4.6L 2000 Exp Under Powered?
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From: Nashville
4.6L 2000 Exp Under Powered?
Hey guys, Just wanted to get your feelings on this matter.
I purchased a 2000 expedition from Thrifty Rental Car a couple years back. The wife drives it all the time..not me.
This is my beef. It really feels under powered. When driving down the highway with a couple kids in the car..... its shifting in and out of over drive on the smallest hill driving me nuts. Its always kind of performed this way. It is a 4WD and I always assumed that that was the way it was supposed to drive.
Last week I drove a ford extended van from our office with 8 big dudes in the vehicle. The van had a 4.6 with 240K mile on it and performed head and shoulders above my expedition.
The only mods performed on exp.are a flowmaster force 4 cat back exhaust and a K&N cold air intake.
Any words of advice.
John Richards
Johndr1984@comcast.net
I purchased a 2000 expedition from Thrifty Rental Car a couple years back. The wife drives it all the time..not me.
This is my beef. It really feels under powered. When driving down the highway with a couple kids in the car..... its shifting in and out of over drive on the smallest hill driving me nuts. Its always kind of performed this way. It is a 4WD and I always assumed that that was the way it was supposed to drive.
Last week I drove a ford extended van from our office with 8 big dudes in the vehicle. The van had a 4.6 with 240K mile on it and performed head and shoulders above my expedition.
The only mods performed on exp.are a flowmaster force 4 cat back exhaust and a K&N cold air intake.
Any words of advice.
John Richards
Johndr1984@comcast.net
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From: Nashville
Thanks for feedback
I'm really surprized if this is the case on all 4.6 exps.
Sure I have owned the truck for 3 years but the driveablility really sucks.
I was almost wondering if the trans might be operating in AWD/4WD all the time. It feels that bad.
Do you think disconnecting the neg termimal for 20 minutes then reconnecting it could help the computer to relearn the shifting characteristics?
JohnR
Sure I have owned the truck for 3 years but the driveablility really sucks.
I was almost wondering if the trans might be operating in AWD/4WD all the time. It feels that bad.
Do you think disconnecting the neg termimal for 20 minutes then reconnecting it could help the computer to relearn the shifting characteristics?
JohnR
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From: Jersey Shore on the Right
John, Did you disconnect the battery after installing the K&N and the FlowMaster? That's a recommended step. I can't see where disconnecting can do any harm at this point. Disconnecting for 5 minutes should do it. If all the dash gauges pin when you start, you know the computer reset. While the computers is re-learning, drive normally or perhaps conservatively. Trying searching on this forum, not sure under what words, that's how I learned. I also have a 4.6L and wish I'd bought the 5.4. Gas mileage is crap even after the same mods as your Expy, I'd rather have the power. I also do not use cruise control unless it's totally flat - darned thing shifts up and down constantly with it on.
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Just to chime in here. I had a 98 Expy with the 4.6L. It was a 4x4. I also felt it was under powered. I would not keep a constant speed with the cruise control on and it would always be hunting for the correct gear. Don't get me wrong, the car performed flawlessly for me while I had it. I just felt it was a little underpowered. I traded it in 02 for a 02 V-10 4x4 Excursion. Now let me tell ya. That V-10 is a great engine...
Just my .02...
Big Rig
Just my .02...
Big Rig
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I have a '99 Expy 4.6 4x4 with the tallest gearing available for that model (3.55) and the tallest factory tires (265/70-R17). I also live near the Pocono Mountains, which means that if I'm not driving uphill, it's because I'm driving downhill. So basically, I'm driving the heaviest, tallest geared 4.6 4x4 Expy made that year in very hilly terrain. Results? It's not a rocket. When I approach a decent hill, I hit the O/D lockout button, which limits gear hunting. Ditto on long interstate hills. It's not the end of the world, and the 4.6 has only asked for an IAC and spark plug wires in 85,000 miles of driving, including rutting it around in snow and mud. I'd love about 100 ft/lbs. more of torque, which would eliminate any power issues, but all told, it's been a great vehicle and a very decent engine that would have been perfect if the Expy was 1,000 lbs. lighter.
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From: Woodbridge, VA
Underpower
I have a 02 XLT 4x4 and I too think that it is underpowered. I just took it to be because of the awd. I have read about taking the fuze out of the 104 slot under the hood. Will that help with the power or not?
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Joe Kucinski
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From: Wichita, Kansas
You are experiencing what all of us 4.6L owners have. Why in God's name Ford would put a small V8 in a big SUV is beyond me. I have had to chip, intake and soon exhaust my 4.6L just to get it respectable. If I get the choice again, I will definitely get one with the 5.4L.
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From: Nashville
Thanks for feedback guys
I guess that confirms my assumption that its not powered as stongly as I would prefer and its not a mechanical failure of some type.
I'll try disconnecting the battery to reset computer.
I have Flowmaster installed and Complete K&N
I've heard that a chip will only make marginal difference in acceleration.
I'll just with the big engine next time.
Maybe I should put the wifes ride on the bottle....just kidding
Thanks
JohnR
I'll try disconnecting the battery to reset computer.
I have Flowmaster installed and Complete K&N
I've heard that a chip will only make marginal difference in acceleration.
I'll just with the big engine next time.
Maybe I should put the wifes ride on the bottle....just kidding
Thanks
JohnR
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From: Fishkill, NY
I have 2000 Expy, 4.6L. I agree, it's a bit of a dog and likes to play the cruise control hoochie-coochie up hills. It too override the overdrive on ascents.
But wait! I'm confused. What is all this talk about it "learning"? What's the deal? I bought the truck used this past November - been great so far. Should I maybe disconnect the battery terminal and do something to it like read it a book?
But wait! I'm confused. What is all this talk about it "learning"? What's the deal? I bought the truck used this past November - been great so far. Should I maybe disconnect the battery terminal and do something to it like read it a book?
Postmaster
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From: OK
We had a '97 4x4 w/4.6L engine and 3.55 gears. Had K&N FIPK, true duals, synthetic fluids and a Superchip. The single best mod, however, was installing 4.10 gears.
IMO, Ford was playing with CAFE by using the 4.6 & relatively high gearing. Get some lower gears so the engine's RPMs are up in the power band and you'll be quite happy with the 'little' 4.6L engine. Of course, with a 4x4, you need front and rear gears changed.
IMO, Ford was playing with CAFE by using the 4.6 & relatively high gearing. Get some lower gears so the engine's RPMs are up in the power band and you'll be quite happy with the 'little' 4.6L engine. Of course, with a 4x4, you need front and rear gears changed.
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I have had my '01 since new and have always felt it was underpowered. Since I plan on keeping it a while I am going to put on headers and a new exhaust as well as a supercharger in the future. This should get it up to around 350-375 horsepower-were it should have been to start with...
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Toyota only has a 4.7L engine in thier much over-rated Tundra....I feel it too is underpowered. Otherwise though a decent truck, although on a lift you begin to see major differences in Ford vs Toyota.....like the hitch for example is very whimpy on the tundra.
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it seems Ford gets decent power out of their 4.6 Mustangs all though they are not as efficient as GM's LS1 (sorry guys). I wonder what the difference is between the Mustang and the truck. I know weight plays a major part but all of that to the side, my truck was only rated at about 220 horsepower from the factory. Thats 47.8 horsepower per liter. My acura Intergra makes 200 horsepower from a 1.8, thats 111.11 per liter. My point: Ford left a lot on the table when they released this enigne. It is probably capable of making considerably more and this is why I am supercharging in the future.