Based on the responses i get here, i'm considering trading in my civic si for an F150. I've found a few good looking trucks in my price range (~$14k) but the problem is they've varied from 70-120k miles and range from a 2004 to 2009. Now, I believe in Ford and wouldnt question this if i bought it new...but what can i expect to buy a truck with around 100k miles on it? I'll definitely get it inspected at a Ford dealership beforehand to make sure the car wasnt mistreated.

I live in Texas so great A/C is a must, along with 4WD, and i'd prefer the 5.4 but i could live with the 4.6 if everything else was perfect.

I'm aware of the spark plug issue and read something about cam phasers (no idea what those are) but are there any other mass problems that i should look for or expect down the road? Thats ASSUMING you guys think buying one of these puppies with ~100k is a good idea. I plan on keeping it quite awhile too

Thanks!

 

I have a 2005 with 134,000 on it and have taken excellent maintenance care of it. I think that is the key. I would not hesitate to head off anywhere in it. You need to find out it's history if possible.

Now having said that, I finally gave in to my wife's nagging and just bought a 2011. We are on the road a lot late at night and when it it 100,000, she started in on me to get a new truck. I still do not like the 2011 as well as I do my 2005.

 

In 2008 the 5.4's got the newly revised heads so the plug issue isn't a factor after that and personally that's where I would start......

 

@Bluejay: yeah, i wouldnt second guess it if i put the miles on it personally..i'm just worried whoever had it before me didnt take good care of it. If these trucks are as bulletproof as I hope, even if the prev owner didnt baby it it'll still run like a champ for me.

@88racing: i'd like to hope i can find an '08+ that'd work with price, color, options, etc. Thanks for the heads up with the plug fix!

What about that cam phaser issue? can someone explain it briefly or is there a link i can read? i'm somewhat good with engines so you dont have to completely dumb it down for me

Thanks!

 

i have a 2004 that just hit 80k miles and the only real issue ive had was mice chewing through a couple of wires but other than that everything else has been routine. Oh and my TPS went out so my cruise control didnt work. Other than that i cant complain

 

So unless i find an 08+ i gotta look for the cam phaser noise and the spark plug issue. i think I'll have the dealership swap the plugs before i buy it (in case the OEM plugs are still installed) just to be safe.

Any other issues i should know about besides the above two? I'm dying to get into a truck...i miss it. Are there any other things i should have a mechanic look at specifically?

Thanks ya'll!

 

I will tell you what, I have a 2007 with the 5.4, and have had no problems with it. Even better, my old man has a work van (E150) i think, also with the 5.4, and he has over 300,000 on it. Not sure about the cam phaser problem, but from what I have seen, as long as these trucks are taken care of, they run for a good amount of time.

 

Early 2008s still have the old style plugs. I believe it was sometime in December 2007 that the new heads came into play. In any event, the plug boots will be brown if it has the newer style heads, so check the COPs.

 

Be fore warned....the gas usage will be a lot higher. So don't be coming on here saying "How can I get better MPG" LOL

BUT, you will be buying american....GOOD JOB!
Go for 2008+...prefer 2009 if you can afford it!? Try to find a Flareside... Better styling IMHO.

 

The old (2 piece) plugs aren't the headache they were either with the new style plug and the 'Lisle' tool at hand. My 07 only has 37,000 mi on her, but it has been great. I know it's still a baby though. Just my .02 (before the stock market dumped)......

 

i recently bought a 07 f150 xlt for under 14,000 with 52,000 miles on it. Unless your looking for a loaded truck I would think you could find one with decent mileage for the price you are looking for.

 

Uin2it: i know i'll be sacrificing good mpg but i'd rather have a solid built truck that drinks more gas then the Si w/ its sub par materials and poor build quality. Its been a fun car for the most part but its an 06 with 60k miles and i honestly dont know how much longer it'll go before something else breaks. its already depreciated so much that i'm trying to get away from it before its worthless

Wilburzz: i'm looking for a s.crew at least an XLT with 4WD in either red or white. I'd like the ability to carry afew people comfortably and i know the crewcab is a squeeze in the back. I also think that for my lifestyle a 2wd truck is a waste of money b/c i hunt and would need the ability to deal with a boat. I know 2wd can launch/retrieve a boat but a 4wd can do it better...plus 2wd doesnt like west texas mud holes

 

I wouldn't buy a 5.4 truck if it had anywhere near 100K on it. Far too many issues and you can never know how well the previous owner took care of it. Now the 2 valve 5.4's are a different story, but these 3 valve engine have proved to be problematic. Either look into a 2009 truck or stick with an 11th gen with the gutless V8. Even though they leave much to be desired in terms of performance, they're bullet proof.

 

This is the first i've read to avoid a high mileage 5.4 in all the reading i've done. What year trucks have the 3V 5.4? What issues does the 3V have other than the plugs and cam phaser? Ive only really read on how they're solid if they're taken care of. I know its a gamble whether the prev owner took care of it, but thats what a mechanic can check for as well. That, and a thorough test drive of course

 

I disagree. I have seen too many of the 5.4 3vs with over 130,000 before the plugs were changed. One recently had 151,000. No problems whatsoever. As I siad, mine has 134,000 and runs great, does not use oil, does not leak, etc. There were issues with the 2004s with cam phasers and there was a bad batch of injectors during 2005(Ford extented the warranty for those). Other than that, I think the engines have few issues. Of course, with anything mechanical, there will be the occasional bad one.