Better engine Ford 5.4 or GM 5.3 L
- Thread starter kjcba8101
- Start date
GM 5.3. And most folks won't have too many problems with either engine, but the GM 5.3s have been known for their dependability over the years.
The Ford 5.4 has had some issues with a "ticking" sound and cam issues from what I have read.
And I have a Ford truck in my garage. But I have had the 5.3 before and it was awesome.
The Ford 5.4 has had some issues with a "ticking" sound and cam issues from what I have read.
And I have a Ford truck in my garage. But I have had the 5.3 before and it was awesome.
I had a 2010 F150 with the 5.4. Perhaps earlier iterations were better, but the timing system on the later ones had all sorts of design deficiencies that usually resulted in an expensive problem between 80k and 120k miles.
Mine was starting to show telltale signs of those timing issues so I traded it for a 2011 with the 5.0. I like it much better.
5.3 for sure. I've seen too many 5.4s die. I liked my 5.3 but it felt kind of doggy. I had it tuned and it really picked it up. I now have a gmc with 6.2 that I really like. I do like the 3.5 ecoboost too if you are set on a ford.
5.3 certainly. I like the 3.5 ecoboost the best of what is available now. I'm excluding the 6 plus liter models. My favorite was the big 8 liter Chevy from the early 2000s.
My favorite motor of the Chevy motors is the 4.8. It's really not any different than the 5.3 save for maybe a few minor thing, pistons and whatnot. Actually, I've read a few articles where some hot rodders tune up the 4.8 quite a bit.
I had a 2000 Chevy short wide with a 4.8. Mean little dude. It could always pass well on the highway and wasn't much more than a grocery getter in that configuration, but I slapped a solid tonneu cover on it and strait pipes, it made a dandy road tripper for a single guy back then.
I got stuck in snow one winter and that was the last of me with trucks with no 4 wheel drive. But I wouldn't mind having that one back just to kick around in from time to time.
I had a 2000 Chevy short wide with a 4.8. Mean little dude. It could always pass well on the highway and wasn't much more than a grocery getter in that configuration, but I slapped a solid tonneu cover on it and strait pipes, it made a dandy road tripper for a single guy back then.
I got stuck in snow one winter and that was the last of me with trucks with no 4 wheel drive. But I wouldn't mind having that one back just to kick around in from time to time.
The 5.4's around the 06 yr models had two piece spark plugs which tended to seize to the cylinder heads. Found out after taking mine in to have them changed 6 broke off and had to have one head pulled to drill out one of the plugs. Most expensive plug job i had ever heard about. Funny thing is I've driven fords my whole life and had never heard about this issue until I started looking for a place to change the plugs most places refused to even try.
I can't remember the cutoff but I'm thinking it was maybe a year or two sooner than '06.
I could be wrong though - it's been months since I've dug into the 5.4 history.
I believe the older early 2000's body style 5.4's were fine. The 2 piece spark plug debacle was when they went to aluminum heads with the 05? (I think it was) body changes. I think they quit installing the two piece plugs a year model or two after 06. As a side note if I hadn't have waited as long as I did to change them there probably wouldn't have been as big of an issue with the plugs. My dad had an 06 with 50k miles he had his changed out after I told him what I ran into with mine and they got all of his out OK. They were still a pain in the ass to remove but none broke off.
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Our '02 Tahoe was excellent from an engine perspective. We had some issues with accelerated wear in the steering components and could never figure out why. We also had a bizarre issue with the alternator over charging and destroying batteries and amazingly couldn't figure out how to eliminate that issue either.
Otherwise, awesome vehicle. Had it 10 years and put about 140k on it.
Someone's gonna have to give me the Cliffs on a two piece spark plug. What is that supposed to accomplish?
5.3 was certainly the best motor for many years. Every time I see a 4.8, I think why? Gets the same mileage and has less power than the 5.3 in real world use.
Just as DTS said it is the rest of the truck that is the problem with the 5.3 trucks. Not very durable even for hobby farmer types.
Just as DTS said it is the rest of the truck that is the problem with the 5.3 trucks. Not very durable even for hobby farmer types.
I'd be using it as a kid hauler/the occasional light duty load. Getting rid of my 7.3 diesel for a smaller vehicle. Don't need to tow that kind of load. Is the truck ok for that?
Yes, that is what they are the best for. Make sure every light and switch works if it doesn't, only buy it if you are ok with it never working. most of them have one running light that will continuously fry the bulb.
Haha my 2000 Z71 was that way...didn't matter how many times you changed it. Loved the rest of the truck though.
It'll be great up to 150K, then better than 50% chance you'll be looking at a rebuilt transmission. 2700 at Great Western transmissions in Colorado Springs. Tell then Tony sent you, he knows me personally since I've sent his kids to college.
Here's a good summary about the 2 piece spark plugs on the 5.4L Fords http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/120
I think it was just a bunch of engineers over thinking things. There has been a class action setttlement on this issue also.http://www.fordsparkplugsettlement.com/
I think it was just a bunch of engineers over thinking things. There has been a class action setttlement on this issue also.http://www.fordsparkplugsettlement.com/
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I'm driving a Ford with a 6.2 now. Love the power. I still like Chevy, but this was just a good deal and it's serving its purpose.
Someone mentioned steering issues...here's my take on all that...for a long time now, trucks have been sold with bigger and heavier tire and wheel packages. Trucks are longer too, most are 4 door cab and whatnot with more weight, and there's more chances for curb checks and other knocks and I think that all that put together is pretty hard on the steering components over time, more so than when trucks were outfitted with skinny tires and thinner steel wheels with hub caps back in the 60s-70s and were either short or long bed with fewer crew cab varieties. All that wear and tear adds up over a period of time, plus, trucks are used more for everyday use nowadays as people use them for their main vehicle (you see more women driving trucks even for their main car) and more miles get racked up. This is just my theory, who knows, I'm no mechanic so I may be way off base...
Steering parts...ball joints, bushings, tie rods...whatever is up there just get blasted with more use and abuse these days. I sold a 2003 Dodge Ram to a friend of mine, I thought it drove fine. He took it to have it aligned and the shop wouldn't even touch it. He ended up replacing the front end (A arms and ball joints and such)...he got a nice kit for $400 bucks and did it himself. The truck had 160,000 miles on it. I gave him a good deal on it though, enough that he had plenty of cash leftover to fix all the nonsense that has went down on the truck and it's now a pretty sweet ride.
I used to like watching "The Fall Guy"....watch when they jump that Chevy over whatever the hell obstacle they decide for the week...the front end turns to mush lol. I bet they destroyed as many trucks on that show as "The Dukes of Hazzard" destroyed nice old Chargers back in the same time period....sad....
Someone mentioned steering issues...here's my take on all that...for a long time now, trucks have been sold with bigger and heavier tire and wheel packages. Trucks are longer too, most are 4 door cab and whatnot with more weight, and there's more chances for curb checks and other knocks and I think that all that put together is pretty hard on the steering components over time, more so than when trucks were outfitted with skinny tires and thinner steel wheels with hub caps back in the 60s-70s and were either short or long bed with fewer crew cab varieties. All that wear and tear adds up over a period of time, plus, trucks are used more for everyday use nowadays as people use them for their main vehicle (you see more women driving trucks even for their main car) and more miles get racked up. This is just my theory, who knows, I'm no mechanic so I may be way off base...
Steering parts...ball joints, bushings, tie rods...whatever is up there just get blasted with more use and abuse these days. I sold a 2003 Dodge Ram to a friend of mine, I thought it drove fine. He took it to have it aligned and the shop wouldn't even touch it. He ended up replacing the front end (A arms and ball joints and such)...he got a nice kit for $400 bucks and did it himself. The truck had 160,000 miles on it. I gave him a good deal on it though, enough that he had plenty of cash leftover to fix all the nonsense that has went down on the truck and it's now a pretty sweet ride.
I used to like watching "The Fall Guy"....watch when they jump that Chevy over whatever the hell obstacle they decide for the week...the front end turns to mush lol. I bet they destroyed as many trucks on that show as "The Dukes of Hazzard" destroyed nice old Chargers back in the same time period....sad....
Interesting situation, the only conclusion I can readily draw is that the two piece plug was simply cheaper to manufacture. I didn't see anything relating to performance.
The frustrating part of the whole process for me was the fact that Ford was well aware of the issue, since they quit using them after the 08 yr models, and yet they never said a thing about it. It would have been nice to get a notice from them suggesting the plugs be changed by 50k miles
