Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire F 150 Engine Replacement

I have 270K on my 04 5.4l Triton. Replaced the timing chains at 200K. Sparkplugs & boot assys every 30K.
I had a bad cam lobe because a roller on the rocker froze up. Replaced the lifter and rocker with the cam. Still has a lifter tick so will replace all the lifters and rockers when I get the money. For now it just keeps chugging along...

1997-2003 , 10th Generation, 4.6/5.4 are known for being some of the best trucks made. <Exclude the 4.2 6 cylinder.

2004-2008 , 11th Generation, 4.6/5.4 are known as the worst trucks ever made. Beware of those years, 3 valve time-bomb that rarely made it to 100K miles before needing a new engine.
12th generation, 2009-2014, I started to buy one back then, a ford tech/mech told me shop for something else, these are having problems, not as bad as the Gen 11 but not great either.

Knew a guy who bought new 3.5? turbo,, in the shop warranty repairs more than once.

Which year model?

I've owned 2 F150's and 1 Expedition, all with the 5.4 3v engine. Put about 400k combined miles on them, never done any major repairs. Have an '06 that is my daily driver, love that truck. Use a good 5w30 synthetic oil, with changes at 5k and they'll go a long ways.

2010 Lariat engine failed locked up at 165,000 miles. Dealer maintained. I'd say the little things were all fixed. The big things still had a problem. $8,500 out the door with a Ford replaced long block. Not much of a guarantee on the replaced engine but some. I like the truck while being disappointed in the engine life. Then again expectations have changed since I was young.

For the OP I'd say look at transmission seals and other such that will be hidden when the replaced engine is in the truck. Assuming the sensors are accessible I'd wait for them to show signs of problems before replacing them. Spark plugs and air filter and such replaced every chance on the principle that tune-ups always pay in performance so go ahead.

I still drive a Gen 10 XLT Super Cab 2010 FS4 OffRoad 4x4 with a 5.4 Triton ... every day. Knock on wood, doesn't burn a drop of oil. I've got a small drip in the rear main seal which I intend to have replaced here before too long. I think it rolled to like 330k here recently ... sometimes the odometer reads, some times it doesn't. That's the only knock on the truck, it's nearly mint. I just put a new muffler on it and a new set of tires ... I wax it regularly and change the oil religiously. AC still blows cold. I love the truck. Been offered an insane amount of money for it.

They used to talk about spark plugs blowing out and rocker arms on the cams breaking ... never had that problem but I always had it served by my good mechanic and he's taken care of it.

The only thing I can remember causing a hiccup was an O² sensor one time but that was an easy fix.

You can find lots of 5.4 Triton engines up in the midwest I've been told ... nosomuch with the bodies because they are all rusted out up there. I've been thinking of buying a used block or complete engine when I a, up in Michigan in July and bringing it down here to be rebuilt for the sad day when mine gives out. May try to find a transmission to have rebuilt at the same time.