5.4L Rebuild
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 372
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5.4L Rebuild
I just had my 2004 F250 with a 5.4L engine smogged (California) and it passed with flying colors. Even though the truck runs great it has almost 150k miles on it and it would surprise me that a rebuild is not in the too distant future. I spoke with a shop that others have recommended and they charge about $3600 for a complete rebuild, which includes new pistons, rings, radiator, gaskets, water pump, oil pump and some other stuff that I don't remember. Frankly I thought it would cost more but that was the turn key price for the rebuild including pulling the motor and reinstalling it. Does this sound like a reasonable price? Is the truck even worth rebuilding? I'm in San Diego and the body of the truck looks almost new. I casually looked at the cost of replacing the vehicle with something new or newer and was shocked at the prices.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 523
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
I'd drive it til it blows...but that's just me. assuming the majority of those 150k weren't heavy towing or drag racing, i'd think you should be fine for quite a while. but yes, $3600 is a pretty decent price for a full service rebuild...had a chevy buddy(not my smartest friend) who did a crate motor for far more than that.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,564
Likes: 11
From: Wayyy NoCal, USA
If you've been consistent with maintenance, you're a long ways from needing a rebuild.
While doing the PI upgrade at 140K, I went ahead and replaced the short block because I seriously scored on a super low mile one.
The '99 block looked like it had maybe 10K miles on it! Seriously. The original cylinder wall cross hatch pattern was perfect, and there was NO ridge at the top of the cylinders! The previous owner claimed he changed oil every 3 to 5K miles, now I believe it! I sold the block to another board member and he says it is still running strong.
Modern metals and lubricants are phenomenol.
Most of my vehicles have well over 200K miles before I hand down to others. Some of those have over 400K now.
Some things I do as preventive maintence to avoid common failures:
- Replace belts and hoses every 5-10 years.
- Replace radiators with plastic tanks every 10 years. Replace water pump at same time.
- All new COP's and plugs at 10 years.
- ALL new hoses (including vacuum and fuel) at 15 years.
- Run name brand fuels at least 75% of the time to keep fuel injectors clean. My personal favorite is Chevron, but also use Shell and 76.
While doing the PI upgrade at 140K, I went ahead and replaced the short block because I seriously scored on a super low mile one.
The '99 block looked like it had maybe 10K miles on it! Seriously. The original cylinder wall cross hatch pattern was perfect, and there was NO ridge at the top of the cylinders! The previous owner claimed he changed oil every 3 to 5K miles, now I believe it! I sold the block to another board member and he says it is still running strong.
Modern metals and lubricants are phenomenol.
Most of my vehicles have well over 200K miles before I hand down to others. Some of those have over 400K now.
Some things I do as preventive maintence to avoid common failures:
- Replace belts and hoses every 5-10 years.
- Replace radiators with plastic tanks every 10 years. Replace water pump at same time.
- All new COP's and plugs at 10 years.
- ALL new hoses (including vacuum and fuel) at 15 years.
- Run name brand fuels at least 75% of the time to keep fuel injectors clean. My personal favorite is Chevron, but also use Shell and 76.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,654
Likes: 4,743
From: Itinerant
Why would you think it's near a rebuild time, because of miles? Hell, I've got a '99' with 240+K miles and still runs good, and '05' with 203K and runs great. Run the truck and do the maintenance, if it's start showing signs of problems then cross that bridge.
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Tuned
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 372
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Thanks for the comments and advice all. Looks like I was jumpin' the gun a little. It's just that this is the first vehicle I've owned with 100k plus miles. I do a lot of regular maintenance on the truck; replace oil & filter every 3000 miles, transmission fluid and filter every 15k miles, air filter every other oil change, rotate the tires every 5000 files, repack wheel bearings regularly, etc. The truck even gets hand waxed twice a year. So far the only issue has been a faulty alternator. I can't believe how good this truck runs. Amazing!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
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Changing the oil frequently goes a long way to extending the life of the engine. Flushing the cooling system out every couple of years helps too.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,654
Likes: 4,743
From: Itinerant
Thanks for the comments and advice all. Looks like I was jumpin' the gun a little. It's just that this is the first vehicle I've owned with 100k plus miles. I do a lot of regular maintenance on the truck; replace oil & filter every 3000 miles, transmission fluid and filter every 15k miles, air filter every other oil change, rotate the tires every 5000 files, repack wheel bearings regularly, etc. The truck even gets hand waxed twice a year. So far the only issue has been a faulty alternator. I can't believe how good this truck runs. Amazing!
. I've had a straight 6 with 200k + miles(88), a 351 with 235k + miles(95), (99) 5.4 with 240k + miles, (05) with 203+ miles and now this '08' with 80k miles. I don't beat the trucks but work them, treat them good and they will treat you good. I always remember that if you beat them they'll drain the wallet pretty fast. 
New User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 5
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Need some help/advise
I have an 03 F250 with the 5.4 w/137K miles. When I first start it up (after sitting for a few hours) It gives me a knock on the right side. After about 1 minute of running the knock pretty much goes away. You can still hear it faintly if parked between two vehicles or if you go underneath and listen carefully. I change the oil usually every 3-4 months using only synthetic oil (usually castrol) and the motorcraft filter. I am not the first owner so i am unsure how it was driven before me but the noise was not there when I first bought it. I have pulled the filters apart looking for any excessive amounts of metal as well as run a magnet through the drained oil with no signs. Any ideas what this could be?
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,158
Likes: 0
From: Paramount, Ca
I have 268,000 miles on my 5.4L F250. It runs great, I replaced the timing chain tensioner and water pump when I bought it. It ran odd and had a bad noise, that's why they sold it. Runs perfect now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,433
Likes: 2
From: Spring Lake
I wouldnt recommend messing with the engine for a while, around my neck of the woods gasser Super Duty's with 150K on em command around a $10K price tag... if the motors were known for puking in the next 50K I dont think anyone would get that kind of money out of them.
Sorry didn't read the whole thread, at work on lunch, but at that mileage if its a 4x4 be prepared for some front end work if it hasn't yet been done (4x4 specifically). Thats not too bad tho.
Sorry didn't read the whole thread, at work on lunch, but at that mileage if its a 4x4 be prepared for some front end work if it hasn't yet been done (4x4 specifically). Thats not too bad tho.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 420
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From: New Hampshire
I just had my 2004 F250 with a 5.4L engine smogged (California) and it passed with flying colors. Even though the truck runs great it has almost 150k miles on it and it would surprise me that a rebuild is not in the too distant future. I spoke with a shop that others have recommended and they charge about $3600 for a complete rebuild, which includes new pistons, rings, radiator, gaskets, water pump, oil pump and some other stuff that I don't remember. Frankly I thought it would cost more but that was the turn key price for the rebuild including pulling the motor and reinstalling it. Does this sound like a reasonable price? Is the truck even worth rebuilding? I'm in San Diego and the body of the truck looks almost new. I casually looked at the cost of replacing the vehicle with something new or newer and was shocked at the prices.
Of course you were told by many to rebuild it. 150K is just barely broken in. I have 174 K plus on mine and runs just as good brand new. You shouldnt be shocked at the prices of a new or newer one, you should be shocked at yourself for falling for someones words to make them money, I mean are you having any type of problems with it or are you one of those type of people that feel that they need to have something newer to be cool.
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