Buying an used F150 with 5.4L Triton, worth the risk?
10-14-2016, 09:01 AM
#11
Take it from someone who took the risk and bought one knowing most of the potential problems and being a decent DIY wrencher... RUN!
Mine has had most of the gotchas crop up (stuck plugs that may never have been changed, phasers, timing chains, guides, tensioners, oil pump, thrust washer, crack manifold, ball joints, rusted out e-brake, broken leaf spring, dead shocks)... there's still a few I haven't experienced but I firmly believe it's only a matter of when - not if.
I've been able to fix it all myself but at great pains and frustrations as these things were NOT designed with serviceability in mind. You may get lucky but why gamble since many of these problems occur in a significant portion of this generations trucks. These problems are all too well known and documented for them to be worth the gamble IMHO.
FWIW- you can and will run into problems with anything you buy used with high mileage. The difference for me is that fixing the issues that crop up appear much easier to service on GM/toyota products.
BTW- I do love how the truck looks and works- when it's not acting up or fighting me in the garage.
Mine has had most of the gotchas crop up (stuck plugs that may never have been changed, phasers, timing chains, guides, tensioners, oil pump, thrust washer, crack manifold, ball joints, rusted out e-brake, broken leaf spring, dead shocks)... there's still a few I haven't experienced but I firmly believe it's only a matter of when - not if.
I've been able to fix it all myself but at great pains and frustrations as these things were NOT designed with serviceability in mind. You may get lucky but why gamble since many of these problems occur in a significant portion of this generations trucks. These problems are all too well known and documented for them to be worth the gamble IMHO.
FWIW- you can and will run into problems with anything you buy used with high mileage. The difference for me is that fixing the issues that crop up appear much easier to service on GM/toyota products.
BTW- I do love how the truck looks and works- when it's not acting up or fighting me in the garage.
Last edited by jav1; 10-14-2016 at 09:06 AM.
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techrep (10-14-2016)
10-14-2016, 03:21 PM
#15
Senior Member
Don't try to sell your stuff on other people's threads. It's against forum rules and many frown upon it.
10-14-2016, 03:24 PM
#16
An 04 with 170k and an unknown maintenance history.
No
No
10-14-2016, 05:44 PM
#17
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10-14-2016, 06:50 PM
#18
Looking for a Henway.
iTrader: (2)
If you don't keep up on the 3v, you can have some expensive issues. Since the history is unknown, there is a greater risk. If your looking at a 3v, you need to be aware and factor that in the purchase decision.
My brother in laws '04 with a 155,000 miles is a good example. He owned it since new and has done nothing but change the oil (at quick change places, no idea what oil was used).
I just spent several days and about $1000 taking care of things that have not been done (plugs, COP, all filters, all fluids, new cats, front brakes). Luckily his phasers and such still seem to be OK, just a little knock/rattle on startup, I may still change his VCT solenoids sometime in the near future. Still needs serpentine belt done, as well as ball joints (drivers lower for sure, maybe all 4).
After spending time with his truck, I would probably buy it if he were selling, but before I spent that time with it I would not have chanced it.
10-14-2016, 07:43 PM
#19
And you know the maintenance done on them. That makes a huge difference.
If you don't keep up on the 3v, you can have some expensive issues. Since the history is unknown, there is a greater risk. If your looking at a 3v, you need to be aware and factor that in the purchase decision.
My brother in laws '04 with a 155,000 miles is a good example. He owned it since new and has done nothing but change the oil (at quick change places, no idea what oil was used).
I just spent several days and about $1000 taking care of things that have not been done (plugs, COP, all filters, all fluids, new cats, front brakes). Luckily his phasers and such still seem to be OK, just a little knock/rattle on startup, I may still change his VCT solenoids sometime in the near future. Still needs serpentine belt done, as well as ball joints (drivers lower for sure, maybe all 4).
After spending time with his truck, I would probably buy it if he were selling, but before I spent that time with it I would not have chanced it.
If you don't keep up on the 3v, you can have some expensive issues. Since the history is unknown, there is a greater risk. If your looking at a 3v, you need to be aware and factor that in the purchase decision.
My brother in laws '04 with a 155,000 miles is a good example. He owned it since new and has done nothing but change the oil (at quick change places, no idea what oil was used).
I just spent several days and about $1000 taking care of things that have not been done (plugs, COP, all filters, all fluids, new cats, front brakes). Luckily his phasers and such still seem to be OK, just a little knock/rattle on startup, I may still change his VCT solenoids sometime in the near future. Still needs serpentine belt done, as well as ball joints (drivers lower for sure, maybe all 4).
After spending time with his truck, I would probably buy it if he were selling, but before I spent that time with it I would not have chanced it.
