[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

 

[fddriver2]

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

 

[OMCUSNR]

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]

I just finished working on one

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]

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]

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]

...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]

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]

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]

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]

...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 :ford:

 

[Charlie98]

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... :thumbsup: ) 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... :lol:

 

[akrewat]

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

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

:jester:

 

[buck350]

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]

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.

 

[Pappy19]

If you do go with a 5.4 Super Duty, you'll need the 4.33 gears, otherwise the 4.10 will be marginal. I don't think you can get a SD/5.4 combo with 3.73's, only in a F-150, which is a fine combo, but not in a SD. As was said, the V-10 is a great match with a Super Duty, and the standard 4.10 is my choice for all around use. If you tow heavy, the 4.33/V-10 is a hoss.

 

[jgillott]

If you do go with a 5.4 Super Duty, you'll need the 4.33 gears, otherwise the 4.10 will be marginal. I don't think you can get a SD/5.4 combo with 3.73's, only in a F-150, which is a fine combo, but not in a SD. As was said, the V-10 is a great match with a Super Duty, and the standard 4.10 is my choice for all around use. If you tow heavy, the 4.33/V-10 is a hoss.

My wife and I looked at a couple '09 Crew Cab long beds 4x4's at our local dealer and one of them was a 5.4L auto with 3.73's.

 

[HughJazz]

My '05 has the 6 spd, 5.4 with 3:73 gears.

It is fine. Gets around 17 mpg, and hauls around 1000 lb in the back all the time.

For all the people who think the 5.4 doesn't belong in a sd truck,,,,
try driving one before you start hating.

460 engine hp rating 1984.......214hp. 362 ft/lb
460 enginehp RATING 1998....245 395ft/lb
v10 engine hp 1999-2004....310 425ft/lb
3v 5.4 engine hp rating ...........300 hp 365ft/lb


nobody calls a 2000 v10 a dog...
nobody calls the 460 a dog... it's in your mind.

In the old days the 460 was THE work horse in the one ton trucks.

The 3v 5.4 kicks the living hell out of them.



unless you tow heavy, the v10 is wasted gas...

even a 3 mpg diffrence between them adds up. (more likely 4 or 5 mpg)

the v10 is definitly the gas engine to buy if you NEED the power. (maybe get better mileage when towing too)
but if you don't work it hard that often. the 5.4 imo is the better choice. doing rough calculations @ $4/gallon
The 5.4 would be at least $10'000 cheaper to drive over the life of the truck.. not chump change

 

[Pappy19]

Nicely said and good comparisons. With the 6-speed manual you can grab a gear when you need it alot better than an automatic. I am an automatic fan and if I was going with a 5.4, I would want the 4.30 gears.

 

[HughJazz]

yeah, i agree with the gears.
although I think a 5.4 can only get a 3:73 or 4:10 ratio:thdown:


I bought used or I would have gotten the 4:10 axles.
even if I had a 2wd I'd consider the 4:30 swap.

From all the research I've done, the triton motors do not use very much extra fuel with a higher gear set.

having said all that. I have never really had a need for more power. I even swapped in a set of 20" takeoff tires from a new f350 which measure 34.5" tall.

I came from a '89 n/a diesel though. packing 170 angry clydesdales.:lol:
so I know what it's like to have a shortage of power.

my 5.4 feels like a ferrari