How durable are these 4.6l engines?

[NicksBullitt]

I currently have a 2001 bullitt with about 44,000 miles. I have heard that these 4.6l engines are "weak" or prone to breakage. I want to pursue more add-ons but I do not want to break the engine.

I also owned a 90 GT and put more than 200,000 miles on that engine,Seriously. My question is this, Do any of you have about 100,000 miles or more and how have your engines held up?

My goal is to push about 300 hp to the rear wheels , is this too much hp for a non forged engine?

 

[Spreadman]

I currently have a 2001 bullitt with about 44,000 miles. I have heard that these 4.6l engines are "weak" or prone to breakage. I want to pursue more add-ons but I do not want to break the engine.

I also owned a 90 GT and put more than 200,000 miles on that engine,Seriously. My question is this, Do any of you have about 100,000 miles or more and how have your engines held up?

My goal is to push about 300 hp to the rear wheels , is this too much hp for a non forged engine?

Just turned 110k miles, and it still runs awesome. I plan on adding a Kenne Bell around 150k mark. Plan on beating it well into the 200's.

 

[Brisk281GT]

I currently have a 2001 bullitt with about 44,000 miles. I have heard that these 4.6l engines are "weak" or prone to breakage. I want to pursue more add-ons but I do not want to break the engine.

I also owned a 90 GT and put more than 200,000 miles on that engine,Seriously. My question is this, Do any of you have about 100,000 miles or more and how have your engines held up?

My goal is to push about 300 hp to the rear wheels , is this too much hp for a non forged engine?

Who ever told you that is also smoking crack. These engines are pretty damn good.

 

[Modular2v]

Well i dont know how you heard that 4.6s are weak.....granted the rods are not the strongest thing in the world but if you arent running boost i would have no concern of the motor giving out on you....there are some people here with 200k miles and they still take a thrashing.....someone on here tore apart a 4.6 with 220k miles on it and they could still see the factory cross hatchings

 

[quiksilver98]

80k here, beating it every time I drive. Still runs strong!

 

[AirWolf87]

I agree with everyone, these engines take a beating...mine is pushing 75k and she runs and sounds like new...not a drop of oil on the driveway, and i think she will gladly take another 75k. As for these engines being weak, go to the drag strip. I bet you see many more blown 5.0s than 4.6s. I read somewhere that these blocks are way stronger than the 5.0s. At 44k ur just done breaking it in...you can beat the hell out of it for years to come

 

[Turbo92PGT]

Mine's got 107 on it and I beat the heck out of it every day. It hangs with 99+ GT's and is holding a 75 shot with no problems And no it doesn't need the nitrous to "hang" with 99 gt's lol

 

[sjrtx]

i had 2 previous cars to my 2002 gt, a 95 5.0 that had 150k miles when i sold it (didnt leak or use a drop of oil) and my 98 gt that also didnt leak or use a single drop of oil. I had intake problems on that car, but that was it. as far as the internals go, they are as strong as they need to be. The factory set rev limiter will keep you in safe territory, and as long as you change the oil at good intervals then your ok. My 98gt ran like the day it was new with 150k miles on it. i could run with newer model(99+) gt's all day long-with 3.73's, flows, mid pipe and k&n.

weak-sure once you start spraying or put a blower on it-but that goes for most cars. most cars dont come factory with forged internals that allow 700+ horsepower (with exception to the 03/04 cobras), so its pretty much a given that youll need to build up the bottom end if you want to make serious horsepower.....

 

[FallenPhoenix]

These engines were made to last, they're in probably hundreds of thousands of fleet vehicles. Regular maintnance, including oil changes at reasonable intervals, are what will keep your 4.6 ticking for many many many miles.

 

[tygr1]

My *new* 98 Cobra DOHC has 107,000 showing on the odometer...motor can still zoom right up to the 7200 rpm rev limiter. Needs a new clutch though, pedal is gettin' kinda' stout for my old leg. Hehe. Not a drop of oil has ever made it to the underside of the motor or tranny. It's no wonder I'm such a Ford freak!