302 vs. 351 vs. 300

[geodiggr]

Hi all,

Looking to buy a newer, 90-96 4x4, Ford truck maybe... I'm curious about the gas mileage, performance, and reliability of the aformentioned motors. I've owned a '78 F100 for a few yrs but it had a 400 in it...so I don't have anything to compare it to beyond that.

Any help and/or information would be appreciated...

BTW, I've heard the 302 is a gas hog! True or not?

Thanks,
Rick

[chuteman37]

I have a "91" with the 4.9 (300) and it's very rugged and dependable. I got 118,000 on it and still runs fresh. I had a roll over accident and aside from some body damage it's still a great running truck. BUT it's meant for torque, not a speed demon.

[landyacht]

The 5.4L V8 from the 97+ is about the best motor Ford has in it's 1/2 tonne trucks in my opinion. The 5.4 in cubic inches is around a 323 or so. Great motor.

[Paul Masley]

Either choose the 4.9L or the 5.4L. I have the 5.0L and the gas mileage is terrible. Lucky to get 11 mpg going down hill with a 100 mph tailwind. The 5.0L tachs to fast and does not have any torque for a truck. The 5.0L actually belongs in the light Mustang where it can raise a little cane.

[97chevyman]

i would also go 300 or 351. THe 302 lacks low end torque which the trucks needs and is not a very good motor. Now the 300 is tougher than the 351 but you can see 250K plus miles out of each engine. Now the 300 will take a beating from hell and still want more, but the 351 has the horsepower where the 300 does. If you were to hookup a chevy 350 and ford 300 in close to the same pickup, the 300 will pull the 350 around, to give you the idea of the 300's low end. It has more grunt than a constipated dog.

[ModMech]

We have some 300's in our fleet, about 20% of the total. Most gas engines are either the 300 or a 460, although we have a spattering of 5.4s, the rest are PowerStroke diesels.

The 300 I-6 Ford, although a little weak in the HP department, has more than enough Torque to make up for it's low power rating. It is also about the toughest engine on the planet. Our "shop truck" is a '94 F-250 4x2, 230,000 miles, 10 different drivers/day most trips are under 2 miles with many under 1. It has the original engine and trans (auto). It sees a lot of idle time in the winter while we are fueling other units (to warm up in).

Based on my expierences with the 300s, I would take that enigne over ANY other from any manufacturer, given a choice.

[nojj]

I have an 87 w/ 300efi
it just flipped over 100,000 a couple months ago.
Takes a major daily beating........
It'll run all day (and night)long, just don't put it on the highway
<has trouble getting to 65 mph>

the old guy's on hiatus w a bad starter,
so I'm abusing my 99 Windstar instead.


JOn
no pix yet, gotta upload 'em

[FreddieJB86]

Well hey, Between the 300, 302, and 351 in a truck I'd defintely knock out the 302, I had one in my old 85, and hated it. It didn't have the torque for hauling shit, whcih I used to do a lot of. I mean she'd fucking scream if you opened her up but that was like on a good flat straight road. Then I got my 79, The fastest I ever had her was about 90, gotta friend with a 78, same setup as mine, he's had his at around 120. I love my 79, and she will be on the raod again I'm just not sure when. She had power, and speed. For instance I was hauling a 325 gallon water tank, filled to the top, and was pulling off in second, didn't even need first. Considering water weighs roughly 8 pounds a gallon, that was roughly 2600 pounds in the back of a 3/4 ton truck!Now with my 87, she's defintly got the low end that is nice with a truck. I really like this truck too, but I'm just not sure that 14 mpg is what the I6 is supposed to be getting. But in my opinion, newer truck I6 or older truck 351. It's really a toss up to me.

[ervinj]

I've had a early 80's and now have a 89 f-150 4X4 both had/have 351's one mod. and one winsor. both with trailer packages and neither gets or got better than 11 MPG, If you find one without the towing package I understand they get around 14MPG and the 300's get around 15 to 16.

Hope this helps.

ervinj

[SudburyBMX]

My dad had an 84 with the 300 inline 6 in it and like one guy said, it will take a beating from hell and still ask for more. My dad put that poor engine, and truck thru hell more then once and it still ran good. Only reason he retired the poor girl was cause of the body..He didnt have the time to repair the body and sold the truck. He then(few yrs after the reitiring of the good ol' 84) bought a 90 with a 302 FI in it. That thing was HORRIBLE on gas. There's a reason they've got two gas tanks . It was the 'Trailer/towing package" truck so what could you expect? Both trucks were half tonne's. The 84 was a 4 spd standard and the 90 was a 3 spd auto. I've never heard any good or bad from anyone who's owned a truck with a 351 in it. If I were to choose, I'd go with the 300. It does lack HP(lucky if you get it doing 60 mp/h) it has in TQ. If it had the traction, it would pull a house off the foundation, I'm sure!

[fordfool]

ive got an 88 with the 300. my dad bought it in 89 and drove it every day, it was his only vehicle till he retired in 96. i got it when he died in 2000, i have driven it to and from work every day since i got it. it has over 300,000 miles and runs so smooth i still cant believe its so old. i have other vehicles but i cant part with it.

[RedLightning]

My 351w guzzles gas like no ones bussiness.

[who fan]

I have a 302 in a 93 half ton 2wd 11mpg, has a little bit of speed but for the most part gutless. Grunts a lot when pulling a 16ft aluminum boat. #of cylinders means nothing. Get the six! I wish I had one.

[eisbar]

I'd take exception to the comments about the 302. I know the 300 has a lot of fans, but our 302 is pushing 200k miles with zero problems- and judging from responses from other Ford truck enthusiast boards, this isn't uncommon. Gas mileage on a '93 S/C 4X4 with an Automatic and 3.55 Limited Slip is running 12-13mpg in town, 17-18 hwy. At the time I bought it, I thought the 302 was a good compromise between power and gas mileage. 11 years later, I still do.

[dougger222]

My x girlfriend had a 91 1/2 ton 2wd reg cab long bed with the 302 and when she sold it it had 230K miles and the heads were never off it and the motor and tranny were never separated.

My uncle has a 93 1/2 ton 4wd x-cab short bed he bought brand new with the 351. Last time we spoke he had 195K miles and all he ever did to the truck was put manual hubs on it.

My father has owned many 300's, a 86 he brought brand new was sold at 170K miles, his cousin drove it until it ran out of oil at 285K miles, never touched to motor.

My wifes 95 Bronco with the 5.8 was replaced at 95K miles and was shot when I met her when it had 80K miles. It ran on 7 then 6 cylinders then it was replaced.