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The problem is most likely not wide spread among all the 5.4's.
However, my 3-valve at 45,000- miles was rare, not too many with that milage yet...
Lets see when half the 5.4 (3-valve) in the country are over 50,000 miles...

I'd keep it till the warranty runs out, not a day more.

 

Not really, if anything its making the Chevy and Dodge trucks look pretty good.

 

Yeah, those NEVER break down, or need major repairs.

 

Wow. You have a really good starter!

Rather than spend $9000 on a new engine, why don't you talk to a local mechanic, and see if he can fix it for ya. 2 new injectors and rods can't be that expensive, if that's all that broke.

 

My point wasn't that GM or Dodge build better vehicles or that they never break down.

The point is, if an ESP plan "isnt lookin so bad" to me then that means I made a poor choice in vehicles.

 

But what makes you think you wouldn't have needed an ESP if you had bought something different? Or if you buy something else now?

IMO, any new vehicle is a BIG risk. Just look at the depreciaton all new vehicles exhibit. Where does that money come from? The customers' pockets. Why does it happen? Because ALL new vehicles have bugs that cost time, money, & hassle to work out. Some are VERY expensive - some are minor. You have to look at the mfr's history to get the best chance of minor problems. But no matter what the odds, there's always a CHANCE you'll get an expensive problem, REGARDLESS of what brand you buy.

But, to totally avoid that whole mess, I buy used. Sometimes even JUNKERS. But I always know what I'm getting into because I can read about what problems that Crown Vics (for instance) had 7 years ago, and how to fix them, and how much it's going to cost me.

So I don't have the shiniest vehicle in the neighborhood - I don't care. Most of the new ones get beat up pretty quickly anyway. I'll take a cheap KNOWN problem over an expensive RISK any day. I've spent less than 1/3 so far on my "newest" car than what you're looking at for an engine. And it blew a plug out of the head on the drive home. It's still cheaper, and it runs GREAT now.

 

You can buy a house for the price of a new diesel 4 door 4x4 F-350. That's stupid. I don't care who ya are.

 

Hey Guy's
I'm new to the forum. I just paid $3400 to have both head gaskets replaced on my 02' 5.4 F150. I had a bad oil leak on Sat. Both gaskets were leaking, but no coolant. I have 39500 miles on the truck, use pennzoil synthetic every 3 months ( I drive 8000-9000 annually). I can't find anywhere that say's Ford has a problem with head gaskets.

 

There was. Without looking it up, it involved block and head machineing quality and there may have been a change in gasket quality.

 

Bluegrass is right, there was a problem with the heads fitting correctly to the block. I have a 99 with a 5.4. The guys I bought it from had the original motor worked on due to a headgasket leak under warranty. Apparenlty there was some machining work involved on the heads and whatnot. The idiots confused wiper fluid with anitfreeze. Needless to say it ruined the engine shortly and they got a new crate motor from Ford in 2002. I bought it shortly thereafter.

Buying a new vehicle is a very unwise decision. They loose 40% of their value in two years. It's better to buy at least a two or three year old vehicle. The previous owner has taken all the depriciation. This is pretty easy these days since everybody and their dog leases cars. You can pickup a 2-4 year old lease return with low miles. Or better than that, buy a vehicle from an individual, that's usually cheaper than the dealership.

 

The only new vehicles I buy are for my wife. She likes new cars and she gets what she likes. Yeah, she's spoiled, but she deserves it.