I would like some opinions on the 1998-2005 V-8's vs V-6's.
Just sold my F-350 crew 7.3 PowerStroke now looking for a F-150.
Question: How do the V-6's compare to the V-8's as to fuel economy and pulling power, if driven as stock ?

 

I can't say 100% for sure in a Ford, but I had an '05 Dodge Ram that I chose with a V6 instead of an 8. I thought it would give better fuel economy. I was WRONG! The bottom line was that the V6 just didn't have enough power to lug the heavy truck around like it needed to be (no hauling done at all and I'm a very light driver). The Fuel Economy might be a wash between the two in a Ford, but for pulling power, don't even consider a 6.

 

Get one with a 5.4
Way more torque!

You wont be happy with a V6 after driving a powerstroke.

 

Don't waste your time or money just get the 5.4 and start from there should you ever get a mod bug.

Besides the overall mileage between 4.6 and 5.4 are virtually nill in the real world.
The V6 isn't worth the hassle.

 

The main one I'm looking at is the 4.6. I haven't seen a 5.4 in anything I can afford.
I have dropped the V-6's from the search.

Thanks

 

4.6 isn't maintenance friendly from what I have seen in my short owner ship but I'm used to older trucks 77 78 F250 era.

 

If you are going to do alot of trailering with cars on the trailer, Id get the 5.4. the 4.6 will do the job, but the torque converter will unlock alot and downshift more.............the V6 will do a bit better on gas and it can do the job, but you have to watch how you drive because if you dont, you will be in 3rd most of the time.

 

i have driven and pulled with a 7.3, a 5.8 and i currently own a 03 with a 4.6, these were all stock engines, the 7.3 is way more powerful so i wouldn't even use that as a comparison, the 5.8 had 308 gears and had limited power, my 4.6 has355 gears and a 5 speed and out pulls the 5.8 hands down with alot less strain, i would stick with 3.55 or 3.73 gears and go with either engine but if you are going to do alot of pulling i would go with the 5.4 but also keep in mind the weight of the truck,heres a little comparison, the wife has a 05 silverado with a 5.3 with 3.73 gears and my 4.6 has a noticeable amount of more pulling power but hers is almost 1000 lbs heavier than mine.

 

I have gotta put in my .02 here..After having 2 of the V-6 packages,Ive never been let down.I had a 97 XL LWB Automatic and drove the wheels off of it.Now I have an 07 with the same package,and love it.
Now...to the downside.
As stated in an earlier post, This engine is taking on alot pulling a full size truck.My economy averages around 18-19 in town using my scanguage II as a "heavy foot deterrent".I typically drive like the old fart I am.
Towing isnt great,but can be done.Pulled a U-Haul car trailer with a Honda CRV up from Louisianna to Memphis,and while VERY stable, economy bit the dust(as expected) and Overdrive was out of the question.
After reading up on some of the Plug,and cam Phaser issues on the V-8 engines,Im VERY content to keep my little V-6....

 

That's kinda like comparing a boat to an airplane...

 

may be, but vehicle weight is someting a lot of people overlook and besides hes not flying or taking a cruise.

 

Well a better caparison would be a 5.4 in an Expedition and a 5.4 in a single cab pickup with a short bed!
You cant compare a chevy to a Ford.
Chevy puts car motors in there trucks and Ford puts Truck motors in there trucks.
Ford is built for torque and Chevy is built for power.
That is why your little 4.6 will out pull your wife's 5.3!

 

<O</O<O</O
<O</OI've owned all three. The V6 with a five speed 2 wheel drive did get a couple MPG better than the V8s, but it was a reg cab stripped version, both V8's were extended cab 4X4's with an automatic. <O</OThe V6 did OK, I pulled a 3,500 lb boat, and while the truck itself had no problem with it, it wasn't a power house.

<O</OBoth V8's did fine, with the 5.4 being more powerful as expected, mileage between the V8s is the same.

<O</OI drive for living, about 50,000 miles a year, in the beginning I would buy a 6 with 2 wheel drive to improve the MPG. After owning several vehicles (all brands) with combinations of fully loaded, stripped, 2wd, 4wd, auto, 5 speed, V8, V6, in line 6, extended cad, reg cab, SUV, PU, etc, I learned that the over all cost for the year wasn't very different, a few hundred bucks at the most. I drive on the highway 90% of the time, fill up at one gas station and drive until its empty and fill it up again, the best I get on the highway with any of them is 21 mpg, the worst is 18. So in ideal conditions there has been a maximum of 3MPG difference from a 2wd, V6, 5 speed stripped shortbed, to a fully loaded V8 4x4 extended cab.

<O</OYou can do the math on gas prices and how many miles you drive in a year.

<O</ONow I just buy the biggest engine in a fully loaded 4x4 even if economy is a major concern. To me the difference in fuel costs between the vehicles isn't enough to steer me towards the supposed econo versions of these rigs.<O</O

 

I've owned both. I owned a customized 2001 with a 5.4 litre V8 automatic. Now I own a 1999 with a bone stock 4.2 litre V6 5spd manual. Since I had the V8 modded, reprogrammed, coldair intaked, custom exhausted, etc, etc and the V6 is stock it was no comparison power wise. If I kept my foot out of it, which I rarely did mpg it was unbelievably close, about 17 mpg each on the highway. With that being said the 6 with a manual does a more than adequate job towing with decent acceleration. If you do a lot of city driving the V6 gets the nod, gas mileage stay 15-16 and V8 can drop to 11 or 12.

 

I find a modular to be FAR more maintenance friendly than the older pushrod engines.
JL