I'm taking a long look at an 05 XLT 4x4 w 4.6. It has 197,000 Arizona miles, said to have been a saleman's truck. NO service records. It starts easily, no blue smoke on start up, smooth idle, undercarriage dry as a bone. Runs out smooth. Cosmetically near perfect, the bed does not appear to have been overloaded. Having read the posts about how difficult it can be to get the plugs out, I'm reluctant to attempt a compression check on a truck I don't own. Would appreciate any tips on how to proceed with eval of this vehicle.

 

Only the 5.4 3V engine has the broken plug issue. The 4.6 2V your looking at has conventional plugs and aren't a big deal to change.

200K is not an outrageous number of miles for a 4.6. There are a few owners, heritage body style trucks, that have over 400K on them. If the truck runs good and looks good, you're probably fine.

 

That's only the 5.4 3 valve that has the sticking plugs. The 4.6 uses conventional plugs.

You should have a lot of life left in that 4.6, it's almost a bulletproof engine. It just doesn't have a lot of power in a 4x4 if you start hauling loads or towing.

 

X2

One of Fords best IMO.

 

My cousin had a 05 that was great until it was totaled at 230,000 miles. He changed the oil every 10,000 miles and it never used any. Still had the original plugs. He put an alternator at 210,000 and the first brake pads at 213,000. The 4.6 in limos go for 400-500K.

 

Theres a guy in my neighborhood with an 04 supercrew with a 4.6. He drives down to Monterrey Meico every week. He said hes got over 300k on it. looks and sounds new, except the inside of his bed lol