I'm considering purchasing a '98 F150 with the 4.6L engine. It has 69k miles on it. My questions are: Was this engine new in '97? How's the reliability on it? How many miles are you folks getting out of them with proper maintenance - I typically drive my trucks for a long time? And lastly, is the mileage (mpg) decent? Thanks for any help.

 

I just sold my 98 f150 with a 4.6 I was not happy about the lack of power, especially at hwy speeds, but the truck always ran great. Did not burn oil, quiet engine. I got about 16-18 mpg. Usually 16. As far as longevity goes, these are supposed to do real well. I do alot of reading and have never read anything negative. The 4.6 was even supposed to have passed the autobahn test with flying colors and the old 302 could not do that.
Terry

 

Both V8's are generally reliable but they both have their own issues in that year. The 5.4L has piston slap during a cold start, and the 4.6L has been known to suffer early head gasket failure, but in either case they are rare. I would say that if they've made it to 67k you should be ok.

Miles per gallon between the 2 is an apples to apples comparison.. They are close at best. Some have reported better mpg with the 5.4, others the same, and many have reported better with the 4.6.

I have personally owned all 3... 1999 XLT RC/SB/4.2, 2000 XLT RC/LB/4.6, and currently 2001 XLT SC/SB (see sig). My 4.2 hands down got the best mpg, averaging about 18 in around town driving, the 5.4 was second at 16.25 (I'm currently keeping meticulous fuel logs), and my 4.6 averages 15.85.

Keep in mind that my comparison may not reflect what you'll see as the 5.4's hp rating was boosted in 2000 and the 4.6 in 2001 which may have affected fuel consumption.

Bottom line, if your satisfied with the performance of the 4.6 there is no reason not to buy it. It will last you a long time, I've heard reports of mileage in excess of 150k around here. Good luck!

 

I believe the the 4.6 is the mother of the "Modular" Triton line. Meaning it has been around longest. I think it was used in LTD's as early as 93 (not sure but know it is older than 97). However, it has been modified slightly for trucks.

As Terry W 123 said, it is not what I call a powerhouse. Although it is a very competent engine for average usage. I pull a small boat (1500lb) regularly and a pontoon (300lb) on rare occaisions. Power has never been an issue. The toon tends to wag my rear end a little but that's a combination of an empty bed and stock spsuension.

My gas mileage is 14-15.5 in winter and 16.5-18 summer.

Consider this though: check the rear end ratio. The two most common rear ends are 3.08 and 3.55. Get the 3.55 for better acceleration and towbility.

I am very happy with my engine. It is smooth as silk. Of course it's still young at 21K. I should be so smooth.

 

My 1997 4.6l just turned over 79,000 mi., and it runs like a top. It has gotten easy highway miles, and seems to be a competent lille engine. Has lots of torque for 280 inches. Gas mileage sucks, but I have a 4WD: 14-15 tops in everyday commuting. I have a catback exhaust, and the rumble and growl sound very sweet, and it will get up an go when you put the foot into it. I also run Mobil 1 and think that is a good plan for longevity. All I've done is change plugs (a real treat, let me tell you) and filters. Uses no oil; has no vices that I can tell.

So, it's not high performance, but it is a good engine for the typical driver. And I don't really care because next year I hope to get a Lightning.

 

nice picture you have there....
my 4.6 has 21K miles on it, so far when its warm idling you can set a coffee mug filled to the BRIM on it when it's running and you won't spill a drop.

in general that's a good thing.

supposedly these new modular motors will live a good long time, and BTW how much power do you want from a 280? I drive my truck like most people (statistically) do, EMPTY about 90% of the time, and I've got no power problems at all. Even with rated load, I don't have a PROBLEM with the power. It won't haul butt up a hill with 2000lbs of rocks in the bed like my dad's V-10 dodge, but it didn't come from the factory with a cracked frame either (his did, huge fact goof). And it WILL get up the hill in the end.

 

I only have about 12k miles on my truck, and I am very pleased with the engine. Gas mileage is not so hot (avg around 13-15 in town, 18-20 on hwy), but it has ample power for everyday driving. I put a new exhaust on and superchipped it, and the 25-30 hp gain really woke the truck up. It is no Mustang, but it is a little more fun to drive now. As far as reliability, Ford/Lincoln uses this engine in quite a few of their cars (including police cruisers from what I have been told) and it is pretty much bulletproof. Best of luck with your purchase.

 

Thanks for the responses guys!! Another question I had was: are there are issues with the oil-filter being succeptible to damage where it is placed behind the front bumper? If anyone could offer (and I might be jumping into hot water on a Ford site) a comparison opinion of the 4.6L to the GM 5.7L, I'd appreciate that. I know I can buy a used Ford for a lot less than a used GM due to resale value, but not sure if I want to settle for the 4.6L when the 5.7L is WAY more torquier and will typically produce better gas mileage with a proven design.

 

If you want gobs of power, the 4.6 is not your engine. If you want a very reliable good everyday engine - this is your choice. I currently have over 131,000 miles on my 4.6l. To date, I have done oil and filters every 3,000 miles, radiator flushes every two years, spark plugs and wires at 120,000k, and nothing else. That's right - the engine has not broken down once. The engine does not burn a drop of oil or leak a drop of oil either. Not many engines you can make that claim about. More or less, the engine itself is bulletproof.

I average 17mpg long term. High was 23mpg, low 12.0. I am not the fastest guy away from the light, but it will always get me home!

I wouldn't worry too much about damage to the oil filter if its behind the front bumper. Unless you plan on smashing your bumper in regularly...

In a comparo to the 5.7, the 5.7 is going to win on power - duh! A 350 ci vs a 281 ci engine is not a valid comparison in my book. It is a proven performer with a long track record. I'm not going to say anything bad about it.

In the end, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a 4.6 as a daily driver. Regular heavy towing, I would get the 5.4, but for the little I do, it does just fine. If reliability counts in your book - it counts a lot in my book - the 4.6 is a very good choice.

Good luck!

 

To make a valid comparison with the GM 5.7 you must consider where the torque curve. I haven't seen GM's but I heard all the torque comes at high rpm. Als, it should really go against the 5.4 Triton.

Good luck!