# 5.4L f150 dead cylinder **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [April 11, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337 "2019-04-11T21:34:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/1 "2019-04-11T21:34:23Z")
Hey guys! Was wondering if since my #6 cylinder is dead.A: do I need a new motor, or.B: could it be repaired? Does the repair or new motor out weigh each other in cost? TIA ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/2 "2019-04-11T21:39:14Z")
Dead means…? If no compression, is it a valve and/or piston rings/cylinder bore problem? Diagnosis needed before a wise decision can be made. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/3 "2019-04-11T21:40:22Z")
Low compression ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/4 "2019-04-11T21:40:22Z")
First spend about 100.00 dollars to get a shop to diagnose the real problem . That way you will have an idea of repair cost . Or you could have the codes read and post them here other wise all you can get is a bunch of wild guesses. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/5 "2019-04-11T21:40:57Z")
Had it looked at. They said 6 was dead. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/6 "2019-04-11T21:42:10Z")
> [@Scott\_Tansino](#): > > Low compression The reason(s) for that can be discerned by a competent well-equipped shop. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/7 "2019-04-11T21:42:11Z")
Only code that read was 1 and 7 coil pack bad ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/8 "2019-04-11T21:42:16Z")
Perform a leak-down test on cylinder #6 to determine why it has low compression. Tester ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/9 "2019-04-11T21:44:18Z")
> [@Scott\_Tansino](#): > > Had it looked at. They said 6 was dead. Did they not offer any repair advice ? ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/10 "2019-04-11T21:44:23Z")
They seemed to be on their game. He said the meter was messed up and still came up with possible.new motor outcome nothing else. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/11 "2019-04-11T21:47:51Z")
$89 bucks for nothing but a motor swap.costing 4k+. 8f i got the motor, it would be 1,700 install ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/12 "2019-04-11T21:48:52Z")
Cant be a dead end to this problem with just a motor option ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/13 "2019-04-11T21:52:49Z")
Getting spark and fuel. Everything good other than cylinder outcome after compression test ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/14 "2019-04-11T21:56:32Z")
> [@Scott\_Tansino](#): > > 8f i got the motor, it would be 1,700 install Not sure what you are trying to say here. But if you furnish a motor used , rebuilt or crate if it is bad then they do not have to warranty it . I think you need a second opinion but it will not be free as all places will charge a diagnostic fee. Only you can decide if you want to spend money on this unknown year and condition of the truck. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/15 "2019-04-11T21:58:17Z")
99 140k on it. Second opinion was here. I’ll get a 3rd one at another shop. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/16 "2019-04-11T22:03:14Z")
I’m saying what my original post stated. Got nowhere which is ok . ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/17 "2019-04-11T22:09:11Z")
There may be options instead of a complete motor replacement. Check around. ---
**Author:** ![Scott\_Tansino](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90db22/32.png) [@Scott\_Tansino](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scott_Tansino)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/18 "2019-04-11T22:09:52Z")
Will do. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/19 "2019-04-11T22:52:39Z")
As tester said, do a leak down test, may be a bad/stuck valve. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337/20 "2019-04-12T02:57:40Z")
You could have low compression because of problems in the block such as bad rings, damaged cylinder wall or hole in piston. These would require a rebuild or a different engine. You could also have a valve train problem, anything from the valve to the camshaft, or a damaged head itself. Less expensive, The third possibility is a bad head gasket. Less expensive. Unless the mechanic knows the problem is in the block, he didn’t do a complete diagnosis and is being irresponsible to tell you you need a new engine. I don’t know about other areas of the country but we had junkyards here that would sell you used engines with a 30 day guarantee and install them pretty cheaply too. The one I used to deal with went out of business a few years ago but I think I could still find one. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/5-4l-f150-dead-cylinder/138337.md?page=2)