5.4 owners the good,bad - Diesel Forum

sljim · 05-07-2009, 01:18 PM

let me know what you think of the 5.4 in the a super cab 4x4 f250 don;t pull big loads but need a 3/4 t0n

fddriver2 · 05-07-2009, 02:35 PM

weak and slow......... Compared to the diesels........ the V-10's are pretty strong though....

OMCUSNR · 05-07-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sljim

let me know what you think of the 5.4 in the a super cab 4x4 f250 don;t pull big loads but need a 3/4 t0n

My personal opinion is that it's not enough engine for the truck. You won't see that much fuel economy improvement over the V-10, and you'll work the 5.4 harder. F-150, fine, Superduty, no. What do you NEED a "3/4 ton" for? Hauling lots of weight in the back?

The new V-10s are supposed to be in the 14 m/g range now, and that's not bad for this size truck. Go with it, and you'll be in good shape with some room for growth.

OMC

chuckster57 · 05-07-2009, 05:30 PM

Granted it is a lightning with a super charger, but they SUCK to work on. I had to pull the drivers side head and the crap that had to come off the front and the TWO, yes I said 2 timing chains for the OHC's convinced me that I will only work on them NEVER own one. I was not impressed at all with the timing set up. $45.00 for one side head bolts ( torque to yield), and I won't say what the head set cost but it was over $300.00

acade · 05-07-2009, 06:15 PM

I like my 5.4, it gets the job done, although I don't haul loads over 10k lbs often, it still will pull itself out of a mud hole better than any of my buddy's rigs

akrewat · 05-08-2009, 08:09 AM

The 5.4 will do the job. Slowly, but it WILL do it. And keep doing it for a LONG LONG TIME.

As for the timing chains, well, at least they are chains and not belts. The chains (and the rest of the motor) usually last 200-300K miles before needing service.

Charlie98 · 05-09-2009, 12:23 AM

...in a truck that big? I don't know why Ford doesn't make the V-10 standard in the Super Duty. You'll have your foot so far into the gas you'll look like Fred Flintstone.

RatherBNtheWoods · 05-09-2009, 01:04 AM

I had a 5.4 in the old "light duty" body style F250 truck. I had to put 4.56 gears in it to tow a 12K lb 5er, but it ran 4000 RPM in drive(not over-drive) pulling that RV for most of the 100K miles I had it. And it ran and pulled just as hard at 100K as the day it came off the transport. Wasn't too happy with spark plug placement, as it took me most of a day to change plugs, but all in all it was a very capable truck. It could come up out of the river bottoms with a full load of wood, better than my current PSD dually.

FireZapper · 05-09-2009, 10:33 AM

It will do the job. Just not as easily as a diesel. 01 5.4 stock 4:10's 4" lift and 35's.

9-10 MPG towing, 10 around town and 11-12 on the open road.

fireguywtc · 05-09-2009, 01:40 PM

We just bought an 08 crewcab shortbed F250 for our volunteer FD with a 5.4. Seems to do pretty good, though we don't really use it for hard work. But a V10 would have been nicer.

If you are wondering why we bought a F250 instead of a F150 which would have done just fine, the F250 was cheaper then any other half ton we were quoted by $400.

akrewat · 05-10-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie98

...in a truck that big? I don't know why Ford doesn't make the V-10 standard in the Super Duty. You'll have your foot so far into the gas you'll look like Fred Flintstone.

The same thing could have been said about the old I6-300 straight 6.

And we all (should) know how that 300 did

Charlie98 · 05-10-2009, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akrewat

The same thing could have been said about the old I6-300 straight 6.

ohhh... that's an apples vs oranges comparison. The I-6 was simply a different motor.

My buddy I grew up with had a '70's era F250, lifted with 33's (his dad owned a tire store...

) on it and the I-6 with a 4-speed (IIRC), I used to give him crap because he would have to make an appointment to pass someone on a 2-lane road...

akrewat · 05-11-2009, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie98

My buddy I grew up with had a '70's era F250, lifted with 33's (his dad owned a tire store...

) on it and the I-6 with a 4-speed (IIRC), I used to give him crap because he would have to make an appointment to pass someone on a 2-lane road...

But how long did it keep TRYING to pass that other truck?

buck350 · 05-12-2009, 06:05 PM

Since 1999, I've had four V-10's and one 6.0 diesel. I need to hit myself in the head with a hammer for buying the 09 CC 5.4. Two mpg less than the 08 V-10 and a lot less balls.
Best, Buck

onefastmfn71 · 06-13-2009, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sljim

let me know what you think of the 5.4 in the a super cab 4x4 f250 don;t pull big loads but need a 3/4 t0n

I own a 2008 F-350, extended cab, long bed, 5.4, 4x4, auto, 4:10 gears. Previous truck was a F-250 with a 460/4:10 combo.

The 2008 only has 4500 miles on it, so break in is not complete. I'm getting 14.5 mpg(hand calculated) with the cruise set at 70 mph and 11+ around town. It has good off the line acceleration and passing at highway speeds is no problem.

In my opinion, the 5.4 needs 4:10 gears. I could not imagine liking this truck if it had 3:73's and if I was getting a crew cab I think it might be a wise choice to get the V-10. My truck is heavy and the CC is even worse.