I'm planning to buy a 2002 F150 and am thinking of going with the 4.6L V8 with 3:55 rear end. How is this engine for performance and towing up to 2500 lbs? Thanks.

 

If you use the stock size tires it is great! I tow a 2000# boat all the time with mine. Once you open up the intake by removing the air silencers and get a free flow air filter and a good exhaust out back, you will have plenty of power! I have done some extras like install and electric fan and ported the MAF for some gains. But I also went from the stock 235 tire to a 285 tires (29' to 33") so I lost power there without regearing. But with the extras in the motor, feels like I am about on par with the stock power to gear ratios now.

The 5.4 would be more than you need for that light of a load personally.

 

If you can afford it get the 5.4. The 4.6 has 231 Hp and 293 lbs/ft of torque. The 5.4 has 260 and 350. The peak torque for the 4.6 is at 3500 rpm vs the 5.4 @ 2500 rpm. The 5.4 makes for a better tow vehicle.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

JMC, correction, even though the 5.4l makes more torque, the 4.6l does make 90% of its torque from 1800rpms all the way up thru the band.

Im sure the 5.4l does, but its a good point for the 4.6l.

 

fast,

So correct my numbers to 263 lbs/ft for the 4.6 vs 315 for the 5.4. Same thing only 10% lower.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

I live in a hilly area which would be better gas mileage wise the 4.6L or the 5.4L? Is there much, and Matt90GT did u get better mileage with the electric fan? if so how much? Thanks...Mark

 

They get identical miles per gallon. Id take the 5.4l.

 

The reality is that for Towing only 2500lb, any F150 is over kill. The Ranger with a V6 will be more than adequate, from a power/torque perspective, (handling aside). Gas mileage is not a big difference and neither is cost if you look at the total price of the rig. So look for different criteria of which to buy. Spend some time searching this board for engine issues. The 5.4 has a little more checkerd history. Probably OK now though. All I can say is my 4.6 is smooth and comfortable. I tow 1500lb regularly and 3000lb a couple times a year.

 

I towed my wife's Explorer, 4300 lbs, over 1200 miles and I knew it was behind the truck. You had to rev the engine to make power. The 4.6 is a dog at lower rpm. Regardless of which truck you get make sure you get proper tranny cooling. The tow package is a good start but added cooling capacity is cheap insurance.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

actually the 4.6 stock falls on its face at 3500 until you open the intake and exhaust.

For the fan, instant 1-2mpg. Did the same on CJs truck and he got the same results. It pays for itself. Cost under $80 for each setup that I got. Do a search on the electric fan.

 

My 98 4.6L powered supercab is underpowered with the 3.55 gears and stock tires. Of note is the dismal acceleration times from 60 to 70 without forcing a downshift. The truck is plenty powerful at full throttle, however I do not like to see the trans constantly downshifting to get the truck to move out. As a matter of fact the truck often cannot maintain speed up a hill without a downshift.

The 5.4L has enough additional power and low end torque to make the truck more satisfying to drive. I would suggest the bigger engine.

Chris

 

I have a 98 4.6L 4x4 off road F150 w/ 3.55's and manual tranny.

If I had to do over I would get the 5.4L.

I tow a car trailer, 6x18, and I notice it empty, especially on the hills.

It is fine if you drive 55 and have short trips. I like being able to get some response when passing though. The 4.6 doesn't give it to me and I don't care to mess around with a bunch of mods to the motor. I think Ford could be cranking out better engines. I stay with them because I feel they are better built units.

It does fine by itself many on long trips, I can get 19 mpg with it at 65/70.

I just got a 27 ft travel trailer this spring, at about 4500 lbs empty, loaded its more. I get by going 60 mpg in fourth with 9 mpg (thats not accounting for any wind drag). But I take it easy and dont travel too far with it. My next truck will be bigger, the trailer was a good buy so I didn't worry about the size of my truck.

To me it depends how often your going to pull, because w/ no load it works fine.

 

I think the posts here are pretty much inline with my thinking. I drive mine as a daily driver and it is just fine. I don't tow that often but the truck performs fine when I need it (Note that I have the 3:08's so towing was not a high priority for me obviously).

My summary is:

If you tow regularly and heavily, get the 5.4 to be happier.

If you need to feel better about stoplight racing or you have to have the biggest engine, by all means, get the 5.4.

If you need a good all around daily driver with decent performance, slightly better fuel milage, and a great reliabilty track record, go for the 4.6.

Best of luck in your choice!

 

As an added note on the smaller engines and towing.

The Overdrive has spoiled us all. People want to tow at low revs in OD rather than get the engine up higher in the power band. My 5.0 powered '95 has 3.31s. Initially I planned on swapping the gears (4x4), but with the taller gear I can run in 3rd at highway speeds without revving the engine too high.

Sure the 5.4 has more torque and HP. Do you NEED it? No.

With the pedal to the floor, my truck won't hit 3rd until about 75, and will downshift from 60 to 2nd.

Don't be scared to let it rev and you'll be fine with a 4.6. I have towed quite a bit more with a 5.0 with similar torque curve.

 

you make a great point about the OD. The 4.6 will not tow big loads at low RPM's with OD on . . . but it's not supposed to

Even the owners manual says that you should tow with OD off and this makes sense to avoid overworking the tranny as well as keeping the engine a little more in the powerband. At towing speeds and OD off, the engine is revving a little more (although certainly not high enough as to cause concern) and the gain is quite evident.

Don't be scared to let the 4.6 rev a little . . . it likes it