4.6 or 5.4??
Technical Article Contributor
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 9,417
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From: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Take a peek at the 100,000 mile club thread. There are a lot of members and both engines are well represented.
The 5.4 has a longer stroke so it will produce more power. In the real world they both seem to get the same MPG and they share parts except for the crankshaft and the rods. I have had both in the same truck. I actually removed the 4.6 from my truck and installed a 5.4. Hands down the best thing I ever did to the truck. I had a slight increase in MPG but the difference in power to the wheels was amazing. The 5.4 has more torque available at a lower rpm and that is what makes the difference.
The 5.4 has a longer stroke so it will produce more power. In the real world they both seem to get the same MPG and they share parts except for the crankshaft and the rods. I have had both in the same truck. I actually removed the 4.6 from my truck and installed a 5.4. Hands down the best thing I ever did to the truck. I had a slight increase in MPG but the difference in power to the wheels was amazing. The 5.4 has more torque available at a lower rpm and that is what makes the difference.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,920
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From: Washington
Here, Hillbilly4u... Think about this.
Why didnt FORD use the 4.6 in the lightning for the hi-po application?
Also, my 5.4 is fresh, but there are just as many happy people with 5.4's and 4.6's. why? because they're happy enough with the performance for THEIR needs.
The maint on either is negligible.
the 4.6 will struggle with hauling anything.
Why didnt FORD use the 4.6 in the lightning for the hi-po application?
Also, my 5.4 is fresh, but there are just as many happy people with 5.4's and 4.6's. why? because they're happy enough with the performance for THEIR needs.
The maint on either is negligible.
the 4.6 will struggle with hauling anything.
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 410
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From: In the Sticks,Ky.
The 99 4.6 doesn't even have PI heads.
The 00 5.4 has PI heads and will have significantly more power!
Get whatever one you like best.They will both cost the same to maintain,last about the same and get very close to the same gas mileage.The 5.4 will have more power.
Phil
The 00 5.4 has PI heads and will have significantly more power!
Get whatever one you like best.They will both cost the same to maintain,last about the same and get very close to the same gas mileage.The 5.4 will have more power.
Phil
phil6608 or anyone else. Should have asked from the get go but what are PI heads? Do all the 5.4's have them or just started in 00? Still looking and have found a few 5.4's in my price range.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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From: In the Sticks,Ky.
OK. I googled PI heads and found info on a Mustang site. Nothing here that I could find. According to what I read the 99's had NPI & PI heads and the only way to tell externally was a raised PI on the heads near the manifold. Anyone know if this is correct? I am assuming the PI heads have more power?
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,579
Likes: 1
From: Wilmington DE
OK. I googled PI heads and found info on a Mustang site. Nothing here that I could find. According to what I read the 99's had NPI & PI heads and the only way to tell externally was a raised PI on the heads near the manifold. Anyone know if this is correct? I am assuming the PI heads have more power?
And yes ,,to be sure, there is a PI on the head. The PI heads do have more power.I think it's like a 30 HP difference.
Phil
Last edited by phil6608; Jan 28, 2009 at 07:02 AM.
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 410
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From: In the Sticks,Ky.
Hey thanks for chiming in. 30 hp! Thats a big difference. No wonder those Mustang guys are talkin so much about the switch to PI heads. Some guy there said they switched over to them mid production. That was why I needed to know .
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 410
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From: In the Sticks,Ky.
Just wanted to thank all for the help. Bit the bullet today. Didn't get the 99 above. Been tryin to haggle with a local dealer on a 01 Screw Lariat. So he calls this morning and offered me 6k out the door which is what the other dealer wanted for the 99. It has the 5.4.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 969
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From: Minnesota
What i wish they would do is, dis continue the 4.6 in f 150s, and make the 5.4 the smaller option and make something like a 5.9, 6.1 320-330 hp. Thats just my opinion. Go with the 99-03 5.4! 02' fx4 would be prime, tons of options.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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Here, Hillbilly4u... Think about this.
Why didnt FORD use the 4.6 in the lightning for the hi-po application?
Also, my 5.4 is fresh, but there are just as many happy people with 5.4's and 4.6's. why? because they're happy enough with the performance for THEIR needs.
The maint on either is negligible.
the 4.6 will struggle with hauling anything.
Why didnt FORD use the 4.6 in the lightning for the hi-po application?
Also, my 5.4 is fresh, but there are just as many happy people with 5.4's and 4.6's. why? because they're happy enough with the performance for THEIR needs.
The maint on either is negligible.
the 4.6 will struggle with hauling anything.
id like the respectfully disagree with you, my 4.6 has hauled perfectly fine, iv had almost 0 problems with it. and it would almost make sence that a smaller motor would use less gas so the mpg should theroatically be better. the reliabity of both motors is about the same. but as far as towability there is absolutly no problem with 4.6, but if your looking to haul a 30ft boat or a CAT or Baco you might wanna get the 5.4 simple becase a bigger motor wont have as hard of a time pulling these thing, but if you dont have these sorta items. the 4.6 is great wont kill you on mpg's and its just as good of a motor.
just my 2cents