2008 5.4
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1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2024
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2008 5.4
Have been looking at a few 08 5.4’s was wondering anyone’s experience with them as far as reliability. I hear maintenance is key. Note the truck will not get used to tow more than 5000lb I will use my diesel for that. Primarily looking to get this to keep miles off my other truck. Truck may end up getting a plow put on for winter.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 304
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From: Northern California
I bought an '08 Expedition EL 4x4(back in 2010) with the 5.4 3V. Bought it at 20K miles and ran it to 90K miles with zero issues before I sold it. Changed oil every 5K miles and it did everything I wanted. Plenty of power for that application (plus it had a 6 speed auto).
But, as you’re probably learning, there's potential for catastrophic failures and a lot of anxiety around that motor. If this is for a Super Duty, I'd rather pay extra and get a V10. It's a 16 year old truck and both reliability and drive-ability(power) are in the V10's favor. Also, mpg won't be that much different between the two.
But, as you’re probably learning, there's potential for catastrophic failures and a lot of anxiety around that motor. If this is for a Super Duty, I'd rather pay extra and get a V10. It's a 16 year old truck and both reliability and drive-ability(power) are in the V10's favor. Also, mpg won't be that much different between the two.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
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As said above, the 5.4 can be a good motor - my FIL had a '99 F150 with the 5.4, and my wife had an '08 Expedition with the 5.4, both of which got 100k on them with no issues.
However, cam phasers can be an issue on certain ones, and while they should be all weeded out by now there was also an issue with stripped spark plug hole threads in the aluminum heads.
The biggest thing to understand about they 5.4 in Super Duties is that it doesn't have a ton of low-end torque to move that heavy truck - it's got to spin up in RPMs to get to its torque peak. A LOT of people don't understand that and gave the 5.4 its unwarranted reputation as a doggy motor - though in the lighter half-ton platforms it shines. It'll scream all day at 3k+ RPMs and never have an issue.
If you can spend just a little bit more, in 2010 Ford introduced the 6.2 gasser, which had more power and has been proven to be a pretty reliable motor.
However, cam phasers can be an issue on certain ones, and while they should be all weeded out by now there was also an issue with stripped spark plug hole threads in the aluminum heads.
The biggest thing to understand about they 5.4 in Super Duties is that it doesn't have a ton of low-end torque to move that heavy truck - it's got to spin up in RPMs to get to its torque peak. A LOT of people don't understand that and gave the 5.4 its unwarranted reputation as a doggy motor - though in the lighter half-ton platforms it shines. It'll scream all day at 3k+ RPMs and never have an issue.
If you can spend just a little bit more, in 2010 Ford introduced the 6.2 gasser, which had more power and has been proven to be a pretty reliable motor.
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