Are the 5.4l engines as bad as these forums make them sound?
02-04-2016, 01:50 PM
#11
Super Duper Senior Member
Thread Starter
I know I change the ones on my Exploder more often than needed, but they are cheap. May just keep the same interval with an F150
02-04-2016, 01:51 PM
#12
Senior Member
I owned 3 of them!
1st one the truck was totaled at 24K miles before that it ran perfect. It had intake, exhaust, tune and electric fans.
2nd one was N/A with intake, exhaust, tune and electric fans for 70K miles. At 70K I put a lightning blower on it with 12#s of boost. At 95K miles for no fault of the engine i melted #2 piston.
Replaced #2 with #3. #3 came from a 2003 Lightning, it has 23K miles. I ran that motor for additional 9K at 12#s until I sold it in perfect running conduction.
Wayne
1st one the truck was totaled at 24K miles before that it ran perfect. It had intake, exhaust, tune and electric fans.
2nd one was N/A with intake, exhaust, tune and electric fans for 70K miles. At 70K I put a lightning blower on it with 12#s of boost. At 95K miles for no fault of the engine i melted #2 piston.
Replaced #2 with #3. #3 came from a 2003 Lightning, it has 23K miles. I ran that motor for additional 9K at 12#s until I sold it in perfect running conduction.
Wayne
02-04-2016, 02:05 PM
#13
Mark
iTrader: (1)
Been reading up here and a couple of other forums. I am in the market for a newer vehicle and have been looking at an F150, I miss my truck. These forums make the engine sound like something I should avoid like the plague.
Are they really that bad over 100K miles? I'd be buying used, and want a vehicle that will last. Couple I was looking at locally have around 70kish miles. Won't really be towing anything. Mostly daily driver kind of stuff, and some occasional light off-roading.
Are the phaser / timing chain issues common? Or am I reading to much into things because only people with issues are looking for help here?
Reading the threads here has me considering a Chevy truck or a Grand Cherokee. But I really want an F150.
Are they really that bad over 100K miles? I'd be buying used, and want a vehicle that will last. Couple I was looking at locally have around 70kish miles. Won't really be towing anything. Mostly daily driver kind of stuff, and some occasional light off-roading.
Are the phaser / timing chain issues common? Or am I reading to much into things because only people with issues are looking for help here?
Reading the threads here has me considering a Chevy truck or a Grand Cherokee. But I really want an F150.
The following 2 users liked this post by techrep:
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02-04-2016, 05:37 PM
#14
I had an 04 5.4 that had the phaser noise. The noise never got any louder while I had it but it really felt like it wasn't making enough power. It struggled pulling my 6x12 trailer empty, not sure if that was because of the cam phasers or if I had another problem.
I never really had a failure with the engine though, it was everything else on the truck that was breaking. The build date on mine was late of 2003 so I contributed most of the issues to being the first model year.
If you get one I'd personally look for an 07/08 and check it over good. I know of a few that are still going strong with over 100,000 miles
I never really had a failure with the engine though, it was everything else on the truck that was breaking. The build date on mine was late of 2003 so I contributed most of the issues to being the first model year.
If you get one I'd personally look for an 07/08 and check it over good. I know of a few that are still going strong with over 100,000 miles
02-04-2016, 10:29 PM
#15
Super Duper Senior Member
Thread Starter
I had an 04 5.4 that had the phaser noise. The noise never got any louder while I had it but it really felt like it wasn't making enough power. It struggled pulling my 6x12 trailer empty, not sure if that was because of the cam phasers or if I had another problem.
I never really had a failure with the engine though, it was everything else on the truck that was breaking. The build date on mine was late of 2003 so I contributed most of the issues to being the first model year.
If you get one I'd personally look for an 07/08 and check it over good. I know of a few that are still going strong with over 100,000 miles
I never really had a failure with the engine though, it was everything else on the truck that was breaking. The build date on mine was late of 2003 so I contributed most of the issues to being the first model year.
If you get one I'd personally look for an 07/08 and check it over good. I know of a few that are still going strong with over 100,000 miles
02-10-2016, 10:16 PM
#17
Super Duper Senior Member
Thread Starter
Ended up getting an 08 F150 Super Crew Lariat 5.4l 2 wheel drive. Build date 05/08. 85K miles on it. Was looking at a newer one, but this one was low miles, a Florida truck (no salt or rust issues), and had an extensive maintenance history on file. The original owner bought the truck at the same dealership I got it from, and he took it to the dealer for all of it's maintenance. Everything that has been done to the truck is on file, so I knew it was well taken care of.
It also had a K&N intake, and an aftermarket exhaust on it. Not sure on the exhaust brand, but it has a nice rumble at idle, sounds really good when you romp on it, but isn't loud when cruising. Barely notice it at highway speeds. Had all the options I wanted. I'll post some pics later. It was to dark to get good pics by the time I made it home.
Has noticeably more power than my Explorer 4.6l does.
It also had a K&N intake, and an aftermarket exhaust on it. Not sure on the exhaust brand, but it has a nice rumble at idle, sounds really good when you romp on it, but isn't loud when cruising. Barely notice it at highway speeds. Had all the options I wanted. I'll post some pics later. It was to dark to get good pics by the time I made it home.
Has noticeably more power than my Explorer 4.6l does.
02-10-2016, 10:55 PM
#18
Great choice! My 07 5.4 3V has 142K and zero issues at all. Bought it with 113K and extensive maintenance records (the owner was in the Army and his dad had a service station for trucks only). It's been one of the best trucks I have ever owned besides my 88 Dodge D100 with a 318.
02-11-2016, 09:06 AM
#19
Cycle For Fun and Health
Congrats. Enjoy your "new" truck. I enjoy mine everytime I drive it.
02-12-2016, 11:19 AM
#20
Super Duper Senior Member
Thread Starter
Here are the obligatory pics:
The interior
And the carpeted bed. The carpet is velcroed in, and there is a spray in bed liner under it. Also has a folding bed cover.
The interior
And the carpeted bed. The carpet is velcroed in, and there is a spray in bed liner under it. Also has a folding bed cover.
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