5.4L in an Excursion - good enough?
Cross-Country
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Just outside Chicago, IL
Originally Posted by NKENN
No, it is not a V-10. I don't try to drag race the Ex. I just drive it normally. The 5.4 has sufficient low end torque to do any job I have needed to do with it. It is a great truck and, as you know, they don't make them anymore so I am taking very good care of it. I don't abuse it, it has 124K on the clock and I hope to get three times that before I have to do any major work on it.
I'm going to stop now. I must be the only one that doesn't get it. I'm sorry if I'm queering anyone's 5.4 sales here. I was just offering my insight.
I "feel" the load when I have even one passenger in my X. So I guess I just don't get it.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 445
Likes: 6
From: Montoursville, PA
You can get as many miles as you want out of any car, provided you are willing to take the major repairs that go along with them.
Even on the Dodge Cummins trucks with 1 million miles on them with the original engine, they've been through 5-10 transmissions, probably 3-5 front end rebuilds, and probably 3-5 differentials, transfer cases, and other driveline components. And that's assuming that every rebuild was done properly with OEM parts.
With a 5.4 or a V10 in an Excursion I think that expecting over 300,000 on the original motor is being pretty hopeful. There are Town Cars and Crown Vics out there with well over 400,000 miles on their 4.6s, but those cars put a much lower load on their engines than the 5.4s or V10s get, especially when towing.
Good luck, though, whichever engine you get.
I am personally expecting 200,000 out of mine before I hit any major problems, except for perhaps a transmission, but I am hoping that lasts as the truck gets minimal towing.
Even on the Dodge Cummins trucks with 1 million miles on them with the original engine, they've been through 5-10 transmissions, probably 3-5 front end rebuilds, and probably 3-5 differentials, transfer cases, and other driveline components. And that's assuming that every rebuild was done properly with OEM parts.
With a 5.4 or a V10 in an Excursion I think that expecting over 300,000 on the original motor is being pretty hopeful. There are Town Cars and Crown Vics out there with well over 400,000 miles on their 4.6s, but those cars put a much lower load on their engines than the 5.4s or V10s get, especially when towing.
Good luck, though, whichever engine you get.
I am personally expecting 200,000 out of mine before I hit any major problems, except for perhaps a transmission, but I am hoping that lasts as the truck gets minimal towing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 9
From: Ohio
Originally Posted by FordCrusherGT
You can get as many miles as you want out of any car, provided you are willing to take the major repairs that go along with them.
Even on the Dodge Cummins trucks with 1 million miles on them with the original engine, they've been through 5-10 transmissions, probably 3-5 front end rebuilds, and probably 3-5 differentials, transfer cases, and other driveline components. And that's assuming that every rebuild was done properly with OEM parts.
With a 5.4 or a V10 in an Excursion I think that expecting over 300,000 on the original motor is being pretty hopeful. There are Town Cars and Crown Vics out there with well over 400,000 miles on their 4.6s, but those cars put a much lower load on their engines than the 5.4s or V10s get, especially when towing.
Good luck, though, whichever engine you get. I am personally expecting 200,000 out of mine before I hit any major problems, except for perhaps a transmission, but I am hoping that lasts as the truck gets minimal towing.
Even on the Dodge Cummins trucks with 1 million miles on them with the original engine, they've been through 5-10 transmissions, probably 3-5 front end rebuilds, and probably 3-5 differentials, transfer cases, and other driveline components. And that's assuming that every rebuild was done properly with OEM parts.
With a 5.4 or a V10 in an Excursion I think that expecting over 300,000 on the original motor is being pretty hopeful. There are Town Cars and Crown Vics out there with well over 400,000 miles on their 4.6s, but those cars put a much lower load on their engines than the 5.4s or V10s get, especially when towing.
Good luck, though, whichever engine you get.
I am personally expecting 200,000 out of mine before I hit any major problems, except for perhaps a transmission, but I am hoping that lasts as the truck gets minimal towing.
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
I have an XLT loaded, you could call it a Limited with out the branding. Leather to DVD player you name it, it has it. It is a V10 4x4 so I was just letting you know that XLT's can come in many forms. I think that is very stupid on Fords part to offer so many features on every model. Pick a standard foot print and stick with it. It would save them money in the long run.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 9
From: Ohio
ya ur right, but then if that happened i wouldnt have my 6cd changer. Since the i am the second owner
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
We have an E350 cutaway with a custom bus body that has a 5.4 that's our church bus. I'm amazed at how much pep it has and I've never felt that it's underpowered. I'm pretty impressed with the 5.4!
BJ, Lexington, KY
BJ, Lexington, KY
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
From: Providence, RI
Originally Posted by 1948f1
If you go with 5.4L make sure it is a rock bottom deal as market to resale those is minimal.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 857
Likes: 0
I've not heard anything bad about the 5.4. This is only three tenths of a liter less than the Chevrolet 350 and how many high mileage Suburbans are out there running around? The Excursion is a little heavier and physically larger with a little more wind drag, but if he's not towing large trailers with it, his horsepower to weight ratio will still be considerably better than a diesel X pulling a trailer, and he's already said that he doesn't intend to tow with it. If I were just shopping for a nice large, safe wagon, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one with a 5.4. With proper maintenance, I don't see why he can't expect to get high mileage out of it either.
Last edited by whjco; Dec 14, 2007 at 08:04 AM.
Junior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: MS Gulf Coast
I own an 05 EB with the 5.4L, and I've been very pleased with it. I have to admit I wated a PSD, but the $10k premium wasn't justified. I passed up a few very good deals on the V8 Ex because all I had read was how the motor was inadequate for this truck.
One day, I decided to just go drive one to see for myself, and I realized that it had all the power I needed for what it was to be used for. My wife uses it to haul kids and gear around town. It gets 12 city/ 16-ish on the interstate. I drove it to Dinsey World and back at 78mph without a single issue in reliability or driveability. I believe it downshifted one time on the return trip going through Tallahassee, FL, and that was with 5 people, and ice chest, luggage, and misc crap in the rack attached to the hitch receiver. I added an Outlaw CAI right after buying it, and I've thought about a 70 series Flowmaster in the future. It isn't really that important.
Bottom line: go drive one and see if YOU are satisfied with it.
One day, I decided to just go drive one to see for myself, and I realized that it had all the power I needed for what it was to be used for. My wife uses it to haul kids and gear around town. It gets 12 city/ 16-ish on the interstate. I drove it to Dinsey World and back at 78mph without a single issue in reliability or driveability. I believe it downshifted one time on the return trip going through Tallahassee, FL, and that was with 5 people, and ice chest, luggage, and misc crap in the rack attached to the hitch receiver. I added an Outlaw CAI right after buying it, and I've thought about a 70 series Flowmaster in the future. It isn't really that important.
Bottom line: go drive one and see if YOU are satisfied with it.
Last edited by Bayou_Flyer; Dec 14, 2007 at 10:42 AM.