4.6 compared to 300I6
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4.6 compared to 300I6
I read a lot of folks wishing the 300I6 was still available. However, compared to the 4.6 I don't see any proven advantages. OK start yelling now.
Some will be saying torque, torque! But, the 300 peaks at around 260, right? Well the 4.6 makes 90% of its peak 290, or 263, from 2000 rpm up to 4000 or so. So it out-torques the 300 across the rev range. Also if you do rev it up, you get a lot more HP on top.
Reliability? I'll agree the 300 is one of the all-time best engines and I like how they run. But I think the 4.6 is starting to get a rep as a trouble-free engine. They have not slapped as many pistons, launched as many plugs or blown as many gaskets as their 5.4L brothers.
The 4.6 gets better mileage. It has that V-8 sound. SO, other than nostalgia for the good old days, why miss the 300?
Some will be saying torque, torque! But, the 300 peaks at around 260, right? Well the 4.6 makes 90% of its peak 290, or 263, from 2000 rpm up to 4000 or so. So it out-torques the 300 across the rev range. Also if you do rev it up, you get a lot more HP on top.
Reliability? I'll agree the 300 is one of the all-time best engines and I like how they run. But I think the 4.6 is starting to get a rep as a trouble-free engine. They have not slapped as many pistons, launched as many plugs or blown as many gaskets as their 5.4L brothers.
The 4.6 gets better mileage. It has that V-8 sound. SO, other than nostalgia for the good old days, why miss the 300?
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From: South Kitsap County, WA
4.6 compared to 300I6
4.6 - Low end? 2000 RPM is not low end... try 1000rpm to 2500rpm. Once again, you're talking about a truck...not a Mustang. It should produce it's power low enough to be used as one.
My argument is based around torque. Go figure, an engine that'll last forever and was built to be a truck engine.
My old 300 could out pull a 4.6 from a dead stand still with a 4000 pound trailer... and it was mated to a real transmission (NP435) with a granny gear to take and multiply that torque, if I needed to take it slow. I didn't have the desire to run the truck wide open with a trailer on it .. not too safe. It was also the perfect rock crawling engine, with the truck in first I could idle up a 10% grade. My experience with this torque in the low end is what made my decision to go for the larger (and higher torque output in a useable range) 5.4L when buying my newer truck, so much easier.
It was that torque from my stock 300 that broke the pinion bearing race in the 9" rear. Reliability was never an issue, the 300 has well over 260K miles on it with no mechanical problems.
-Kerry
My argument is based around torque. Go figure, an engine that'll last forever and was built to be a truck engine.
My old 300 could out pull a 4.6 from a dead stand still with a 4000 pound trailer... and it was mated to a real transmission (NP435) with a granny gear to take and multiply that torque, if I needed to take it slow. I didn't have the desire to run the truck wide open with a trailer on it .. not too safe. It was also the perfect rock crawling engine, with the truck in first I could idle up a 10% grade. My experience with this torque in the low end is what made my decision to go for the larger (and higher torque output in a useable range) 5.4L when buying my newer truck, so much easier.
It was that torque from my stock 300 that broke the pinion bearing race in the 9" rear. Reliability was never an issue, the 300 has well over 260K miles on it with no mechanical problems.
-Kerry
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From: McChord AFB
4.6 compared to 300I6
i have idled my 300-6 also whith a 435 tranny from a dead stop in first whith a 2000lbs trailer behind it. And when i was off roading it i could absolutly crawl up stuff. One time going up a good 10-12% grade my spotter was walking faster than that thing. Thats torque my friend one of the guys i off road whith cant even do stuff like that whith a 351.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Coal Region
4.6 compared to 300I6
i can idle up almost anything i want with my truck and in 2wd, being the front end wont hit. i bet if the tires stuck out in front i could go up a wall...i continously climb snow banks while idling in 2wd (posi rear) and flex my truck while other kids at school at in 4x4 low havin trouble...god i love the 300 I6
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4.6 compared to 300I6
At 1000rpm, what does the 4.6L have? The 300(efi) has ~220ft-lbs at 1000 with a peak of 265 at 2000. That makes it more of a truck motor. You are correct when you say the 4.6L is a faster motor than the 300. No arguement there.
As for reliability "pretty reliable" nowadays isn't quite the same. Can you picture yourself in 30 years dandling your grandchild on your knee whispering in their ear "When you grow up I might just give you my XXXX F150. Its only got 350k miles on it now so it'll be in great condition by the time you get it."
-=Whittey=-
As for reliability "pretty reliable" nowadays isn't quite the same. Can you picture yourself in 30 years dandling your grandchild on your knee whispering in their ear "When you grow up I might just give you my XXXX F150. Its only got 350k miles on it now so it'll be in great condition by the time you get it."
-=Whittey=-
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4.6 compared to 300I6
my 300 is the baddest moter i ever owned low end torq out the wazzoo easy maint. and tougher than nails ive done alot of stupid stuff and my big six always forgives me i had a 500 caddy 76 coupe deville totally stripped out we were going to take to the tough truck comp. my buddy had a old 78 chevy 3/4 ton camper special long box with a 350cid he was scared just to tow it so we put it on my 84 short box i pulled it fine 35 mph sometimes the 300 six is by far the best 6cylinder truck moter in my book
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4.6 compared to 300I6
The key element is application. The 4.6 maybe a great engine for a sports car with a real big trunk, but if you have a TRUCK and use it as a TRUCK, the 300 is a much better engine for the application. Is the 4.6 used in F350's? Seven mains and a gear driven cam, the 300 has a proven track record for internal reliability. Will it come back, probably not. The demand is for fast trucks that are great for commuting back and fourth to work without actually needing a bed or low end power for towing and hauling. The inline six may return, but not with the same design. The power band will be raised to accomodate the "My truck should be fast" attitude. After all the 300 is a tractor motor. 
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4.6 compared to 300I6
At 1000rpm, what does the 4.6L have? The 300(efi) has ~220ft-lbs at 1000 with a peak of 265 at 2000.
I do agree the 300 was designed to be a truck engine and would no doubt be more durable under extended severe use.
Last edited by radar_ridr; Feb 9, 2003 at 12:30 PM.
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Broken Arrow, OK
4.6 compared to 300I6
What does a 4.6 in a regular cab shortbed run inthe 1/4? I know the boost dumped once in my Lightning and it ran 16.14. That's with 3.73 gears and a 5.4. I can't imagine a 4.6 getting into the 16's, which would put it right next to my old beat up 300 at the track. I wonder what my truck would run with 150k less miles on it, or what a 4.6 would run with 230k miles on it?
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Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Las Vegas
4.6 compared to 300I6
Originally posted by radar_ridr
I read a lot of folks wishing the 300I6 was still available. However, compared to the 4.6 I don't see any proven advantages. OK start yelling now.
Some will be saying torque, torque! But, the 300 peaks at around 260, right? Well the 4.6 makes 90% of its peak 290, or 263, from 2000 rpm up to 4000 or so. So it out-torques the 300 across the rev range. Also if you do rev it up, you get a lot more HP on top.
Reliability? I'll agree the 300 is one of the all-time best engines and I like how they run. But I think the 4.6 is starting to get a rep as a trouble-free engine. They have not slapped as many pistons, launched as many plugs or blown as many gaskets as their 5.4L brothers.
The 4.6 gets better mileage. It has that V-8 sound. SO, other than nostalgia for the good old days, why miss the 300?
I read a lot of folks wishing the 300I6 was still available. However, compared to the 4.6 I don't see any proven advantages. OK start yelling now.
Some will be saying torque, torque! But, the 300 peaks at around 260, right? Well the 4.6 makes 90% of its peak 290, or 263, from 2000 rpm up to 4000 or so. So it out-torques the 300 across the rev range. Also if you do rev it up, you get a lot more HP on top.
Reliability? I'll agree the 300 is one of the all-time best engines and I like how they run. But I think the 4.6 is starting to get a rep as a trouble-free engine. They have not slapped as many pistons, launched as many plugs or blown as many gaskets as their 5.4L brothers.
The 4.6 gets better mileage. It has that V-8 sound. SO, other than nostalgia for the good old days, why miss the 300?
I agree with you 100%. A lot of the "discussion" here is about rock crawling or pulling from a dead stop. My experience is pulling 2 Sea Doos at highway speeds up Baker grade in a 5 speed 300I6. So what if it started from an idle(a 4.6 auto would also BTW) the fact that 45MPH was max going up the grade would have me choose a higher winding 302 OR 4.6 anyday for the majority of real world driving.
Posting Guru
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From: PA
4.6 compared to 300I6
with my experience, My I6 has no problem maintaining speeds in excess of legal limits with 2 atv's in the bed and one on a trailer behind it, up hills or down, and will take a stock 302 truck loaded or unloaded any day. As for the 4.6, small displacement V8's with overhead cams are for cars, not for trucks. The 300 I6 shines when a truck is used for truck uses.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Floyd, Va
4.6 compared to 300I6
Several people i know had 302s in their rigs. They always made fun of my old I6. Until we used them for pulling, they never made fun of my old I6 again.
The 302s if they wound them tight could outrun me on the flats, but they had to, because on every hill i was right on their tails waiting for them. They were revin hard and jammin gears, i could usually leave mine in high gear.
Small block V8s are for cars. They have become more popular lately now that people are trading in their hondas and buying 1/2 tons. They expect them to drive the same.
I have no experience with the 4.6 and towing, but if it isnt as good as the 5.4 i cant believe anyone could tow with it. The 5.4 seems barely adequate for anything larger than a couple atvs.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
The 302s if they wound them tight could outrun me on the flats, but they had to, because on every hill i was right on their tails waiting for them. They were revin hard and jammin gears, i could usually leave mine in high gear.
Small block V8s are for cars. They have become more popular lately now that people are trading in their hondas and buying 1/2 tons. They expect them to drive the same.
I have no experience with the 4.6 and towing, but if it isnt as good as the 5.4 i cant believe anyone could tow with it. The 5.4 seems barely adequate for anything larger than a couple atvs.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
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From: Broken Arrow, OK
4.6 compared to 300I6
My 300 has never had any problems maintaining speed with any load I've ever put on it. I've towed everything from empty lawn mower trailers to full size cars on a trailer to several thousand pounds of scrap metal and rarely had to shift out of high gear on the highway. I know Ford says not to tow in 5th, but 2700 rpm is more noise than I'm willing to deal with. A few years ago I rented a 98 F-150 with a 4.6 and automatic while I was getting the AC fixed in my truck and drove it around for a day. It was downshifting going up hills without any load at all on it. The 4.6 does seem to do better than the 302 due to its longer stroke, but it still doesn't get it done any better than the 300.
Last edited by Silver Streak; Feb 11, 2003 at 09:17 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 11,496
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From: Kansas
4.6 compared to 300I6
[i]
I have no experience with the 4.6 and towing, but if it isnt as good as the 5.4 i cant believe anyone could tow with it. The 5.4 seems barely adequate for anything larger than a couple atvs.
Tony Warren
Nebraska [/B]
I have no experience with the 4.6 and towing, but if it isnt as good as the 5.4 i cant believe anyone could tow with it. The 5.4 seems barely adequate for anything larger than a couple atvs.
Tony Warren
Nebraska [/B]
Sometimes it's not so much the motor as learning where the power band is and using it where it was intended to be used (4.6).
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: Coal Region
4.6 compared to 300I6
seems to me people want thier trucks fast like most new cars. n thats fine for most people and thier driving styles. but people who need a work motor really miss the good ol 300 and even the 351. not knockin the 4.6/5.4s here but they power band is up higher, spinnin the engine faster, causing more wear, comsuming more fuel and not able to idle over most obstacles with ease (at least in my experiences). id love to have a 97+ f-150 with a 5.4Trition and mod it out and race with it, but id never wanna use it for work, id choose a near stock 351 for heavy towing or my 300 for normal, everyday jobs
as u can see i love my 300 I6 and will never give it up.
as u can see i love my 300 I6 and will never give it up.