Chevy guy looking for HONESTY
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Cary
I have a 2001 Super Crew 4x4 with the 5.4. I bought it with 104K miles, and now with 116K on the clock it still runs like a dream.
I just got home from a six day, (800 miles overall) camping trip in the mountains and have no complaints on how it performed while dragging around four guys, all our bikes, camping gear, etc. I have a snug-fitting camper shell, and got roughly 16 mpg overall. Not to bad for a 4WD truck this size.
After a year, my only complaint with the truck is that the bed is a little short. It's my opinion, but a truck this size should have a little bit longer bed. If you don't plan on hauling a bunch of stuff then you'll be fine. But, if your earlier trucks had full-sized beds, you might be a little dissapointed.
Another thing to consider - you said you're looking for something for the family. IIRR, starting with the the 2002 models, the super crews have headrests in the back seat. My son is still in his car seat so it's not a concern for me now, but once he's tall enough, I'll have to either swap in a later model seat with the headrests, or get another truck.
All this being said, I'd still buy another one.
I just got home from a six day, (800 miles overall) camping trip in the mountains and have no complaints on how it performed while dragging around four guys, all our bikes, camping gear, etc. I have a snug-fitting camper shell, and got roughly 16 mpg overall. Not to bad for a 4WD truck this size.
After a year, my only complaint with the truck is that the bed is a little short. It's my opinion, but a truck this size should have a little bit longer bed. If you don't plan on hauling a bunch of stuff then you'll be fine. But, if your earlier trucks had full-sized beds, you might be a little dissapointed.
Another thing to consider - you said you're looking for something for the family. IIRR, starting with the the 2002 models, the super crews have headrests in the back seat. My son is still in his car seat so it's not a concern for me now, but once he's tall enough, I'll have to either swap in a later model seat with the headrests, or get another truck.
All this being said, I'd still buy another one.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,117
Likes: 8
From: Over Yonder, MN
I bought my 01’ Super Crew about 2 years ago with 60,000 ish miles, it now has about 83,000. The 5.4 was really the only choice for me being that I pull frequently. I find that in town it could use a little more spunk sometimes, but I think that’s because I had been driving 5.8 broncos. On the highway though it does impress me runs nice and smooth with plenty of power for what I need. I recently completed an 800 mile round trip, half pulling an empty flat bed aluminum trailer, the other half with an 00’ explorer loaded on and it def didn’t want to speed up, or slow down for that matter but once you were there it would stay there with ease. In my 2 years the only thing it’s needed that I wouldn’t classify as regular maintenance is a power steering pump. oh, and I get an honest 12mpg around town.
New User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Gainesville
4.6 Upgrades
I have put a cold air intake on my 4.6. I could not feel any power at the floor, but the gas milage went up around 2-3 mpg. Also added a dual chamber flow master and dual exhaust. Combined with the intake you can feel more get up and go at the red lights. Granted I drive my truck faster than most truck drivers, I don't get beat on take off much at a practice tree (Red Light). I also add some octane boost or some sort of addative about every other fillup. It may not do much, but atleast I think it does. I have 137K miles on my bad boy and she runs like a scalded dog.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 2
From: Southeast FLA
I would not buy a 1997 and up Ford F150 truck again. While the 4.6 goes 200k miles, the 4.6 is remarkably poor on gas in many of our trucks (some it isn't, most it is - most 5.4's get the SAME miles per gallon as the 4.6's, so there is something wrong here...)
The truck is, and this is from a person coming off of a 1993, a good many steps backward in common-sense design, quality, and reliability. Sure, my engine will go 200k, but everything else will fall apart or fail before 110k... Quite honestly, bud, I am looking back toward GM (even after giving up on them after the 1980's trash), and I am very curious about their new small V-8's - and their trucks overall.
The truck is, and this is from a person coming off of a 1993, a good many steps backward in common-sense design, quality, and reliability. Sure, my engine will go 200k, but everything else will fall apart or fail before 110k... Quite honestly, bud, I am looking back toward GM (even after giving up on them after the 1980's trash), and I am very curious about their new small V-8's - and their trucks overall.
Last edited by GammaDriver; Apr 6, 2006 at 06:50 PM.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
I have to agree with Gamma in a lot of ways, disagree in others. Are they good reliabel trucks? yes. Do they have problems? Yes. Do chevy Trucks have problems? Yes. Wait until you get to put a few $500 fuel pumps in the chevy and you begin to wonder how good they are. They all have problems. I agree that ford stepped back from the Mid nineties trucks in performance and reliability. I love the 5.8 power, not so fond of the Gas mileage. The 5.4 is a little weaker but better mileage and leaps and bounds better emissions. Unfortunately the government emissions standards speak louder to Manufactures than consumers can. I would not hesitate to own either Ford or chevy, I just grew up a Ford man so here I lay.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Saratoga USA
basecamp- The 2003 2V 5.4 is rated at 260 HP, 350 lb-ft torque. Which 351 in a mid-ninetes truck was rated that high? I seem to remember the 5.8 was about 170 or so HP stock. In my experience the 5.4 is a lot stonger than a stock 5.8 from the mid-nineties.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Holland,MI
Thanks for all the replies and comments. Wednesday night I bought a 2001 red Supercrew XLT. It has the 5.4, 6 disc cd changer, all power options and a sliding rear window. The truck was a one owner and has 132,000 miles on it, but looks, runs, and drives like new. I'm sure I will have more questions for you guys in the future about some mechanical things. I'm anxiuos for the weekend so I can visit some friends and show it off!
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
What ever the horsepower ratings betweeen the 5.8 was rated at 210, Which is considerably lower than the 5.4, but I owned a 95 F150 extended cab with the 5.8 and now I own a 2002 Screw with the 5.4. The old 5.8 could pull circles around my new Screw. The Screw gets better mileage by a little but nothing to brag about. The only complaint I have with my 02 Screw is the power, I love everything else about it.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
From: Midland, TX
4.6 driveability
I have had my 97 F150 since February 1997. I bought it used with 13K on it and went about adding some things to it since I drove lots of highway miles. I changed to a larger tire, added true dual exhausts with Series 40 Flowmasters, K&N airfilters, and added a snugtop. My gas mileage went up between 2 & 3 mpg's, depending on how heavy my foot was. Now don't get me wrong it will not set any speed records, but it sures sounds and feels like it could. It currently has 163,000 miles on it and the only thing that has gone wrong was EGR and throttle body clogging at about 100k, but after cleaning it has run like a top. Changing the sparkplugs was a little hairy due to space. I also have a 5.4L 2000 Expy that is much better for towing, but I would not trade either one because of the reliability that I have had with both.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 223
Likes: 1
From: Long Island
Originally Posted by GammaDriver
I would not buy a 1997 and up Ford F150 truck again. While the 4.6 goes 200k miles, the 4.6 is remarkably poor on gas in many of our trucks (some it isn't, most it is - most 5.4's get the SAME miles per gallon as the 4.6's, so there is something wrong here...)
The truck is, and this is from a person coming off of a 1993, a good many steps backward in common-sense design, quality, and reliability. Sure, my engine will go 200k, but everything else will fall apart or fail before 110k...
The truck is, and this is from a person coming off of a 1993, a good many steps backward in common-sense design, quality, and reliability. Sure, my engine will go 200k, but everything else will fall apart or fail before 110k...
Than I bought a Ford. A new '89 E-150 FI 351 3 speed auto. Always started, never left me stranded. Except for an exhaust leak and an A/C leak near 100,000 miles never cost anything but routine maint. And a lot of gas. Never got over 14 MPG Highway.Sold it in 2000 still running strong.
My '98 4.6 4R70W gets 16+ to 18+ Hwy MPG. Always starts, gets me where I'm going. After adding 50,000+ miles never needed anything but a fan clutch replaced under Ford warrantee. "Ford Tough" yeah... Ford reliable... ABSOlutly!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
From: mississauga
GJH, I'm into this thread a little late, but, I bought a truck very similar to yours last Aug.
I'd been a chryco fan all my life, but a buddy with an f250 crew and the v10 turned me to Ford trucks. I haven't been disappointed, coming off a Jeep Grand Limited with the 5.2 v8 and all wheel drive. Why they called them SUV's is beyond me, there's nothing utility about them.
I've been a Cop for 32 yrs. and I've driven every high performance Police Special they put together and while nothing beats the Chryco Big Blocks of the 70's for absolute power, but my 5.4 does not disappoint. Especially when you compare the 8 mpg to my current 17-20 mpg.
I'd been a chryco fan all my life, but a buddy with an f250 crew and the v10 turned me to Ford trucks. I haven't been disappointed, coming off a Jeep Grand Limited with the 5.2 v8 and all wheel drive. Why they called them SUV's is beyond me, there's nothing utility about them.
I've been a Cop for 32 yrs. and I've driven every high performance Police Special they put together and while nothing beats the Chryco Big Blocks of the 70's for absolute power, but my 5.4 does not disappoint. Especially when you compare the 8 mpg to my current 17-20 mpg.
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 295
Likes: 2
From: Ringgold GA.
Congratulations GJH! I curently own an '02 supercrew 5.4l fx4 and love it! My last truck was a '98 F-150 4.6l. It had 136,000mi. when I sold it and still ran strong. I added a K&N drop in filter and cat back dual exhaust with no mufflers to my s-crew and it added a little get up and go and a lot more impressive exhaust note! Hopefully you will be as pleased with yours as I have been with mine. As mentioned before, be careful about hoseing down the engine when cleaning up your truck. I have heard more than a few times that the coil on plug set up our 5.4's have are not too fond of water. Good luck and welcome to the Ford and FTE family!