What would you do? I have 2003 F250 4X4 extened cab with the 5.4L in it. It has around 65000 mile and I have had to replace the front rotors and pads at 37000 and shocks, then driver side ball joints at about 42000. I thought the rear main seal was leaking and changed that around 62000. Now it is at the dealer to fix what I thought was the same oil leaking from the rear main again, but have been told it is the driver side head gasket and that the head is fine but the block is not.$$$$$$$ So do I trade it off once fixed or keep drivin the gas guzzler. I only get at best 13 MPG. Anyone had these problems or am I just lucky????

 

What does the dealer have on the lot that you might be interested in? The main question you need to ask yourself and honestly answer is what can you afford right now. Replacing an engine or more payments for the next 2-6 years. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

curious how the dealership has determined the block is buggered..

have they actually pulled the head off ?

as for 13MPG, nothing u can buy new in a SD lineup will give much better then that with the current new emissions regs..

do you own the truck in question ???

if u do the repair bill once paid would be it, but a new truck would mean payments every month.. kinda look at it as a monthly "repair bill"... is ur current truck costing u anything like a monthly new truck payment ???

if ur old truck costs as much to own as something new/financed, then i'd be looking at a NEW truck and cut ur loss's.. BUT if ur current truck is more or less relaible (save for the odd breakdown) then i'd ride this repair cost out and see what happens...

p.s. either way u have to pony up for a repair on ur truck, as it wont be worth anything with a bad engine...

 

i deffanetly agree with the last post, i couldn't of said it better. if it is paid for keep it. i am in the same position with my truck it is costing me some money every now and then but still less than 3-500 a month on something else.

 

I don't think that truck likes you. You do your own maint?

 

My recommendations are:

1. Don't have the dealership do the repairs because you are going to pay too much. Find a local shop with a good reputation and you will save $$$.

2. If the estimated repair cost is $2,000 or more, then I would replace the engine with either a new OEM or remanufactured engine (Jasper). It's easier and cheaper to just replace the engine than to pay the labor hours to tear it down to the block.

Best success!

 

Man, 13mpg? I get between 9 & 11mpg in my 05 250 5.4. Of course after the superchips I do tend to have a lead foot. he he he

 

Yeah they have the head off, and the block is out .002 which is in service limits

 

Yes I do. Change oil every 3000, grease it, rotate the tires and just check things over all the time.

 

Is that why the EPA mandated "un-leaded" gasoline back in the 70's... to increase MPG's?

 

Any repair is less than the sales tax and registration on a new truck.
So if you like the truck and it suits your needs it is always worth fixing it and keeping it.
If you use it for buisness there might be some investment tax credits and new car tax credits worth looking in to, but it is still cheaper to keep her.

 

The company I work for has all SD's, most with 5.4's and avg. miles are upwards of 150k. Mine has 130k and no real issues so far. Hopefully you get it fixed and it gives you many trouble-free miles after that. Good luck!

 

...at .002 - I would tell them that a set of new Fel-Pro performance head gaskets would be fine, thank you!!! That tolerance is ridiculous in a mass produced item like a 5.4 SOHC engine and is virtually impossible to achieve in a USED engine that has seen temp variations from plus several hundred degrees down to minus many more

 

I had a 2002 f-150 with the 5.4 never had any trouble until one day on the way home (lucky on a couple miles) blown a spark plug out on the drivers side (factory plugs never been replaced) striped the threads, got it fixed and had new plugs put in and then a few months later blown another spark plug on the passenger side. That just give me a reason to trade for the f-250 psd that i had been wanting. At the time i still owed 2 years on the f-150, I got a good deal on trade i am only paying a little more a month and for only 2 more years for an 06 F-250. My sister on another note has a 03 F-250 5.4 FX4 and has never had any problems at all with 135,000 on it.

 

.002 off, and they are blaming the block? Are they smoking crack?

Tell them to put it back together and take your engine elsewhere. .002 inches is not only within tolerance, but it's often as close as you can get without some very expensive CNC milling equipment.