Mileage too high to mod?
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 306
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From: Prince George, BC Canada
Mileage too high to mod?
Hey everyone, maybe I can pick your brain a little tonight.
I've got a 97 F-150 4x4 EC with a 4.6 Auto and 3.55 LS. It has around 105,000 km (65,000 miles). I'm thinking there should be at least that many more miles left in her before any major engine work has to be done . . . hopefully
I plan on buying a boat next year and I want to put a Superchip and a FIPK in before I buy the boat so I can get a little more power to help out with the towing. The total boat package w/trailer and fluids shouldn't be more than 3,000 lbs.
Do you think the engine is too old to mod effectively? I've read some posts that you shouldn't do too much to an older engine but didn't know if this qualified . . . I'm hoping not. I don't think I'd bolt a supercharger or anything like that on, but do you think with the current mileage it would hold up well to these mods and still give a good power boost? It is very well maintainned and I do services at regular intervals . . . the engine is in great shape.
My plan is to get the boat, pay it off within 4 years and then buy a new truck. I'm hoping the ole 97 can get me through until then.
What do you guys think?
Thanks!
I've got a 97 F-150 4x4 EC with a 4.6 Auto and 3.55 LS. It has around 105,000 km (65,000 miles). I'm thinking there should be at least that many more miles left in her before any major engine work has to be done . . . hopefully
I plan on buying a boat next year and I want to put a Superchip and a FIPK in before I buy the boat so I can get a little more power to help out with the towing. The total boat package w/trailer and fluids shouldn't be more than 3,000 lbs.
Do you think the engine is too old to mod effectively? I've read some posts that you shouldn't do too much to an older engine but didn't know if this qualified . . . I'm hoping not. I don't think I'd bolt a supercharger or anything like that on, but do you think with the current mileage it would hold up well to these mods and still give a good power boost? It is very well maintainned and I do services at regular intervals . . . the engine is in great shape.
My plan is to get the boat, pay it off within 4 years and then buy a new truck. I'm hoping the ole 97 can get me through until then.
What do you guys think?
Thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: MADISON, WI
The superchip and AF1 shouldn't have any downside to your truck other than wetting your appetite for more mods and more power. Clearly, the regular maintenance is critical for proper engine life. My 98 with the same setup as yours has c. 45k on it, and I am expecting 200k out of the truck with proper care. I would think about the magneflow exhaust to complete the primary mods.
If you have an automatic tranny, the superchip will improve the tranny shifting as in reduce slipping for firmer shifts. Go for it.
If you have an automatic tranny, the superchip will improve the tranny shifting as in reduce slipping for firmer shifts. Go for it.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi Cougar Guy,
Looks like some good basic info in the responses to your question, and Peddler1000 said it very well in mentioning that the quality of the maintanence done to the vehicle, especially frequent oil changes, is the primary factor in basic service life, along with how the vehicle is operated.
60K miles is certainly not too many miles to start adding modifications, as today's engines are not like the engines many of us grew up with, that were lucky to see much more than 80K to maybe 100K miles before being worn out. Today's engines can be expected to deliver, in most cases, about a 175K-200K mile service life before a major rebuild is needed, if you use synthetic oils & keep the oil change interval at 3K miles.
As long as the engine is basically healthy & not using oil, you can do bolt-on mods at 100K miles. We don't advise taking a 150K mile motor and start racing it (though that can actually be done in some cases, I.E., bracket racing at the drag strip), we do advise using some basic common sense.
Overall, basically healthy engines with 60K miles, 80K miles, even 100K miles on them, etc. can do anything from the Superchip to a supercharger, as long as the right parts are used and the engine is properly tuned.
The modifications you mention are extremely minor, and aren't going to have any affect on your engine, as we've already discussed over the phone previously. Those mods could easily be done at 100K miles in a healthy motor and be fine.
Looks like some good basic info in the responses to your question, and Peddler1000 said it very well in mentioning that the quality of the maintanence done to the vehicle, especially frequent oil changes, is the primary factor in basic service life, along with how the vehicle is operated.
60K miles is certainly not too many miles to start adding modifications, as today's engines are not like the engines many of us grew up with, that were lucky to see much more than 80K to maybe 100K miles before being worn out. Today's engines can be expected to deliver, in most cases, about a 175K-200K mile service life before a major rebuild is needed, if you use synthetic oils & keep the oil change interval at 3K miles.
As long as the engine is basically healthy & not using oil, you can do bolt-on mods at 100K miles. We don't advise taking a 150K mile motor and start racing it (though that can actually be done in some cases, I.E., bracket racing at the drag strip), we do advise using some basic common sense.
Overall, basically healthy engines with 60K miles, 80K miles, even 100K miles on them, etc. can do anything from the Superchip to a supercharger, as long as the right parts are used and the engine is properly tuned.
The modifications you mention are extremely minor, and aren't going to have any affect on your engine, as we've already discussed over the phone previously. Those mods could easily be done at 100K miles in a healthy motor and be fine.
