I am looking at a 2006 F250 with the 5.4L.
I've heard people say to stay away from the 5.4L, but didn't say why?
Are the 5.4L in the 2006 models prone to problems?
Trucks got 160,000 miles on it, looks decent, seems to run good?
What's up with the 5.4L and was it certain years that had problems. ?

 

They scared me to with all the bad posts on line about it --it has spark plug issues and cam phazer issues..but not every single one...the guys on here helped me make my choice and I to just bought one....2008 f250 5.4. so we shall see - I said a prayer and bought mine...but then again Im a minister...lol

 

Pastor , thank you for your reply.
I am a baptist, I smiled when I read your post.
I hate to think, I have to say a prayer when I look at these trucks, and pray I get one that's not a Lemon...
I had a 2000 F250 with the 7.3 years ago, it had issues, nickel and dime me to death, glow plugs, glow plug relays, cam position sensors, then the computer went out,, that is what did it for me. I then went to a Chevy truck, 2003 6.0L, it was a decent truck, zero mechanical issues, but the thing rusted to the ground. I kept this truck for years and just recently sold it. I now have a 2000 shortbed regular cab chevy 4x4 that is my beat around truck.. again zero mechanical problems, but this thing is rusted to the ground. I loved the F250 body and how well built the body is,, if they would put a chevy drive train in a Ford, it would be awesome...but they don't.
I had thought about a Dodge with the Hemi, but I have seen several of these with the bed rusted off them.
The F250 is my favorite and the 06 body years are my favorite.
I don't want a diesel, due to the Massive expense if the engine needs repair, and my price range, I would have to by a 6.0L diesel years, which I have heard nothing but bad about unless you "bullet proof" them.
Were ALL the 5.4L engines bad, or just certain years?

 

None of the 5.4 engines were bad, The early years were light on the spark plug threads so caution was needed when changing plugs. When they went to the 3V the first year or two had a 2 piece plug which tended to break when changing plugs but again once they were replaced there were no more issues. Along with the 3V came the cam phazers which seam to be a little bit of a headache but once again a maintenance item. The 5.4 is a great engine and when compared to the cost that can be incurred when owning a diesel is a great choice if you not doing a lot of heavy towing. I tow a 10,000 pound 5th wheel all over the country and my little 5.4 has never let down.

 

We had a pastor at our deer lease years ago that spent the night out there all by himself. Helluva nice guy but we let him have it when he admitted having a 38 next to him all night....

 

Hey dear friend - My Church is basically a Baptist Church - we changed our name to Bible...but that aside ..you sound like me about a month ago..I was searching for a truck and loved the look of the Ford. had a 88 f150 best truck I ever owned. So i went shopping and found allot of 5.4s out there. was excited but then I made the mistake of googling 5.4 engines..wow you would think that every single one is garbage ..it scared me so much that I said no way..so I started looking for other engines and then I found this site..now you would think that a Ford Forum would give the greatest warnings but no.. So i was confused as this 5.4 is either the worst engine ever made of a good engine with some things to keep and eye on..So like a good Pastor I prayed and looked for the facts.. called some friends mechanics / contractors who have allot of experience with the 5.4 .. My contractor friend said he loved all 3 of his and my mechanic friend said- yes there is some issues but I would still buy one..so the advice I got and followed was this..buy the newest one you can..get the plugs changed and upgraded to the Ford or Champion upgrades and for the Cam Phasers the most important thing is clean oil/Ford only filter/ Synthetic oil changed often.. So I bought one just a few weeks ago..2008 f250... I made the dealer change the plugs as part of the deal as they broke 3 plugs in the upgrade..they said it would have been a $1000 tuneup at least thats what the bill was. And I changed the oil again with Mobil One 5w20 Ford filter and will change it every 2000 just to be safe. Now can I have the 2 issues ? Yeah but I feel i did my best to research /ask questions / and not believe all the hype as this last election showed us..oh and most of all I prayed for wisdom and a good engine..Thats my 2 cents..Pastor Scott

 

Well, I have both a 5.4 and a 6.0 and neither has been the "BIG" headache that they are rumored to be. Both are '06's CCSB 4x and run well. Do I miss my 460 and 390? Yes and no. The only real reason that I got the 6.0 was that WHERE/WHEN I was towing my 10,000 lb travel trailer, I was having to have the exhaust manifold leaks done annually. 100*+ and 6%+ grades were not nice on the 5.4. If I had driven it a little more gently I may have had fewer issues, but I had similar ones with the 460 too.

My wife now drives the 5.4 and has had no complaints.

 

The truck I am looking at is a 2006 F250 with the 5.4L engine.
Does the 2006 have the two piece spark plugs and the light spark plug threads? This truck has 160,000 and was wondering how much life is left. It was a fleet truck and was since new. It looks to be well maintained, but it was bought at auction, so I really don't know the history.
I'd like to here your thoughts... Mostly looking for a truck to do light hauling, and for the 4x4 in the winter. My price range is less than $10,000.
I love the F250, had several rusty Silverados, never owned a Dodge...
Really like the F250's.

 

At 160,000 I would really hope that the plugs have already been done so you should have no worrys there and as far as the threads that is not a issue in 2006.

 

My 2004 F-150 just turned 550,000 miles today. Original engine and drivetrain. Change the oil every 5000 miles and drive it daily.

 

Amen and God bless those 5.4s out there...yep we drive by faith...
And to the 38 story..I have owned one to..and a 357, and a 270 and a 9mm. Gun totting Bible Carrying, Flag waving Christian,,,

Pastor Scott

 

I have a 2007 with a 5.4L, right around 110k miles.

2 piece spark plugs - replace them with one piece, problem solved.

Other issues:

Cam phaser - can cause issues. Keep after your maintenance. Replace the phaser when it starts to make noise. Not a bad idea to replace timing chains when you replace phaser. Not a huge job, videos on Youtube will show you how.

Exhaust manifold - cracking exhaust manifolds (especially the passenger side) are fairly common. Exhaust manifold stud issues that plagued earlier Triton engines was solved in 3V engines.

Aside from that, these engines are a very well kept secret. Mine has never let me down, has always done what was asked, pulled way way more than Ford says it can pull, hauled way more than Ford said it can haul, all without any drama.