Just picked up a brand spanking new 2001 F150 XLT 4X4 Sport with a 5.4 and want to make the right first decisions on the following areas:

Oil: What should I use? Do I need to replace it right away with synthetic?

Plugs: Should I replace these?

Filter: Go with K&N right away?

Exhaust: Any suggestions for a 2001? Any differences between this year and previous models?

Any advice for breaking in the truck or things to really look out for in the first few months?

Your advice to a new FordHead is greatly appreciated!

Drexx

2001 F150 XLT Sport 4x4, Black as Coal, Auto 5.4, Super Cab, Trailer Tow, Sliding Rear, 17" OWL, Split 60/40, Shift-on-fly, Skids

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Congrats oin your new truck and welcome to the board.
Oil-Many opinions on this, IMOP, change about
1000-1500 miles, synthetic or not is a matter of choice.
K&N anytime. I prefer the "Gen II" over the drop in.
Exhaust-Gibson Sweptside, no loss of torque etc, engineered for towing.
Best Bang for the buck is a Super Chip.
Hope this help, others will be along with advice also. Good Luck and enjoy.




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2000 F-150, XLT, SPORT 4X4, BRIGHT RED/DARK GRAPHITE, SUPER CAB,
SHORT BED, 5.4L, AUTO, 3:55LS, TOW PACKAGE, HD COOLING/ELECT, SKID PLATES
SPORT CLOTH SIX WAY POWER CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, CONSOLE, SINGLE CD,
CRUISE,ESOF,REMOTE KEYLESS, FORD SNAPLESS TONNEAU COVER, FORD BEDLINER,
FORD MOLDED SPLASH GUARDS, FORD BODY COLOR CABSTEPS,
MODS: CATCH ALL FRONT MATS, LUND DEFLECTOR, FORD VENT SHADES,
GIBSON SWEPTSIDE CATBACK,
K&N GENII FIPK,
FORD HITCH COVER

NEXT: SUPERCHIP!!

 

Drexx-Welcome !! You may as well use the factory oil first; plugs too (these are not real simple to replace). K&N filter or FIPK anytime; more HP with the FIPK. There are alot of good exhaust systems (every kind here to advise). Start with what your sound, materials, style, and locations interest you. Take it easy the first 500 miles or so; varying speeds if possible. Good Luck and congratulations on the new truck !!

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter, K&N F.I.P.K., Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s.

 

been a "mainlander" for a few years but originally from Fernie BC. Gonna use the truck for back woods fishing and hunting and getting the hell out of Vancouver when ever possible ;-). I am going to order some Amsoil once I know what the truck takes. First mods will probably be air and exhaust. I don't want to superchip the engine until I am sure it doesn't have any factory defects. RR -- where do us canucks get mods etc... over the web or are there shops in BC?

 

I agree...it is always a good idea to drive a new truck/car for a period of time to ensure there is nothing wrong with it before you spend a bunch of money on mods. Use a quality oil or you can go with a synthetic brand.

I switched to Mobil-1 synthetic at 500 miles and put a K&N air filter in at 130 miles....and a Superchip in at 500 miles (best mod for the money). Absolutely no problems with this truck in the 4 months I have owned it.

New for 2001: the 4.6L engine has 20 more horsepower (240hp now), dual lighted vanity mirrors (XLT, Lariat only?), monogram floor mats (late 2000-2001), center arm rest with dual cup holders (late 2000-2001), sound/heat insulation under the hood and behind the engine, *unconfirmed* door crack fix (late 2000-2001), and a few other minor changes.

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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with super engine cooling/Auxilary transmission cooling HD package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil, build 7/2000

 

Drexx,

Congrats on the new truck and welcome to our home in the cyberworld. Hope you visit and post often.

Leave the factory oil in for at least the first 1,000 miles. If you want, change it to synthetic at that point or wait. Won't make all that much difference on a brand new engine. Personally, I think you're just as well off using dino oil and changing it every 3,000 miles.

As for the plugs, leave them in. If you pay someone to change them for you, the labor cost will be astronomical. If you change them yourself, you'll turn blue with all the swearing you'll be doing. It's not easy. In fact, it's beyond hard.

Wait a year or two on the plugs if you really want to change them. If you change them early and something goes wrong with the engine, the dealer might give you a hard time about the aftermarket plugs.

 

Drexx - hey "mainlander" - hope you enjoy the new wheels. - re your questions - actually, what do you want to do with your truck? - I would at lest wait until it is a little "broke in" - maybe 1st oil change - 3- 5 thou kms. - then go synth oil - I use mobil 1 - 5w30, - but I think you need 0w20, or something like that. Not avail in Mob.1 - you can order Amsoil - shipped out of Edmonton. as for the rest, the skys the limit (or your pocketbook) filter, exhaust, & chip seem to be the first & best mods.
good luck
rr

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98 F150 S/C 4.6 2wd 50yr. Anniv. edition Vermillion/Silver,HD Tow Pkg, Boards/ Vents/ Lund Bug Chaser/ LaBra Tonneau cover/ DIY "breezer" Tailgate/ 5th whl hitch/ Tool box/ BFG Long Trail 245x75x16" OEM Mag's/ Bosch +4's / BEEP,BEEP roadrunner floor mats/
Mobil 1 /Ford FL820S Oil Filter/ K&N / air box mod.
In looks & go - Chevy - like a rock.

 

As with the others, I wouldn't do anything to modify the drivetrain for a few thousand miles just to make sure it's okay. I've got the 4.6L, but didn't have to change my plugs until around 80,000 miles (replaced with Motorcraft). I don't think you'll see any big benefit from adding another brand of plugs. Just drive the brand spankin' new thing and enjoy it!!

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'97 F-150 Lariat SuperCab 4X4

• White/Silver, 4.6L, Auto.
• Tinted Windows/Bedmat/Toolbox/Lund Bug Deflector/Ventvisors/Extra Horns
• 265/75/16 BFGoodrich on polished 16x8 AR-136's
• Cat-back Dual Exhaust (Straight pipes with big chrome tips)
• Polar Bear Grille Guard
• Cranked Torsion Bars for 1" Lift

 

Oil at 3k. Why waste good oil? Amsoil 5W30 or Mobil one but don't forget to use a real good filter too.

Leave them plugs alone. Unless you like bloody knuckles adn a lot of swearing. Do them at 50K with Bosch Platinum Plus Fours.

K&N at 500 plus miles to break it in. SAve the old paper one for when you are cleaning the K&N that way you can let it dry real good for a day or so and oil it sparingly and let that soak in. Also good for dealer visists if the MIL light comes on anytime. Thye are always looking for a reason to blame you not the truck.

IMHO Gibson for exhaust. Unless you can afford a Jardine. Want noise? get the Gibson Super Truck (sweet). Want Torque? Get the Gibson single side swept (I think you can get this one in Stainless Steel which might be important up north)

See Mike Troyer about the Superchip. He gives us a discount and occasionally gets a used one to sell. Great guy.

But most importantly: Check with the Online store here first for all of your needs and the vendors here. They will do you right.

 

Drexx - well we can't hold everything against you. At lest you found this site.
Set the Message board to go back 30 or more days & check the sites you would like info on.
I am going Ravin muffler - thru Midas shops in Can.
Western Motor Sports - in Edmonton (i think) has a fipk (filter) that a lot use.
Check the engine sites - look for some posts by MSparks - has good oil info & Amsoil is shipped out of Edmonton.
Check the Computer chip section & you will find Mike Troyer on there - no better place to get a superchip from, also, if you review some of the posts you will find scads of info on just about anything. Good people on this site!!!
Lots of stuff avail in Can. - just at U.S.$ prices. (UGH)
GOOD LUCK
rr