Had a '97 4x4 SC 4.6L for two years and the engine was absolutely FLAWLESS and got decent mileage. My only complaint came when towing 6,000+ lbs. and when driving uphill while loaded down.

For an every day driver, the 4.6L engine is perfectly fine. If you don't tow a lot or operate at high altitudes a lot, I would stick with the 4.6L engine. It's about as bullet proof an engine as you can get from anybody.

The 4.6L engine is a perfectly capapble engine for the average driver. It won't win many races, but it will keep running and working for a long time.

I now have a 5.4L in the '99 and I like it a lot. I took just under a 2 mpg hit in gas mileage. The engine shines when towing a heavy load or driving up steep hills at high altitudes. The 5.4, however, has not been trouble free. Had a hell of a time with a rough idle problem. Others suffered from oil leaks and piston slap. Very few members have had any problems with the 4.6L engine.

You will definitely save money with the 4.6L engine, both in lower purchase price and less fuel burned.

Bottom line? If I didn't need to tow a heavy load and drive up steep hills at altitude, I would stick with the 4.6L.

 

I'll throw my two cents in and give a nod to the 4.6. So far, the thing has been bulletproof. Not one visit to the mechanic for an unscheduled maintinence item on the engine. Not one! For the most part, it is a very solid and reliable engine. If you're looking to be the quickest or haul the heaviest loads, it isn't for you. For a daily driver and limited towing, it should provide a long, relaible, and comfotable life. Whatever the choice, it will be in a nice truck. Good Luck!

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1997 F150 XLT, Flareside , Moonlight Blue, 4x2, SC, Auto, 4.6L, 3:08, Cargo Cover by Century, Penda bed liner, Blue Oval reciever hitch plug, Driver Design bug deflector, Monroe Reflex Shocks, 235/70/16 Firestone Wilderness AT's, sliding rear window, captain's chairs, Valvoline Durablend Oil, Purolator Pure One Oil Filter, and 112,000 miles and counting!

 

Go with the 5.4L, better to have it and not need the extra power etc. than not and wish you did!!. Easy for me to say I live at 8400 feet and go over 9,000-1000 foot passes every week. With the Gibson Swet Side and K&N Gen II I usually average 16.6-17.1 mpg. Good Luck with your decision.

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2000 F-150, XLT, SPORT 4X4, BRIGHT RED/DARK GRAPHITE, SUPER CAB,
SHORT BED, 5.4L, AUTO, 3:55LS, TOW PACKAGE, HD COOLING/ELECT, SKID PLATES
SPORT CLOTH SIX WAY POWER CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS, CONSOLE, SINGLE CD,
CRUISE,ESOF,REMOTE KEYLESS, FORD SNAPLESS TONNEAU COVER, FORD BEDLINER,
FORD MOLDED SPLASH GUARDS, FORD BODY COLOR CABSTEPS,
MODS: CATCH ALL FRONT MATS, LUND DEFLECTOR, FORD VENT SHADES,
GIBSON SWEPTSIDE CATBACK,
K&N GENII FIPK,
FORD HITCH COVER

NEXT: SUPERCHIP!!

 

5.4, more power...'nuff said!

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2001 Bright Red Supercrew
4X4
5.4 V8

Mods:
BFGoodrich TA KO 285/75/16
Airforce One intake kit
Ravin 55 (Planned)
Rhino Liner (Planned)
Husky liners

Go Buckeyes!

 

To all: thank you very much for your comments so far. I will research the other topics a bit to get more info on these two motors.

Right now I am leaning twoard the 5.4. From what I have read the problems with the 5.4 are pretty rare and seem to be fixed in the new models.

I will continue to monitor this topic and others. Thanks!

--Karl

 

Ok, from my distillation of the comments to my origional question...

Do a lot of towing esp over the passes get the 5.4. (I am not planning on doing towing).

The 4.6 is a great motor capable of some towing.

The 5.4 has seem some rare problems with piston slap and block cracks. The 4.6 seems to be fairly trouble free.

But is seems that no matter how much 4.6 owners like their engines they would rather have the 5.4, or, if they did have the 4.6 they now have the 5.4.

Curious.....

--karl

 

5.4! The 4.6 is good, but I've never heard ANYONE say "this engine just has too much power". It sure is nice to have the power there when you are going up a hill and a semi decides to invade your lane.

The 5.4's do not get the beefier tranmission anymore. I think the only way to get it is to opt for a California emmissions truck. The shift points are different so they use them for the Cal. trucks.

As you pointed out, the resale on a 99 is 1000 dollars difference for a 800 dollar option. If you get the 4.6 and wish you had more power, that 800 dollars will go quickly in mods just to catch up to a stock 5.4

Also everyone mentions HP but don't forget about the huge difference in torque in these engines. You have to buy a Superduty Ford (diesel or V10) or a 2500 series (diesel or 6.0L) Chevy to beat the torque output of the 5.4L. Those are both heavy duty trucks though and will still be slow compared to a F150 with a 5.4L

BTW, I *cough*compared*cough* trucks last nite with a friend who has a 2000 F450 tow truck with Powerstroke auto and 4.30 gears. With all that extra weight he never had a chance. I had 5 truck lengths on him by the time I hit second.

To the 4.6 defense, it seems to have less problems than the 5.4. I haven't heard of any longevity problems with the 5.4L engine though. It's mainly casting and assemlby problems which tend to show up while the truck is still under warranty. Don't forget, 4.6's had piston slap too!

EDIT: One more thing, you get a much stronger rear axle in a 5.4 vs a 4.6. Just do a search for broken rear axles. You will see they are almost all 4.6L 4x4 Subercab trucks. It's just too much weight for the 8.8.

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2000 F150 XLT 4x4 Short Bed. Amazon Green, 5.4L, SuperCab, ORP, Tow Package, Sliding Rear Window, Electronic Shift, Keyless Entry, LT265-70-17 Tires, Clarion Pro Audio, Herculiner Bedliner, Air Silencer Removed.

1994 SVT Mustang Cobra. #1032 of 6009. Black coupe with black leather int., 3.73 rear, Bassani Exhaust, Aluminum D/S, Bridgestone RE-71 255-45-ZR17

My Home Page



[This message has been edited by 2000 F150 4x4 (edited 10-18-2000).]

 

In the defense of the 4.6, not everyone out there would bump up to the 5.4 after having the 4.6. While not a scientific sample by any means, all the folks with the 5.4 that I know have had enough nuisance problems of one sort or another to make comments about it. While I agree that there has not been a demonstrated durability problem as a result of these issues, I still view having to deal with them a PITA. As a result, we now have two 4.6 equipped F-150's in the family, with a combined 200,000 miles, and neither engine has ever seen a mechanic for non-scheduled maintinence. That surely counts in my book! While there are certainly lemons amongst the 4.6's too, I'm just calling it out as I see 'em.

Equipped with the 4.6, an F-150 is comfortably equipped to handle nearly any situation a normal driver may throw at their rig. Obviously, if performance or heavy towing is your thing, look at the 5.4. I will never argue with that! Certainly all of us have had situations where a little more acceleration or power would be nice, but where does one draw the line? A 4.6 equipped F-150 is by no means an unsafe underpowered vehicle unless unreasonably loaded. Believe me, its not like you throw the pedal to the floor and find nothing there, unlike other cars I have owned! Yes, that's even at altitude (Colorado State Grad).

As far as the axle comment goes, I can't say a thing because I don't know a thing about it, other than the 5.4 getting a beefier axle.

Just my two cents... Feel free to disagree - it is America after all!

 

Well, thanks for more good commments.

I am not against the 4.6 yet not totaly sold on the 5.4. It isnt the cost factor or the gas mileage. Based on resale alone the 5.4 is worth it.

I dont think I would make a bad choice with either. I didnt know there was an different axle supplied with the 5.4.

But I am still leaning twoard the 5.4. Sounds like I am still on the fence, right? ;-)

Yes, I still want to read more comments!!

--karl

 

A while back I was considering trading in my 97 4x4 EC SB, 4.6L Auto.

I spoke with my buddy, who sells Ford vehicles and asked him to find out what a regular cab 4x4 LB 5.4L would cost me. The first comment out of his mouth was "Well that 5.4 will be changing to a 4.6".

He had the same opinion as many others here. If you don't NEED the extra power and torque, the difference between the two is not as much as you would think. I've been in his demo which has the 5.4 and in everyday traffic and normal highway travel, I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference. You do notice when you stomp on it, but how often do you really do that? And belive me, as another poster said, if you are stoplight racing with the 4.6, you will notice that there is a V8 under the hood. It's not a weak engine ny any means. My buddy had a 96 4x4 SB with a 302 and now has an EC 4x4 with the 4.6. We both agree that our trucks would have beat his old one hands down.

For major towing I'd get the 5.4. For normal everyday use and moderate towing the 4.6 is fine. Unless you have extreme conditions, which you may encounter with the mountain passes, the 4.6 is ample. I also have had no problems whatsoever with my engine . . . it's bulletproof.

Whatever your choice good luck !!!!

p.s. I still have my 4.6 . . . if I change I think it will be to a Superduty with a V-10 !

 

More good points!

I do find it interesting that according to the owner survey on this site the 4.6 is owned by over twice as many as the 5.4 so that sez something!!

I dont plan on doing mods other than a k&n.

--karl

 

Having had both engined I can say that the added tourqe that comed with the 5.4 makes all the difference. I'm not saying the 4.6 is a bad choice just feel the 5.4 is a better choice. good luck

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2001 Supercrew, XLT 4x4,5.4l,tow,3.55ls, captains chairs
Island Blue & Silver Frost.6 disc changer,keyless entry,bug shield,vent visors,expy console,duraliner bed liner,extang tonneau cover, more to come

 

just to update-the 4.6 has its power upped for the 2001 model year-but i would still get the 5.4 why? cause i did. good luck

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2001 Silver F-150 SuperCab 4x4 Flareside Sport..5.4l auto,vinyl tonneau cover,pendaliner bedliner w/paintsaver, flowmaster delta 40 single in-dual straight out the back

 

If your thinking about a Super Cab I would go for the bigger engine. I've got a regular cab 4x4 with a 4.6 and I think my truck scoots but I need mine to get through snow on secondary roads and if I had any more power I would be all over the road. If I lived in an area where I did'nt have to worry about traction I would love to have more power.

 

If traction in the snow is your concern, then add the tow package with the 5.4. The added weight of the hitch, including the spare tire really keeps the rear from slipping. Whenever it rains and I need to start quickly from a stop, just put it into 4hi and go. I can go full bore out of a driveway onto a slick frontage road while in the rain and not miss a beat. Once cruising, I just put it back into 2hi.

I love how my truck handles. It's extremely well balanced for a 5500 lb vehicle. There's only a hint of understeer, and a little acceleration in the turns keeps it right on the money.

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Model: '99 F150 Lariat Supercab 4x4 SS Mechs: 5.4L, 3.73 Diff (9.75" LSD Rear, 8.8" Front)
ORP: Skid Plates, LT265/70R17 GY Wrang. AT/S
Group III towing: HD Electrical/Cooling, GVWR 6500# (Extra leaf spring).
Stuff: Step Bars, 4W Disc ABS, K&N filter, 0W-30 Series 2k Amsoil @ 8200 miles, Herculiner
Stock Items That Differ Across F150s: Steel Driveshaft, Oil filter bolted to engine w/ drip guard, 4R70W transmission.