The 5.4 in my F150 is underpowered IMO. Definitely V10 or diesel for the X.

Mike

 

The V10 Ex LTD weights in at 7200 pounds. I get about 10 to 11 mpg in suburban driving and can make 14-16 at a steady 70 on a level interatate. I would imagine a 5.4 Ex could not get out of it's own way.

 

We are looking at getting an X but wanted a Diesel and are very hard pressed to even find one we like that has it. I keep moving away from the V10 do to the thought of having to feed the thing all the time. I found one I really like and it has a 8" Lift and 37" tires but no idea what gears are in it as its at a dealer. Its a V10 Im guessing its going to get about 9 miles per gallon ??

If it was a Diesel and I happen to find one with a Diesel what is the Milage Difference between a V10 and it??

 

Hey shipchips, what gear you runnin?

 

i have the 2003 xltd 4x4 5.4 triton gas. I have owned it since new and NEVER had any issues with it. It has 163k miles on it. It burns no oil, hauls anything I ask it to and gets 18 mpg highway/12 city. I drive annually from Montana to Colorado high country, climbing several steep passes each direction and I am the one passing everyone else on the left on the way up. This truck is a beast from go! Cargo space of a van, pulling power, 4x4 off-roading, carrying the soccer team around town and cheaper fuel - can't go wrong.

 

What gear ratio does yours have?
In SoCal diesel is cheaper than reg gas.

 

Right now it is, but I remember a couple years ago it was over the price of premium. Buying a 7.3 Ex, at least around here, is gonna run several thousand more than a gas one; enough to buy tens of thousands of miles of gasoline.

The only Expedition I've driven more than around the block was a 4.6. Fine as a family car to run around town in, but throw a trailer and some luggage in and it struggled badly. Comparing with my friend's '04 F-150 4x4 with the 5.4 and the loads I hauled with it, I think that motor would do fine in an Ex unless you needed to pull big weight or had major hills to contend with.

As for the gearing talked much about previously in this thread, which is an oldie resurrected in case nobody noticed: Lower gears definitely help get a load moving, but once up to speed they'll mostly just dictate what gear you can hold with the transmission. I bought my '99 F-350 SD CC 4x4 V-10 off my friend. He got it with 37" tires and stock 4:30 gears. He then had it changed to 5:13. On the highway where it used to drop to 2nd on some hills it now drops to 3rd and where it only dropped to 3rd it now usually stays in 4th. Off the line acceleration and off-road driving is night & day better with the lower gears. Without them I don't think towing my beast of a boat would be an option, but it's probably more than the truck should be pulling regardless how it's geared. Having to take off up hill with the boat on is murder and there's some spots I think it wouldn't have moved with the 4:30s. I'm hoping to get the boat to a scale today, but my guess is around 12k.

Edit: Got it weighed, 12,660. That's with very little gas and without all the stuff we normally load for a trip. Loaded up for a trip the combination would easily hit 21,000 Lbs., quite a bit for a gas truck on 37" tires.

 

The 5.4 is a great motor for a F150. I couldn't imagine it in a full size chassis though.


Between the 5.4 and the 6.8 I would go with the 6.8 all day long. However, if this was going to be a daily driver, I may look into diesel, just for the fuel mileage.

 

I own a 2000 5.4 Gas all stock. I can tell you that this thing certainly isn't the fastest. However after moving a house full of furniture I can certainly said it has enough power. Just don't expect to tow a yatch or building.


2000 Excursion 5.4

 

I have 3 V10 excursions, and if I found a 4x4 excursion with a 5.4L motor I would love to buy it.

The V10 is hard to modify because of parts availability and it's configuration is odd.

The 5.4L 2V is heavily supported and can easilly surpass the oem torque output of a V10 if your willing to spend some cash.

For about $3000 trick flow will send a set of heads and new cams ground to do what you want and that package will add about 100 hp to motor.

Or you could drop in a 2V 5.4 lightning supercharged motor with 380 hp and 450 ft lbs. With very little modifications.

 

Diesel fuel mileage is better, but the maintenance costs are higher, there's a trade off there.

 

The diesels are good but they were made pre-ultra low sulfur regulations.

Odds are the most diesels left have not had enough lubrication in fuel to support the high sulfur injectors/fuel system.

So, prepare for fuel related issues.

So, yes high maintenence costs and repair costs.

With the cost difference between 5.4L and V10 I would be all in with 5.4L as if stock I think they came with 4.10 gears.

Add 4.56 or 5.13 gears and the 5.4 will do everything a V10 will.

I just like tinkering and a 5.4L is more tinkerable.

 

Hey whoa what do they have for my v10?
i woulda bought trick flow stuff to add 100hp to my v10

 

Yah, me too.
But as I said the V10 is not supported in the aftermarket like the 5.4L.

Than again 100 hp at 5000 rpm may not translate into usable torque at 2500 rpm.

I would prefer the 5.4 lightning option. It would have usable torque at 2500 rpm.

I have see used lightning motors on ebay going from $1500 to $6000 depending on condition. Complete from oil pan to top of supercharger.

 

Just bought a 2004 5.4 v8 excursion 4x4 XLT with trailer breaks thinking it could tow near 11,000ibs(thanks to a quick google search, and the vehicle looking taken care of with 220,000 miles) to tow a travel trailer full time. After seeing everyone saying to get the v10 I've been second guessing my choice, because I'm planning on going into the high rockies from time to time. Still unsure what it's towing capacity is, because I've found answers from 5,000 to 11,000. 7,200 is what it says in the 2004 fleet guide for a 4x4 5.4 v8 excursion and I'd like to trust that (assuming that's standard) My bumper says max trailer weight 5,000(perhaps replaced, but looks flawless) and searching the vehicle on google has given me 11,000+10,500. The trailer I'm looking at buying is less than 4,000ibs so I'm not too worried, just amazed at how difficult it is to find accurate info on it.