Ford 5.4L motors

[mbryson]

My wife has come back to reality about buying an Xterra and has decided on something with a F*rd 5.4L (an older Navigator is what she's thinking). I know those have a good reputation for the most part (speaking more to the 5.4L than the Lincoln). Does anyone have any experience with one? I know RockMonkey smoked a bearing on one, but I think that had some miles on it if I remember right.

I am a little concerned about all the gadgetry in the Lincoln, but whatever

 

[Tacoma]

I've only kind of messed with the 4.6, and it was spooky but made reasonable sense. But that's not really helpful to you... unless you need to know that it has a bunch of aftermarket support and I have some Hot Rod's with nice articles about new cams???

 

[Chevycrew]

I got tired of replacing heads on the 4.6l and 5.4l engines when I worked in a repair shop in boise.
Even our good used junk yard engines for replacements had bad heads as well.
On top of that, they are a pain to reach anything, half the motor is under the windshield.



But this is just what I dealt with, you may have much better luck.

 

[mbryson]

I got tired of replacing heads on the 4.6l and 5.4l engines when I worked in a repair shop in boise.
Even our good used junk yard engines for replacements had bad heads as well.
On top of that, they are a pain to reach anything, half the motor is under the windshield.



But this is just what I dealt with, you may have much better luck.

Was that the same kind of issues V10s had with the spark plugs or something else? I think the V10s had that fixed by 2001?

 

[Devel]

have fun retorqueing the spark plugs every 30k they have a tendancy of spitting plugs

 

[gijohn40]

I have a 98 Expedition with 215,000 miles on it.. and not much problems... then I parked it for awhile... now it runs really ruff... find that the 4 o2 sensors are all bad and the mass airflow sensor as well... I have replaced all the o2 a few times now... it was a strong running engine with plenty of power... I have 4.56 gears in my expedition with 35 inch tires...

Like has been mentioned the engine sits halfway under the windshield... and the spark plugs are all on top of the heads with what they call "cops" (coil on top of plugs) which when you go to replace the spark plugs you need to be really careful with cause they damage easy... I paid the stealership $200 to replace the plugs for me...

If you can get a newer 5.4 with the 3 valves they seem to have alot more power then the older ones...

Also if you need an engine exchange... your looking at about $2900-3700 depending on who you call... seems the no one carries them and they are a pain to swap out...

Any more questions call me...
John
307-679-1275

 

[Chevycrew]

Was that the same kind of issues V10s had with the spark plugs or something else? I think the V10s had that fixed by 2001?

This was more of head problems themselves, valves, seats, gaskets, warping...

It wasnt a huge thing, but we saw 5-10 trucks within the year I was there. It was only a 3 man shop so we didnt have huge numbers of rigs going through.



I do also know of people who have great luck with them, so who knows.

 

[Robert T]

My wifes is a 01 and we havn't had much trouble with it at all, we use it to tow and travel in. we had a leak with the intake but it was a easy fix

 

[Kiel]

I see the stripped spark plugs about once amonth at a freinds shop. He can re thread them though

 

[BCGPER]

Traitor, that's all I got to say........


The spark plug failures are over exaggerated (less than 1/10 of 1%), so I really wouldn't worry about that. I would worry about minor electrical nuisances similar to what you've had in yours though. I've had minor gremlins like that in both my V-10's. None of them serious, but still a pain.

I'd still go the GM route if I needed the Mega-kid hauler though.

 

[mbryson]

Traitor, that's all I got to say........


The spark plug failures are over exaggerated (less than 1/10 of 1%), so I really wouldn't worry about that. I would worry about minor electrical nuisances similar to what you've had in yours though. I've had minor gremlins like that in both my V-10's. None of them serious, but still a pain.

I'd still go the GM route if I needed the Mega-kid hauler though.

Despite my masculine wiles, I've been unsuccessful in selling the Tahoe or Yukon.

 

[BCGPER]

Show her an Escalade, she'll never know the difference.

 

[Bear T]

I had a 2000 f150 with the 5.4, this was back when I was horrible about maintenance, and it was a really good truck, decent milage, abou 16 mpg. great ride, and the motor was smooth, it left a lot to be desired when you put a trailer on the back though.

 

[sixb]

I drive a 01 f150 5.4 cng & so far trouble free.

 

[mbryson]

Show her an Escalade, she'll never know the difference.

They're a little spendy? Mucho more than the Lincoln

 

[gijohn40]

one other thing I forgot... the bolts that hold the exhaust manifold have a tendency to break... specially the rear ones...

 

[GOAT]

have fun retorqueing the spark plugs every 30k they have a tendancy of spitting plugs

you are incorrect.

My wife has come back to reality about buying an Xterra and has decided on something with a F*rd 5.4L (an older Navigator is what she's thinking). I know those have a good reputation for the most part (speaking more to the 5.4L than the Lincoln). Does anyone have any experience with one? I know RockMonkey smoked a bearing on one, but I think that had some miles on it if I remember right.

I am a little concerned about all the gadgetry in the Lincoln, but whatever

Depending on the year NAVI, you may end up with a 32V DOHC 5.4. Totally different motor than the expedition/f150 SOHC 5.4. The DOHC have a good amount of power. We sell a decent amount of them, and in all they are pretty reliable. The 32v can be a little picky when it comes to fuel and can require midgrade/premium to prevent preignition. The only thing I remember servicing over the last 7 years is the airbag suspension system and the occasional rear blend door. She may also consider the smaller aviator. Either way, I say go for it.



for reference:
http://www.carmax.com/enUS/search-r...+240+9&Q=fbed2750-a8a2-4bf8-8de5-55404bade6e7

http://www.carmax.com/enUS/search-r...+240+9&Q=fbed2750-a8a2-4bf8-8de5-55404bade6e7

 

[Lka1988]

The 5.4L does have a tendency to spit out spark plugs. My family's got an F150 with the 5.4, it spit one out last year. Got it fixed with something called a Helicoil. Pretty cool.

Other than that, it's a good motor. A loaded-with-girls 5.4L F150 SuperCrew, with a shell, WILL outrun a similar-year Dodge Cummins. Ask me how I know...

 

[jsudar]

176k on my 97 F150 and no problems. The DOHC 32V 5.4l in the Lincoln are good motors, and don't have the spark plug issues.

If you are careful when you change the spark plugs and don't use a cheater bar when you put the new ones in, you will probably not have any problems with them. I was a tech at a Ford dealer and I've done a million tune-ups on 5.4l's with no problems.

The Navigators do have a lot more electronic junk that can go bad and it's usually not cheap to replace. Put her in a Expedition with the Lariat trim

 

[mbryson]

.....Put her in a Expedition with the Lariat trim

Good idea, but "they're not quite what I'm after" (quote from the spouse)