Thinking of buying a new truck with a 5.0L motor and have been driving 5.4s for many years. Is there any noticeable difference in passing acceleration or towing power between these or pretty much the same beast?

Better mileage?

 

I drove a 2011 for about 5 day while my 2009 was being serviced. I have a 5.4 and drove a 5.0. I did not notice very much difference at all. A little more punch with the 5.0, but not a lot. Mileage was very similar if not a little less than mine. I do have higher gears than the 2011 I drove. I did not do any towing. I can't imagine much difference.

 

i have had 2 5.4s. 05 and 09. I test drove a 5.0 a few weeks ago and i think it would blow the 5.4 away. my 09 is a fx4 with 3.73 and the 5.0 i drove was a plat. 4x4 with 3.73s. So the gearing was the same. I noticed a big difference in power.

one more thing. The exhaust on the 5.0 sounds so much better than the 5.4.

 

Traded an '06 5.4 for an '11 5.0 and , in my opinion, the difference is VERY noticeable. The 5.0 sounds better, it's got a lot more punch when you hit the go pedal AND, it's averaging 5+mpg better around town than the 5.4 was. Take one for a drive and see what you think, I'm betting you'll be impressed.

 

If you really want a difference, then go for the 6.2L. My previous was a 2008 FX4 with the 5.4...now I have a 2011 Lariat with the 6.2. It is simply in another league. The 6.2L hauls *** in a big way. No other gas driven truck on the road compares...

 

The difference between the 5.4 and the 5.0 is minimal. The 5.0 will give you slightly better mileage, maybe 1 to 1.5 mpg better. The power of the 5.0 is better ONLY when you jump hard on the go pedal. Around town driving, especially if you drive conservatively, the 5.0 is a dog. The short of this is, I would rather have my 07 Lariat over my 11 FX4.

But like all Ford trucks out there, regardless of powertrain, it will do what you need it to do, period.

 

It depends what you are comparing. The Ecoboost is quicker from 0-60 and in the 1/4 mile. But of course there are other things you could compare that the 6.2 may be better at.

 

I just ordered a 5.0L FX4 Supercab last weekend. I test drove a 5.0L an Ecoboost and 6.2L. And for me ''personally'' the 5.0L was THE engine for me. The Ecoboost felt like a no frills appliance to me ''no offense to any Ecoboost owners'' and the 6.2L was far to excessive for my needs both in power and fuel consumption...Even the 5.0L is excessive for my needs in the power department, but It gets better mileage than the 6.2L and personally I had more fun driving the 5.0L than the Ecoboost, so it was really a no brainer for me.

I've driven many 5.4L's over the past 5 or so years...Ranging from the old 2valve 260hp 5.4L's to the 300hp 3valve's in the 2004-2008 models and even a couple of 310hp versions in the 2009-2010 models. Of all of those listed the 310hp 09-10 model would waste any of the others in a race and was also the superior towing machine when compared to the older models...But that's mostly attributed to the fact that it was the only one offered with a 6-speed auto vs the others 4-speed auto. My biggest complaint against the 5.4L's were that they had minimal mid/high range power...Sure they were punchy down in the low RPM's...But as soon as you crested past 2500 RPM or so they started ******* out in my experience, even with the very helpful 6-speed auto they weren't particularly fast.

The 5.0L on the other hand seems to be a much better balance of power...I personally felt the 5.0L I test drove had equal to or slightly more low end power than a simierly equipped 6-speed auto 5.4L but the 5.0L carries threw its power much better than the 5.4L. Now I admit I HATE having to revv my engines...I personally try never to go past 3,000RPM's as it helps reduce wear and tear on parts and keeps fuel consumption down. To me personally the 5.0L felt very strong around town, I didn't get the doggish feeling from it that I had gotten from the 5.4L. I felt as though the 5.0L never needed to down shift for anything as the power I demanded of it for getting ahead of someone at a red-light or passing slow moving traffic was always on demand, So naturally I felt very comfortable driving the 5.0L as I felt It did not have to work hard to push the weight of the F-150. The 5.4L to me felt as though it were taxed pushing the weight of the truck...Much less towing a trailer. By comparison though, I have a friend who owns a 2007 Dodge Ram Hemi 4x4. His truck could fairly easily beat a UN modded 5.4L F-150. As much as I hate to admit it...In a race the 5.4L was no match for the Hemi. A 4x4 5.0L on the other hand, will dust his Hemi fairly easily. So if that's any indication of how the 5.0L compares to the 5.4L. Not to mention the 5.0L will get better mileage than a simierly equipped 5.4L

Of course one thing to keep in mind is that I am coming out of a 2003 Ford Ranger 3.0L V6 that I have been driving on a daily basis for the past 3-1/2 years. And it doesn't take much of an engine at all to make the 3.0L Ranger feel like an absolute pig by comparison. But all and all...I think the 5.0L is a far superior engine to the 5.4L The only real question mark still left hanging is long term reliablity...As I have seen many 5.4L's go well past 300,000 miles...If the 5.0L can do the same then it becomes the clear champion. But we won't know the answer to that question for another few years at least...But I am very confident in the 5.0L, I think it'll be just as reliable as it as a great performer.

Here's a couple of links for you, one of them compares a 2009 5.4L to the compatition...Chevy,Dodge,Toyota...etc. The Second link is a road test of a very simierly equipped 5.0L, And you can cherry pick the data all you want out of these but I'll post the basics up for you. If you'll notice in this report...The 2009 Chevy Silverado with the 6.2L V8 which was the fastest of the 2008 shootout ran a 7.04 second 0-60 and a 15.52 1/4 mile compared to the 2011 F-150 5.0L's 7.1 second 0-60 and 15.53 1/4 mile. That's another strong indaction of how strong the 5.0L really is. The fact that it can run with GM's preimer 403hp V8 engine and out run Toyota's suberb 5.7L I-Force V8 says alot...It also suggjest that Ford might actually be sandbagging the numbers on the 5.0L and it might be producing more than its 360hp and 380lb/ft of torque suggjest. I have heard of some people gustimating the 5.0L to actually be prodcuing closer to 390hp and 400 lb/ft of torque at the Crank.

(2009 5.4L)
Quarter-mile Drag (Unloaded) - PickupTrucks.com Special Reports

(2011 5.0L)
Road Test Review: 2011 Ford F-150 XLT 5.0-liter V-8 - PickupTrucks.com News

2009 F-150 Crew Cab 4x4 5.4L 6-speed auto.

0-60 = 8.9 seconds
1/4 mile = 16.9 seconds

2011 Ford F-150 Crew Cab 4x4 5.0L 6-speed auto.

0-60 = 7.1 seconds
1/4 mile = 15.5 seconds

2009 Chevrolet Silverado Crew Cab 4x4 6.2L 6-speed auto. (Quickest of 2008 1/2 ton shootout)
0-60 = 7.0 seconds
1/4 mile = 15.5 seconds

 

Being that I currently have one of those 260 hp 2v 5.4's with a 4 spd trans I am leaning toward a new '12 F150 5.0. Reviews like this have me drooling. lol

 

Do u have any numbers for the 5.7 L tundra I am leaning towards trying one the next time around??

 

The Tundra tied the 5.0L F-150 with a 7.1 second 0-60 but fell a little behinde in the 1/4 mile with a 15.68 time.

Hope this helps.

 

Thanx it does am still just in the talking phase, haven't owned any truck but a ford for past 30 yrs and my 04 5.4 is the worst one I have ever had so just kind of looking around, wifehas a 03 camry with 100k never been in shop except for routine maint. so I think the tundra drive train is as good as any ford not sure if the rest is as tough though??

 

Big difference in frame rigidity. Follow a Tundra down a bumpy washboard road......looks like a hula dancer's butt shaking and twisting.

 

Ah I can't honestly say...Personally I like Older Toyotas better myself. I've never been a fan of the new Toyota Cars and Trucks. To me personally they just feel like appliance's and not really cars. But to each his own! I do know that the Tundra 5.7L hooked up their 6-speed auto is a very supurb engine/transmission setup and for the past few years they have really been top of the 1/2 ton class in that respect. But either way, I'm sorry to hear that you're 2004 5.4L didn't work out well for you. I personally have had nothing but the best experience with Fords. But I hope that you get what makes you happy, because in the end...You know you've made the righ choice if it puts a smile on your face!

And as mentioned above I do know that Ford has a superior frame and chassis setup and that's an even bigger plus now that they have the new competitive engines to go with it. But as a I said, to each his own, get what makes you happy! My advice is to test drive any new truck you might be considering Ford/Toyota/Dodge...etc...etc. And see which ever fits you best.

Anyway best of Luck!

Nate.

 

Thanx for the info Nate, I will do some test driving when I get ready to make a move, part of my ford problem I should have waited for a year or so on the new engines I got caught in the spark plug and cam phaser issue would like a 5.0 but will wait and see if any isues pop up am also a little concerned with the EPAS not sure it it will be tough enough for a4X4 truck time will tell... Thanx again..