Top 5 Most Reliable Ford Truck Engines
If you are looking for a used Ford truck, you want it to last. Choosing one with any of these engines will be your best bet.
Intro
Ford has developed and installed some fantastically reliable engines in their trucks over the years. So many in fact that it is difficult to narrow the list down to just the five best. But the engines that we have listed here have been proven to be reliable by real-world users who have used these engines to travel millions of miles. These workhorse units will get the job done and take you to where you need to go mile after mile. If you are looking for a used truck and it has one of these engines installed, and it has been maintained properly, you can rest easy.
5. 6.8L Triton V10 (2000 – 2019)
What a difference a couple cylinders can make. The 6.8L V10 is essentially a 5.4L V8 Triton with two extra cylinders. But while the 5.4L V8 has significant reliability concerns, the V10 fares much better. It is true that early years (2002 and older) could spit their original spark plugs. But other than that, this thing runs for a very long time. They can be found in everything from Super Duty trucks to E-Series vans and the Excursion. You can even find them under the hood of school buses. These engines are not known for exceptional fuel economy, but they will last you a very long time.
4. 4.6L 2V V8 (1997 – 2010)
The Ford 4.6L was the first to be part of the Ford modular engine family. It started life in 1990 powering the Lincoln Town Car. But it went on to power the Expedition from 1997 to 2004 and the F-150 from 2000 to 2010. These engines also saw duty in the toughest environment imaginable, in NYC taxi cabs as they powered the Crown Vic from 1992 to 2011. Any engine that can survive that kind of torture, you could put under the hood of my truck anytime.
3. 7.3L Power Stroke (1999 – 2003)
We had to get a Power Stroke diesel on this list and here it is. The legendary 7.3L. The 7.3L came out in 1994 and the 1994 to 1998 versions are not bad at all. But in 1999 Ford revised the Power Stroke engine and made it even better. An intercooler was added that reduced gas temperatures and increased the potential for more power. The turbocharger also now had a wastegate and larger fuel injectors were installed. These engines were also not stressed at all. In stock form they made plenty of torque and decent power. But they were designed more for longevity than eye popping numbers. They will last forever and a day. But if you want eye popping numbers, you can modify them and go that way as well.
2. 300ci I6 (1965 – 1996)
The 300ci in-line six may not be as big and powerful as the 460 V8 but amazingly it remained in production even longer. It became an option in the F-Series back in 1965 and remained under the hood until 1996. An incredible 31-year run. This engine was used for everything from dump trucks to irrigation pumps. A rally truck using the 300 in-line six even won the Baja 1000. Three times. These engines can easily last 300,000 miles or more. They are not just one of the best Ford engines of all time, but one of the best engines that anyone ever made.
1. 460 V8 Big Block (1973 – 1997)
The 460 big block debuted in 1968 under the hood of the Lincoln Continental. But it was just too good to limit it to only one car. So, in 1973 Ford offered it in their F-Series trucks. It remained an option for a staggering 25 years before it left the market after 1997. An engine does not stay in production for over a quarter of a century if it is not reliable. And not only will it keep your truck running forever. It is robust enough to make big power reliably if you should decide to modify it. The 460 is one of the best engines Ford ever stuffed under the hood of a truck.