X2

When I was looking for a F-150 5.4L 3V I limited my search to 2006 - 2010 trucks with low miles. You might pay more for it, but your cost of ownership will likely be less in the long run. 125K is a lot of miles for a USED truck. The probability is very high that you will not get a lot of trouble free millage out of it.

My advice: don't go any older than a 2006. A 2008 with the revised heads is ideal so you won't have the spark plug issues. When it comes to used, I'd rather have a newer truck with less miles and less goodies, than an older truck with more miles and more goodies. If you want leather you can get it reupholstered.

 

Not around here, they literally cant give them away. 6.4's a little better than the 6.0's

 

Well I bought an 04 3v that's been to the moon and back. Runs great.

The only differences I can see between the 04 and early 08's is the FRPS. The cam phasers will be different 1st Gen but this motor had them changed by Ford in 07.

Post the VIN and I will look on Fords technical services for ya.

If anyone knows the difference between years excluding the late 08's+ then post it up.

 

Once both Diesels have all of the problems repaired they are good for life. Perhaps the problem is people are too cheap to fix what is needed and rather whine and give it a bad rep.

 

The 6.4s aren't bad around us (I work for a massive used dealership) because the Dodge engines are better (still need the emissions removed and early 6.7s aren't real good), but the rest of the truck is a POS. The Ford engines aren't great, but the rest of the truck is much better. Chevy's just aren't as common, but are actually my choice if you want to leave the truck alone. They've been the most consistent, still not good with emissions, but consistent over the years.

Yeah, a lot of people are too cheap to dump $4-6k into a 6.0 the second they purchase it. That's almost a whole new drivetrain for a gasser just to help something that shouldn't happen in the first place. The 6.4 still needs all the emissions removed to be reliable and most folks don't want to do it.

I did advise a customer that was looking at a 6.4 we had to remove the DPF and EGR, and he had quotes for those by the time he was done signing the papers. He originally came in for a 2003 6.0 haha

 

Wow! Ignorant!? A little judgemental, aren't we? The OP asked what folks thought. Good maintenance on these engines seems to be critical, hard to guarantee that on a used truck.

By the way, I have a 2006 with the 5.4. 80k trouble free miles, very reliable and no plans to sell it any time soon. But still would not touch a used 2004 with over a 100k miles.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

I can't say anything good about my 04 5.4L 3v. Had cam phasers, lifters, and plugs replaced at 33,000 under original warranty. 4 plugs broke at that time. Now at 98,000 it stalled, had plug misfire, and plugs replaced, 5 plugs broke. 40 miles later it stalled again, burnt valve and warped head. Now I have a new Ford reman engine and this is the last Ford anything I will ever touch.