Hey folks, here, just picked up my truck this week and it's the first truck I've owned so thought I'd ask a few questions to the experts that's been around the block.

For starters, it's an '08 XLT Super Crew 60th Anniversary package with just under 101k miles on it. I picked it up at a BMW dealership actually where it was traded in by its original owner, Carfax ran clean and the truck was in real good shape. The only thing wrong w/it was the windshield was severely cracked but that was replaced, and they also popped out a few small door dents. I took it home for $15k even before taxes, did that seem like a fair deal?

The BMW dealer said of course they ran it through their usual used car inspection and found no problems, and gave it an oil change. Are there other things I may need to be on the lookout for or be prepared for from a maintenance perspective?

Any other tips or advice would be appreciated as well, thanks in advance.

 

if you have no proof of maintenance done in the past I would flush and fill antifreeze change transmission fluid to start because it should've been done around 100,000 miles

really nice truck by the way and you got a great deal!!
take care and enjoy

 

Be informative if the dealer could give you the phone number of the previous owner. You could ask what problems is has had, when the spark plugs were changed etc.

 

Great idea, the dealer said he would contact them anyhow to see if they had the spare set of keys so I'll see I can get some contact info.

 

101k is overdue for spark plugs, and if it's an early 08 5.4 be prepared for breakage.

 

unless they installed a motorcraft oil filter on it, change it to one! itll its got a special drain back valve to keep oil from draining back into the pan so your cam phasers dont start up dry.

probably should change the trans fluid as well at this point.

 

care to elaborate? what's considered "early 08 5.4" and what breakage are you talking about?

 

Yeah, special in that many different oil filters have them. They are usually referred to as "anti-siphon" valves, and are commonly a rubber flap that lays against the filter holes to seal it off when no oil flow if present (i.e. engine off).

 

Lots of threads here in both the 04-08 and the V8 sections. The 5.4 3 valve from 04 to mid 08 used 2 piece spark plugs that stick in the heads and break when you try to remove them.

 

Early 04-early 08 5.4s have 2 (MGD, ya happy? ) piece spark plugs that can snap in . If your plug boots are brown, you have updated 1 piece plugs. Either way, it's not the end of the world.

Motorcraft, Wix, Purolator, etc. oil filters are best for these engines.

Changing the antifreeze, trans, and rear diff fluid are good to change at 100k.

$15k for that ain't bad at all! I assume 2wd, yes?

 

As a follow up, I couldn't get the contact info for the previous owner. However, I did call the dealership on the Carfax that the car was bought from and had some service records at. Guy there was nice enough to tell me some info about the last time it was in. According to him, it was last serviced @ the dealership in Sept of last year and had done:

oil change
brake fluid
power steering fluid
new battery

He said it was never in there for any sort of maintenance related work, which led me to believe they either never got any service for it (scary and I would hope not), or just had it serviced elsewhere.

In either case, does this change anything? Should I still take it in for transmission fluid change and spark plugs?

Thanks folks, looking forward to finally start driving it (long story).

 

I would. Take it to a dealer or a shop that has experience with the 5.4 3V spark plugs and has the extractor tool in case any break. YOU can help this along by putting Techron in the gas every tank and running 3 or 4 tanks through before taking it in.

 

Put a new motorcraft fuel filter in it. You can change rear diff fluid if you would like but make sure you buy full synthetic gear lube and pick up a bottle of friction modifier from your local ford dealer. About 5 bucks. You might want to inspect the brake fluid. If it is any color besides a clear to amber you might want to bleed the brakes. Inspect air filter and replace if damaged. Inspect drive belt and all the pulleys for looseness or damage.

 

Looks like the brake fluid was done in September...............

 

1) no problems taking it in, but would they be able to tell the spark plugs were already replaced? w/o having to remove any/all of them?

2) stupid question perhaps but you're talking about the Techron fuel additive, not necessarily having to get 3-4 tanks of Exxon gas right?