SHOP

What Makes The F150 Coyote Engine Different?

Created by Jay Walling
Date Created: 4/8/2020
Last Updated: 10/14/2024

Many have looked into completing a Coyote Swap into different Fords. In this article, we will touch on What Makes The F150 Coyote Engine Different.

Viewing this install and using the information shared is subject to the terms set forth here - View the LMR Install Instructions Disclaimer.

We have all looked into completing a Coyote Swap of our own into our beloved Mustangs. In this article, we will touch on the differences between both the F150 and Mustang Coyote Engines!


Coyote f150 motor vs mustang  - Coyote f150 motor vs mustang



The F-150 Coyote Engine


Jump To: F-150 Specs | Mustang Specs | Comparison | FAQ |

In 2011 Ford debuted the all-new 5.0L Coyote V8 engine in the Ford F-150, replacing the 5.4L and 4.6L V-8 engine options from the previous years. Even though this engine’s power is lower than the Mustang variants, the truck-specific coyotes are designed to shift the powerband lowering in the RPM range where trucks will need the powerband.

As the Coyote progressed and new generations of the coyote were released, there have been power and torque increases. Subtle changed have progressed the F-150 Coyotes' power output, and there have been some notable changes mentioned below. 

 

Improvements Over Previous Generations

2015-2017  F-150 Coyote

  • A small increase in valve head diameter. 
  • Ti-VCT cam movement reduction for better cold starts and reduced emissions.
  • Charge Motion Control Valve (CMCV) was added to the intake manifold to improve emissions. 

2018+ F-150 Coyote 

  • Compression increased from 10.5 to 12.0 from the previous Gen 2 Coyote 
  • Addition of dual injection (port and direct injection) over the previous Gen 2's port injection
  • Increased engine bore from 92.2mm on gen 2 to 93mm on gen 3, resulting in an increase in displacement from 4.951 to 5.035
  • Plasma Transferred Wire Arc (PTWA) cylinder walls
  • Increased oil pump gear size - same size as 2011-2014 Mustang Coyote

 2021+ F-150 Coyote 

The below improvements include the changes mentioned above starting in 2018.

  • 5 HP / 10 lb-ft Increase over the 2018-2020 F-150 Coyote 
  • Addition of Variable Displacement Engine (VDE) technology for increased fuel economy by deactivating cylinders during certain conditions

F-150 Coyote Engine Specs

Coyote Engine SpecsGen 1 Coyote | 11-14 F-150Gen 2 Coyote | 15-17 F-150Gen 3 Coyote | 18-21 F-150
Horsepower360 HP385 HP395 | 400 HP
Torque380 lb-ft387 lb-ft400 | 410 lb-ft
Displacement4.951 Liters4.951 Liters5.035 Liters
Compression10.510.512:1
Bore92.2mm92.2mm93mm
Stroke92.7mm92.7mm92.7mm
Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-21-3-7-2-6-5-4-81-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Oil Capacity (Qts)7.757.758.75 (18-20 | 7.75 (21+)
Valve Size (mm)37 (I) | 31 (E)37.3 (I) | 31.8 (E)37.7 (I) | 32 (E) / 38.3 (I) | 32.2 (E)
*Information based on data acquired by AllData.

 

What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine? - What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine?




The Mustang Coyote Engine


Jump To: F-150 Specs | Mustang Specs | Comparison | FAQ |

The Mustang Coyote Engine debuted in 2011 along with the F-150 Coyote. The Mustang Coyote engine has always increased performance over the F-150 variant, mainly due to intake manifold differences, cam differences, and tuning differences. More on this subject later. 

Just like in the F-150 Coyote, the Mustang Coyote engine has had its fair share of performance improvements that make the engine a more powerful engine.

For a more detailed breakdown of the difference in the Mustang Coyote 5.0 engine, check out our DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MUSTANG 5.0 COYOTE ENGINE that covers the history and technical specs between the three variants!

Mustang Coyote Engine Specs

Coyote Engine SpecsGen 1 Coyote | 11-14Gen 2 Coyote | 15-17Gen 3 Coyote | 18+
Horsepower412 HP | 420 HP435 HP460 HP
Torque390 lb-ft400 lb-ft420 lb-ft
Displacement4.951 Liters4.951 Liters5.035 Liters
Compression11.111.112:1
Bore92.2mm92.2mm93mm
Stroke92.7mm92.7mm92.7mm
Firing Order1-5-4-8-6-3-7-21-5-4-8-6-3-7-21-5-4-8-6-3-7-2
Oil Capacity (Qts)8810
Valve Size (mm)37(I)/31(E)37.3(I)/31.8(E)37.7(I)/32(E)
*Information based on data acquired by AllData. Information based on Mustang GT Coyote engines. 
What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine? - What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine?



What Is The Difference Between F-150 Coyote & Mustang?


Jump To: F-150 Specs | Mustang Specs | Comparison | FAQ |

Although there are many similarities between the two, there are many key differences that are important to look at when swapping a 5.0L Coyote from an F-150 or Mustang into your project car.

The main difference between the Mustang and F-150 Coyote will be the change in firing order on the Gen 2 and Gen 3 Coyotes. All Gen 1 11-14 Mustang and Truck applications will use the same 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2 firing order. In comparison, the 15-23 Gen 2 and Gen 3 applications will differ. These firing orders for the Mustang will be 1-5-4-8-6-3-7-2, and the truck applications will be 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. This can result in many control packs not working on the Gen 2 and Gen 3/4 F-150 engine.

Another big difference between the two engines will be that the F-150-based engines will feature a long runner intake manifold that is designed for increased torque in the lower range of the RPM. These intakes will limit the max RPM power output, usually tapering off in horsepower at the 6500 RPM range. The Mustang intake manifolds feature a shorter intake runner allowing the engine to make power beyond 6500 RPM. 

The notable difference between F-150 engines and Mustang Coyote engines will be the camshaft durations. F-150 camshafts feature a shorter duration on the intake camshaft allowing the F-150 Coyote to produce better low-end torque. In comparison, the Mustang Coyote intake camshaft features a longer duration camshaft allowing for more upper rpm power. 

Some other notable differences between the Mustang and F-150 engine is that the Mustang featured stainless steel exhaust manifolds, while the F-150 Coyote engine has cast iron exhaust manifolds. For a vehicle designed for durability and workload, the iron version makes more sense. 

Also, there are some changes in oil pump gears between the F-150 and Mustang. Depending on the year model of the engine, the size of the oil pump gears may vary between the F-150 and Mustang Coyote. Some other differences between the Mustang Coyote vs. the F-150 Coyote include a windage tray on the pony car, whereas the truck does not. A front-mounted oil cooler will be equipped on some of the F-150 Coyote engines whereas the Mustang oil coolers will be mounted on the side of the block. The front accessories also have differences in the alternator location and a timing cover that features fewer ribs on the Ford F-150 variant.

What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine? - What is the Difference Between a Coyote F-150 Engine and a Coyote Mustang Engine?



Commonly Asked Questions


Jump To: F-150 Specs | Mustang Specs | Comparison | FAQ |

Which F-150 Year Models Have A Coyote Engine?

  • Ford started installing the Coyote Engine in the 2011 F-150 pickup truck and is still offered in the current 2025 Ford F-150 alongside the popular EcoBoost v6 engines.

Is the F-150 5.0 a coyote?

  • Yes. While there are differences between the F-150 5.0 and the Mustang Coyote V8, they share the same block and general makeup.

Will A Boss 302, Cobra Jet, or Mustang Intake Manifold Work On Coyote Powered F-150s?

  • Yes, the Mustang intake manifolds are interchangeable with the F-150 Coyote engine. Depending on the generation of the Coyote engine, additional modifications, including CMCV delete/alteration and custom tuning, will be necessary. Please consult your tuner for more information. 

Is the F-150 5.0 a Coyote Engine?

  • Yes the F-150 is a variant of the Coyote engine family. While there are differences in some internal parts, the engine is still considered a Coyote engine.

 What year F-150 has the 5.0 Coyote?

  • 2011-2025 currently has the 5.0L coyote engine as an option on the F-150.

What is the most reliable F-150 Engine?

  • Generally, the 5.0L Coyote engine is extremely reliable with fewer wear items than the Ecoboost V6 engine. 

LMR hopes that you have found this F-150 and Mustang Coyote Guide to be helpful in your search for the most ideal Ford Motor. For all things, Ford Mustang and F-150 Lightning keep it right here at Late Model Restoration.

 

Source: Ford Performance Tech Guide, Alldata.

Shop Coyote Swap Parts

Mustang Coyote Swap Kits & Parts

Late Model Restoration has all of the Mustang Coyote swap kits & components you need to get the 5.0L Coyote engine swapped into your 1979-2023 Mustang.

More Coyote Tech Guides

How Much Does A Coyote Swap Cost?

If you are looking to do a coyote swap in your Mustang but are wondering what kind of cost it will bring, check out our "How Much Does A Coyote Swap Cost" guide!

Coyote Engine Generations: Gen 1 Vs Gen 2 Vs Gen 3 Vs Gen 4

A common question among the Mustang community is "What is different about the Coyote Mustang engines through out the years?" Answer inside this article!

How To Coyote Swap A Fox Body Mustang

A Fox Body Coyote Swap on your Mustang can be a very difficult and stressful task. We at LMR provide all the info needed to make this process go smoothly.

How To Coyote Swap A New Edge Mustang

LMR.com walks you through the basics of how to coyote swap a New Edge Mustang including all of the needed parts, accessories, and modifications.


About the Video

Mustang vs F-150 Coyote Engine | What's The Difference?

Check out our YouTube channel for even more tech tips, installation videos, how-tos, and more. The best place to go for anything Mustang related!

Published on 2021-06-02
What's the difference between the Mustang Coyote and F-150 Coyote Engines? In this video, Landan covers the many differences of the Gen 1 Coyote Engine between the 2011-2014 Mustang GT and the 2011-2014 F-150. We also discuss the 5.0L Road Runner Engine from the 2012-2013 Boss 302 Mustang. Both engines are great engine swap candidates with the F-150 Coyote Engine being significantly cheaper due to the increased availability. Even though the 1st Gen Coyote Engine had its fair share of problems, all-in-all they are still a highly reliable engine.

By the end of this video, you should have a great understanding of the main differences between the coyote engines in the Mustang and F-150.

0:00 | Intro
0:46 | Gen 1 Coyote 2011-14 Mustang Engine Specs
3:14 | 2013-14 Mustang Coyote Engine Changes
4:10 | 5.0L Road Runner (Boss 302) Engine Specs
5:09 | 2011-14 F-150 Coyote Engine Specs
6:28 | Final Thoughts

YouTube: https://latemodelres.to/youtube-subscribe
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/latemodelresto
Instagram: http://instagram.com/latemodelresto
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@latemodelresto

#LMR #Mustang #F150

Use of this video is subject to the terms as set forth in our LMR Install Video Disclaimer | https://lmr.com/page/lmr-install-video-disclaimer
Thumbnail image of the author of this article, Jay Walling.

About the Author

Jay has written content for Late Model Restoration for over 10 years, producing over 120 articles. Jay has an extensive 25-plus-year background in automotive and is a certified Ford Technician. Read more...