If it runs great and you have another vehicle, and you are really that happy with it even though its a garbage truck, run it till the wheels fall off!

 

Well said!

I will admit that my statement was overblown, and for that I apologize to everyone. I am just really frustrated with this truck. The tech who has been working on the truck doesn't even want to touch it anymore. I could tell when I dropped it off today. Maybe I should have looked around longer for a 2010 or newer. I drove a lot of them and was impressed; however, I couldn't find one with all of the features I wanted and with lower miles like my 2008 has. The extended warranty and the deal I got on it were also attractive. I have always been partial to Ford. The 95' F150 that I had was a solid truck. Never any issues. My father has had a 77', 82', and 88'. All of these Fords were good trucks that were used hard and only needed minor repairs. I don't intend to use my 08' hard at all. All I want it to do is haul a few hundred pounds and tow a small trailer every now and then. Most importantly, I simply want it to get me to work on time each day.

I guess I stand corrected on the CAI. I just have never witnessed any problems when running them without a tune. A co-worker has one on his 99' F-150 without a tune and the truck has been trouble free for years with better throttle response and slightly better fuel millage if he drives it right. A friend of mine has one on his 05' Sierra 1500 without a tune; again, no problems. Nonetheless, I'm going to leave it stock because I don't want to risk running into further problems. I don’t want to put a tune on it because I think they decrease the longevity of a motor. Ford keeps the HP lower on these motors for a reason. More stress equals more things to break. Ford is “trying” to make durability and reliability their main concern. At the end of the day it is a truck, not a hotrod.

 

It is the tuning in the '04/'08 5.4L 3vs that lames them out to lean conditions with aftermarket intakes. Gotts/DWV mod is all you need for more air, but these trucks pull efficient enough air with the OEM intake. I put an Amsoil filter in mine and called it good.

Get an intake & waste money, then spend more money on a custom tune to make it run right, it will be fine but your still out a couple hundred bucks for a pretty intake. CAIs are never at their full potential without being custom tuned.

 

WHAT!??! Wait why didn't someone tell me???

I have to say you can use and drive the hell outta these trucks. I know I sure have. Soon to hit 84,000 miles. Thats 25,000 miles boosted and nearly 24,000 under high boost. Probably 60 trips down the drag strip and at least 40 dyno runs. Tow with it, race it, drive it, love it!!! I had a 79 F-150 and loved it dearly, always dreamed of a frame up restoration with it and taking it to shows. But life changed. Now I love this one. Just jumped in it Friday, loaded it with tools and equipment and drove to Ft Lauderdale (850 miles one way). Comfortable ride as always and 16mpg. Not bad running 80-90mph.

To the OP I hope your issues get resolved. It seems you have unbunched your panties and I'm glad. Talk to the folks on here and you will gain a lot of knowledge and hopefully a better experince with your truck. Btw Custom tuning will not hurt you a bit and will actually improve your driving experince.

 

Go run to "Garbage Made"=GM products then, you probably have no maintenance skills, so get out of that great truck and go have mommy and daddy get you a crappy caddy then.

Really Dude? I have plenty of maintenance skills, but most of everything that needed to be maintained was replaced because it was faulty...like the original poster, I really want to love my truck! But almost 20k in warranty work makes me feel otherwise...

PS...mommy and daddy have never bought me a car...I pay my own way!

A$#wipe cyber bully!

 

If these trucks/engines were garbage pretty sure Ford wouldn't still be using the motor in their new vehicles as well as Lincoln. Besides all these post of high mileage and basic wear and tear.

 

YOUR truck is garbage. It happens. Every manufacturer has lemons. Sorry you picked one... go buy a Dodge and try your luck.

 

I was a Chebby man all of my life, until I bought my first F150, an 04 Heritage. That truck was "one of those".....at 14,000 miles the transmission was replaced, the rear end had to be re-built, and the majority of the front end parts including the tires were all replaced.....and all of this was done at the same time. At 21,000 miles the tranny started whining and I could feel the front end getting real sloppy like it did at 14,000, and the 4WD stopped working. I had to take my wife's '96 Blazer to work one day because I couldn't get out of my flat driveway that had a little ice on it. Loading my tile tools and wet saw in that thing was no fun, but it got me to work. I hated that F150 with a passion, but I got a great deal on a trade in on it and got myself into an 06 FX4 lease. That truck was flawless for the 33,000 miles that I drove it, as was the 08 FX4 lease that I had. I guess what I'm trying to say is that all companies make lemons now and then, after the Heritage ordeal I was ready to give Ford another chance, and I'm glad I did. My 07 that I have now has it's problems, but overall it's great mechanically and this body style is the best looking truck on the road, along with the luxurious interior. I get stares and compliments all the time with my 07....gotta love that!

 

i have a 06 5.4. i am currently getting 7-9 mpg. im upset with that and how my 4x4 and engine have been acting funky but i still love my truck

 

I've heard it said once that love is blind

After having the truck for almost a week, they are telling me that they diagnosed it wrong. It is the driver side converter making the noise, not the passenger side. Now I have to drive around for another 3 weeks until the driver side CAT arrives at the dealer. The noise is really bad now, and so is the millage. I litterally can see the fuel gauge make its way to empty when I'm on the highway.

 

The problem is in the install of the cam phaser
you see ford uses a tool that often fails in locking in the chain
the only way to do the job right is pull the front cover off and check the timing marks
I fixed mine and it runs great after the dealer messed it all up

 

so you listened to some moron instead of to the people who have actualy experience???




now we know it's operator error not the trucks fault

 

I did listen to the people who have experience. The truck has a stock intake.

 

This thread is back??????

 

I know, right?