with my 4.6 and it tows fine.if i need to tow 10,000 pounds i would have bought a f250 with a diesel.i am stating facts that i have seen in an everyday environment with these trucks.like i said everyone is biased because everyone thinks what they bought is what everyone should have bought.its bull chit.what do you mean by underpowered?no i cant drag race this truck but its a god damn truck.the man asked for input dont get mad because i down talked the 5.4.its a forum for info.i like the color grey are you going to tell me why i shouldnt have bought grey too?

 

When choosing what motor to get, I think serious thought needs to be given to what you will use the truck for. If it's just going to be used as a daily driver, an occasional light load in the bed, towing a few ATV's, etc, than the 4.6 would be good. However, if you're going to be towing 7500 lbs or hauling yards of dirt, then the 5.4 would be better.

For me, I started with a 2004 F150 with the 4.6. At the time of purchase, it was soley going to be used as a daily driver. However, a few months later we went out and bought a 4000 lbs travel trailer. I towed it a total of 3 times before I traded it in for an otherwise-identical 2005 F150 with the 5.4. Yes I lost my pants in the deal, but it was worth the extra power when towing the RV.

So again, I think it depend on what you're going to use the truck for. If I hadn't gotten the RV, then I would still have the 4.6. It's a tried-and-true motor, and has adequate power for a daily driver. I'm not bashing either motor, just saying that each has it's place.

 

I HAD a 4six...now its a 5four.

Lets just say that statement will stay for me, forever.

 

I just traded my 2001 5.4L XLT w/sport package for a 2008 4.6L XL.

The 5.4L has more low end torque and lots of power when I punched it.
But did you ever read about the 5.4L spark plug issues?
I never had a problem with my 5.4 and loved it!

My new 4.6 has pleanty of power, I've had two bed full of oak firewood and it does fine with 1000 lbs in the bed. 1st tank of gas was 20 mpg with a empty bed, second tank was 17 mpg but this is hauling firewood with the OD off.

Jerry

 

I can't compare to the new 5.4L, but my 07 4.6L impresses me, I tow 3,000lbs daily(Enclosed trailor for work during the week and a boat on the weekend), and its really peppy unless the A/C is on.

Comparing it to an older 02 f150 with a 5.4L that I used to drive once in a while, I can tell no diffrence, loaded or unloaded.

 

i did like that old 5.4 that was a good engine.those never had issues you couldnt kill em.

 

See that statement just tainted everything you have said so far. It was common for the 5.4 2v to spit plugs very common probably more common than the 3v holding on to them for dear life.

There is nothing wrong with either motor my 05 5.4 has not had a single issue, the 4.6 is known for its reliability. The 5.4 will be more fun to drive, and will pull better if you ever need to, if you don't want or need the extra power then the 4.6 is wonderful and you will be happy. The millage is going to be about the same for both so really the only cost difference will be the extra upfront cost of the 5.4.

 

if you're gonna go that route, it's only fair to point out that the 4.6, 5.4 and the V-10 all had a problem with spitting plugs. the 1996-2004 mod motor (any version) does it. can't just single out the 5.4

it is rather ironic that you couldn't keep the plugs in the heads on 97-04 5.4, and the 04+ 5.4 won't let 'em go though

 

I realize the 4.6 and and v-10 also had this problem, I was making a point that Italiano trashes the 3v for its reliability but then says that the 2v was bulletproof. To me by him making that statement anything he has said before has lost all credibility. I wasn't going to go into the older model trucks problems because the actual question on the motors is on the new model. Also yes it is very Ironic about the 2 motors having opposite problems, its like Ford said there is no way in hell we are going to have this new truck spitting plugs, put Locktite on them.

 

www.millionmilevan.com . Case closed on this matter!...............

 

why do you 5.4 3v guys get so bent out of shape?i am only talking about what i have seen in the shop with my own 2 eyes.i had to fix these trucks at a ford dealer since they have come out.they man asked a question and i thought it would be nice to be honest.also the 5.4 2 valve from what i have seen was pretty stout.i havent seen too many of those come in for issues at least since 2003.i cant contest for what happened when the 5.4 2v came out.but i have so many with 150-200k on them and run fine.geez why cant everyone let people speak their peice without trampling on someone.damn.

 

woah.

 

I don't believe I got bent out of shape at all, If you haven't seen the 2v spit plugs then you haven't looked because they were known for it. If I remember correctly there was a big lawsuit over it. I thought I gave the 4.6 props, I talked about how it was known for its reliability but I am not going to lie to the man and tell him that it has gobs of power because it doesn't. I think you need to stop being so damn defensive and getting your feelings hurt when someone doesn't agree with you about the 4.6. I have driven both trucks, a good friend owns a reg cab 4.6, my truck is a scab 5.4. We have raced several times and have pulled similar sized boats to the lake together. My truck would walk his pretty bad when both were stock, and its even worse now that we have modded them.(similar mods tuner,fans,intake,exhaust) Pulling the boats there was no comparison, with the cruise set at 65 when we would hit a hill I would start pulling away from him quickly. Now with that in mind, I will state again so no one gets there feelings hurt, the 4.6 is a great motor for daily driving, and pulling small loads. Also Italiano just relax man we both are obviously very happy with our trucks, I have nothing against you and I hope you don't take what I have said the wrong way.

 

its all good man.when i was at the dealer i never heard about the suit.i was there from 2003 till a month ago so maybe the suit was before i went in?i didnt say that the 4.6 was fast i only said durable.at least that was what i was trying to say.anyway in the end its a ford.i like my ford and you like yours and thats what really counts right?fug it

 

2003 4.6 3.55open Lowered 3/3 pulling roughly 6,000 pounds....

Did i know it was back there? hell yea
Was it able to do it without any problems? yes

My point is you can do anything with these trucks, Ford makes them tough for a reason. The 4.6 might not win a race pulling the trailer but at the end of the day it can handle what you throw at it.