4.6L vs 5.4L
11-12-2009, 12:53 PM
#11
Senior Member
4.6 vs 5.4
I have both, both are SCabs and 2wd. 97 with 4.6 shortbed with 3.55's vs an 07 Heavy Half longbed with 4.10's. 97 has been very dependable, 150K on it now and runs great; only had the 07 a few months with 26K on it. I get about 16+ mpg in town on the 97 vs about 15 on the 07, same driving and driving style. I've gotten about 20 mpg highway out of the 97 and a best so far of 19.3 mpg on the 07 but I do little highway driving so it's limited numbers here, again both driven highway legal speeds using cruise when getting highway mileage numbers.
Between the gearing and engine, the 07 will accellerate faster than the 97, it also has more toys on it than the 97 does. Both are mechanically as purchased, no mods. So far, no difference in repairs but I haven't had the 07 long enough to say that's how it will remain.
Between the gearing and engine, the 07 will accellerate faster than the 97, it also has more toys on it than the 97 does. Both are mechanically as purchased, no mods. So far, no difference in repairs but I haven't had the 07 long enough to say that's how it will remain.
11-12-2009, 02:57 PM
#12
Truck & Car Hobbyist
Actually, there is a 200 pound difference between the trucks with 5.4 and 4.6. The 5.4's drivetrain consist of more heavy duty equipment.
11-12-2009, 04:22 PM
#13
U.S. Navy
I have an 06 4x4 lariat screw with the 5.4. I do 85% city driving and constantly average between 15.2 and 15.8 mpg. Not bad for a 4x4 5.4 screw. I drove a 4.6 screw 2 wheel drive for a month at work and it was slower then time! I couldnt believe ford produced anything that slow. the 5.4 isnt bad but its nowhere near as fast stock as my 5.3L sierra i had before it. but the 5.4 is alot torque'yer then the sierra though. GET THE 5.4!
11-12-2009, 04:41 PM
#14
I have an 06 4x4 lariat screw with the 5.4. I do 85% city driving and constantly average between 15.2 and 15.8 mpg. Not bad for a 4x4 5.4 screw. I drove a 4.6 screw 2 wheel drive for a month at work and it was slower then time! I couldnt believe ford produced anything that slow. the 5.4 isnt bad but its nowhere near as fast stock as my 5.3L sierra i had before it. but the 5.4 is alot torque'yer then the sierra though. GET THE 5.4!
11-12-2009, 08:29 PM
#16
Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for the input, I was wondering if there was a huge difference. I have the 4.6 in my 08 Supercab and I am happy with the power that it has. I probably wont be towing to much either, want to put a few 4 wheelers/motorcycles but that wont be much of an effort for the truck. I love the way mine drives though. Could not be happier with it. I realize the 5.4 is quicker/torquier but I am happy with the 4.6 i have.
11-13-2009, 01:54 AM
#17
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I have a 4.6 and tow a bass boat constantly no problem at all. Up some nasty ramps too...
I can tell though, if I was to tow much more than that, I'd want the 5.4 So you gotta draw your own line. As bucko stated, the 4.2 works for his application, so he's right where he needs to be.
Don't let gas mileage steer you. I get 15 with mine as the norm. Thats no better than the 5.4 at the end of the day. Not sure what I get towing the boat, I'll check it out.
Until this thread, I assumed the 4.6's had spark plug issues too, is this confirmed???
I can tell though, if I was to tow much more than that, I'd want the 5.4 So you gotta draw your own line. As bucko stated, the 4.2 works for his application, so he's right where he needs to be.
Don't let gas mileage steer you. I get 15 with mine as the norm. Thats no better than the 5.4 at the end of the day. Not sure what I get towing the boat, I'll check it out.
Until this thread, I assumed the 4.6's had spark plug issues too, is this confirmed???
11-13-2009, 02:12 AM
#18
December 2009 TOTM!
Ask yourself what you want....meaning, do you want the extra "oomph" of the 5.4?
From what I have read over the past year I've been a member of this forum, the 5.4 has it's glory, and it has it's quirks. Spark plugs and cam phasers seem to top the list in trouble spots. Then there's the gas mileage issue. Don't expect to get anything better than 14 to 15 MPG TOPS with the 5.4 on it's best tuned day, driving downhill with strong hurricane winds at your backside. On the other hand, it will tow the snot out of anything you put on it's trailer hitch within it's rated towing capacity. Resale value for trucks equipped with the 5.4 seem to be better; buyers seem to want the "big" motor.
So, ask yourself what you will honestly be using the truck for. The 4.6 does not have the spark plug issue, I have not heard any issues with engine noise with the 4.6, and no complaints of it's fuel milage compared to the large number of complaints with the 5.4.
Me, I drive the 4.2 V6 STX model. Great truck, great engine. I tow a trailer from time to time (last trip from Texas to Florida with a U-haul trailer). With 84K on the odometer, it's doing great. Plenty enough power for what I need.
From what I have read over the past year I've been a member of this forum, the 5.4 has it's glory, and it has it's quirks. Spark plugs and cam phasers seem to top the list in trouble spots. Then there's the gas mileage issue. Don't expect to get anything better than 14 to 15 MPG TOPS with the 5.4 on it's best tuned day, driving downhill with strong hurricane winds at your backside. On the other hand, it will tow the snot out of anything you put on it's trailer hitch within it's rated towing capacity. Resale value for trucks equipped with the 5.4 seem to be better; buyers seem to want the "big" motor.
So, ask yourself what you will honestly be using the truck for. The 4.6 does not have the spark plug issue, I have not heard any issues with engine noise with the 4.6, and no complaints of it's fuel milage compared to the large number of complaints with the 5.4.
Me, I drive the 4.2 V6 STX model. Great truck, great engine. I tow a trailer from time to time (last trip from Texas to Florida with a U-haul trailer). With 84K on the odometer, it's doing great. Plenty enough power for what I need.
My buddy had a 5.4 in his 97' and a 4.6 in his 98'. His 98' with the 4.6 was SLOW.. and got horrible gas mileage.
I have a 03' F150 FX4 with the 5.4 and I get 15mpg average.. that's driving it hard. I got over 13mpg towing a 21ft Bass boat.
If I drove the speed limit, 65mph' all the time I think I could hit high 18s maybe 19mpg. But I tend to drive 'with the flow' instead.
4.6 has proved itself as a high mileage motor. Many over 200k, but the 5.4 has also seen high 200k. My buddy has 225k on his 5.4 and it still runs in tip top shape.. But he gets worse than stock gas mileage due to his performance mods..
11-13-2009, 03:48 AM
#19
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The life of a engine doesn't have anything to do with what size or the liter of it. Its how well you take care of it, by keeping up with your maintenance. Thats the life of a motor.
11-13-2009, 06:59 AM
#20
Moderator (Ret.)
Hmm. I don't agree with you bud.
My buddy had a 5.4 in his 97' and a 4.6 in his 98'. His 98' with the 4.6 was SLOW.. and got horrible gas mileage.
I have a 03' F150 FX4 with the 5.4 and I get 15mpg average.. that's driving it hard. I got over 13mpg towing a 21ft Bass boat.
If I drove the speed limit, 65mph' all the time I think I could hit high 18s maybe 19mpg. But I tend to drive 'with the flow' instead.
4.6 has proved itself as a high mileage motor. Many over 200k, but the 5.4 has also seen high 200k. My buddy has 225k on his 5.4 and it still runs in tip top shape.. But he gets worse than stock gas mileage due to his performance mods..
My buddy had a 5.4 in his 97' and a 4.6 in his 98'. His 98' with the 4.6 was SLOW.. and got horrible gas mileage.
I have a 03' F150 FX4 with the 5.4 and I get 15mpg average.. that's driving it hard. I got over 13mpg towing a 21ft Bass boat.
If I drove the speed limit, 65mph' all the time I think I could hit high 18s maybe 19mpg. But I tend to drive 'with the flow' instead.
4.6 has proved itself as a high mileage motor. Many over 200k, but the 5.4 has also seen high 200k. My buddy has 225k on his 5.4 and it still runs in tip top shape.. But he gets worse than stock gas mileage due to his performance mods..
I'm in complete agreement with you that some folks can, and do indeed get better than the seemingly "average" fuel mileage on their 5.4's then those that get posted here.
If a search is done on "fuel mileage", I'd think we all agree that the majority of these posts are complaining of the poor fuel mileage, and with the 5.4.
I'd also have to agree that none of us can verify how the drivers of these trucks with poor mileage drive or use their trucks.
And no doubt, the 4.6 is going to be slower than the 5.4. Me, I would not know, as I own the 4.2 V6.
ATOM brought out a good point to me once that if I drove a 5.4, there would be no looking back. I agreed, as I have owned large displacement vehicles in the past; however, it was when gas was under a dollar a gallon....
If I were towing, or just wanted more grunt, I'd have the 4.6 or 5.4.
Last edited by Mod (Ret.); 11-13-2009 at 07:07 AM.