Ford 150

[arrow]

SIL is looking at a 2008 4wd 150 p.u. Truck has xtenda cab and only 46K on the odometer. It has the 4.6 V8. It has also had 2 owners. This truck has low mileage for it's year but I am wondering how a truck that really looks brand new presently, would not keep an owner satisfied where the did not want to get rid of it. Anything inherent to this model year that would discourage ownership such as crumby gas mileage or drive train problems?

 

[HHR]

SIL is looking at a 2008 4wd 150 p.u. Truck has xtenda cab and only 46K on the odometer. It has the 4.6 V8. It has also had 2 owners. This truck has low mileage for it's year but I am wondering how a truck that really looks brand new presently, would not keep an owner satisfied where the did not want to get rid of it. Anything inherent to this model year that would discourage ownership such as crumby gas mileage or drive train problems?

I traded my 04 F150 4.6L because I couldn't stand to drive the thing for more than an hour due to uncomfortably thin seats I averaged 14 mpg in the winter and 18 in the summer.

 

[tman1020]

I have a 2006 model but I have the 5 L my son has a 2000 with a 4.6. Both are very nice trucks. The seats in his are better than the seats in mine. Only problems to date on mine is I had a exhaust manifold gasket go out not a big deal. His also currently has manifold gasket leakQuoted 800 to repair, made a funny noise till I had it fixed. heard that changing the spark plugs on both of these models is a PITA. my sons truck had a coil pack go out each cylinder has its own. About 60 bucks at the auto parts store and you're back in business.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I had a 07 and now a 2012. Biggest issue is the 4.6. Just not that powerful. The 5.4 is a much more desirable motor.

As for the seats, all 6 of my F150's have been XLT or better trim packages. The trucks were very comfortable.

Chris

 

[Wolfy]

The 4.6L is not the best tow engine but it does make an excellent commuter engine. My brother had one in a 2000 F150.

 

[JJZ 109]

I had a 07 and now a 2012. Biggest issue is the 4.6. Just not that powerful. The 5.4 is a much more desirable motor.

Chris

After two 4.6's in the late 90's I felt the same way. Never got another 4.6.

 

[Diamondpilot]

After two 4.6's in the late 90's I felt the same way. Never got another 4.6.

I actually never owned a 4.6. All my F150's were 5.4's and now this Ecoboost. All were comfortable trouble free trucks.

Chris

 

[MinnesotaEric]

SIL is looking at a 2008 4wd 150 p.u. Truck has xtenda cab and only 46K on the odometer. It has the 4.6 V8. It has also had 2 owners. This truck has low mileage for it's year but I am wondering how a truck that really looks brand new presently, would not keep an owner satisfied where the did not want to get rid of it. Anything inherent to this model year that would discourage ownership such as crumby gas mileage or drive train problems?

We have a 2004 two-wheel drive regular cab 6.5' bed 3.55 limited slip diff F150 with the 4.6L in the family fleet that we purchased new. We like it. Ours is high mileage at this point. Change out the spark plugs with Ford's updated design at 50,000. Cam phasers may go but you can drive it with them anyway. The ignition switch may go. Other than that, they are claw hammer reliable.

 

[navistar505]

We have a 2004 two-wheel drive regular cab 6.5' bed 3.55 limited slip diff F150 with the 4.6L in the family fleet that we purchased new. We like it. Ours is high mileage at this point. Change out the spark plugs with Ford's updated design at 50,000. Cam phasers may go but you can drive it with them anyway. The ignition switch may go. Other than that, they are claw hammer reliable.

The cam phasers can be a expensive repair. Listen for a ticking noise at idle it is still drivable but annoying. If you do buy one the way to avoid having this problem is regular oil changes and using OEM motorcraft oil filters

 

[HHR]

We have a 2004 two-wheel drive regular cab 6.5' bed 3.55 limited slip diff F150 with the 4.6L in the family fleet that we purchased new. We like it. Ours is high mileage at this point. Change out the spark plugs with Ford's updated design at 50,000. Cam phasers may go but you can drive it with them anyway. The ignition switch may go. Other than that, they are claw hammer reliable.

The 2-valve 4.6L doesn't have cam phasers and they come with a standard one piece spark plug. The 2004 and newer 3-valve 5.4L has cam phasers and the multi-piece plug design (that gets stuck in the head).
Ford did put a 3-valve 4.6L in the F150 for the 09-10 years, but I haven't heard of any specific issues with them.

 

[arrow]

Thanks folks. I'll be driving this vehicle shortly. There could be a million reasons why 2 owners got rid of this vehicle within it's 46K miles. I'll get a better feel for it when i take it out. By the way, I know one shouldn't snow plow with a Ram 1500. Is this also true of the 150?

 

[Wolfy]

1/2 tons really are not cut out to plow, no matter the brand, from what I have seen.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Lots of guys plow with 1/2 tons here. Toyotas seems to be the most common followed by GM and Ford. But the 4.6 is not upto the task, I would want a 5.4

Chris

 

[tman1020]

I plow with my 06 F1 50. 5.4. No problem so far but I use a Snow Way, Lexon blade plow.

 

[arrow]

1/2 tons really are not cut out to plow, no matter the brand, from what I have seen.

Beyond power or gearing issues, older Rams had this "seam gusset" right under the cab. They did this to compensate for different bed lengths so they could use the same front end assembly. Chrysler came right out saying you shouldn't plow with the 1500 . People did anyway and cracked the chassis right at the gusset. Bean counters should have no say on how to build a truck.

 

[Wolfy]

I think there is a good size market for 1/2 owners who want to plow. But they do not last well in commercial plowing. A lot of it is, besides suspension, 3/4 and 1 ton trucks simply have more steel to rust away than a 1/2 ton.