5.0 Coyote F150 Reliability [How Reliable Is This Ford Engine?]

F150 pickup trucks manufactured between 2011 and 2020 feature the Coyote engine. Since the inception of this engine, Ford has already done several upgrades to enhance its features further. So, what can we say about the 5.0 Coyote F150 reliability?

The Ford 5.0 Coyote engine is a naturally aspirated type of engine. It is rated at 19 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. While it does not necessarily get the best fuel economy, it is a rock-solid reliable engine for Ford F150 trucks.

Read on to learn more about the 5.0 Coyote engine, and its reliability as the F150’s engine.

5.0 Coyote F150 Reliability

5.0 coyote f150 reliability

The Ford Coyote engine is a reliable engine for your Ford F150. It is rated at 19 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. It does not necessarily get the best fuel economy. However, it is nonetheless a very reliable engine for F150 trucks.

The Modular Coyote refers to the all-new 5.0-liter gasoline V8 engine. It replaces the 4.6L / 5.4 L Modular versions featured in the Ford F150 and the Ford Mustang in 2011.

Ford developed the 5.0 Coyote engine to compete with the Chrysler 6.4L Hemi and the GM 6.2L V8 engines. Ford engineers decided to develop a smaller displacement engine. Nonetheless, it produces power similar to its competitors. The engine runs on regular 87-octane unleaded gasoline.

Compatibility with Pre-existing Modular Engine Production Tooling

The 5.0 Coyote F150 engine version does not have any similar parts to the older Coyote versions. However, Ford engineers efficiently machined and assembled the engine on similar production lines using pre-existing Modular engine production tooling. They maintained the deck height of 8.937 inches, the bore spacing of 3.937 inches, and the bell housing bolt pattern.

5.0 V8 Coyote Engine Features

This latest Coyote version features a brand new aluminum cylinder block. The block features a 90-degree angle between cylinder banks and pressed cast-iron cylinder liners. It features a deep crankcase and main bearing caps with 4 bolts.

Forged powdered metal connecting rods and a forged steel crankshaft form part of the 5.0 Coyote engine. The connecting rod measures 5.933 inches in length or 150.7 millimeters. Also, the engine block features piston-cooling jets.

You probably knew about the cam-in-block pushrod two-valve valvetrain if you are familiar with the iconic Ford 5.0 / 302 engine. This isn’t present in the 5.0 Coyote. Instead, the latest Modular engine is equipped with 4-valve aluminum cylinder heads featuring a 3-layer metal gasket between each cylinder head and the engine block.

This allows reliable sealing in between. The camshafts actuate the intake and exhaust valve through roller finger followers featuring hydraulic lash adjusters.

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Coyote 5.0 Engine In the Ford F150

This Coyote 5.0 engine is recognized as the first V8 engine of Ford that features cam-torque-actuated (CTA) Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing (Ti-VCT). The Ti-VCT initially formed part of Ford’s 3.5L and 3.7L V8 engines featured in 2011 Ford vehicles.

With the 5.0 Coyote, the material used for the cylinder head covers is plastic. The plastic intake manifold features an intake plenum located in between the cylinder banks. The drive-by-wire electronic throttle body featuring variable runner control is used to fit it.

The 5.0 Coyote engine features an electronically controlled, sequential multi-port system for the fuel injection system. As for its ignition, it features a coil-on-plug ignition system.

The one installed in the Mustang GT 5.0 version has tubular stainless steel exhaust headers. At the same time, the 5.0 Coyote V8 engine in F150 trucks features cast iron exhaust manifolds. Also, this type of engine can be used as a viable replacement for the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine.

Compared to the Mustang GT variant, the Coyote in an F150 pickup truck performs slightly less maximum power. However, it performs impressive mid-range and low-end torque.

The compression ratio of this F150 5.0 version is 10.5:1. Its other features are an external engine oil cooler, intake camshafts with less duration, and revised cylinder heads.

2018 Ford 5.0 Coyote Gen 3 Enhancements

Ford launched its Plasma Wire Arc Transfer cylinder liner technology in 2018. But before that, Ford was using the traditional cast iron sleeves. Such an upgrade increased the bore diameter to 3.66 inches from 3.63 inches. It also increased the total displacement to 5,035 cc from 4,951 cc.

The compression ratio of the Gen 3 Coyote increased to 12:1. Also, it is equipped with a dual-fuel, high-pressure direct injection featuring a low-pressure port fuel injection system. These features are essential to F150 pickup trucks with 5.0 V8 engines.

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Ford Coyote Engine Problems and Reliability

5.0 coyote 150 engine

2011-2017 Models

The 5.0L Coyote engine is slightly less complex compared to the turbocharged V6 engines. Being a big-displacement, naturally aspirated V8 engine, it has fewer parts that will malfunction or wear out.

Ford developed the 5.0 Coyote engine so that the features are simpler than the previous engine variants. Not to mention the fact that this engine has a time-tested design. It is simpler but more powerful, making it a highly reliable engine.

Between 2011 and 2017, the Coyote engine featured a traditional port fuel injection system. It was combined with durable timing chains, iron sleeves, sturdy forged crankshaft, and forged connecting rods. Such a combination offered impressive long-term durability and powerful engine performance.

When it comes to the Coyote F150 reliability, this type of engine truly is a dependable one. If there is any downside to it, it is all about fuel consumption. The EcoBoost line previously launched by Ford has better fuel economy than the Ford vehicles with the Coyote engine.

2018 Model

In 2018, the company made several enhancements to the 5.0 Coyote. Ford removed the iron sleeves and replaced them with spray-on bore liners. These liners can never be redone in any other automotive repair facility.

Ford also added the direct fuel injection system. This system directly sprays fuel into the combustion chamber. The engine has become more complicated. At the same time, it has become more costly to manufacture and repair. But when it comes to the Ford 5.0 Coyote F150 reliability, it is indeed impressively reliable.

5.0 Coyote Engine Reviews

Owners of Ford F150 pickup trucks that feature the 5.0 Coyote engine can attest to how impressive this engine is.

Some would overload their truck and even attach a 1-ton trailer on the back. They tested it by driving more than a thousand miles, running at roughly 70 miles per hour. It is proof of how reliable, durable, and well-engineered the engine is.

Other F150 owners confidently say that the 5.0 Coyote engine can run roughly 150,000 miles and still be in good condition. Of course, the F150 has to be regularly and properly maintained. It will most likely continue running smoothly at more than 200,000 miles with the appropriate oil and filters.

While fuel economy is the main issue, F150 owners say otherwise. If you consider how large the capacity of this engine is, it can still be considered fuel-efficient. Its powerful engine performance is incomparable to other fuel-efficient vehicles. You can push it to its limits and still be up and running smoothly.

How Many Miles Will a 5.0 Coyote Last?

The 5.0 Coyote engine is expected to last up to 200,000 miles. But, of course, this comes with the fact that you regularly and properly maintain it.

According to most F150 owners, the 5.0 Coyote engine can even last more than 200,000 miles. This is possible if you strictly follow its maintenance schedule and avoid abusing it.

How Much Horsepower Does a 5.0 Coyote Engine Have?

The latest 5.0 Coyote engine has 460 horsepower.

Between 2011 and 2014, the 5.0 Coyote installed in F150 pickup trucks had 360 horsepower. It featured 380-lb ft of torque. From 2015 to 2017, it had 385 horsepower, which featured 387-lb ft of torque. Between 2018 and 2020, Ford launched F150 trucks with 395 horsepower featuring 400-lb ft of torque.

Again, what is the 5.0 Coyote F150 reliability like? Is this engine reliable? The 5.0 Coyote engine is reliable. It is rated at 19 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. While it does not necessarily get the best fuel economy, it is a rock-solid reliable engine for Ford F150 trucks.

The 2021 Ford F150

5.0 coyote 150

One of the most popular vehicles in the United States is the Ford F-150. Ford ensures that the F150 pickup truck will address the needs and fit the driving styles of all types of drivers. That’s why Ford offers several configurations and customizations with the 2021 Ford F150.

The Ford F150 pickup truck comes with several drivetrain options. These range from more fuel-efficient to more powerful. This means that the 2021 Ford F150 offers a 5.0 Coyote V8 as one of its engine options.

Its 5.0 Coyote V8 option features 400 horsepower with 410-lb ft of torque. It is one of the most powerful engine options available. Like the 2021 Ford F150 variants, this variant features 10-speed automatic transmission with either the rear-wheel or the all-wheel drive.

More Turbocharged Engine Options for the Ford F-150

In terms of the 5.0 Coyote F150 reliability, it has always been known how impressively reliable it is. When it comes to power and durability, drivers undoubtedly put high regard on this type of engine.

However, with the 2021 F150, other engine options feature more torque than the 5.0 Coyote V8. There are options for turbocharged V6 engines that surprisingly provide slightly improved fuel economy and still provide impressive power performance.

The 2021 F150 has a diesel engine option, but a V8 engine does not power it. It features a 3.0 L V6 engine and provides 250 horsepower only. But it has a 440-lb ft torque.

Ford also offers smaller turbocharged engine options. There are 3.0L V6 and 2.7L V6 that still deliver impressive power performance despite being smaller.

In other words, the 2021 Ford F-150 features either the V6 or the V8 engine. This allows buyers to choose the one that fits them best.

2021 Ford F-150 V8 Engine Works Smarter

While there are 2021 F150 variants with higher torque, the one with the 5.0 Coyote V8 engine seems to work smarter now. Among the changes brought by Ford to the table for this latest lineup are the onboard generator, the hybrid system, and upgrades on the 5.0 Coyote V8 engine.

The 2021 Ford F150 5.0 Coyote V8 has higher horsepower and torque. Also, the variable displacement function for this engine option allows drivers to save fuel. The number of cylinders receiving fuel during lighter loads and lower speeds has been minimized.

Conclusion – 5.0 Coyote F150 Reliability

The Ford Coyote engine is a naturally-aspirated type of engine. It is rated at 19 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in the city. It does not necessarily get the best fuel economy. However, it is nonetheless a very reliable engine for F150 trucks.

With the 2021 Ford F-150 5.0 Coyote V8 engine, several upgrades have been done by Ford. It is even slightly more fuel-efficient than its older versions. In terms of power performance, this variant still has one of the most powerful engine options.

If you’re considering getting a Ford F150 with a 5.0 Coyote V8 engine, there’s no need to hesitate. You can maximize its loading capacity and even attach a trailer to it and still get an impressively powerful performance.

When it comes to reliability, there’s no question about it. As long as it is properly and regularly maintained, you can expect it to run smoothly at 150,000 to 200,000 miles. In fact, if you’re a driver who knows how to take good care of a vehicle, it can even run smoothly at 300,000 miles.

Suffice it to say that the Ford F150 5.0 Coyote V8 can definitely be a long-time companion for drivers.

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