Anyone know what the weight difference is between an Explorer and a F-150? I'm just curious. It's got to be over 1000 lbs.

 

my truck weighs in at a tiny 4460 lbs.

 

I moved about a year ago and rented a uhaul trailer to move. With the bed loaded and the trialer full I'd say it was around 3000 to 3500 pounds extra weight. I could tell the exact weight but I can't find the paperwork at the moment. There was a small change in mileage and the acceleration was a little less than normal. I personally think the 4.6 is weak for it's size. I had a 95 reg cab short bed 4x2 with the 4.9, 5 speed and a 2.73 rear end before I got this truck. I think that truck did better at towing than the truck I currently have. Plus I think it had better acceleration. I went on vacation with some family and pulled a medium sized pop up with all the clothes and other stuff either in the pop up on truck. The mileage didn't change much and it had very little trouble going through the mountains going up to Prince Rupert. I think the 4.6 is ok but it could be better. Check my profile to see what I have.

Edit: I am planning to get a 2004 or 2005 reg cab short bed 4x2 with a 5.4. I'm all for the power.

 

I have a 97 F-150 and the motor has yet to see a wrench touch it in over 75,000+ miles, towing i do little of that. I have 3.08 gears and a 5 speed and have had never had a engine issue to date 6 years and counting as a matter of fact i have never had to replace a lightbulb as of yet. In the mud its just plain fun. So to all yall just drive em and have fun if you need hp get a stang, if you need lots of torque get a powerstroke, if you want 22 miles to the gallon and just enough power to have lots of fun get a F-150 with 3.08's and a 5 speed. life is short and so is the 1/4 mile.

 

Hmmmm.......well my '98 has been pretty good. The only probs I have with it are the pinging (really disappointed in Ford on that one) and the damn hubcaps poppin' off......(wife lost yet ANOTHER one today..........I think that makes about 10 in 5 years' time)

If both those things were solved, I'd keep her for 10years. As it is, I'm really startin' ta' hear the call of the '04..........or a damn Chevy!!! (Notice the $20 hubcap comin' off today really chaps my hide!??)

 

I wouldn't blame the pinging of ford. Carbon build up along with other things can cause it. There was a certain pcm that is aggresive though and might cause it unless you use high octane fuel. I think the code is fou4 or something like that.

 

Nope. No excuse for pinging. Carbon build-up is no excuse for a pinging engine that is computer-controlled. I've had a half-dozen cars in my driving career. The only other one that pinged was my '63 VW Bug which was easily fixed by retarding full advance about 3 degrees. And believe what you read here. Some people are doing all of the above and STILL not resolving ping issues. The only good thing we having going for us as it relates to Ford Motor Corp is that they seemingly engineered the motor well enough to tolerate such pinging for at least a couple hundred-thousand miles.

From my old drag-racing days the addage was "pinging you CAN'T hear is bad. Pinging you CAN hear is reeeeeally bad!!"

And to be honest it's been a good truck. Aside from pinging & hubcaps I'd drive 'er forever, but if I can resolve those probs in an '04 (without taking on new ones) har har......then I'll go for it.

 

No bashing here, but I for one can say a fairly well maintained, '97, 4.6l, supercab, 4X4, stock, with LT265s needs lower gearing when towing on the highway. Otherwise, with the cruise set at highway speed (55-65 mph) on a fairly long upgrade will downshift to "screaming", as someone described very well.
Or maybe mine is an oddity.
I can also tell you that 3.73s rectified the "problem".

(...or I 'spose you could sink a little more money under the hood instead, hmmm?)

 

I have a 97 4.6, ext cab 4X4, 3.55 gears, tow package with 133K miles on the engine. This is one of the original engines produced. Manufacturing date in fall of '96. For someone to make the claim that the 4.6 is gutless and can not tow 2000 lbs is crazy. I regularly tow a boat (1100 lbs) trailer (800 lbs) motor and gear for a total weight of approx 2300 lbs. I tow up hills, downs hills, highway, back road where every the fishing is good. No problems. Changed the upper and lower ball joints at 130K and thats it except for regular maintanence. What it boils down is are you set up properly to tow with your vechile? If you expect to tow a tag along trailer on a ball on your bumper with 3.08 gears and 4.6 auto, are you going to struggle pulling it. Yes you are. You need to understand the limitations of your truck, understand how to properly equip your truck for the trailer you will be towing and be realistic about the results. Personally, I love my 4.6 and I believe it tows well. On another note, did anyone see the National Highway Board's Top 25 Lemon List for this year?? Ford did not fare well on its SUV, minivan and cars. BUT Dodge did manage to land its Dakota and Ram BOTH in the top 25!

 

I keep reading about pinging on the 4.6, what does it sound like i don't hear this pinging coming from my 4.6 and was just wondering what the pinging is and when it occurs.

 

FYI- The following is taken from the RV Forum refered to earlier;

-"I think I touched a couple nerves in 4.6 Fordland (judging by some comments in another forum).

I wasn't "bashing" the 4.6l engine in my previous post. Just reccomending lower gearing than the stock 3.08 gears (if that's what you have), if you plan on towing anything much more than a 2000+ pound trailer, loaded with all the goods, water, necessities, toys, people, etc. for any great distance, on a regular basis.

Oh, I should also add that "sufferin" is in reference to the 300,000 (somewhat abused) Km I have on my truck (including the 4.6), so it's gettin' a little tired and the tranny is getting a little "soft".

 

Hey all-

I have a 2001 4.6 (with a damn extended cab AND 33's!) and I will tell you all with the simple mods I have I have absolutely no problem embarrassing quick cars and trucks getting on the freeway. She will do 90MPH+ on the 3-4 shift passing a quarter, and will do an easy 125-130+ on a straightaway (measured with friends and G-Tech). (actual time slip 16.08 at 88.01 MPH, Carlsbad raceway, CA). Mods are:

Volant Cold Air Intake
Superchips Microtuner, Maxed.
Flowmaster "Y"
3" Pipe, all the way back
Flowmaster SUV muffler, 3"
Newer, composite / alumnium driveshaft

And all this with so-so 3:55 gears! Trust me, this truck is quick!
As far as durability, I have 56,000 now, and she has been a gem!

Later...

 

Lets understand something about the differences between the 4.6 and 5.4 Tritons. The max torque of the 4.6 is 293 ft/lbs @ 3500 rpm. The 5.4 makes 350 @ 2500. Almost 60 more ft/lbs at 1000 rpms lower. The 4.6 has to rev higher to produce less torque. For sure it is a less capable engine than the 5.4, but it will tow what it is rated at only at a higher rpm. So for towing I would suspect it will burn more gas. But it will tow. Compaired to what GM and Dodge has to offer in the same size engine the ford holds it own. Dodge 4.7: 235 hp @ 4000 rpm and 295 ft/lbs @ 3600 rpm. GM 4.8 has 270 HP @ 5200 rpm and 285 ft/lbs @ 4000 rpm. Dodge and GM produce their torque at a higher RPM.

JMC

 

My 4.6 does everything I ask of it. It tows my ~4000 bowrider to the lake. It has to work on the interstate, but always seems to have plenty power, it just may need to rev a bit to go. It tows my ~2000lb fishing boat like it isn't there. Towing MPG isn't bad. I drove from Nashville TN to the state line in the Smokeys (350-400 miles up a plateau and mountains and drug ~4000lb home at 65-70 and averaged 16mpg or so. I have no complaints with that. She averages 18-20 in normal driving.

 

1998 4.6l 4x4 3.55gears 4R70W tranny Flareside Supercab, K&N FIPK, JET Stage 1 chip with 59k just started pulling 29' 6100lb GVWR Jayco Kiwi Too with no problems. Pulling about 5800lbs loaded. 10mpg (before mods). 40mph @ 8% grade with no heating. Speed limit on flats no problem.

Chugs on the hills, but towing package (tranny cooler, shocks, etc.) seems to keep things cool. Tranny blood looks good, temp gauge doesn't budge. Putting in a Flowmaster catback soon and installing a tranny temp gauge. Leveler hitch (1000lb class IV) works great. Very happy with the 4.6l. Trade in time means bigger motor for sure, but in no hurry. Only 59k on truck (25k on tranny which dropped out at 36k before any towing/just got a bad one I guess). 4.6 is OK by me.