Hello all, this is my first post here. I'm looking into buying a '99 Expedition and am trying to decide if I need the 5.4 or not. How is the power differential between the two? Any 4.6 owners wish they had a 5.4? Any 5.4 owners wish they had a 4.6?

Some background: I live in Florida (Read: FLAT) I only tow a jet-ski, but I may tow my Mustang once a year (Hi Wes, it's Holeshot from Corral).

Any info would be appreciated!

Matt

p.s. I know about the 4/15/99 and earlier problems with the 5.4, but how obvious is the slap at start up? If the ruck has 30,000 miles and no problems is it safe, or can it pop up later down the road? Should I just stay clear of them to be safe?

 

Congrats on your impending purchase. I'm biased, however get the 5.4. We are on our second expy and love it. If you can find a 5.4 with the 3.73 rearend you will have a nice ride. If you are looking for a 2wd try to get the rear load leveling. Very nice when you tow. As for the 4.6 you can read on other posts that the mileage difference is almost nil. These things are big and heavy so the more muscle you can get is better.

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'00 EB AWD.K&N,Whitewalls turned in.
K&N Cat-Back

 

Hey Holeshot!

Flat, level roads or not, I'd get the 5.4. I drove a 4.6 and for a vehicle that is pushing 6000lbs...get the bigger motor.

Gas mileage will not be much different. The 4.6 has to work harder.

I have a 2wd with the load-leveling suspension, 3.55 gears with trailer-towing package. I looked everywhere in TX for an XLT with 3.73s and TT pkg., but could only find them in loaded Eddie Bauer trucks. Since I was going to do all the cosmetic mods anyway, I wanted an XLT.

The 3.55s seem fine, though. Plenty of torque with the 5.4 engine.

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Wes Tarbox
90 LX 5.0 (10.69 @ 134.7)--597rwhp/590rwtq
98 Saleen S351 #15--443rwhp/452rwtq
99 Lightning (13.20 @ 103.8)--364rwhp/447rwtq
00 Expedition XLT 5.4
http://hometown.aol.com/wa2fst/home.htm

 

Without a doubt, get the 5.4L. As the others have stated, there is virtually no mileage difference between the 5.4 and the 4.6, and gives more a%^! Good luck with your purchase.

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2000 Wedgewood Blue Expy XLT 5.4L 4WD, C&C group, towing package, beige leather interior, captain's chairs, 6 CD Changer, 255/70R16, all-weather floor mats, factory fog lamps, Mobil1 5W-30 Synthetic w/ Puralator filter

MODS
Ford Bug Deflector (2/15/00)
Superchip (3/11/00)
Airaid (3/23/00)
Edelbrock IAS shocks (3/23/00)
Under Seat Locking Storage Drawer (6/6/00)
MPC Rear Air Foil (7/2/00)
Wizard Super-White Headlamps and Foglamps (1/15/01)
Gibson Swept Side catback (2/8/01)
Hellwig Rear Anti-Sway Bar (2/8/01)
Ventshade Window Ventvisors (3/4/01)
Stull Billet Grill (4/21/01)
APC Clear Corners (4/21/01)

 

I agree, the 5.4 is the way to go. We have a 98 EB with the 3.73LS. With my bolt on mods and the 3.73, it is surprisingly quick off the line, yet gets 12-13 around town and a best of just under 17 on the hwy. The 5.4 is also great for towing, especially up a launch ramp. I personally feel the 4.6 is underpowered for a 6000lb Expy, as is evidenced in it's lower towing capacity, slower performance and nearly identical gas mileage. A smaller engine usually has to work so much harder in a heavy vehicle, that it actually performs poorly in the mpg department. Our Expy gets better mileage than a friend 4.0 Explorer! Good Luck Expy shopping!

BTW:
It seems like the 5.4/3.73LS is not common, anyone know whay that is?

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1998 Expy EB
5.4, 2WD, 3.73LS
Magnaflow cat-back
WMS Velocity Tube
Superchip
275/70/16 Bridgestone HT's
Billet APC Grilles w/ 2001 Taurus emblem

 

Just put a deposit down.

'00 Expy XLT, 4X4, 5.4L, Silver/gray cloth buckets, 3rd seat, 6 disk changer. $22995, add $799 for 48/48,000 bumper to bumper warranty (No deductable) from date/mileage of purchase. Then I get a $300 AAA discount. So it looks like ~$23,500. Not bad!

It is a rental, but they have pretty strict measures for the ones they sell. And you get to see all records.

What do you guys think?