I had a 00 5.4 4x4 for a couple weeks now , as well as my 99 4.6 2WD. I was able to get the 00 for less than half of sticker price so who would pass that deal up!
But now I'm realizing that the 5.4 is really a pig on gas compared to the 4.6
And the performance gains are minmal.
It's a little quicker than the 4.6, about the same on the highway, but sucks back alot more fuel.
Has anyone moved up tp the 5.4 from the 4.6 noticed this or is it just me?
The reason I'm asking is because the absolute most that I tow is about 3000 lbs and the 4.6 handles it without a hiccup.
I'm thinking of getting rid of it while I can still make a good chunk of coin on it and buy the wife a vehicle that better suits our needs. I can sell it now for ALOT more than I paid for it and probably come out even on an Explorer or something like that.
My wife likes the truck but I'd like to know what you think. Think maybe I got a bad 5.4 or something, or does it take any longer than the 4.6 to break in??

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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08
BONE STOCK...for now
and
2000 Lariat SC 5.4 4x4 3.73 LS

 

One reason you are not getting the milage as your 4.6 is the 4wd. The extra weight, hight, and the running gear of the 4wd do take there toll on gas milage.
If you compared a 2wd 5.4 to your 2wd 4.6 I bet they would get very close milage.
Hope that helps you

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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.

[This message has been edited by Don C (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

I figured that the extra torque and 3.73 gears would easily compensate for the 4wd. I don't mind paying more for fuel if I'm getting more performance, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
Does the transfer case and other extra stuff rob that much power?

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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08
BONE STOCK...for now
and
2000 Lariat SC 5.4 4x4 3.73 LS



[This message has been edited by notirT (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

I didn't notice that your 2wd has 3.08 gears, and the new truck has 3.73 gears, that is also a factor in fuel milage.
I don't know how much power the transfer case and front end drive train take up.I have a friend with a 2wd 4.6 the same gears as I have, his is faster, and gets better millage.

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1999 F150 4x4 4.6V8 regcab/shortbed
Oxford White with Wedgewood Blue two tone, with Blue Captains chairs
Bassani Cat Back, Superchip,Modified intake with modified K&N filter.

 

Since you just got your truck, you wont see great MPG yet. Wait till it breaks in. Many people said the 5.4l wasnt that much better than the 4.6l, but you're comparing a 4x4 to a 4x2, which does make a difference either way. My 4.6l was a pig on gas when I first bought it, but after a few months, it went away. Give it some time, you'll love it.

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Fast46Triton ®

1999 Ford F150 XLT Supercab, Shortbed, 4x2, 4 wheel disc brakes/4 wheel Anti-Lock Brakes, Cloth Seats, Amazon green, 16" All season tires, Soft Tonneau Cover, CD Player, 4.6 liter Triton V8, 3:55 ls, towing package, 4 speed auto, K&N Airfilter

Have a nice day

 

Well my 4.6 is still a pig on gas and it has just over 2,300 miles last tank I got 12.3 mpg down from my average of 14.5 I knew it wouldn't get as good as my Mustang GT that I had but I want to get at least the city figure on the sticker for my local driving witch is 15 mpg.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

Im curious to know how you got that truck 1/2 off also! Wouldnt it be closer to *double*?

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Fast46Triton ®

1999 Ford F150 XLT Supercab, Shortbed, 4x2, 4 wheel disc brakes/4 wheel Anti-Lock Brakes, Cloth Seats, Amazon green, 16" All season tires, Soft Tonneau Cover, CD Player, 4.6 liter Triton V8, 3:55 ls, towing package, 4 speed auto, K&N Airfilter

Have a nice day

 

First of all, there's no way you got that truck for 1/2 off of sticker, unless you traded in a PAID-OFF car worth $14K or more, in which case you really paid around $28K for the truck like the rest of us.

Secondly, the 2000 4x4s have 3.55 axle.

Finally, you would be complaining about the lack of power if you'd bought a 4x4 with a 4.6L. There's a reason 90% of the 4x4s have the big motor.

I get 13-14MPG city, 17-19MPG highway with my 2000 S/C 4x4 5.4L w/3.55 gears. One of my best friends has a 98 S/C 4x4 4.6L w/3.73 and he can't beat my mileage.

Remember, you bought a 4500-lb TRUCK not an 1800-lb 4 cylinder CAR.

[This message has been edited by FordLover (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

F150 is not the vehicle to buy if you're concerned about MPG.
However the F150 actually cost less in the long run because it holds it's value so much better than most any $28K car.
See what a $28K CAR is worth after 2 years.

 

Not to mention...you probably have not given your computer enough time to 'learn' your driving habits..in the 2000 models..it has much more control over the transmission and it takes a few hundred miles to adjust itself.

The big factor is that you have a 4x4...a 4x2 5.4L is VERY fast (my supercab runs 0-60 in 7.8/7.9 seconds on 87 Octane..a regular cab would be even faster). Like FordLover said..try driving a 4.6L 4x4 and you will see the difference in power.

What you described is almost like comparing apples to oranges. My 5.4L 4x2 vs a 4.6L 4x2 has a noticeable difference in power...but not a complete, 100% blow out.

For me...gas mileage is not a concern...I wanted the power.


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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99



[This message has been edited by Dustoff (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

So the 2000s have a *Learning* CPU? So that means if I were to get one and drive hard, the tranny would shift hard?

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Fast46Triton ®

1999 Fast46triton Edition® Ford F150 XLT Supercab, Shortbed, 4x2, 4 wheel disc brakes/4 wheel Anti-Lock Brakes, Cloth Seats, Amazon green, 16" All season tires, Soft Tonneau Cover, CD Player, 4.6 liter Triton V8, 3:55 ls, towing package, 4 speed auto, K&N Airfilter

 

fast46--

Here is what the 2000 owners manual states on page 135:
"To account for customer driving habits and conditions, your automatic transmission electronically controls the shift quality by using an adaptive learning strategy. The adaptive learning strategy is maintained by power from the battery. When the battery is disconnected or a new battery is installed, the transmission must relearn its adaptive strategy. Optimal shifting will resume within a few hundred kilometers (miles) of operation"

My 98 automatic tranny did not have this feature and did not shift as good as this one.



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2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55, class III towing package with heavy duty cooling package, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, Pendaliner bedliner, K&N air filter, rubberized undercoating, cabin filtration system, Bugflector II, 5W-30 Mobil 1, engine build 10/4/99

 

Fellas, see my post from a while backin the GD forum and you'll see how I got that deal on my trck. I'll bring it to the top again.
It was called HOW I SCREWED FORD
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99 2wd S/C s/b XLT 4.6 Triton auto. w/3.08
BONE STOCK...for now
and
2000 Lariat SC 5.4 4x4 3.73 LS



[This message has been edited by notirT (edited 02-05-2000).]

 

Dustoff,

Thanks for that info. Thats really neat. My 99' needs *my* shifting characteristics!

 

Quote from fordlover

"Secondly, the 2000 4x4s have 3.55 axle."

Or a 3:31,,or a 3:73,,or any other one you order it with



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2000 F150 SC XLT
5.4
4-sp auto
255/70r-16
3.55 LS
Heavy Duty electric
Heavy Duty cooling
Trailer Towing Group
Keyless Entry
Soft Cover
Captains Chairs
wedg blue& silver two tone
Fog Lights
Bed Liner
Fender Flairs
Cab Steps
10 disc CD changer

(Just 892 more payments and that sucker is all mine)