I'm in the market for a used truck. It has to be v8, 4x4, and ext/cc. In wanting the bigger v8 because I plan on keeping this truck long term and eventually getting a boat. I am having a hard time justifying the price for the newer trucks just for it to get scratched up when I go hunting and fishing. This will also be my daily driver. Here is my question, if I pick up a used 04-08 with about 50k miles what should I do to the truck to prevent any of the issues that are common with the 5.4.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...e-up-time.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=maintenance

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=maintenance

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=maintenance

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ht=2005+issues

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...placement.html

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...ml#post4213274


The infamous 5.4 3V Plug change sample info:

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techartic...rk_plug_blues/

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...y-writeup.html

There are more methods in the Tech section as well - here, under the Engines subsection:

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...-articles.html

 

Thanks for posting those, I should have searched.

 

Hi.

No problem - I have those pre-compiled already - for folks who ask this same question - it happens enough to warrant it.

If you need anything else, just ask - be happy to help.

Cheers
MGD

 

You're going to hunt and fish and expect to scratch your truck!? What a realistic expectation. Very unusual these days! So many trucks never leave pavement. (I once worked with a guy who waxed the bed of his truck.)

How big of a boat?

I have a 4x4 SCAB with the 4.6 with 3.55 and have no problem pulling 2000-5000 lb. trailors with scrap metal, boat, fire wood, etc. when I need to. It does hunt for gears some when in the hills, but I solve that by turning off the OD switch on the shifter. The transmission will still lock-up in third gear when the OD is off.

 

I do that to two of my trucks......

 

Why?!

 

Probably because he doesn't use it as a truck. I know at least one of them is a garage queen.

 

For one of my trucks (the F-150) it was by design, while for the other truck (an '09 Ranger) it just sort of happened by accident. My F-150 was purchased from the get-go with the idea that it was going to be a low-mileage garage queen for as long as I owned it. The Ranger I never purchased with any intent of it being anything other than a normal work truck.

However, the way I have ended up using the Ranger has meant that it's had little more than some suitcases and a few small pieces of OSB in the bed. Since it's had a rubber mat in it from Day 1, the paint back there is as pristine as the day it rolled out of the factory, so I routinely wax the bed whenever I detail the outside of the truck!

I have to admit I still get a little bit of a kick when I am at a jobsite somewhere and tilt up the tonneau cover and the guys who are there see the bed without so much as a ding in it and kind of look at me like, "WTF, dude......?!!"

 

Jeez! I put 3 pretty sizable dents in my bed last night when I was dropping firewood in it

Somebody is PTMing his tailgate handle and it's off the truck, soooo the tailgate is non-op and that made loading up a ton of wood a little more complicated . . . I was pretty pissed about the dents when I saw them this morning, but I'll just drop the spare and pop em out. My bed was nearly perfect though when I pulled the Bed Rug out and did the spray-in.

I don't know that my truck has ever been waxed (certainly hasn't in the 2 years I've owned it!), but it does desperately need it. I don't think I could ever bring myself to wax the BED even on a garage queen though I even think it's stupid when our cleaning crew Armour-All's the beds with bedliners as part of the final prep before the customer gets it!

 

Be careful stepping into an Armour-All's bed. LOL. That'll be like using WD40 to make the floor tiles shine on a floor. OUCH..

 

It is! Asinine thing to do. I tell people I know to request that they NOT do it.

 

You are playing 'Russian Roulette' if you buy a used 04-08. Some can be great, and others not so great. If you do decide to buy one don't necessarily expect, but at least be PREPARED for:

Bad Cam-Phasers
Malfunctioning VCT Solenoids
IWE Hub Problems
Bad CAT Converters
Snapped off Spark-Plugs (04 - Early 08 only)
Leaking Intake Manifold
Cracked / Broken / Leaking Exhaust Manifold(s)
Excessive Oil Consumption

Except for the spark-plugs you really cannot do anything to prevent these issues. You just have to fix them as they happen and use aftermarket parts at your own discretion. . . . . I'll sell you my 2008 though if you are looking to buy. It has less than 50k miles!!!!! Let me know

 

Might be better off with a 97-03 truck if you can find a clean well maintained low miles unit. They are very reliable.

 

03 was the absolute best year if you can find one.