I just traded my 05 4.6 2v for a 2010 screw with the 4.6 3v and the 6 speed tranny. There is a world of difference in the performance. My friend has an 08 5.4 3v with the 4 speed tranny. He drove my truck and said it felt like it had more power and acceleration than his. I strongly recommend looking at the 4.6 3v with the 6 speed tranny.

 

I agree, the 5.4L I drove didn't feel like it had any more power. Even if you're towing 8000 lbs. the six speed tranny will keep the engine humming in a happy range. This motor is so smooth it feels like it would be happy humming along all day long at 3000 rpms or even more on big grades. And it's not like the old 4-speed where a downshift would leave the engine screaming near redline.

I have the SuperCab 4x4 4.6L 3V and 3.73 gears (145" WB) and the tow rating is 9400 lbs. while the 5.4L with 3.73 gears ups that to 9700 lbs. but I don't need to tow anything more than 5-6,000 lbs. When I'm not towing the truck has more power than I know what to do with, even in the mountains.

And it's hard to argue with 20+ mpg when not towing. I don't know why the EPA mpg ratings are so close between these two engines, in the real world the difference is more substantial.

 

I've driven 2 rentals with the 3v 4.6 and I was not impressed with either.

 

I got the 5.4 because i like having the extra 70 lbs or so of torque when i need it. I'm sure the 4.6 has plenty of power as well but i'm happy with my purchase

 

I just traded in my 2005 regular cab, short box 4x4 with the 3 valve 5.4 and the 4 speed automatic backed by a 3.55 LS rear for a 2010 regular cab, short box 4x4 with the 3 valve 4.6 and the 6 speed automatic backed by a 3.73 LS rear. Here's my seat of the pants review. The new 4.6 would flat out spank my 2005 in power, refinement and so far, towing. (Yes, you read that right.) I actually had trouble breaking the aftermarket 20's loose with the old truck. The new one lights them up with no problem. Better yet, I'm averaging 17.4 MPG with the new truck when the absolute best I ever saw on the old one was 16.9 on the road. (Averaged 13.8 MPG.)

I'd be hard pressed to go for the 5.4 in a regular cab, but that's my 2 cents.

 

My opinion on this is to always go with the larger engine option, this way you'll never find yourself underpowered for any task you take on. The difference in MPG between the two is minor. How you drive has a bigger influence on MPG. ALWAYS go with the towing package, whether your going to tow or not. You'll get the added benefit of a larger cooling system, a proper tranny cooler, and a larger alternator. The fact you have a truck almost guarantees you'll be in a situation where you have to tow something once in awhile. For me it's a case of it's better to have it and not need it over needing it and not having it.

 

The '09-'10 5.4 feels light years ahead in power to me over the '04-'08, and I think it's because of the 6 speed transmission. It really helps get all that power to the ground more efficiently.

I haven't owned a previous model year, but I tested many before I came to buying the truck I have now. It feels like a completely different animal. I haven't tried the 4.6 yet, but I'm sure it's just as capable. I've always been in the mindset of getting the most engine you can. Power is great and I'm getting 16 in the city and around 20 on the highway in my FX4 Screw.

I'd love to drive an XLT single cab short box with the 5.4. If my truck feels peppy to me, I'd love to feel the engine in a lighter truck.

 

I wanted a Supercrew and drove every combo of 5.4L/4.6L and 3.73/3.55 limited slip rearends. In the end I felt like you could drop any one of them in my driveway I could drive it for years and not be able to tell the difference. I ended up getting a XL and the 5.4L is only a fleet option (10+ units) so I had to go with the 4.6L. I could have stepped up to an XLT for $1,800 to get the 5.4 (and other options) but I did not feel it was worth it.

My advice (keep in mind I don't even have my truck yet) is to determine what trim level and options you want then compare the price difference between motors and make your decision that way. Ford's website and Edmunds.com were very helpful to me.

 

I have a Supercrew with the 5.4 and the 3.73 limited slip rear end. I love that truck.

My advice to you is to buy more than what you'd be "happy with". My point is this, you are spending a big chuck of change no matter what you get, so why not spend a little more to get the best and then you wont wish later that your truck had the 5.4, or leather seats, or whatever. Spend a little more and you will be happier in the long run.

My Opinion:
Go with the Supercrew with the 5.4 and 6.5ft bed. Lariat trim level, and what ever you do, GET THE MOONROOF!

 

Yeah, but if I had bought the 5.4L without trying the 4.6L 3V first then I would have been really unhappy when I finally drove a 4.6L 3V and found out that I liked it better.

My advice, drive both and see which one you like better.

 

I agree! It will be very, very hard to tell much difference between the 4.6 3v and the 5.4. I am shocked that the 4.6 3v is so close in performance numbers as the 5.4 3v. It seems like the difference in displacement doesn't account for much at Ford.

 

I just got back from a 1,400 mile trip in my 2010 with the new 4.6 and the 6 speed. I have to tell you, that motor and transmission absolutely put my 2005 5.4 with the 4 speed to shame. I can't speak for the 5.4 with the new 6 speed, but the 4.6 was enough motor for me and returned great mileage (right around 19 MPG) too.

 

I have not driven the 4.6 3v, but I own an '09 FX4 (5.4,6-speed,3.73's) I used to work for a Ford dealer and I was the "Lot Boy", yea hahaha, so I got to drive all kinds of 04-08 F-150's and I'll tell ya these '09-10's are a whole new animal. I just passed the 2,000 mile mark with mine and my mpg's just keep getting better. It has all the power I need for DD'ing which is what I got it for, and plenty more in store for when I need it. I'll agree that you need to drive both to make an educated decision, but for me I knew I wanted the bigger 5.4.

 

Yup. I think we can finally put that old addage to rest, you know, "there's no replacement for displacement".

When an engines cylinders reach a certain size/shape, there is not nearly as much extra to be had by simply making the combustion chambers bigger because less efficient combustion becomes a larger factor. That's why we are seeing more 10 and 12 cylinder engines and also why all motorcycles don't have only 2 cylinders.

If I needed more power than a modern 4.6L V8 (or maybe up to 5.0L) engine could produce, I would be looking for more cylinders, not bigger cylinders.

 

Wow, I couldn't agree less. We're seeing more 10 and 12 cylinder engines. . . where? Few vehicles have a 10 or twelve cylinder engine, and those that do are very expensive. (See vehicles like Vipers, Jaguar XLS, Buggati, etc). The only V10's I know of in common use are in trucks like the F250's or big diesels.

Just because the 4.6L and 5.4L are close in numbers doesn't have anything to do with displacement so much as the design and tuning/parameters set for the engine application. That's like saying you'd take a 351 over a 427. The displacement counts for a lot when everything is equal. If Ford wanted to make the 5.4L put out 400+ HP they could, but it comes at an expense of engine longevity and cost. The 5.4L and the new 6.2L are about the same volume apart as the 4.6/5.4L, yet the Raptor R has a 500HP engine option. You think they got 170HP from much else other than head design + more displacement?

All I'm trying to get across is that the "no replacement for displacement" is just as true now as it ever was, but we've just gotten better and squeezing more power out of the smaller engines. (thank you Japanese)