so my dad is giving me is 03 f150 extended cab fx4 truck. it has 286k on it and the engine is the L code 5.4 2v engine. truck has seen some stuff but I need something that I can use to replace my old 86 f150 hunting truck after the frame broke on me two years ago.

anyway, the engine has a rod knock and loses oil pressure after running for about 5 minutes so it needs a new engine.

I have read there are two versions of this engine just not sure which is which? there is one with egr and one without apparently? I'm assuming it that once I pop the hood (truck is at dads house) I will look for the egr valve on the intake and if I dont see one I dont have egr?

or can I just order an L-code 5.4 2v engine from an 03 f150 and be good no matter what? on ebay I'm seeing a couple for around $1500 with less than 100k on them with free freight shipping. after that its basically my time to pull and swap in and then have a decent hunting truck for cheap that I know the rest of the history on.

He also mentioned something about before I put the new engine in to replace some gasket on the oil filter housing that fails and will put coolant in the engine? anyone have anymore info on this as well as any other maintenance stuff I should do before I put the new engine in?

I plan to do oil pan gasket, front/rear main seals, front transmission seal as well. but curious about other pain in the butt stuff that would be much easier while the motor is out?

I'll be doing all of this over at his house instead of mine as I just dont have room for another project at my house. I plan to snap a pic of the data plate and such tomorrow when I'm over there fixing their washer/drier so I will update this thread after that but I welcome any info in the meantime.

I do know theres a bunch of common issues broken on the truck like the rear extended cab door doesnt open etc etc but I can fix those whenever. right now my main concern is getting the correct direct replacement engine for this thing as it will be shipped directly to his house as well.

 

First don't worry about L code. The only thing L means to me is heads w/more than 3 or 4 threads. It didn't happen with these.

Any 99 - 2014 5.4L 2v block will work.

From 04 5.4L 2v's were DRW (drive by wire) so you'll need the original parts on the your engine currently from the manifold up with those years.

Easy swap.

 

fair enough. also, my wife wanted to head over to my parents new house today vs tomorrow. the parts for their washer and dryer came in this morning instead and she wanted to help them unpack while I hooked up the washer/dryer lol. sure at least I can relax tomorrow and I was able to get eyes on the truck today. its ROUGH. but not too rough for a hunting truck. 286k on it.

I asked dad if it cranked and he said it should but he hasnt cranked it in a couple months since it made the noise and the gauge had issues.

I just hit the key and it cranked and was noisy. but it sounded top end to me. by the time I got my phone out to take a video of the noise...it had quieted down completely and was sounding like a normal engine. I just think the lifters needed to pump up. who knows the last time he changed the oil either.

I let it run 5 minutes and the gauge showed pressure at constant so I took it around the block. sure enough the oil pressure gauge instantly bottomed out...then like 10 seconds later came immediately back to the initial setting. then again by the time I turned around it went instantly down to zero and then 10 or so seconds later it came instantly back up. did this a couple times on the way back to his house (I only went about 1/4 mile away) but no other issues.

I think the oil pressure sender is going bad. or maybe oil gauge itself in the instrument cluster? its a common issue with older mustangs like my 95 gt vert so I'm wonder if it could be that or literally just as simple as sitting with long oil change intervals and a bad oil pressure sender?

either way...here is some pics and maybe it will let me upload a short video? about to find out! edit: mp4 is not allowed apparently lol!

 

and yeah, thats my dads new 5.0 fx4 f150 in white in the background in one of the pics lol. must be nice.

 

Replace the oil pressure sending unit
Worry little about the HLA tick cold
Possibly pull the valve covers and check all the roller rockers / followers
Make sure it has a FL 820 oil filter on it and has good 5-30 oil in it

 

perfect, just what I was thinking from watching all the youtube videos about it and mine is doing the EXACT same thing.

ordered the motorcraft one and will attempt to get it installed this weekend.

I will just wait on the HLA stuff and will change the oil soon. these dont have cam phasers that I know of so can I run 10w-30 or does it need to be 5w-30?