I'm currently finishing up high school and I decided once I start apprenticeship, I'll save up to buy a 97'-03' F-150. A few musts I need on the truck will be that it is automatic, supercab, power options and the V-8 model. Unfortunately, nearly 80% of the F-150's for sale in Ontario are the 4.2L. 15% is the 4.6L and 5% is the 5.4L and as luck would have it... I'm interested in the 5.4L. Though I have a few questions, I'm sort of split between the two V-8s. I was told the 5.4L has a LOT more power, and they get nearly the same MPG. I was curious if I was to just buy a 4.6L F-150 or try to hold out until I find a 5.4L. I was also wondering if anyone can give me accurate mpg readings on both engines in mixed driving. Thanks a lot everyone, love the forum.

 

The 5.4 does have quite a bit more power... Before I put these big a$$ tires on... With stock tires and 3:55's I got around 16-17 in mixed driving.. Now I get about 14-15...Im ready to re-gear... All I need is the $$$

 

Get at least a '99-up F150 so you get the PI heads (this is the 5.4L...need a '01-up on the 4.6L), you get some extra power.

Most of the time, the trucks that get the highest MPG are the 4.6L engines (ive seen guys get over 20MPG on the 4.6L, but I can think of very few people getting that kind of MPG on the 5.4L). But on avg, I think you'll get about the same MPG with either engine, if you drive the same. If you drive ***** out all the time, then neither will get good mileage But the 5.4L would be more fun.

I get about 15-16 on the highway (after the XCal2), and about 12-13 city.

 

personally i would get a 5.4, i own one and know people with a 4.6 . my buddies dad has a 4.6 crew cab 01 and its to say the least gutless. but he has a high gear ration ( lower number). i have 3.55 with 33 bf's and they work just fine. if ur close to the mn boarder we have quite a few 5.4's up in international falls area and down towards virginia and hibbing mn. (about 1.5 hours south of boarder. i would be happy to call a couple places to see what they have on hand for you if you would like.

 

Honestly I wanna keep the funds to buy the truck to a minimum, I can pick it up across Ontario, but thats as far as I want to go. I think I don't need more then a 4.6L, it's mostly a friend cruiser, daily driver and road tripper. But I do had mods in plan, like a better stereo system, lots of MPG enhancing and power enhancing mods, and a few nice exterior mods like a tint and billet grille. My goal isn't to make a street racer or a offroader, just to make a nice looking big truck. Also, would the 4.6L be cheaper on insurance for a 18 year old then the 5.4L?

 

My two cents...I don't know anything about the 4.6 or the 4.2; but I have a '97 5.4L Expy and this engine is great. It currently has 125K and gets about 13-14 MPG. Talking to others who have the same 5.4 engine, this IS the best engine and tranny combination that Ford has ever put together. I just replaced the spark plugs at 125K. And the people I know have 100-200K on their engines without any major problems. I have also heard of from many on this site and others of getting 300K and even heard of a 450K.

But that's only the information I know.

 

This post sounds like a contradiction to my first, I WOULD like the 5.4L still. But the chances are likeliness of it are slim. So I guess my question boils down to, how much weaker is the 4.6L and can anyone give me accurate MPG on it?

 

I have had both so I would say I can give you some info. It depends on what you are using it for, their is a difference in power but if you are not towing or drag racing a 4.6 will do. I had a 4.6 in a supercrew and got 17 day in and day out and went to a 5.4 4x4 supercrew and I have to take it easy just to get 15 so if you get a 2wheel drive 5.4 I see very little difference probably less than 1mpg. You have to rev. the 4.6 to get power.

 

I just traded in my 2002 F150 with the 4.6L motor for an 06 with the 5.4L. There is quite a difference in motor here. my 4.6L which was always OKAY, was quite weak when it came to hauling just itself. Mine did a lot of shifting going up grades etc.. the 5.4L doesn't. from what i can tell the mpg are pretty close. I never got any better then 15.9 with my 4.6L on the highway. my 5.4 will get that if not more. I would suggest the 5.4 if you will be hauling or doing any towing. IMO, the 4.6 was just not powerful enough for the weight of this truck.

 

It was 476K and it was on a 4.6. The 5.4s are good motors, but it also likes to blow spark plugs out the wazoo, and last time I checked, heads aren't cheap. 95% of the high mileage F-150s out there are going to be 4.6s because they are mostly work trucks, and most businesses don't spring for the larger engine. And the insurance is going to be a bitch for you no matter what, you are an 18 yr old male driving a truck. It'll be close to what your payment is, no matter what motor it has in it.

 

Well, I suppose I'll get the 5.4L if it's available in my price range. If I have to get a 4.6L, how much aftermarket bolt ons will it take to get it as fast or as mean as a 5.4L without losing too much MPG. I'm told the 4.6Ls are fast engines would you get some breather mods on em.

 

Try looking for a 4x4 v8 5spd, now that took me little over a year to find. I was like you, I wanted a v8 (my 84 bronco II had a weak 2.8 v6) but I knew that I didn't need a 5.4 or a 351 because I won't be pull anything drasiticly heavier then a boat. Trust me the 4.6 is no tortoise, I can keep up just fine with people with bigger motors, and could probably beat them if the schronizors were better (hard to speed shift). Plus my mileage is 20 on highway 16 city and 17.5 combined, so long as I don't get into which I really don't anymore. Whatever you get be sure to get the 99 or up because they have the performance improved heads (PI heads) which gave the 4.6 11 hp and 3 lb-ft, I don't know about the 5.4. 99 and up 4.6 gets 231hp 293lb-ft. Mine is a 97 with only a K&N cold air kit and a SIDO flowmaster, didn't notice anything with the flow except for sound.

 

Not bad, I'm not looking for mind blowing power, just an engine to show the trucks got power. I'm just going' to be buying the best looking and cheapest looking F-150 I can find with all the options I need.

 

If you are primarily concerned with MPG's and cheap, go with the 4.6 or the 4.2 V6. If 80% of the trucks are 4.2s then it will be easier to find one with what you want. Then you could bank the money that you were going to spend on your MPG mods.
What are you guys paying for gas up there?

 

I've had every 4.6 and 5.4 they've made since 1997, but never the 4.2. To tell you the truth, for a daily driver, the 4.6 is quite adequate. In my experience, the difference in mileage between similarly equipped 4.6 and 5.4 trucks works out to about 2 MPG. For me (25,000 miles / year), that worked out to some serious money. Both of them are great engines though.