What did you get for mileage on that old 95 5.8L, Pip1525? And what are you getting on your 09? I got 16.4 mpg on the highway with my old 95 5.8L and 9-10 pulling my enclosed car hauler. I get 9.5 to 10.3 towing the same trailer and 16.8 to 17.5 on the highway with my 06 5.4L. But I could not go much faster than 60 mph with the 95 and the 06 does the speed limit on the interstate towing without a problem. Both trucks are XLT EC 4x4.

 

The 95' with the 5.8 was in the neighborhood of 10 to 11mpg. I'm right around 18.6mpg with the 09' 5.4L. Far as pulling my boat, with the 09' it downshifts to 5th gear and will maintain the speed limit in cruise over the mountains and I still have more to give it if I want. Just seems this 5.4 pulls better then my 5.8. Granted 14 years difference in technology, too.

I think the 5.8 was better off the line then this 5.4L. But seems the power curve for the 5.4 is better in top end, if that makes sense. No scientific data to prove anything, just my opinion.

 

The power curve is better on the 5.4L. It's amazing what great engine management systems can do for a vehicle. My 5.4L is much better off the line than the old 5.8L was. It's probably because I have an SCT x3 programmer with custom tunes. The throttle response and shift strategies are great with the programmer. Fuel economy is about the same with or without programmer.

 

Not to get too much off the subject, but I owned a new 86 Mustang 5.0 with 5 speed manual and 4.11 positrac rear end. It just screamed! Smoked those fat tires all day long!!!

 

IT AIN"T NO 460 or 390!!! Its a strong solid motor my only complaint is the fuel economy and you need to rev it high to get max power. I think it was a pretty good truck engine

 

I have a '10 screw, 5.4, 3.55, 20's. Couldn't be more pleased. While I don't need even the power i've got, I do come from the "more is better" school. My driving pattern seldom takes me over 3,000 rpm, very few forays above 4,000. I have wondered if the 5.4 (365 lb/ft @ 3,500) might suit me better than the 5.0 (380 lb/ft @ 4,250). As much as I lean towards another 45 hp with the 5.0, I do wonder if the 5.4 might have more grunt at low rpm.

Others that do more towing than I certainly would want the 5.0. Me, not so much.

Guess I'm ready for a light diesel F150 in my old age.

 

Having owned both, I guarantee the 5.0 has more bottom end torque.

 

From Smedley123 - Having owned both, I guarantee the 5.0 has more bottom end torque.

Ouch....now I have something else to wish for!!!

 

Even though I just bought a new ecoboost I don't think you can beat the reliability of the later Gen 5.4's the spark plug throwing probs are gone in the newer ones...we just turned 500000 trouble free kms in our 08 work truck

 

Mine is a 2010 KR with the 5.4 and 3.55 and seems to do the job nicely. Could have waited for the 2011 5.0 or the Ecoboost, but the 10K off the sticker made that decision easy. My trailer full is about 4,000 pounds and I rarely drive over 80 MPH on the interstates so the engine is plenty for me and very smooth. I have 13,000 miles on the truck and the "lie-O-meter has me at 18.1 over all MPG. I suspect the real truth is about 17 and for 10K off the sticker, it will take a long, long time to make up the difference in savings at the pump.