Is there a real difference between the engines for everyday driving, no towing just driving back and forth to work and the store to take the wife shopping? I have found a 2010 w/ the 5.4L , heavily optioned and it is much cheaper than a comparable or slightly less optioned 2011. I am just trying to figure out if the 2011's are worth the extra money for everyday driving. With a tune would not the 5.4L be almost or more as drivable as the 5.0L?

 

For what you are describing, you don't need a truck at all for driving back and forth to work and taking the wife shopping (unless she likes to buy lots of horses or travel trailers). All joking aside, you aren't going to have any issue with either engine for use in a daily driver. The 5.4 is a mule that has plenty of low-end grunt where the 5.0 is a race horse that wants to rev. Both are powerful in their own way and both will get the truck up to speed at the end of the freeway on ramp. If your daily commute happens to involve drag racing punk kids in riced out Hondas, get the 5.0. It will also return a little better fuel mileage.

 

^^^ good advice

 

I picked up a '10 5.4 Screw Lariat 4x4 in March. Last month, I had it in the dealer for a few days, and they gave me a '11 5.0 Screw Plat 2wd as a loaner... Same body, same transmission, same rear end (3.55 ls), similar options... Only real difference, the 4x4 on mine (vs 2wd on the loaner), and the motor. Comparing the two trucks/motors -

The 5.0 has more get-up & go, especially merging. However, it likes to rev higher. The 5.4 seems to do 3/4 throttle pulls best at about 3k-3.5k RPM the 5.0 at 3/4 would rev to 4k-4.5k RPM. Off the line, there was very little difference, with a slight edge to the 5.0 thru the 2-3 shift. Once in third, the 5.0 wins hands down. Also, the 5.0 has a much more aggressive sound, if you are into that. The 5.4 with stock intake/exhaust is very quiet, for a big v8.

Interesting note: I was under the assumption that the transmission was the same in the '10s and 11's. My '10 shifts smooth and reasonably quick, but the '11 shifts were smoother and quicker...

Last note - my lie-o-meter for my 5.4 normally shows mid-to low 15MPG with real mileage of mid to low 14's. The MPG meter in the '11 showed mid 17 MPG the whole time I had the truck. My 4wd probably eats about 1-2mpg so that gives the 5.0 a 1-2mpg advantage (assuming the lie-o-meter in the '11 is accurate). Considering my '10 was about 5k cheaper than a similar '11, it is gonna be many years before the 5.0's 1-2 mpg advantage would "save me" any money...

If I had to re-buy my truck next week, I don't think I would get a '11 5.0 over the '10 5.4 + $5k discount. However, I might get the '11 if it had the Ecoboost...

 

Just easing around town all I ever noticed was the difference in fuel mileage. Stomp the pedal and the differences become noticeable.

 

I agree. I've always liked low end power over high end power since I grew up in the years of muscle cars, not rice burners.

I find the 'throw you in the seat' experience of the 5.4L more exciting but once the torque runs out, the Horsepower isn't as exciting as the 5.0L. However I never tromp on the gas at 10 mph and let it go up to 80 mph. It's always spirts from 35/40 mph up to 65/70 mph or so that really gets up and goes with the 5.4L torque. So I appreciate that experience more since that's what I drive the most.

For towing, I feel the 5.4L betters the 5.0L since it has torque early on. I found that I have to keep my sense as I tend to pull away with the trailer like I'm normal driving. It has that much torque, that it has no strain at all and wants to pull away at normal, none towing speeds. I don't want to pull that fast from a start because it takes a huge hit on gas mileage and there's simply no reason for it.

You'll just have to go out and test drive for yourself. If you test drive the 5.0L, try the 3.55 axle and the 3.73 axle. The 5.0L will benefit more from the 3.73 axle in helping it to reach higher rpms quicker.

The 5.0L with the 3.55 axle will leave you with a tow capacity of 7700 lbs with a 145" WB Screw 4WD compared with the 3.73 axle and a 9300 lbs tow rating. The 5.4L with the 3.55 axle has a 9600 lbs tow rating and with the 3.73 ( and Max Tow package's heavier duty springs and hitch), up to 11,300 lb tow rating.

Just remember the 3.7L V6 replaces the 4.6L 2 valve V8, the 5.0L V8 replaces the 4.6L 3 valve V8, and the 3.5L Twin Turbo Ecoboost replaces the 5.4L, where the 6.2L is a high end model option never offered before.

I drove the 2011 5.0L 4WD Screw with a 3.55LS axle and a 5.5' bed. I also test drove a 2010 5.4L 4WD Screw with a 3.55LS axle and a 5.5' bed. The torque difference off the line was significantly in favor of the 2010 5.4L. Both trucks were optioned nearly the same. Drove each truck a good 30 minutes.

Good luck in your decision.

 

Remember a 2011 5.0L 2WD Screw is a good 390 lbs lighter than a 2010 5.4L 4WD Screw, giving a significant performance benefit to the 2011 5.0L truck.

The 2011 6R80 transmission had a different 1 way clutch installed and has different electronics for manual shifting. There are many on another forum having troubles with these newer 6R80 transmissions.

That also brings up that the new drivetrains do have some problems that can be read here and at F150Forum.com . The 2010 with the 5.4L has nearly all of the problems worked out. I did have my transmission updated and now it shifts more responsive, more precise, doesn't hunt, and holds gear longer for the appropriate throttle position. It's the best shifting transmission I've ever had after this last update. Just excellent! Unfortunately for the 2011 transmissions, there seems to be actual bugs that are being repaired that are not programming or updates. According to the members, these problems are easily repaired but annoying. Then there are some issues with the different engines but still minor IMO for a completely new motors. So you'll most likely get better reliability with the 2010 but that's to be expected when all new drivetrains are introduced.

 

I went with the 5.4l. I didn't want to be a "beta" tester for the 5.0. I only wish there are/were more supercharger options for the 2010.

 

I drove a 2011 FX4 with the 5.0L and I was not impressed. It did not get moving as well as I thought it would. Once going it was good not great. My main experience with the 5.4L is from the year I owned a 2005 FX4. The 5.4L did start good but it had little acceleration after 35-40 mph. Never got a tune for it which I wanted to do. I am just a little lerry of the 5.4L based on that experience.

 

comparing the 08 we had w/ the 5.4 to my 11 5.0 the noticeable difference is the 5.0 doesn't feel as torquey from idle to 2k rpm. other than that one thing which a tune could fix i love my 5.0 so far.

the 5.0 hauls butt from a dead stop which the 5.4 never did that well, but it's just missing that torque in the very low rpm's that i enjoyed w/ the 5.4.