The Ford 4.6L engine is a naturally aspirated V8 from Ford Motor was used to power a variety of different vehicles like sports cars, pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, luxury sedans and cargo vans. Throughout its lifespan, it was offered with either 2, 3 or 4 valves per cylinder, featured either a single (SOHC) or a dual overhead cam (DOHC) setup. Built between 1990 and 2014, the Ford 4.6L architecture was one of the first engines to be part of the Ford Modular family.
The first vehicle to be powered by this engine was the Lincoln Town Car in 1990. Back then, its 2-valve SOHC configuration allowed to developed 190 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. However, by the end of its lifespan, modern technology like dual overhead camshafts and dual supercharging allowed this engine to reach a staggering output of 806 horsepower and 679 pound-feet. This iteration was used to power the high-performance, Swedish-built, Koenigsegg CCR V8 supercar.
The fastest and most powerful Ford vehicle to be powered by this engine was the supercharged 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra, also known as the Terminator. Its maximum power output was 390 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. While this engine is no longer in production, it has powered the following vehicles:
- Ford Crown Victoria
- Ford E-Series
- Ford Expedition
- Ford Explorer
- Ford Explorer Sport Trac
- Ford F-150
- Ford Thunderbird
- Lincoln Aviator
- Lincoln Continental
- Lincoln Mark VIII
- Mercury Cougar
- Mercury Grand Marquis
- Mercury Marauder
Ford 4.6L Engine - Overview
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine family | Modular |
| Displacement | 4.6 liters |
| Aspiration | Atmospheric |
| Configuration & cylinders | V configuration, eight cylinders |
| Vehicle engine orientation | Longitudinal |
| Valve configuration | Single overhead cam (SOHC) / Dual overhead cam (DOHC) |
| Assembly sites | Romeo, Michigan, USA / Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Predecessor | Ford small block V8 |
| Successor | Ford Coyote engine |
Ford 4.6L Engine - Specifications
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore | 90 mm |
| Stroke | 90 mm |
| Compression ratio | 9.0:1 (2 valve) / 9.4:1 (3 valve) / 8.5:1 (4 valve) |
| Max power @ RPM (in a Ford vehicle) | 390 @ 6,000 rpm |
| Max torque @ RPM (in a Ford vehicle) | 390 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm |
| Cylinder Head | Aluminum |
| Cylinder Block | Cast iron / Alumium (depending on version) |
| Camshaft Drive | Chain |
Ford 4.6L Engine - Vehicle Applications
| Vehicle | Transmission | Drive Wheels | Horsepower (hp) @ RPM | Torque (lb-ft) @ RPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Crown Victoria (1992 - 2011) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 210 - 250 @ 5,000 | 270 - 295 @ 4,500 |
| Ford E-Series (1996 - 2014) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 225 @ 4,800 | 286 @ 3,500 |
| Ford Expedition (1997 - 2004) | Four-speed automatic | RWD / 4WD | 215 @ 4,400 | 290 @ 3,250 |
| Ford Explorer (2002 - 2010) | Five-speed automatic | RWD / AWD | 238 @ 4,750 / 292 @ 5,700 | 282 @ 4,000 / 320 @ 4,000 |
| Ford Explorer Sport Trac (2006-2010) | Six-speed automatic | RWD / AWD | 292 @ 5,750 | 300 @ 3,950 |
| Ford F-150 (2000 - 2010) | Four-speed automatic / Six-speed automatic | RWD / 4WD | 210 @ 4,400 / 292 @ 5,700 | 290 @ 3,250 / 320 @ 4,000 |
| Ford Thunderbird (1994 - 1995) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 205 @ 4,500 | 265 @ 3,200 |
| Lincoln Aviator (2003 - 2005) | Five-speed automatic | RWD / AWD | 302 @ 5,500 | 300 @ 3,250 |
| Lincoln Continental (1995 - 2002) | Four-speed automatic | FWD | 260 @ 5,200 / 275 @ 5,500 | 265 @ 3,200 / 275 @ 4,000 |
| Lincoln Mark VIII (1993 - 1998) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 280 @ 5,500 | 284 @ 4,500 |
| Mercury Cougar (1994 - 1994) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 205 @ 4,500 | 265 @ 3,200 |
| Mercury Grand Marquis (1992 - 2011) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 210 - 250 @ 5,000 | 270 - 295 @ 4,500 |
| Mercury Maurauder (2002 - 2004) | Four-speed automatic | RWD | 302 @ 5,750 | 318 @ 4,300 |
| Mercury Mountaineer (2002 - 2010) | Five-speed automatic | RWD / AWD | 238 @ 4,750 / 292 @ 5,700 | 282 @ 4,000 / 320 @ 4,000 |
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