The 5.4 is known to be a very reliable engine when maintained correctly and, in most cases, you should be easily able to put over 200,000 miles on it without experiencing any major issues, and if you maintain it well, a 5.4 should be able to last you for over 300,000 miles.
Ford 5.4 Engine Overview
The Ford 5.4 V8 is a member of the Ford Modular family of engines, which also includes engines like the classic 4.6 V8, the 5.0 Coyote, the 5.2 Voodoo, and the 5.8 Trinity. Over the years, the Modular engine and its derivatives have been used in cars like the Mustang, the Crown Victoria, and the Ford GT, as well as several Lincoln vehicles.
The 5.4 version of the Modular V8 was first introduced in 1997 for the Ford F-150 pickup, and production has continued since then. There are a few variants of the 5.4 engine itself; versions were available with 2, 3, and 4 valves per cylinder, and high-performance versions of the 5.4 were made with an aluminum block as opposed to a cast-iron block.
The 5.4 features a cylinder bore of 90 mm and a stroke of 106 mm, making it an under-the-square engine. This means that the 5.4 can produce more torque at lower RPM, which makes it more suitable for use in pickup trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles.
The 5.4 is a pretty ubiquitous engine around the world; it’s a common engine in North America, of course, but many cars with the 5.4 are also sold by Ford Australia. The 5.4 was even used in the Brabham BT62, an extremely low-volume track car.
Depending on what vehicle it’s in and how it’s been tuned, the 5.4 engine can make anywhere from 235 to 691 horsepower, and anywhere from 330 to 510 lb-ft of torque. In some cars, like the Ford GT and the Shelby Mustang, the 5.4 engine is also supercharged. Currently, variants of the 5.4 engine are built at Ford’s manufacturing plants in Windsor, Ontario, and Romeo, Michigan.
Ford 5.4 Engine Maintenance Tips
While the 5.4 engine is known to be very reliable overall, it’s not a perfect engine by any means; there are certainly a few common problems that this engine tends to experience. Here are some of the more well-known issues that the 5.4 engine tends to have, and how you can spot them before they become too serious.
Ignition System Issues
On older 5.4 engines, specifically the 2-valve and 3-valve ones, you might sometimes encounter problems with the ignition system. On occasion, the 2-valve engines will blow their spark plugs clean out of the cylinder head, and while the 3-valve engines don’t have this issue, the spark plugs used in the 3-valve engines tend to break off when removed.
If you want to catch any malfunctioning spark plugs before they completely fail, you should keep an eye out for several symptoms. Misfiring, a rough idle, and power loss are all signs that your ignition system is on the fritz.
Timing Chain Issues
The 5.4 engine is also known to experience issues with its timing chain tensioners and its variable valve timing (VVT) system. Only the 3-and 4-valve engines use VVT, so no need to worry about this if you own the 2-valve version.
Put simply, these issues with the timing chain tensioners can cause the timing chain to become loose, which will, of course, throw your timing out of whack. If the timing gets thrown off far enough, your pistons could end up making contact with your valves, which can destroy your engine.
Keep an eye out for any weird knocking or rattling sounds coming from your engine, as this can be a sign of a faulty timing chain or chain tensioners.
Fuel Pump Module Issues
The fuel pump module used with the 3-valve versions of the 5.4 engine is known to fail, mostly due to where it was installed in vehicles that used it.
The module was too exposed to the elements and tended to get clogged up with water, dirt, and salt, which would eventually cause it to stop running. No fuel pump module means no fuel pump, which means no fuel, which means no running engine.
Symptoms of a bad fuel pump module include the engine sputtering, stalling, or failure to start entirely. If you run a diagnostic on your truck and get the error code DTC P1233, this is also an indicator that your module isn’t working.
Summary
Like any engine, the Ford 5.4 isn’t perfect; it has its share of common problems, and it certainly won’t last you forever if you don’t take care of it. However, most of the problems with these engines tend to be fairly easy to fix, and as long as you make sure to maintain your engine correctly, it should be able to last you for over 200,000 miles easily.
If you’re not sure how to properly maintain your engine, just refer to your owner’s manual; it should contain all the information you need regarding when to service your engine and what parts will require your attention at any given time.
Hi, I hope this article was helpful to you. If you've ever owned a car before, it's inevitable that you will deal with your fair share of car issues. I know I have, and that's why my passion is to research common car questions and answer them.
- 10w20 vs 10w30: Which Is Better? - June 14, 2022
- Clay Bar vs Rubbing Compound: Which Is Better? - June 14, 2022
- BG 44K vs Techron: Which Is Better? - June 14, 2022
