2011 Ford F-150 Engine: 5.0-liter four valve dual overhead camshaft Ti-VCT V8

Thanks to its introduction in the 2011 Ford Mustang GT, few engines in recent automotive history have been more anticipated than the return of the Ford 5.0L V8.  The 5.0L received much of its popularity due to its success in the Mustang but the 5.0L V8 was a mainstay in the F150 and for 2011, the 5.0L V8 is back under the hood of the Ford F-series pickups.  The 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 found in the 2011 Ford F150 is based on the five liter engine from the new Mustang GT but it has received a spread of modifications to help the engine perform better for truck use and stand up to the added abuse.  These efforts allow the 2011 Ford F150 powered by the new 5.0L V8 to make 360 horsepower and 380lb-ft of torque, giving the truck a maximum towing capacity of 9,800 pounds.

The 2011 F150’s 5.0L V8 starts with a high strength aluminum block featuring cross bolted main bearing caps and thicker bearing bulkheads ““ helping the engine to deal with prolonged truck-type abuse.  Like the 2011 Mustang GT, the new F150 uses a twin independent variable camshaft timing system mated to a dual overhead camshaft setup featuring F150-specific intake camshafts with a shorter valve duration.  The Ti-VCT system works with the revised camshaft to help the new 5.0 produce the low end torque needed for towing and hauling while still offering “class leading fuel economy for an entry level V8″.  No actual fuel economy numbers have been issued for the truck application of the new 5.0L V8 but we can expect those numbers later this year.

Next, an oil cooling system was added specifically for the 2011 F150, helping to expand the recommended oil change interval to an impressive 10,000 miles.  Oil-squirting piston cooling jets have been added to this new engine, spraying the underside of the pistons with a fine mist of engine oil to help reduce temperatures ““ helping the engine to stay cooler and last longer under the rigors of truck use.

Finally, the 5.0L V8 serving as the entry-level V8 for the 2011 Ford F150 is E85 compatible so if you want to save some money at the pump, the less expensive E85 can be used although it should be noted that running on E85 generally accounts for significantly worse fuel economy.