My brother is in the market for a 2008 f-150 hes thinking of either the 4.6L
or the 4.2L he does not no if the v6 will be strong enough to haul 2000 pounds in the bed on caisson he also likes a lil bit of go. Witch is the better choice for the job. thanks in advance miller

 

there is only about 10 hp difference between the 2

the gearing will be more important

 

Agreed, the gearing is important.

My vote is for the 4.6 (if he is dead set against the 5.4)

I love my 4.6. It will scat when I want it to.

 

With the added weight of the new body styles, he will be eventually sorry if he settles for the 4.2L. I'd try to talk him into the 5.4 personally, 4.6L at the very least.

 

The 4.2 will haul 2k without any problem and it's a simpler and more reliable engine.

 

You're also going from a '03 3500 lbs. truck to a '08 5500 lbs. truck, that extra weight is going to kill that 4.2L

 

i have all three of these engines.
i personaly would go with the 5.4
there is not a whole lot of difference in milage.


122,000 on the 4.2
170,000 on the 4.6
i thinkthe 5.4 has 130,00
i have spent less in maintenace and repair on the 5.4
but i have'nt had the cop problem yet

 

How can you say that it's more reliable? I can't comment directly on the '08's, but historically the 4.2 has issues which may cause a catastrophic engine failure.

 

5.4 is the way to go, if some type of hauling will be involved on a regular basis..............

 

5.4..... go big or go home

 

The problems (lower manifold and timing cover gaskets) were solved back in 1998.

Say what you want about Consumer Reports, but compare their frequency of repair records and predicted reliability on the recent V6 vs. the V8 F-150's. The V6 F-150 is probably the most reliable truck on the road.

I highly doubt that a 08 weighs 2k pounds more than a 03. Yes, it is a beefier truck, but nowhere near that extreme.

Go to a dealer and take a V6 out for a drive and form your own conclusions. I've driven V8's with less ***** than the 4.2 V6 - like the 5.0 in the pre-97 trucks. For a truck, I prefer the low tech pushrod engine with easy to change spark plugs, wires, and coil packs. OHC's are great for cars that you rev the **** out of but a truck doesn't need to rev.

 

I've beat the 4.6 shortbed and long bed 4x2 and 4x4. The auto trans just sucks the hp/tq out of the 4.2l and the 4.6l... if he were to get the 4.2l get the stick... if not get the 4.6l.

 

My 2005 Scab weighed 5400 from the factory, weighed on a scale here at work. 3/4s of a tank of gas

 

I would suggest the 4.6 with the optional 3.73 gears. He can get the up graded payload package too but don't expect to find one equipped like this on the lot. He's probably looking at ordering to get this truck but he can get what he wants. I'd also suggest the trailer towing package. You get a lot of upgrades for not much money with it. The V6 has had issues before but they have pretty much worked thru them. The V8 will have far more trade-in value or resale.

 

ya you know i was saying 5.4 to him to but hes only 24 mortgage on the house and at a budget of 22,000 up here in canada so he really only needs it for say driving to the cabin up the hills and to get his quads from place to place. and for the 2000 - 3000 thousand pounds once in a while.

I dont no why you put down they old 5.0L that things a beast just spent the day ripping it around in the snow. thanks for the imput

plus its only going to be a XL reg cab 6.5ft bed