Hey Ford Lovers ! I am having a disagreement with my better half on wether or not we should purchase a V6 or V8. I want something that is going to give us some good gas mileage.

I have 2 kiddo's to drive around and plus I have no less than a 2 1/2 hour commute to work and back.

Please help. He wants to get the vehicle this week and he is trying to convince me that the V8 would be better...

Thanks a bunch and Happy New Years to ya !

 

Oops - forgot to tell you what we are going to purchase -

A F150 4dr ext cab - automatic - not sure what year - def not a 97 though. Probably 2000 or newer.

 

Every guy loves a V8
I wouldnt get a V6 in a full size truck. But, thats just the way i am. What is the difference in gas mileage between the two? Im not too familiar with the numbers. Are you guys going to be doing any pulling or work with the truck? I think you would be a lot happier with the power of the V8 over the V6. But, not sure if you would have the same response to the gas mileage.

 

We would probably only be pulling a jet ski every now and then, but other than that nope. I would like a V8 for it's power, however I remember my camaro and what a gas guzzler that was being a V8, however I am sure it had something to do with the driver -

I suppose your right being that it is a full size pickup.


Thanks a bunch

 

What year camaro was it. Cause i think that the newer ones get pretty good gas mileage. I know the trans-ams do, so i figured so would the camaros. It really does matter what kinda driver you are. I have the 4.6 v8 in mine , and i still wish it had a more power or wish it had the 5.4.

 

i have a v6 and i like it, because it suits me, but i love it when i have one of my parents trucks(both dodge----sorry v8).
i would test drive both and follow your heart. the gas milliage isnt that great on my truck.

happy new year to you too!!

moose

 

i wouldnt think there would be a great deal of diffrence in the mileage, because a v-6 is going to have to work alot harder to push a 5000 lb truck. I may very well be wrong because i have the 4.6, and have never driven a v-6 long enough to see the diffrence.

 

I would'nt have a Full size truck with a 6 cyl. personally. I agree that the 6 has to work alot harder and whats a couple of MPG over the power gains???

 

I have two 01 F-150s. One has the 5.4 V8 and the other has the 4.2 V6. From experience you don't need the 5.4 unless you have a trailer. If you get the 5.4 with the 3.73 rear end you will be faster than most cars on the road. I had that in my 99 SuperCab, and I just loved getting on the freeway, but I did not like watching the gas gave frequiently to see if I needed to stop.

The V6 at 200 hp is plenty of power for the truck. When I drive this truck I tend to run the gage closer to E because of it's extended range.

The best engine is the 4.6 V8. You get the best of both worlds. They are harder to find though. That engine was my first choice, and I have not had it in the past three trucks.

Back in 99 I went hunting with my dad and a few others. He had his F-150 (97 Supercab 4.6 3.05), and I had mine (99 Supercab 5.4 3.73) We started the week at the gas station and I followed his truck with mine the whole week. Before the week ended I told him that I we needed to stop for gas as I was down to 1/4 tank. To rub it in, he said, "what do you mean 'we,' I've got 1/2 a tank.

If you like to get on the freeway first, then get the 5.4
If you pull a large trailer, then get the 5.4
If you want to pay less for the vehicle, then get the 4.2
If you can find one in the right vehicle for you, then get the 4.6

Either way, now is a good time to buy a truck. If I didn't already have one I would buy one. Sometimes I wish that I didn't have one so that I could buy one.

 

my advice is to get the 4.6 V8. I think the difference in gas mileage is 1 or 2 mpg. The 4.6 Triton is a newer OHC design. Either engine has to push a big 5000 lb truck down the road, that's where the gas goes.

I have to admit I have never driven a 4.2, it probably makes adequate power, but it is just so nice having the V8, it is a great engine - good power, smooth, likes to rev, durable, etc.

By the way I also have an econoline with the 5.4/auto and if I drive carefully I get 16.5 mpg. And that engine has great power, huge torque, and has been very dependable.

If you want to be enthusiastic about owning and driving the vehicle get the V8. Otherwise the 4.2 MAY be slightly more economical. Good luck and enjoy your F150!!! They're great no matter how many cylinders!

 

HP isnt the issue; whats the Torque on the 6? THATS whats gonna matter in a big heavy truck. I agree that the 4.6 is a happy medium

 

Horsepower for the 4.2L v6 is 202 hp. Torque is 252 lb-ft. I "think" the hp for a 4.6L is 231 hp. Not sure about trq. And the hp for a 5.4 is 260 hp. I know that's the #'s for a 4.2L, but not sure about the other's. Maybe someone else knows. For regular highway driving the 4.2L will have adequate power, and great gas milage. If you tow or pull a trailer or anything, then the 5.4L is definatley for you. As it is a work horse. But be prepared to pay extra $$$ for gas. The 4.6L is the best of both worlds. It get's almost the same mpg as the 4.2L (+/-1-2 mpg), and has plenty of power. These are all great trucks in my opinion. Again, I'm not sure about the hp #'s for the 4.6 and the 5.4, but they are pretty close. Good luck with the truck shopping!

 

I think the current 4.6l is 231 hp, and 290 ft-lbs torque. A little more grunt to get off the line than the 4.2l. The 4.6l is a nice engine and the perfect in the middle engine. It will do everything you ask it to easier than the 4.2 but will work harder than the 5.4l when pressed. Fuel mileage is similar to the 4.2, unless you do all freeway driving, then the 4.2 will start to get a bit more mileage. It will also help the resale value down the road to have a V8.

Also, if you are looking at extended cabs, I don't think the 4.2l engine can be had with the 4x4 version, only 4x2. Don't know if that makes a difference to you, but thought I should mention it.

 

V-8 !

V-8 for 3 reasons:

1) MEN drive V-8's
2) better exhaust sound
3)more power

'nuff said

 

I have the supercab, and I had a 4.2 first. When I carried any kind of a load, I really noticed a power loss with the 4.2. So when I got new one, I made sure to get the 4.6. There really isn't much of a milage difference, and it has the power I need.
Seeing how you sound like you expect to use the supercab to hold your entire family, if your family's total weight together is around 500 lbs or more, you should get the 4.6. Trust me, a loaded passenger compartment makes a difference.