97 4.6 reg cab 3.55, 4X 2
135,000 miles
daily commuter truck 74 miles one way.

Engine ran great till approx 120K.
tune ups, new sensors couldn't fix a lean, skip on pssenger side 4 plugs.

replaced CPU, runs fine now.

all recalls to date done on vehicle, oil changes every 5k: Penzoil 5w-30 and Motorcraft 820-S filter.

Bosch platinum @ 110K, fuel filter approx every 20K
gas mileage on highway 19 mpg
Great ENGINE (for the 97, reg cab 4x2, LBed)!!!, still have excellent get up and go.

got same engine in 2K3 4X4 SCREW w/3.73 not broken in yet, but so far feels a little "underpowered", but adequate.

 

THANKS GUYS

 

We have an '97 Ex-cab with the 4.6L and 147,000 miles on it. To the best of my knowledge, it still has the original plugs and wires on it. I just haven't taken the time to change them out. Why change them if they're not broke
I'll get around to it sooner or later! But it still gets decent fuel mileage and does a pretty good job of pulling my car trailer.

 

97 SC 4.6L, 104K on it, runs perfectly!!

 

Sup fellas!? Not new to the forum, just went from "lurk" mode to "participate" mode.

2000 F150 Supercab 4.6l
99k New Plugs, Fuel Filter, Tranny Service, K&N, Mobil Syn 5w30, fuel system cleaner every 6k.

16mpg in the city 18-20mpg on the Hway

Always reliable, never a hiccup 'cept for sometimes when it's cold, it'll try to die when you touch the gas (truly another thread indeed). Other than that, not one single problem, never.

I have always been one to preach on maintenance.

 

97 with 78,xxx miles. Haven't had a problem with it other than the oil pressure dropping at high RPMs. It now longer does it now so who knows what caused it. Just doesn't have enough power. I plan on buying a brand new F-150 with a 4.6 and manual tranny in a year or two unless they decide to offer the 5.4 with a manual tranny.

 

'98 4.6 Windsor, 48k, a couple bolt ons. Runs flawlessly. Oil changes ever 3k/3 mo. whichever comes first. Not driven particularly hard. Just fast.

 

2003 XLT 4X4 4.6L

I have Just under 12,000 kms. Besides not having a front bumper it is tip top.

 

I have a 2000 xlt with the 4.6 and just put it over 75,000 miles not that long ago and had no problems out of it yet.

 

98 F150 SC 4x4 5.4, 150K. Did plugs at 100K, motorcraft platinum. Check fluids routinely. Started using the new ford premium coolant when I saw a caution logo on my friends 03 Grand marquis that said not to use orange coolant. No major complaints, couple minor though: skin cracks, leaks, elec gremlins, pwr window motor slow op, dash lens crack, funny wobble, some vibe issues, I added dampers to my exhaust (that helped with the NVH), some brake issues, I'll stiop here.

Thinking about running the new motorcraft 5w20 synthetic blend oil with winter coming.

 

I have a 97 SCab 4.6L Windsor, 3.55LS with 62,400 onit with no problems. I run Lucas Oil Fuel Additive every 3 months and change the oil every 3K.

When I bought it a year ago it was leaking oil, about 1 qt every 1500 miles. I have driven it on longer trips recently, about 500 miles/wk for 4 months. The oil leaks have gone away.

Eric Bender

 

Since most of the other replies have been positive- I'll give my $0.02 (and thats about what its worth!):
At this point Im very ticked off w/ my '97 4.6L (4x4 Expd.) as I am facing a major repair that is apparently fairly common- I have either a bad head gasket and/or a bad head and Im looking at a $1500 - 2000+ repair on a truck that is not driven hard and has just 55K miles.

Granted we tend to only hear about the bad ones but this issue (bad gaskets/ heads) is so common to the 4.6 / 5.4L engines that I'll think twice about getting another f$*cking FMC product again and I come from a long line of Ford customers, worked as a parts counterman/ driver for a dealer myself back in the '80s and have always prided myself as an american who buys american.

Word to the wise: be sure to have the engine inspected for gasket issues, etc before you're warranty runs out! This wouldn't have helped in my case but it could in others.

As to the issue of 4.6 vs 5.4- in the p/u I'd say the 4.6 is fine in terms of power provided your not towing a mobile townhouse around the rocky mountains.
dan
1997 4x4 Eddie Bauer Expedition (4.6)
2000 4x2 F-150 Flareside super cab (5.4)