My dads 2003 5.4 sounds weak when it starts. He puts 6 quarts of oil in it and 1 quart of Lucas oil stabilizer ( I've told him they take 6 quarts but he says it doesn't. Even showed him the manual on mine because his didn't have one when he bought it ) anyway what could this be? It has 250,000 miles on it ( probably more I don't know but it said 243,000 when I looked at it last ) fuel pump and plugs and coils were replaced last winter. he got it at 50,000 miles in 2005 and has put the same oil and everything in it since he got it. ( also drove it for a week when he just got it with a bad coil like shuddering bad. )

 

Sounds normal to me.

 

mine sounds a lot stronger when it starts and his used to sound like mine.

 

here's a comparison.

 

Not an expert, but seems no.different than mine with 218k.

 

The 97-03's all held 6 quarts as far as I know, and they don't need Lucas oil destabilizer, just the correct grade of oil.

 

the 97-98's had 7 quarts if they had the remote mount oil filter I believe