The 5.4 power myth?? - Diesel Forum

robsd · 12-28-2001, 12:22 PM

Ok it looks like today we now have another 4x4 in the family. We're trading the old '92 Suburban for a 2000 Expedition XLT 4x4. I just converted the '92 to r134a with mixed results. Also the tranny was starting to whin a bit. I didn't want to drop 2k into vehicle worth 4-5k (the old '92 has seen some better days). The 134a conversion only cost me $200. You gotta have air in Houston you know.

On the subject...the Expedition has the 5.4. I know it's only an Expedition but it's a little heaver than the 2wd....but the 5.4 is a real screamer! Even my wife noticed it over the 350. Mucho pep from a standing start. Highway pep seems to be nice as well. Since I only pull a light trailer(atv, tools, etc) with my SD v10 it'll be interesting to see how this one does on the road. With it being a 2000 I wonder if it's the 260hp version.

Makes me wonder with my very light towing needs......the 5.4 would have been fine for me.

I'll still have to check but I wonder if the oil and air filters are the same. The air looks pretty close judging from the box and the oil I'm just guessing it's the same being in the same faimly of engines.

Rob

Anyone else with a 4x4 Expedition?

crewzer · 12-28-2001, 05:08 PM

Rob!

I've deleted my previous post. For some reason, I thought I read you had bought an Excursion...

The 2000 Exp does, however, have the 260 HP motor, which is a big improvement over the old 235 HP version.

Enjoy!

Happy New Year!
crewzer

Ben99GT · 12-28-2001, 06:15 PM

The 5.4L power myth comes from the '97-'98 5.4 which had really poor flowing heads on them. The '99+ 5.4s have the new PI (Power Improved) heads and intake and are strong, stronger than Vortec 350s, Vortec 5300s, and Dodge's 5.9L.

COBRAJET · 12-28-2001, 09:31 PM

I don't believe 4.10's are available in the Expedition. We had a 99 4X4 and the lowest gears available were 3.73's.....maybe something has changed....CJ

KXHauler · 12-28-2001, 09:53 PM

I have the SuperDuty SC 4x2 with 5.4L 5sp and 4.10LS rear..

No doubt that if your towing/hauling needs are light, the 5.4L does just fine in the SuperDuty for me.

magstar67 · 12-29-2001, 06:27 PM

My wife has a '00 Expedition with the 5.4 and it runs great. It will run circles around my father's '01 Tahoe with the 5.3. When we bought the Exp. the lowest gears I could get were 3.55's, they do put 3.73's in them but only on those destined for California.

I also have a '00 F250 SD with the 5.4, it runs fine without a load buzzing around town. I recently hauled a 18' trailer with a 3500 lb. car on it through the Smoky Mountains with four people and the bed loaded with luggage and tools and I was surprised at how well it pulled the trailer as long as you keep it wound up. On average terrain highways it does a good job with this setup but it had to work to do it through the mountains. I have hauled this same load with the Expedition and it pulls it great but it doesnt handle the weight nearly as well!

I almost always drive the SD with the overdrive off because the bigger tires I put on it changed the gearing on it somewhat and it shifts a lot if you dont.

I would go with the V10's if I was buying another one and get 4.10's or 4.30's...I would miss the sound of the V8 though!

Manx · 12-30-2001, 08:41 AM

I think it started with the 235 hp motors
the super dutys are really a heavy truck also
I had the 5.4 in a 99 F150 S/C 4x4 and It would run 16.7 at the strip
It's not as fast in the super duty but it's adequate for what I need
glad they finally fixed the piston slap and head gasket's
and I have noticed now that the V8 sounds allot better then the V10
next year (2003) I think the 5.4 goes to a 3 valve head and 300 hp

robsd · 12-31-2001, 09:47 AM

Thanks for the replies. I'm not sure if we're going to keep it now. The wife's not happy with some of the features (seats in the XLT for 1).

This thing probably haf the 3:55's. Maybe even higher gears(lower number). I only got to drive it once on the highway and if I recall I was taching 1750-1800 at 65. At 70 it was still well under 2000. Also my biggest complaint was the seats. There is no fold down arm rests. Our '92 Suburban had the best. A fold down on BOTH sides. I don't think I've seen this on anything else. We did get 15mpg. Mostly highway but a lot of creeping though the woods, up draws, etc, which is a mileage killer if your going for a good number. Alos a lot different ride than the Suburban. A lot of rocking from front to rear.

We'll see.

Rob

sloans4x4 · 01-01-2002, 12:46 PM

I am satisfied w/ my my 5.4!! If I was to buy another new one, I think I would order the V10 though.
Only reason is it would be better with 4:30 gears and bigger tires.

Mike Schallmann · 01-02-2002, 08:57 AM

I had a 99 F-150 XLT with 3.55 gears (now 3.73 are available) I towed a lightweight (5K -loaded) 5er with it. It had PLENTY of power -it pulled much better than the 86 -302 it replaced. I upgraded the 5er to Nomad -and it still did a pretty good job--except it was slow in the hills and at the higher elevation it was sluggish --I think 3.73 would have helped -even better with 4.10's . Went with a 250 PSD to handle the frontal area/weight-- my wife has a 2000 - 2wd Expedition 5.4 its got plenty of power and a nice ride---I'd buy another one in a "heartbeat"(pun intended)--Oh well back to Diesels----

robsd · 01-03-2002, 02:49 PM

Well I'll never know for sure. My wife didn't like the expy seat. There goes my second 4x4. We went with another suburban. In keeping with our trend it was a used one. '99 with 35k on it. It has the vortec 5.7 engine. That thing has some power. Much better that the '92. The intake is totally different and it has duels (dual cats...looks factory) going into a huge muffler. Then a single large pipe going out the rear. Should last us for another 7 years. $360 a month ain't bad.

Rob