OK! I always see people on this forum comparing the 5.4 Ford and 5.7 Dodge V8s as far as racing and speeds, but how do the engines compare regarding hauling, towing, and as far as reliability and longevity? I'd prefer people who have towed or hauled in BOTH trucks with COMPARABLE loads. I've never hauled with either engine, but personally, after driving both, I found the Ford had much more response at lower RPMs, and was decent up higher. The Dodge had nothing down low, but after 2500 or 3000 RPMs it absolutely screamed. What do you guys think?

 

I would say the 5.7 hands down and i have never owned either. the 5.7 is the stronger motor and the gas guage shows it.

no replacement for displacement.

i am wondering what you mean by better. reliabilty? i would still say dodge. you better be prepared to take a hit at resale though.

 

Popular Hot Rodding had an article about the 5.7.

http://www.popularhotrodding.com/eng.../0403phr_hemi/

Long Rods, Windage tray, Cross bolt mains, high camshaft location, short push rods, beehive valve springs plus a lot more.

 

The most reliable gas engine has to be the Toyota 22R engine. It came in their pickups back in the 80's. A 4 banger that also saw industrial use in forklifts, stationary equipment, etc. And to survive in that environment the engine has to be reliable and durable. For pulling, nothing I have ever driven, (and I'm from the country and see lots of different rigs) pulls like an FE engine, primarily the 390. I have one in a 74 F-100 that when I hitch up I know that one of two things is going to happen. I am either going to pull the trailer, or I'm going to pull the tongue off of it. I have pulled as much as 20,000 lbs, trailer and load from the fields to the barns leaving ruts in the soil. It has never failed to move anything I can get a grip on.

 

our neighbors 350 chevy regular cab short bed has moved over 40k in wagons 4L does wonders. i have yet to see anyone get enough grip to stall out the smallest of motors in 4L.

 

just look at dyno sheets for the both of them. that will tell you about towing. as for reliability, they are both to new for anything major to happen, so only the future will tell which one is more reliable. as for MPG's, i have no idea.

 

I would say it's a toss up as far as pulling goes. The 5.4L has better low rpm power, so it will probably get a load moving from a stop better.

For instance, the 5.4L would be the better choice to pull a heavy boat out of the water on a boat launch.

The Hemi has better high rpm power so it would probably do better pulling a heavy load up a long grade.

Of course gearing and other factors come into to play when considering this stuff, so the engines aren't the only factors.

As far as reliability, the Hemi is still pretty new, so who knows how it will do in the long haul. The 5.4L is a proven workhorse, but the 3V introduces a lot of new parts.

I would tend to side with the 5.4L as far as reliability goes, but neither engine is old enough to tell for sure.

 

This is a ford site and you bring a toyota engine to the table. Hows about the 300? Many examples of 500k miles on an untouched engine. While were at it the 200 and 240 were also very good engines. If you see a ford truck from the 70s or early 80s thats about 5 different collors. Different doors, bed and hood. You can go ask him how many miles he has on his 300. But the topic was about the 5.7 or 5.4.

Ive driven a 5.7 but not a 5.4. Id pick the 5.4.

 

I would interject that the 5.4 is a proven engine considering fleet sales of F-250 XL work trucks with 5.4 engines. We don't see too many 5.7 Dodge work trucks - in fact, I haven't seen one.

 

My 2001 F-150 had the 5.4L 2 valve. I pulled our enclosed car trailer with a 4200 lb Crown Vic and was real impressed with it. My V-10 does it better, but it should.

The engine in that F-150 was not the reason I traded trucks. I was concerned as to what a 8800 lb trailer might be doing to the frame of that 1/2 ton, and the brakes sure weren't up to par with the drivetrain.

I have no experience with the 5.7L "Hemi". I would imagine that the somewhat soft low rpm torque would not be desirable if the truck was used to pull heavy loads on a regular basis.

 

Amen those FE's are the best. You cant kill em know matter how hard you try.

 

My uncles 300 6 has about 492,000 and it's still taking a beating on the ranch. As far as v8's go the 5.7 is my choice, But overall the Inline 6 is the most reliable

 

My job deals with lots of commercial trucks, and there are a lot of V10s and V8s in F250/350 trucks with over 250,000 miles.

As far as dodge goes, most around here have the cummins, since the V10 is gone from their lineup.

 

Not much experience with either, but as far as longevity I'd go with the 5.4. Its been under devlopment longer, so Ford has had alot more time to perfect it. I dont know about the newer ones, but the 94-01 were plagued with transmission problems, and a gutless 5.9. Maybe some of yall have owned successful Dodges but based on my experience Ford far surpasses Dodge in gas engine reliability. Highest mileage Ford engine I've ever seen was a 5.4 with 393,000. One replaced head gasket, I dont know if anything had been repaired on the transmission.....

 

The 5.4 hands down. My 5.4 will haul some serious you know what. The 5.7 may have better power numbers in the higher RPM range, but this is up after 4000 RPM. Who tows at that rate?? If Ford would get a little smarter, and put a 5 speed behind the 5.4, there would be no comparison IMO. Reliability? I have no experience with the "hemi" reliability, but the 5.4 is a very reliable motor, and durable as well.