5.4 vs 5.0
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 11
Likes: 2
From: Memphis, TN
5.4 vs 5.0
Lets find out who is the better overall engine between 2009-2010 5.4 and 2011-present 5.0 and get some first hand information from owners. End your response with 5.0 or 5.4 and state why you choose that engine over the other.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,653
Likes: 291
From: Georgia
This will only end badly....
For me, it's the 5.0. Mainly bc I have no experience with the 5.4. Only other mod motor I have experience with is the supercharged 4.6 that was in my 04cobra. Motor took a beating, and never flinched. Even after changing the pulley and tuning, I put close to 30k miles on it with no problem.
For me, it's the 5.0. Mainly bc I have no experience with the 5.4. Only other mod motor I have experience with is the supercharged 4.6 that was in my 04cobra. Motor took a beating, and never flinched. Even after changing the pulley and tuning, I put close to 30k miles on it with no problem.
5 Year Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,096
Likes: 493
From: Calgary, AB
I think this will be entertaining!
I haven't owned a 5.0 yet, but have had a couple of 5.4's (2000 and 2010). Both were great motors and gave me zero issues, even after strapping a blower to the 2-valve.
Overall, they have to be in the same ball park. The hope and expectation is the the 5.0 is better. It has an improved design, more power and being "detuned" in the trucks (on know actual set up and some bits are different in the mustang), should be a solid platform.
I have had one buddy who blew a 2011 5.0, but that doesn't mean much to me in the grand scheme.
I would give the title to the 5.0 personally. I guess it would be how you want to compare, 09'-10' you really only had the choice of the 5.4 if you wanted decent power, '11-present, you have a few options (Eco, 5.0 and 6.2 in some years). I have no idea on the numbers, but would guess that there were more 5.4's produced in '10 and '11 than 5.0's in 12' and 13'. You would have to take that into consideration when looking at "how many" issues each motor had.
I haven't owned a 5.0 yet, but have had a couple of 5.4's (2000 and 2010). Both were great motors and gave me zero issues, even after strapping a blower to the 2-valve.
Overall, they have to be in the same ball park. The hope and expectation is the the 5.0 is better. It has an improved design, more power and being "detuned" in the trucks (on know actual set up and some bits are different in the mustang), should be a solid platform.
I have had one buddy who blew a 2011 5.0, but that doesn't mean much to me in the grand scheme.
I would give the title to the 5.0 personally. I guess it would be how you want to compare, 09'-10' you really only had the choice of the 5.4 if you wanted decent power, '11-present, you have a few options (Eco, 5.0 and 6.2 in some years). I have no idea on the numbers, but would guess that there were more 5.4's produced in '10 and '11 than 5.0's in 12' and 13'. You would have to take that into consideration when looking at "how many" issues each motor had.
dumb dumb
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 109
Likes: 7
From: Port St Lucie,Fl
This will only end badly....
For me, it's the 5.0. Mainly bc I have no experience with the 5.4. Only other mod motor I have experience with is the supercharged 4.6 that was in my 04cobra. Motor took a beating, and never flinched. Even after changing the pulley and tuning, I put close to 30k miles on it with no problem.
For me, it's the 5.0. Mainly bc I have no experience with the 5.4. Only other mod motor I have experience with is the supercharged 4.6 that was in my 04cobra. Motor took a beating, and never flinched. Even after changing the pulley and tuning, I put close to 30k miles on it with no problem.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 156
Likes: 15
From: Pinellas Park, FL
I prefer the 5.0 and have had both in f150's. I currently still have a 5.4 in the driveway in our Expy.
I think the performance of the 5.0 is much better.
HOWEVER - for towing - our Expy tends to feel better towing the boat.
Now this introduces quite a few different variables (Expy - short wheelbase 5.4 vs SCREW 5.0). I just know that when I know I am going to get the boat on the trailer - i tend to grab the wife's car (Expy).
As a daily driver and "spirited" driving - I absolutely prefer my truck.
Neither have tunes or engine mods aside from aftermarket air filters. Expy is 3.33 and truck is 3.55 rearend and the Expy had "canned Superchips tune - but the wife made me put it back to stock.
I think the performance of the 5.0 is much better.
HOWEVER - for towing - our Expy tends to feel better towing the boat.
Now this introduces quite a few different variables (Expy - short wheelbase 5.4 vs SCREW 5.0). I just know that when I know I am going to get the boat on the trailer - i tend to grab the wife's car (Expy).
As a daily driver and "spirited" driving - I absolutely prefer my truck.
Neither have tunes or engine mods aside from aftermarket air filters. Expy is 3.33 and truck is 3.55 rearend and the Expy had "canned Superchips tune - but the wife made me put it back to stock.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,334
Likes: 109
I've never driven a 5.0 but I will point out the 2v 5.4L (97-03) feel way more powerful to me. This is probably because the 2v's max power is made around 2,500rpm while the 3v makes its power above 3,000rpm. The earlier 5.4L also didn't have cam phaser issues or split spark plug problems. I've also seen a 2v 5.4L top 400k miles.