hi my buddy just got a 2010 f150 with the 4.6 i tried using the vin but couldnt find anything. how do i tell if its a 2v or 3v engine? ty for the help

 

8th character in the VIN - a 2 valve is "W", a 3 valve is "8".

https://www.fleet.ford.com/ngtemplat...ce/VIN2010.pdf

 

The 2 valve low output 4.6L only comes with the ford outdated 4 speed transmission.

The 3 valve high output 4.6L only comes with the ford 6R80 6 speed transmission.

The manual tells codes so that the right fluids are used for the correct transmission and engine. You can download it at Ford.com under the owners section.

I owned the 3 Valve 4.6L in a 2008 Sport Trac but had the 5.4L in my previous 2010 F150. Both great motors but the 5.4L has a lot more torque down low even if it's only 18 hp more..

 

Some people prefer the 4 speed. Some people dont like their truck shifting every 5 seconds...

If you are like most "new" Ford truck owners who drive to work and back on flat, dry pavement without any sort of load other than the occasional trip where your mother in law is "loaded" in the back seat, you probably dont mind the 6 speed tranny. Try it with a load on hilly or mountainous terrain and it sucks.

 

I had crappy 4 speeds and I'll never go back. The Ford is the worst with poor gearing for towing. The 2.84:1 1st gear offers no torque multiplication for towing even when coupled with their highest ratio 3.73 rear end.

If Ford would had least offered a 5 speed automatic with better gearing, I may have bought one back in 2004. To bad it took them until 2009 on F150. Even on 2006 Expedition and Explorers, you had the choice of a 6 speed trans.

I've been using Ford's 6 speed transmissions in my previous 2008 Sport Trac 4.6L 3V pulling my 5000 lbs loaded Jayco Jay Flight 19BH, used in my 2010 F150 5.4L 3V pulling the Jayco Jay Flight 19BH and pulling the much heavier 6500 lbs loaded 2012 Jayco Jay Flight 26BH, and currently use it in my 2012 F150 5.0L 4V pulling that same 2012 Jayco Jay Flight 26BH.

I would never own a 4 speed transmission to pull my campers when a much better geared 6 speed is available. Hek, even a 5 speed with only 1 overdrive gear (6 speed trans have 2 overdrive gears for more aggressive gearing in the first 4 gears), would work decently.

You are entitled to your opinion, I just don't share it.

 

2-valve will probably be in something like the SFE package.
http://www.accollinsford.com/houston...2427987-72836a

Don't call it gospel, but I've never seen an 09-later other than that model/package with a 2-valve 4.6L. Maybe XLs, but I've seen very few on lots when I was looking. Mostly 3.7Ls for base models in that generation.

 

The 2009 and 2010 models only have with the 4.6L 2 valve (248 Hp, 294 torque) w/4 speed transmission, 4.6L 3 valve (292 Hp, 320 Torque) w/6 speed transmission, and the 5.4L 3 valve (310HP, 365 Torque) with 6 speed transmission.

Drivetrains were upgraded and updated for the 2011 model year. The 6R80 transmission was updated with a new 1-way clutch to correct the earlier versions harsh 2-1 downshift plus added a manual mode and gear lockouts.

The 6R80 6 speed transmission is the only transmission offered for all new engine offerings. No more 4 speed autos!

The engine options were all upgraded dropping the previous 4.6L engines and 5.4L engine, replacing them with the new engine lineup. The 2011 - 2014 models have the 3.7L (302 Hp, 279 Torque) 4 Valve, 5.0L 4 valve (360 Hp, 380 Torque), 3.5L Twin Turbo 4 Valve (365 Hp, 420 Torque), and 6.2L 3 Valve (411 Hp, 434 Torque) engines.

 

Well said Mike, 6 speed all the way. I can lay rubber in first gear with my boat on...lol. Nice to have that low 1st gear to get things moving. I've experienced a little bit of hunting when I was tuned stock, but with the 5star and MPT tuning the hunting is entirely gone. 2nd gear in the 6 speed tranny is roughly same as 1st gear in the old 4 speed. I don't mind the fact that GM and Ford have worked together on the 6 speed. GM has built some great transmissions over the years, and this is coming from a die-hard Ford guy...

 

The SFE package had the 3 valve and 6 speed with a numerically low axle ratio in a 2wd. Note the "8" in the 8th character of the VIN in that ad.

The 2v was the base engine in the XL/XLT/STX, replacing the 4.2 V6.

 

And, since nobody else has bothered to mention it, the 3 valve 4.6 motor with the 6 speed is hands down a better package than the 2 valve 4.6 motor with a 4 speed.

I could even offer (from personal experience) that the 3 valve 4.6 / 6 speed combo is better than my (identical equipped truck) 3 valve 5.4 liter motor with the 4 speed. Yes, it's a pretty sweet package.

 

Agreed 2stroke, 100% don't knock it till you drive it