Which Ford engine is better?

[sasilverbullet]

Looking at two conversion vans:

1998 Ford E-150 w/5.4L 235 hp - 167,800 miles
2005 Ford E-150 w/4.6l 225 HP & 286 lb Ft. - 47,000 miles (yes, it's correct)

Which would you choose - all other things being equal?

Maintenance nightmares?
Which is probably easier on gas?
Easy to service?

 

[bullwinkle]

Believe the '05 would be after the infamous plug launching years (which the '98 would be in the middle of), so that's the way I'd go. Unless you were planning on loading it heavily or trying to tow with it. Neither one will be very easy to work on.

 

[wtd]

The 05 will have the two piece spark plugs that tend to break when you go to change them. That can get expensive if you have someone else do the removal of the broken plugs.

Wayne

 

[NHGUY]

Find an old late 70s job with 460V8.....or even better a "Pathfinder" conversion with 4wd.

 

[DSparks]

There both the same basic engine and are both the 2v versions...id take the newer one even though it is smaller...change the plugs in it early and use anti sieze..problem fixed...that thing will go 250k with basic oil/air filter changes...

 

[krismoriah72]

5.4 3V motors are Junk. cam phasers, spark plug welding and all kinds of fun stuff.

Triton motors before 2004 have short spark plug threads in aluminum heads..plugs blow out of the heads.. Coil packs are junk too.

4.6 motors after 2004 are nearly bulletproof and get pretty good gas mileage.


IF you have to buy a ford get the 4.6 otherwise get u a 5.3 chevy both should get u 300K to 400K miles without a lot of fuss.

 

[MNgopher]

Both of them are the old school 2V modular engines. The 3V problems with phasers, stuck plugs, etc... do not apply.

The 4.6 generally is tough as nails but low on power. It will get the job done, but will work to do it... I drove 2 F150's with the 2V for hundreds of thousands of miles with 4.6L engines and wouldn't hesitate from a reliability standpoint to buy another...

I'd jump on the newer one (assuming its been taken care of...)

 

[supton]

I'd be tempted by the newer & lower mile one. Push come to shove, change the rear end ratio.

Do the vans have axle code stamped on the door jam?

 

[cptbarkey]

4.6 all the way.

 

[KingCake]

4.6

 

[cpayne5]

In an E150, I'd say 4.6.

I have a 98 E350 box van with a 5.4 and an '02 E150 with the 4.6. The 4.6 is a sweet little engine and it gets very good fuel mileage. If you don't load it way down and expect too much from it, it will do be fine.

Our box van is too much vehicle for the 5.4 - it's a pig. But, it gets from point A to point B reliably.

They're vans - so a little trickier to service. The ability to remove the dog house is nice when you're going after the rear plugs (or bell housing bolts), though.

 

[Zaedock]

The engines are irrelevant. Look at the years and mileage.

I'd go with the 2005 all day long.

 

[BrocLuno]

1996 302 and forget the later stuff

Sequential EFI, roller cam. Bullet-proof, and out here, you can find a rust free one and drive it home

 

[AZjeff]

Originally Posted By: sasilverbullet
Looking at two conversion vans:

1998 Ford E-150 w/5.4L 235 hp - 167,800 miles
2005 Ford E-150 w/4.6l 225 HP & 286 lb Ft. - 47,000 miles (yes, it's correct)

Which would you choose - all other things being equal?


7 years and 120K miles, all other things can't be equal. '05, get the plug issue dealt with now, don't look back.

 

[crazyoildude]

I agree with cptbarkey the 4.6 has always been a great long lasting engine.

 

[donnyj08]

Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
4.6 all the way.



+1

 

[buck91]

No contest. The newer, lower mileage van with the 4.6L. Remember, that '98 5.4 is actually an NPI motor. Probably doesn't offer much better torque than the newer 4.6L.

 

[FranklinJL]

4.6 is a tough motor, you'll get 300-400kp....one of Fords better efforts

 

[QuinZ]

Originally Posted By: donnyj08
Originally Posted By: cptbarkey
4.6 all the way.



+1


+2