Which engine is best?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 52
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If I were in the market for a half ton gas truck it would be without a doubt the 6.2. This engine is showing pretty impressive results in the Super Duty and will be a monster in the F150. The 5.0 and Eco engines look very impressive also. These are all great choices and the decision can be tough.
Bottom line is I truly believe all the '11 engine lineup will be MUCH better than the Tritan line of engines...
Let's list some of the historical Triton woes for all the selective memories:
2V Series 4.6 & 5.4
Poor power
Poor fuel economy
Pistin Slap
Spark Plugs shootin out of heads
3V Series 5.4
Uninspiring power
Spark plugs still shootin out of heads
Cam phasers
Spark plug failures
Carbon build up on spark plugs
Enjoy the new '11 engine lineup, I think they'll all be great. Too bad the diesel got dropped.
Bottom line is I truly believe all the '11 engine lineup will be MUCH better than the Tritan line of engines...
Let's list some of the historical Triton woes for all the selective memories:
2V Series 4.6 & 5.4
Poor power
Poor fuel economy
Pistin Slap
Spark Plugs shootin out of heads
3V Series 5.4
Uninspiring power
Spark plugs still shootin out of heads
Cam phasers
Spark plug failures
Carbon build up on spark plugs
Enjoy the new '11 engine lineup, I think they'll all be great. Too bad the diesel got dropped.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,006
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From: Maine, Virginia
I have nothing but absolute praise for my 2V 5.4L. I have 240k on the original engine (and transmission 4R100) with no major failures. The only recurring issue I have is the #4 coil pack shorting out and needing replacement (which only made it misfire, and usually only under load). The other coil packs are original. Spark plugs have been changed twice. Back in 1997 when they came out, Ford's Triton engines were top dogs and were praised for their power. Fuel economy is the same for pretty much any other pickup that was available ten years ago. Piston slap is really only an annoyance rather than an actual issue. Mine has exhibited piston slap during cold starts since before it hit 100k and still does it today. It's been a good truck and will continue to be used until it finally dies.
I'll assume that they are being honest as this dealer's service department is all he has going for him. His inventory sucks and he's a fairly high volume dealer, just really old fashioned.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,914
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From: The Great State of Texas
I have nothing but absolute praise for my 2V 5.4L. I have 240k on the original engine (and transmission 4R100) with no major failures. The only recurring issue I have is the #4 coil pack shorting out and needing replacement (which only made it misfire, and usually only under load). The other coil packs are original. Spark plugs have been changed twice. Back in 1997 when they came out, Ford's Triton engines were top dogs and were praised for their power. Fuel economy is the same for pretty much any other pickup that was available ten years ago. Piston slap is really only an annoyance rather than an actual issue. Mine has exhibited piston slap during cold starts since before it hit 100k and still does it today. It's been a good truck and will continue to be used until it finally dies.
I had a 98 F150 SC 4X4 and it's power was shy of desirable (even in '98 standards) especially when pulling my boat and it couldn't pass a gas station and this is comparing to a similiar equiped Z71 350 throttle body injection system.
I think the 6.2 is the engine Ford should of had years ago instead of the small bore Triton engine's that needed supercharging to get enough air thru the small valves. Actually this engine design was started years ago and was killed and revived several times.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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No doubt the 2V engines are reliable if you can escape the spark plug blowing out of heads issue.
I had a 98 F150 SC 4X4 and it's power was shy of desirable (even in '98 standards) especially when pulling my boat and it couldn't pass a gas station and this is comparing to a similiar equiped Z71 350 throttle body injection system.
I think the 6.2 is the engine Ford should of had years ago instead of the small bore Triton engine's that needed supercharging to get enough air thru the small valves. Actually this engine design was started years ago and was killed and revived several times.
I had a 98 F150 SC 4X4 and it's power was shy of desirable (even in '98 standards) especially when pulling my boat and it couldn't pass a gas station and this is comparing to a similiar equiped Z71 350 throttle body injection system.
I think the 6.2 is the engine Ford should of had years ago instead of the small bore Triton engine's that needed supercharging to get enough air thru the small valves. Actually this engine design was started years ago and was killed and revived several times.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,914
Likes: 2,639
From: The Great State of Texas
The first time I ever even heard of the spark plugs blowing out of heads was when the 3V 5.4L's came out. I've never heard of this issue with the 2V. But even if there was, this is an issue with what, less than one percent of all 4.6Ls and 5.4Ls made since 1997? The 4.6L has been made since the early 90's, and I've never heard of any spark plug issues with this engine (had one in a Thunderbird and it was equally as reliable as my truck).
YouTube - Ford Triton Engine BLOWN SPARK PLUGS.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 183
[QUOTE=YoGeorge;9340399
It sure seems to take Ford a while to really get something right, again reinforcing the idea that I do not want to be a "beta tester" for any kind of EcoBoost engine. Even if prototype test engines give stellar test results, moving certain parts (like turbos) to mass production could create yet more problems arising from mass production status.
George[/QUOTE]
The turbos are Honeywell Garrett GT15 water cooled turbos. Garrett makes turbos for on the road as well as racing. Don't worry about the turbos they are tried and tested.
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbochargers
It sure seems to take Ford a while to really get something right, again reinforcing the idea that I do not want to be a "beta tester" for any kind of EcoBoost engine. Even if prototype test engines give stellar test results, moving certain parts (like turbos) to mass production could create yet more problems arising from mass production status.
George[/QUOTE]
The turbos are Honeywell Garrett GT15 water cooled turbos. Garrett makes turbos for on the road as well as racing. Don't worry about the turbos they are tried and tested.
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbochargers
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,565
Likes: 2
Weren't the variable geometry turbos on the 6.0L engines Garrett? They were very problematic if the truck sat a lot.
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Junior User
Joined: Jul 2009
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Very interesting, it must be more common than I thought. Still couldn't find a figure as to how many engines have been affected. I still think the Triton engine line has been a good one. For every one unhappy owner, there's probably hundreds of happy owners. I wouldn't think twice about buying another one if I needed to. Mine has performed flawlessly for a very long time.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Any vehicle that sits a lot runs the chance of having problems. VGT turbos didn't also like having an EGR system attached to it when people weren't working the truck to help clear out the carbon buildup. I wouldn't blame that on the turbo.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,914
Likes: 2,639
From: The Great State of Texas
The gas engine turbo's will be free of all the soot that their diesel counterparts and to deal with.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 2,898
Likes: 183
I remember about 35 years ago my grandma had a 69 Pontiac Tempest with the 327. About once a month we would get in it and go "blow out the carbon". That car would just fly! And the scary part was grandma had to look thru the steering wheel not over it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Towing that amount of weight does help it out quite a bit. I would honestly say that it's a little bit of both luck and the towing unless you really rag on that truck on those 5-10 miles too(which if you do, I would be worried about other things not just carbon buildup).
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,512
Likes: 18
From: Detroit
The turbos are Honeywell Garrett GT15 water cooled turbos. Garrett makes turbos for on the road as well as racing. Don't worry about the turbos they are tried and tested.
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbochargers
TurboByGarrett.com - Turbochargers
By the way, the small Pontiac V8 was a 326, not a 327, and was enlarged to 350 in 1968 for the Tempest/LeMans and Firebird. So grandma's car was either pre-'68 with a 326 or had to have a 350 in it.
But blowing carbon out of a car sure could be fun.George
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 705
Likes: 1
From: Clay Country, GA, NE MS
Aw, just go ahead and get a Chevy!
Check this out:
Ford Introduces Three New Light-Duty Engines for 2011 F-150 Pickup Trucks - PickupTrucks.com News
Me, I would get the 5.0 in F150.
Check this out:
Ford Introduces Three New Light-Duty Engines for 2011 F-150 Pickup Trucks - PickupTrucks.com News
Me, I would get the 5.0 in F150.