Hello all,
Im looking to upgrade my mazda b4000 99 4x4. I have a budget of around $10k. I have been looking at all sorts of trucks, would really like a 4 door super cab type truck. Currently I am looking at this truck -


2004 (not so good of a year I understand)
Ford F150 FX4 Supercrew
4.6L Gas V8
171k miles (best Ive found for around $10k)
1 original owner
Clean Car Fax
Car fax shows regular maintenance from the dealer every 3-5k miles for the life of the vehicle.


My worry is the year and that this particular year has the most problems. Particularly the Cam Phaser Issue. Does this issue occur on the 4.6L or mostly on the 5.4L?


Any other issues I should look for?


Should I run away... far away?


Its a very nice looking truck, leather, red color, need to have 4x4 (its a must)


I am hopefully going to go to the dealer this weekend and check out the vehicle. Again if there is anything anyone can think of that I should look for please advise. Thanks for your help!

 

No phasers on the 4.6. You will be good

 

Oh Cool. Thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure about that because on some of the cam phaser youtube videos I watched it said they apply to both the 4.6 and the 5.4L engines. (after a bit more reading looks like its only the 2009 4.6L this applies to)


Are there any other issues I should watch out for that you can think of off the top of your head?


Anyone else own one of these vehicles?

 

The 4.6 and 5.4 2 valve engines have a history of blowing spark plugs out but this seems less common in the 4.6 probably because of less power and therefore less explosive force in the combustion chambers.

There are helicoil-type kits to repair the threads these days but in years past Ford wanted to put in new heads. Be careful changing plugs to not undertorque (loose plugs will shoot out) or overtorque (rip out threads). Otherwise the 4.6 is a good engine.

Only the 3-valve 4.6 used in later years has the cam phasers.

George

 

The 4.6 heads were redesigned with more threads for the plugs(in 03 IIRC). So the 04+ 4.6 2 valve is not nearly as likely to blow plugs out. Of course any engine will if they are not properly installed.

 

Well so it seems that for my purposes it seems like the 4.6L v8 is the way to go. I don't plan on hauling any more then what I can fit in the bed of the truck. I want something that will be very reliable in the price range im looking at and this engine seems to be it from what I have read and can tell. My mazda b4000 has had a good run but I worry about it giving up the ghost any time now. If anyone thinks of anything else let me know. Thanks!