Offroadjunkie84

I am currently looking to buy an 04 and up F150 but I am unsure which engine to get. I know I want 4x4 living in the snow belt and I want it with the factory trailer hitch. My concern is will the 4.6 Liter V8 be enough for average towing (under 5000 lbs)? Also what is the major difference between the electronic switch to engage the 4wd vs the floor mounted one? Are they both shift on the fly?

Also I researched about the 5.4 having sparkplug issues and am wondering any common problems for the 4.6 liter? I am glad they both use the same transmission at least.

Any comments or thoughts, I'de appreciate it. Money isn't the real issue I plan on at least putting an intake, power programmer to increase fuel mileage a little and power.

NGM

I pull 5k plus with my truck with no problem. I reccomend finding the 3.73 rear gear. I reccomend the electric shift. IT is shift on the fly under 20 mph and it really dosent have alot of problems. The problem that the Ford 4wd has is in the vacuum switch under the hood. I would put manual hubs on it being up north.

Triton v8

I've gotta give it to the 4.6 v8. It actually has a bigger set of cojognes than I thought it did. I drove my friend's 2005 F150 the other day to the river towing his boat. It's a pretty nice size boat and his 4.6 had NO problems towing it at all. I still love my 5.4 but that 4.6 impressed the heck out of me. You truly can't go wrong with either engine.

He tows an 11,000 lb horse trailer at least twice a week and has no problem with it at all. His truck has 60K miles on it and still runs like the day he drove it off the Ford lot.

What an AMAZING truck the F150 is!!!!!!

Octane

The 4.6L has the same sparkplug issues as the 5.4L.

04Screw

no it doesnt. 4.6L has totally different heads.

Offroadjunkie84

Yeah unlike the 5.4 the 4.6 does have what you would call "normal" spark plugs, with the threads going all the way to the electrode unlike the tapered shaft of the 5.4 liter. They only one who makes a sparkplug that is a 1 piece is Champion and they are 18.99 a piece!

What mileage are you guys getting with the 4.6? My drive is mostly open road but not highway speeds (I go around 50 -60mph). And are there any decent upgrades to improve mileage besides the usual intake and exhaust with a tuner? Personally I wouldnt complain about getting 15 mpg with a truck because it's a friggin truck and isn't made to get 20+mpg but it would be nice to get around 18 or so. I would just like the fact I only have to fill my tank up once durring the week instead of twice because my cars tank is only 16 gallons

crazykarl

as far as the 4.6 goes I wasnt sure of it either... but i have a 19 foot ski boat and it pulls it fine... i can go down the highway at 70 and it pulls good. i do not do 70 while towing bu i had to try it out once.. it pulls the boat out of the water on a steep grade really nice also.. mine came with michelins on it and has a 3.55 gear and doesnt slip at all coming up the ramp. I get 17 on highway and about 13 in town. I really think it will get better once it gets broke in though as i only have 6K on it. If I had the ability to choose I probaly would have went with the 5.4 just because it seems most people on the forum are getting just as good mileage as mine but still have more hp and torque.

crazykarl

[quote=Offroadjunkie84;74138]Yeah unlike the 5.4 the 4.6 does have what you would call "normal" spark plugs, with the threads going all the way to the electrode unlike the tapered shaft of the 5.4 liter. They only one who makes a sparkplug that is a 1 piece is Champion and they are 18.99 a piece!

not for sure but didnt brisk make a one piece?

04Screw

[quote=crazykarl;74342]
Champion plugs are only good if you have a weed wacker or a dodge. Brisk does make a 1 piece plug

blackbetty

04 screw your at 331 post, thats the saleen mark there ha


honestly the 4.6 is a proven powerplant, great motor, i would of liked more power off the line and a higher gearing but thats nothing a few mods cant fix, great truck...coming from a guy who beats the **** out of it...in a work kinda way