buying a mod powered ford.

[caseyj10]

Hello all, my buddy is in the market for a truck to use as a dd/tow rig for his jeep. He wants a newer ford with the 4.6 or 5.4. His funds are somewhat limited. He found a 2008 fx2 4.6 with 99k for 16,980 at a ford dealership. The truck itself is in good shape. Only worry is the mileage. What is a good mileage for a mod with around 100k miles of life left in it?

[basketcase0302]

Casey,
Personally I don't think that 16K miles is nothing on a 4.6 or a 5.4. I had way...over 100K on the 5.4 in my 99 Expedition and had only coil issues as far as engine troubles. These engine have one coil per cylinder and are prone to failing. But the good new is that the coils are only around $20.00 each and troubleshooting this is fairly easy with an OBDII scanner.

[elgemcdlf]

Jeff 16K is the price. 99K is the mileage.

[caseyj10]

Jeff 16K is the price. 99K is the mileage.

I think he ment to say 99k.

[basketcase0302]

Yes, I did miss that guys. That does sound a little high, (price wise) for a truck with that many miles on a gas engine. Older Brother today telling me of his F-350 dual cab Ford diesel that has over 300K on it and will still town anything up the mountains around here!
Maybe at least have a compression check ran on the cylinders of that engine?

[Ranchero50]

I'd tell him to buy very cheap until the Ecoboost's build a reputation and then buy a nicer one of those.

Dad's '03 F250 with the 5.4 / auto struggled terribly pulling @8k of pavers and trailer home the other week. 1080 6lb pavers on a 18' flatbed did not want to maintain 50 going up any hill even with the OD locked out. His truck has around 104k on the clock.

[averagef250]

I'd tell him to buy very cheap until the Ecoboost's build a reputation and then buy a nicer one of those.

Dad's '03 F250 with the 5.4 / auto struggled terribly pulling @8k of pavers and trailer home the other week. 1080 6lb pavers on a 18' flatbed did not want to maintain 50 going up any hill even with the OD locked out. His truck has around 104k on the clock.

Tritons get 3rd gear (stick) 2nd gear (auto) towing anything. Hold it around 4500 and it does OK, just turn the radio up

They don't win any races, but they don't blow up either.

[rltvader]

in arkansas there is a 2008 4x4 with 4.6 XL for $15,900 and 75000 miles.
That sounds a little much on price for almost 17,000.

[hazelnut]

A few years back i used my dads 2000 F-150 4x4 w/ 5.4 80k miles to go on a 2500mile trip to pick up a car. I drove about 60-65 the whole way and could only get 12-13 mpg loaded and empty. Flat ground and cruise control didnt help the mileage, I thought it would get 15-16 at the least on flat ground. I didn't ask to barrow his truck anymore after that trip. For what i spent on gas i could have had it delivered for $200 more and wouldn't have had to drive for 36 hours.

[HIO Silver]

A few years back i used my dads 2000 F-150 4x4 w/ 5.4 80k miles to go on a 2500mile trip to pick up a car. I drove about 60-65 the whole way and could only get 12-13 mpg loaded and empty. Flat ground and cruise control didnt help the mileage, I thought it would get 15-16 at the least on flat ground. I didn't ask to barrow his truck anymore after that trip. For what i spent on gas i could have had it delivered for $200 more and wouldn't have had to drive for 36 hours.

There's sumthin' wrong with either the rig or perhaps driving style.......My 2001 Super Crew 4x4 with 95K miles gets 18 mpg highway doing about 70 mph on CA's Interstate 5 which is as flat as a pancake. That's with four guys, gear, and beer going to NASCAR weekends. Around town, about 13 mpg.

Tires at 35 psi, Royal Purple 5w30 engine oil, Mercon V, and Royal Purple gear lube.

[averagef250]

There's sumthin' wrong with either the rig or perhaps driving style.......My 2001 Super Crew 4x4 with 95K miles gets 18 mpg highway doing about 70 mph on CA's Interstate 5 which is as flat as a pancake. That's with four guys, gear, and beer going to NASCAR weekends. Around town, about 13 mpg.

Tires at 35 psi, Royal Purple 5w30 engine oil, Mercon V, and Royal Purple gear lube.

Really? I'm pretty darn good at getting fuel economy from vehicles and Tritons have always sucked fuel wise for me and everyone else I've ever met. The only time I've heard a mileage number better than 16 tossed around for a Triton is from a Mustang owner.

My folk's 2002 4.6 Mountaineer gets 12 on a good day (dash says 18- My ass!). It's a yuppied up Explorer; A tiny little SUV and it gets 12 or worse.

IMO the Triton's best quality is they just keep going. Seen a few with 350K+ that use a bunch of oil and rattle a little, but they still go and don't chunk parts out the bottom.

[hazelnut]

A few years back i used my dads 2000 F-150 4x4 w/ 5.4 80k miles to go on a 2500mile trip to pick up a car. I drove about 60-65 the whole way and could only get 12-13 mpg loaded and empty. Flat ground and cruise control didnt help the mileage, I thought it would get 15-16 at the least on flat ground. I didn't ask to barrow his truck anymore after that trip. For what i spent on gas i could have had it delivered for $200 more and wouldn't have had to drive for 36 hours.

There's sumthin' wrong with either the rig or perhaps driving style.......My 2001 Super Crew 4x4 with 95K miles gets 18 mpg highway doing about 70 mph on CA's Interstate 5 which is as flat as a pancake. That's with four guys, gear, and beer going to NASCAR weekends. Around town, about 13 mpg.

Tires at 35 psi, Royal Purple 5w30 engine oil, Mercon V, and Royal Purple gear lube.

There was nothing wrong with the truck, My dad kept the maintance up and he always took it to my brother-in-laws service station to have oil changes and whatever work done. As for my driveing style, How can you get better mileage than with cruise on flat ground ? I don't lead foot other peoples stuff, If anything i baby it because i want it to get back the same as it left. My dad always complained about the mileage since the truck was new and the truck stayed in good condition.

I also agree with average250 about not haveing any power. When i was driveing the truck and it would get hit by a head wind it would downshift to be able to push through it. Thats one of the reasons i bought a 7.3 when i bought my work truck. Better mileage and WAY more power, One of the smartest things ive done as far as vehicals.

[rdaniel911]

My 5.4 pulls my camper 70 with no problems, dry weight of 6000, after my wife loads it who knows. I've never had any problems with it pulling up to speed and maintaining. I hear people talk about towing issues but not sure what the difference is. We have a 07 F150 HD ( I didn't realize the made such a beast till we found out thats what this is.) It pulls a 9000LB air trailer just as well as it pulls the smaller trailers. And I agree, we beat the heck out of them and they do not come apart. Still miss my 351, but the 5.4 does the job. Can't compare any triton to a 7.3, as for that not much else you can compare it to, they were bullet proof in our ambulances as well. Now we've moved to dodge chassis with cummings.