5.4 or 3.5

[sonofagun]

I got rid of my '99 Expy and picked up an '09 a few years back, both with the 5.4L engine. Six months ago I purchased a "new to me" '17 Expy EL with a 3.5L and the turbos! I kept the '09 to haul my utility trailer and boat.

While I'm mostly happy with the '17 and it's 3.5L, I mostly prefer driving the '09 with it's 5.4.

The engine is smoother, quieter and it seems to have much more confidence in towing.

I'm going to miss her when she finally retires!

 

[JExpedition07]

Oh boy, lol I’ve driven both and like both. The ecoboost barely has to come off idle and it’s pulling like a freight train, torque is incredible. 5.4 Triton has lots of torque too, being N/A just revs more to fetch it.

The 5.4 and the 6R80 work together with more harmony it seems with the shift strategies. The 6R80 seems as though it was made for the 5.4 and pairing to the Eco was a bit of an afterthought but still drives great imo!

 

[grumpyoleman]

I too had a 5.4 before my 3.5 and liked it. The 5.4 was in a Navigator and it did everything I asked of it and did it well. Smooth and reliable. But my first drive with a 3.5 (in an AWD Linc MKS) got me hooked. I just smile more when driving my wife's Expy with the 3.5. I am one of those who get more out of the BOOST than the ECO if you know what I mean...

 

[chuck s]

I don't miss my '07 5.4V8 at all since buying the '17 3.5EcoBoost two years ago. The 3.5 is better in all respects -- including towing.

-- Chuck

 

[aagitch]

I had an Expy with the 5.4 several years ago but now have the 3.5 eco. To me, my 17 Expy tows with much less effort and with better mpg's.

 

[jeff kushner]

My 3.5 '17 is my third Expy like you, with the priors being a '99 and an '03EB. I agree that the 5.4's seemed to be a lot quieter but seemed to be choked as well, you know, tuned pretty softly where the 3.5 TO ME, is so much "stronger than it was before, faster, better"...yeah it's pretty much been the bionic truck for me so far....time is the teller of all things so we shall see......but I can appreciate that you also know what you like, no matter the time period. I have a shiny modern bike for the highway but I like my old stuff too. I hope the '09 lasts for another 10 years for you.

jeff

 

[1955moose]

Imagine if they could make the 2020 version sound like a V8? That would be cool. Or better still offer a bigger V8, like say around 5.8, with right around the 420 Hp point. With no cars but the mustang to speak of, they'll have a lot of spare time!

Sent from my N9131 using Tapatalk

 

[powerboatr]

i had a 2010 F150 crew cab 4x4 3.55 gearset. with the 5.4 IMO it was never a grunt motor. it downshifted from 6th at every little overpass.
never felt like it had guts of glory. low end tq was pretty low imo.
it always seemed imo to be making alot of noise but not as much delivery.
but i had just come form a crew cab dually 6.0 diesel 4.30 gears. it would flat jump

but my 3.5 has tons of low end grunt push you back tq. 2 3 and 4 th gear are imo awesome in the tq range in normal drivng, yes i have the 3.73 gears and 4 x4 but it does not downshift on over passes

i also had a 2013 4x4 crew cab 3.55 gears f150 kr...it had gobs of tq as well, it was scary quick

 

[JExpedition07]

Love my 5.4 and 3.73s, lots of torque and a lot more grunt than the 5.3 chevy’s I drove.

 

[chuck s]

There are 3 or 4 V8 Mustangs in my neighborhood with the most annoying and wimpy sounding exhausts. Give me nothing like that!

-- Chuck