Great board, guys! Shopping for a 2001 F-150,4x4, auto, 5.4L engine. Seems folks have problems with piston slap (which I'm unfortunately familar with....current pickup is a 98 Ranger 4x4, 4.0L....but no real problems so far, and my wife really wants the Ranger) and oil leaks in earlier 5.4 builds. Is it the general consensus that the problems with earlier 5.4L builds have been addressed in the newer builds, or is this something I should be cautious of?

Thanks much
ernie

 

Hi ernie, I am in the same boat as you are--on the fence about the 5.4.

The general consensus seems that people are not staying away from the 5.4 due to past problems. Those seem to be in mainly 97-99's. Some are experiencing rough idling and running engines but those problems "may be" solved by easy fixes--and sometimes not.

Most upgrade their 4.6 motors to the 5.4 when they trade in their rigs. Not too many are sorry they got the 5.4.

For me, I am preferring the 4.6 due to past issues I dont want to take chances with. That doesnt mean the 4.6 is trouble free--is any motor trouble free?? But the problem rate with the 4.6 is far lower than the 5.4.

If I find the rig with the right combination of equipment and color and it has the 5.4 I wont turn it away. The 5.4 does add $800-$1000 on the trade-in on a 3-year old truck, so past problems have not hurt it's value.

Piston slap and oil leaks have been solved, those were problems with faulty components. The rough-running engines is another matter. LIke I said there seems to be a few easy fixes but no smoking gun as to why or what to fix. "This is a characteristic of the mighty Triton" is what the dealers are telling some owners "and ford wont pay us to find out why". Oh.

so there you have it--if you want the 5.4 and need the power for towing and making chevy's eat your dust then go for it. My brother-in-law in OKC has a '97 with the 4.6 and it is a rocket!!! (I've driven it). I'm sure I'll be driving it again at the end of the week when we get to the big OKlahoma.

--karl

 

I've a 2000 5.4, and I've not had any problems. No piston slap, no oil leaks, no door cracks, nothing. knock on wood (my forehead).

------------------
• 2000 F-150 XLT
• 5.4 LITER TRITON V8
• 4X4 OFF ROAD PACKAGE
• SHORT BED EXTENDED CAB
• BRIGHT RED CLEARCOAT
• DARK GRAPHITE GRAY INTERIOR
• 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC W / MANUAL 4X4 SHIFTER
• 3" PERFORMANCE ACCESSORIES BODY LIFT
• 33X12.50X16.50 BFGOODRICH ALL-TERRIAN KO'S
• AMERICAN RACING BAJA'S 16.50X9.75 RIMS
• FORD SOFT TONNEAU COVER
• BLACK POWDER COATED STERLING EQUIPMENT NERF BARS
• BLACK POWDER COATED STERLING EQUIPMENT BRUSH GUARD
• TWO BLACK 150WATT DAYLIGHTER'S BY KC HILITES - TOTAL 770,000 CANDLEPOWER

• IMAGE #1 • IMAGE#2 • IMAGE#3 •

 

My truck is an F150, XLT, SuperCrew, 2WD, 5.4L, 3.55 Limited, 4R70W trans, manufacture date is 10-4-2000, purchased on 10-28-2000, it now has about 1,850 miles.

Average Gas milage is about 13.3 MPG, mixed and about 16 MPG in the freeway ( I hope it gets better).

This is a heavy truck (~4600LB), I wish I had the 3.73 Limited rear end.

This is the II generation SuperCrew, LEV (low emitions vehicle), it does have 2 cats on each side, Ford is asking for 5W-20 oil.

One minor problem - There is a noise around the engine or trans, some people think it could be exhaust resonance (between the two cats?) , it is somewhat distacting from the nice engine sound, (see F150online engine topic - Noise/vibration problem).

This truck drives VERY NICE!, the suspension is firm but not harsh, minimum road noise, it can be driven easy if one desires, lots of bottom end torque to drive under 2000 RMPs, I guess this is where we are supposed to get the gas rating of 15 MPG to 19 MPG, but it is so nice to do 4,500 RPM power shifts (I will try 5000+ RPM later) .



[This message has been edited by 2001supercrew-new (edited 12-19-2000).]

 

My truck is an F150, XLT, SuperCrew, 2WD, 5.4L, 3.55 Limited, 4R70W trans, manufacture date is 10-4-2000, purchased on 10-28-2000, it now has about 1,850 miles.

Average Gas milage is about 13.3 MPG, mixed and about 16 MPG in the freeway ( I hope it gets better).

This is a heavy truck (~4600LB), I wish I had the 3.73 Limited rear end.

This is the II generation SuperCrew, LEV (low emitions vehicle), it does have 2 cats on each side, Ford is asking for 5W-20 oil.

One minor problem - There is a noise around the engine or trans, some people think it could be exhaust resonance (between the two cats?) , it is somewhat distacting from the nice engine sound, (see F150online engine topic - Noise/vibration problem).

This truck drives VERY NICE!, the suspension is firm but not harsh, minimum road noise, it can be driven easy if one desires, lots of bottom end torque to drive under 2000 RMPs, I guess this is where we are supposed to get the gas rating of 15 MPG to 19 MPG, but it is so nice to do 4,500 RPM power shifts (I will try 5000+ RPM later).

------------------
2001 F150 SuperCrew, 5.4, Limited 3.55, Trailer Tow, 255-70-16, Captain Chairs, Assembly Date 10/4/2000 - *** Austin, TX ***



[This message has been edited by 2001supercrew-new (edited 12-19-2000).]

 

My 5.4L, 3.55LS is perfect. It is quiet, powerful, smooth and rock solid. Build date was 07/19/00. No problems of any sort. The truck has not gone back to the dealer for anything.

Getting 16 mpg on average.

------------------
'00 F-150 HD Edition
Hard Tonneau Cover
Superchip
K&N FIPK
Hidden Hitch w/Harley Logo
Peronalized Plate: F150 HD
'99 FLHRCI '95 XLH

 

RICH9
If you have your previous repair orders (ro's) from when your service department has a NO PROBLEM FOUND result, you can ask for the regional Ford rep. for assistance to show that there had been a concern on your part since before your warranty ran out. If you do not have them available contact the service department and ask them to make a copy of all of your ro's, warranty repaired or not. All service departments keep a personal file for all VIN #'s original owner or not.
Good luck.....

 

My current 2000 5.4L has been 100% problem free. It idles the smoothest of all 3 of the 5.4L engines I have owned. I would not hesitate to get a 2000-2001 5.4L if I were you.


------------------
2000 F-150 XLT, 4x2, 5.4L Supercab, Superchip, Styleside, Black with silver two-tone, 3.55 rear, class III towing package with super engine cooling/auxiliary transmission cooling HD package, Heavy duty shocks, 4 wheel disk ABS, overhead console, sliding rear window, keyless entry, dark graphite interior, in dash CD, factory leather wrapped steering wheel, FORD bedliner, FORD black tubular cab steps, K&N air filter, mar-hyde rubberized undercoating, Modine climate filtration system, Bugflector II, Mobil 1 oil, build 7/2000

 

My 2001 4X4 w/5.4 was built in August 2000. All's well with the 5.4 @ 3500 miles. I get about 12 - 13 MPG in town, and about 15 on the highway. I'm totally happy with this truck.

 

I own a 97 f150 5.4, 40,000 miles and no problems. The 5.4 triton has been flawless so far. I run a motorcraft filter and full synthetic oil. The temperature is around 18 degrees in the mornings, and no bad sounds on startup.

My wife drives a 99 eddie bauer expedition with the 5.4 also. First year of ownership and no warranty claims.

I just added a 00 ranger xlt with the 4.0, love it. I would say I have been pretty happy with my ford products so far.

 

Thanks for all of your responses. After posting my message, I found the thread about the rough idle problems. However, it's always hard to tell from these postings how widespread the problem is (and some of those posters in that thread seem to have been put through the ringer) and also how many folks might have the problem but have learned to ignore it and therefore don't post. The rough idle sounds like something I should be aware of, but not something to steer me away from the engine.

Once again, thanks much for your posts.

ernie

 

My 98' 4.6 had started slapping at 23,000mi I thought it might be normal for some odd reason. It only did it on very cold starts. I didnt find out until 2000mi after my factory warranty ran out. I have a aftermarket extended 100,000mi warranty but they said they will not fix they problem. Any pointers to a way around that.

------------------
98' F-150STX Ext.Cb
K&N FIPK
99' "L" Rims
Pntd Hard tonneau
Many more......

 

My 2001 SCrew 5.4 has been smooth, powerful and totally trouble-free in 6000 miles. It also returns an overall average of 15.5 MPG. I would not hesitate to get another one.

------------------
Tom Brendel
2001 SCrew XLT 2WD, Toreador Red, 5.4L, Med. Parchment 60/40, 3.55 LS, Class III Towing Pkg, Aluminum Wheels, CD Changer, Bed Extender

Mods: K&N Air Filter, Superchip, Extang Black Max Soft Toneau Cover, Extang Cargo Cleats

 

My 5.4L has been flawless; never to the shop or misses a beat. The performance is very impressive and it screams like a banshee after only slight modification. Very impressive for such small displacement.

------------------
2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.

 

My 5.4 has been flawless. 13000 miles and no babying this truck. Have done desert running in Death Valley as well as trails. Constantly run it at 90+mph in early mornings (3-4 am) from Death Valley to Barstow, Ca (little or no traffic). Desert running is done on rock and gravel roads and trails at 40-50 miles per hour while following closely behind other trucks with dust so thick you cannot see truck is front of you. Truck eats no oil and motor never skips a beat. This is probably one of the reasons that 5.4 continues to make Ward's "one of ten best motors in world" every year.

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2000 F150 XLT SuperCab, Short Bed, 4X4, ORP, 5.4L, Auto Trans, 3.55LS, Captains Chairs with power drivers seat, rear slider, class III towing package, remote entry with alarm and just about everything you can get on this truck. Added a Ford bug deflecter, floor mats, a Dynamax Race magnum muffler and 3" mandrel bent pipes, Superchip, K&N FIPK Gen II, Bilstein shocks, Redline Synthetic oil, Kenwood stereo system and an MTX Thunder 204 4 channel amp.