Looking for most longevity/reliability f150 build?

[MikeyDog]

Personally, I went with the RCSB XL with the 5.0. I've always thought the more stuff you pile on a truck, the more stuff there is to go wrong.

This right here is why I chose an XL with a 5.0 with a few added options. Depending on where you live, I happen to live in NJ, and one thing I would pay close attention to if you want the vehicle to last your 20 to 25 years is the frame. I recently wound up junking a low mileage 2002 E150 because the frame had extensive rotting.

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[Samson16]

They can all do it. Follow the extreme service maintenance schedule and be prepared to replace things as they age through the years.
Seals get weak and stressed joints get sloppy etc., and electrical components fail.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

You clearly don't understand the primary purpose of having your oil analyzed on a regular basis.

It's NOT to save $3 by extending your oil change interval 700 miles.

It's to diagnose potential serious internal engine issues before they become expensive repairs.

Here's my take on the oil analysis. Sure it's good for telling you how the oil is doing and if there are potential signs of excessive wear, but it's just a snapshot in time. Things can change rapidly from the point the sample is pulled (for the vast majority of people willing to do it is when they are already changing the oil and not mid-way through the interval) to when you get the results back. Even a slight change to one's driving habits can make a huge impact on the condition of the oil. Do a lot of short trip in-town driving? Very likely you'll probably show higher fuel dilution if you pull a sample at that point. Now go out and drive around non-stop for a few hours then pull a sample from the same oil and guess what? Chances are very high that it'd show significantly less fuel dilution. Why? Simple, because the oil was able to get up to and maintain full temp and boil off the fuel it absorbed. So the results are to a point skewed as they are and can never be current to how conditions are for the oil or engine. So sure pay $30-50 for per analysis if you like. There's nothing wrong with that and even do it a annually to check for indications of bearing wear. Any more than that can drive some people crazy chasing numbers. I have seen far too many people fall prey to the added stress constantly sampling their oil can cause. "OMG my fuel dilution is up .5% from last time I must have a sticking injector or my rings are failing!!!" When all they did was drive less highway miles...

Just change the oil regularly at the interval you like and be done with it. Me I stick with every 3-5K depending on how I have driven. Others such as yourself prefer to stick with the longer intervals. That's fine too. The important thing here is to just change it regularly.

 

[Je1279]

2WD 5.0 STX with 3.73 gears.

 

[TopOMichXL]

Holy SHIT! I had to go back three times to verify the original question being asked by the OP.

Having done that, I’d say get the XL, and as I’ve had two 2.7 XL’s I’d say a long bed regular cab with a 2.7. But as Long Beds are half as cool as Short Befs, I’d get the RCSB with the 5.0, which is what I’m currently driving.
Oh, and for all the hi-jackers, I will continue to change my own oil, every five thousand miles, using ultra platinum, and continue enjoying high mileage, trouble-free motoring.

Y’all do Y’all.

 

[Samson16]

Every time I have my Motorcraft full synthetic tested after the 5k change out it’s still perfect! ?

Of course I don’t test my oil. I change it too frequently! My truck never sees bad oil though.

 

[roadPilot]

Here's my take on the oil analysis. Sure it's good for telling you how the oil is doing and if there are potential signs of excessive wear, but it's just a snapshot in time. Things can change rapidly from the point the sample is pulled (for the vast majority of people willing to do it is when they are already changing the oil and not mid-way through the interval) to when you get the results back. Even a slight change to one's driving habits can make a huge impact on the condition of the oil. Do a lot of short trip in-town driving? Very likely you'll probably show higher fuel dilution if you pull a sample at that point. Now go out and drive around non-stop for a few hours then pull a sample from the same oil and guess what? Chances are very high that it'd show significantly less fuel dilution. Why? Simple, because the oil was able to get up to and maintain full temp and boil off the fuel it absorbed. So the results are to a point skewed as they are and can never be current to how conditions are for the oil or engine. So sure pay $30-50 for per analysis if you like. There's nothing wrong with that and even do it a annually to check for indications of bearing wear. Any more than that can drive some people crazy chasing numbers. I have seen far too many people fall prey to the added stress constantly sampling their oil can cause. "OMG my fuel dilution is up .5% from last time I must have a sticking injector or my rings are failing!!!" When all they did was drive less highway miles...

Just change the oil regularly at the interval you like and be done with it. Me I stick with every 3-5K depending on how I have driven. Others such as yourself prefer to stick with the longer intervals. That's fine too. The important thing here is to just change it regularly.

Of course an oil analysis is a snapshot in time. The labs aren't clairvoyant.

Most people do not change "driving habits" every ~10K miles, so those snapshots most certainly provide a trend/pattern of what's going on inside the engine.

Of course you should change it regularly. We call that 'common sense'.

 

[roadPilot]

Holy SHIT! I had to go back three times to verify the original question being asked by the OP.

Having done that, I’d say get the XL, and as I’ve had two 2.7 XL’s I’d say a long bed regular cab with a 2.7. But as Long Beds are half as cool as Short Befs, I’d get the RCSB with the 5.0, which is what I’m currently driving.
Oh, and for all the hi-jackers, I will continue to change my own oil, every five thousand miles, using ultra platinum, and continue enjoying high mileage, trouble-free motoring.

Y’all do Y’all.

RCSB = Might as well buy a Prius.

Smart folks change thier oil when it reaches end of life. Not only do we "continue enjoying high-mileage, trouble-free motoring" as well, but we save money, too. ?

 

[buzzylite]

You don't sample what's in there and leave it in until the results come back. You take a sample when draining (mid stream) when you do your first (next) oil change and send it in.

Rinse and repeat with each oil change, as things can change as your engine wears. You don't necessarily have to sample EVERY oil change, but missing one could mean missing signs of something going arwy in your engine that could lead to expensive repairs.

The reports will tell you what they are finding in the oil (e.g., fuel, different metals, etc.) and suggestion for future oil change intervals. Places that do the analysis will send you free collection kits. I've always used Blackstone Labs but there are others.

OLM doesn't analyze anything. It's just a time and mileage counter.

2WD 5.0 STX with 3.73 gears.

Is there any reason the 3.73 ratio is better?

 

[buzzylite]

Holy SHIT! I had to go back three times to verify the original question being asked by the OP.

Having done that, I’d say get the XL, and as I’ve had two 2.7 XL’s I’d say a long bed regular cab with a 2.7. But as Long Beds are half as cool as Short Befs, I’d get the RCSB with the 5.0, which is what I’m currently driving.
Oh, and for all the hi-jackers, I will continue to change my own oil, every five thousand miles, using ultra platinum, and continue enjoying high mileage, trouble-free motoring.

Y’all do Y’all.

The reasoning for this is the XL trim has less stuff that can go wrong?

 

[Je1279]

Yes, the lower trims have less things that could fail over a 20 year interval. Also, the 3.73's gears aren't anymore reliable, but they are certainly more fun when paired with the 5.0.

 

[roadPilot]

Is there any reason the 3.73 ratio is better?

Shorter gearing (bigger number) gives up a little MPG in return for better "put of the hole" or easier to get a heavy load (trailering or hauling) moving. The shorter gearing gets the engine into its torque curve sooner.

Taller gearing (smaller number) gets you the opposite: Better MPGs but not as much "oomph" when taking off or starting to pull/haul.

That doesn't mean towing with taller gearing is bad nor that MPGs with shorter gearing sucks.

I've got taller gearing (3.31:1) with a 5.0L V8 and I occasionally tow a big old SXS on an open trailer and a truck bed full of crap no problem. If I was towing a really heavy load all the time, it would likely behoove me to have gone with shorter gearing in the rear end (3.73:1). Ford offers the 3.55:1, which sits right in the middle.

If you rarely or never tow/haul, then a taller gear will squeak out a little better MPG than a shorter gear. On the F150s I've ordered over the past couple of decades, I've put the 3.55:1 in them. The one I have now was on the lot, which is why it doesn't have the 3.55:1 in it.

 

[Gros Ventre]

The question was what does one need to do to make your truck last a long time. If your goal is the next trade-in, change oil every X,000 miles and do the Ford recommended maintenance. You'll do fine... If you want to get your truck out to 30 years (like my 92 Suburban) then there's some things you can do the will make your truck go that long. The discussion above covers the real estate. Your choice........

 

[roadPilot]

The question was what does one need to do to make your truck last a long time.

No, it wasn't.

Let me share the exact question from the OP:

Assuming oil changes are done every 5k miles and the manufacturer maintenance schedule is adhered to - what kind of F150 build combination should have the most longevity/reliability?

 

[Gros Ventre]

No, it wasn't.

Let me share the exact question from the OP:

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