I have a 2006 4x4 super cab XLT. It has 3:73 gears and is a gas hog. I do 80% highway driving and I average 12-13 MPG's.

 

IMHO, both the 5.0 & ecoboost are still having minor issues to be worked out in these applications.......although it is costing you a little in gas, you are way ahead $ wise with the low mileage of running that truck for a few more years! IMHO, I would not consider a 5.0 or Ecoboost until they are at the end of year 3 production...by then anything that will happen will be resolved with the drivtrains....including tranny, driveshaft issues, etc.

 

Thanks man I appreciate your reply. I get what you're saying. With it being my only vehicle I need something that is going to be dependable and get me back and forth to work. I heard they were having some issues with the EB but I haven't heard much on the 5.0. I'll have to do some research and educate myself a little more.

 

got a scab 4x4 eco with 3.73's and getting 18-19 sometimes 22

 

I would say something is wrong. 12-13 highway sucks on an '06 F-150.

 

Yeah, you'd think something was wrong. I do have taller tires on it, but not enough to make much of a difference. Its well maintained. There's nothing wrong with it. But I've owned it for 2 years and the most I have ever got from it was 15 on a trip.

Its probably time for new plugs, which is going to be a pain...but other than that I don't know why. I don't drive it hard either. Its not like I mash the pedal when I take off.

 

I had an '04 with 3.55s and averaged 17 highway. My brother (a ford dealer tech) has an '04 FX4 with 3.73s and averages about the same. He also likes the 5.4 better than the 5.0, but I have no experience with the 5.0. How much taller are your tires from stock? It only takes two inches to screw up your gearing, and sometimes an inch will do it. There are many other variables to consider. It's not uncommon to need new plugs at your mileage... and I highly recommend them anyways. At 75,000 miles, mine were shot and the engine started missing. The earlier you get them factory plugs out, the better chance you have at getting them out without breaking them.

 

The tires that are on it are a little over 34" so I would say thats at least 2 inches, but the mileage was bad beforehand. Why did your brother say he liked the 5.4 better? I don't have any issues with the engine. Its plenty enough power for what I need.

I intend to change the plugs early spring. I'm not looking forward to it though. I do have the plug removal tool though in case I need it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

 

I would say that your gearing is definitely off running 34" tires. Making the engine work harder will suck more fuel. As for the mileage before the tire swap, that's a head scratcher.

Good thing you have the removal tool, it will most likely be needed. The plugs really aren't as bad as most people make it out to be, it can just be time consuming removing the broken plugs. Once you figure out the removal tool, you'll agree.

I still believe re-gearing will help your fuel mileage... but in your situation I think I would upgrade to the newer truck if the money isn't a problem. My brother thinks that the 5.4 puts out more power than than the 5.0. I personally think he is a little biased simply because that is what he owns.

My '12 is a wonderful truck and much nicer in every way than my '04 was. More room, power, fuel mileage, and features.

I can understand the concern about the early production of the EB/5.0 and supposedly the 2014s will have the next generation EcoBoost motors... not sure but I imagine the 5.0 will be updated as well. Something to think about.

It all boils down to what feels better to you. If it were me and I could afford it... I would upgrade ASAP.

 

I wouldn't be worried about by a 2013 with a 5.0. I have a 2013 XLT 4x4 Screw with 3.55 and I'm averaging 15.9 mpg for the first 4,200 miles. I drive about 50/50 city highway. So far I have been happy with the 5.0. You need to run the numbers to see what your breakeven point is as far as the mpg improvement vs. additional cost of the new truck.

 

with the 5.0- drivshaft & oil burning issues

 

When I decided it was time to change the plugs (2006 Mark LT 4x2, 5.4, 35,000 miles) with the Motorcraft SP 515’s. Although I knew about the carbon build-up/plug removal issue, I decided not to change the plugs until there was a replacement plug that I was comfortable with…meaning I knew it was a good quality plug in terms of component design and construction. Although I did follow the most recent TSB, I also relied on my experience back in the 1970’s when aluminum heads & intake manifolds were just entering the street scene and never-seize did not exist. Here are the exceptions to the TSB that I did…
1.I ran Lucas fuel injection cleaner, mixed at 3 times their recommendation in 1 full tank of gasoline. Purpose…if I was lucky, it would dissolve or loosen any carbon buildup (although many do a real fuel injection cleaning also- and it is probably a best practice to do if you have more than 45-50,000 miles on the plugs)
2. Although I am a fan of PB Blaster, I used a product called ChemSearch “Yield”. The issue I have with using carb cleaner is the lack of lubrication…..in the old days of removing steel plugs from aluminum heads, we use to mix up acetone & ATF…or of we needed more lubrication, kerosene & ATF, “Yield” provides this lubrication- much better IMHO than even PB Blaster.
3. Yes, I put anti-seize on the plug threads (I know the TSB says not to)
4. Of course…a lot of patience, I really doubt if I ever put more than 20-25 lbs of force during removal (purposefully)
The end result, only one plug even “squeaked” coming out (but it basically unscrewed like a regular plug- literally). Plug #4 was initially a little stubborn, but after the second try, then waiting about 30 minutes, it came out with very little effort…just kept wiggling the plugs (tightening/loosening) by 1/8th or even less of a turn- and they all came out without a single one breaking or any issue really. Another technique that can definitely be used is to loosen the plugs about 1/8 of a turn, start the engine for about 30 seconds to 1 minute- this allows the flame to travel up around the plug to burn off the carbon, let cool, then remove with the process I previously described.
As far as using an air ratchet, I can understand the theory of “shocking” the carbon loose, but I have also seen and experienced in my younger days some real disasters.
Actual working time: 2 hours…..including washing my hands, total time was 5 hours.
FYI- Why I choose Motorcraft.
In the 1970’s I ran (like many) Champion’s in just about everything (even had the gold palladiums), but stopped in the early 1980’s when they changed their copper-core design and the resulting quality problems that IMHO still exist today. Since then I have run Splitfire (non-platinum) in my old world (1960’s) cars, Bosch in my late 1990’s vehicles (both because the cylinder head design really prefers these types of plugs), but I really had hesitation because of the construction/component quality of the non-Motorcraft plugs and really questioned the durability in this application about the Motorcraft SP508 or SP 509’s which are single platinum. Given the types of loads and burn/flame promulgation rates in the chambers, I really had doubts about the style of the plug with single platinum having the ability to “survive” as long as they engineers said. What do ya know…the SP 515’s are double platinum.

 

Mixed


Mostly Highway


Thats my 2012 Super Crew with stock everything, 5.0 and 3.31 gears

 

The 5.0 is a monster compared to ANY 5.4 I have ever owned or driven. Not even close. I have a 12 FX4 with 5.0. Summer beach trip yielded 21.9 mpg when driving in the south (flat) and ended the trip back to WV at 20.6. That was coming through mountains coming back. Winter driving including remote starting every morning and running with zero regard to fuel mileage is high 14's low 15's. Summer average is high 16's low 17's. My drive is mixed rural and interstate and it is flat nowhere. My wife has an 08 Expedition with the 300hp 5.4, 6 speed, and 3.31 gears. It consistently averages 2 mpg less and although it runs well, an impromptu acceleration run up an interstate ramp had the 5.0 putting at least 3 truck lengths from 20 mph to 75 mph. Both of us trying. As a matter of fact punching the truck at 20 mph brought a drop to 1st gear, wheelhop, and traction control kicking in. On top of that, the Expy drops a gear on any incline on the highway. Granted the gears are different between the 2. But at nowhere in the powerband does it feel like it has any more zip than the 5.0. As you can tell, I love my truck. I have zero issues including the mentioned oil burning issues or driveshaft issue someone mentioned. Absolutely trouble free period. As a matter of fact my 5.4's and V10's used more oil between changes than the 5.0. I have had 2 5.4 2v's, 2 V10 2v's, and now 1 5.4 3V. All great motors. But simply in my opinion no comparison to the 5.0.

 

I have a 2012 5.0 with zero issues. Was getting 17-18 mpg when it was stock. I now get 13 city, 15.5 highway with the lift and tires. Been a great truck so far. Just passed 33k miles today. Came out of an 09 fx4 5.4 and never looked back.