Ford 5.8L Trinity Engine: Longevity, Problems, And Specs

Upon its release, expectations were high for the Ford 5.8L Trinity that's why it was chosen to power the Ford Shelby GT500. However, the engine only had a brief production run. It was just made between 2013 and 2014 with its primary application focusing on the GT500.

According to different sources, including the accounts of a number of owners, the short production run of the engine has been attributed to its design flaws and reliability issues. So, in this article, we will assess the engine based on its longevity, common issues experienced by users, and mechanical specs for us to better understand whether Ford was right to pull the plug off the production of the Trinity.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2013-2014
• Average lifespan of V8 Trinity:220,000-270,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:port injection
• Power range:671 hp
• Fuel efficiency:awful
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:high
• The most common problems:piston wear problem, oil and coolant leaks, issue with supercharger.

How Long Can the Ford 5.8L Trinity Last?

The Trinity is a bit of a mixed bag because there have been conflicting accounts from its users. Some claimed they were able to get as much as 200,000 miles in their GT500 with the unit before requiring overhaul or replacement.

One owner even said that he was able to reach 300,000 miles out of it without requiring minor repairs. However, we are taking the latter with a grain of salt. Either he was exaggerating the figures or he was extraordinarily careful in taking care of his car as it is estimated that the noticeable effects of wear and tear in an engine will likely kick in about a decade.

On the other end of the spectrum, there were complaints stating that their engine broke down as soon as they started using it or around the 30,000-mile mark. This is exactly what we will be investigating in the next part.

What Went Wrong with the Ford 5.8L Trinity?

The Ford 5.8L Trinity engine was introduced in 2013 as a replacement for the previous 5.4L V8. The new engine was designed to be more powerful and efficient. It featured state-of-the-art technology including a supercharger and sequential multi-port fuel injection (SPFI). However, despite its promising start, the 5.8L Trinity has been plagued by reliability complaints, with many owners reporting problems with the engine just after purchase.

The most common issue reported with the 5.8L Trinity is premature engine failure, with some engines failing as early as 30,000 miles. The cause of this problem is still not completely zeroed in due to varying accounts from owners and mechanics, but it is thought to be related to the engine's complex design, particularly piston and rod-related issues.

In addition to engine failure, they say it is prone to oil leaks, cylinder misfires, and coolant leaks. Other problems were also blamed on the owners of the engine who went on to modify it without truly understanding its limitations.

Despite its many problems, the 5.8L Trinity is still in use to this date. Aside from its utility in old Shelby GT500 cars, it is also popular in engine swaps. However, most versions of the engine in crate forms have been modified nowadays to address its claimed factory defects.

Piston and Rod Quality Issues

A number of Trinity users have blamed the design and quality of the piston and rods for their woes. If you are convinced that this is indeed an issue, you should consider upgrading these parts with the help of a professional mechanic. Upgrading the pistons and rods in your Ford 5.8L engine is a relatively straightforward process with the right tools, proper know-how, and a strong dose of patience.

Once you have purchased an aftermarket upgrade kit, the first step is to remove the old pistons and rods from the engine. This can be done by disconnecting the connecting rods from the crankshaft and then removing the pistons from the cylinders. Once the old pistons and rods are removed, you will need to clean the cylinders and the connecting rod journals with a brush and some solvent compatible with your engine.

Next, you will need to install the new pistons and rods. To do this, you will need to attach the rods to the crankshaft and then install the pistons into the cylinders. Once the new pistons and rods are in place, you will need to reconnect all of the engine's components and then start the engine to check for any leaks.

If everything looks good, you should be able to finish upgrading the pistons and rods in your 5.8L Trinity engine.

Worn Piston and Rods

If your 5.8L Trinity engine has braved itself over the years without needing modifications but is now showing symptoms related to worn pistons and rods such as power loss, misfiring, or engine failure, all you have to do is replace the problematic components. Simply follow the steps we have mentioned in the previous item on how to go about this process.

Leaks

Leaks can be caused by many things, including defective or worn seals and gaskets, cracks in the engine block or head, damaged hoses, or even loose bolts. If left unattended it can branch out to other problems. For example, leaking oil can seep through the spark plugs which can bring about misfires. While it's best to bring your car to a mechanic for repairs, there are some DIY fixes you can try if you're up to the challenge.

To start, check all of the hoses, seals, and gaskets on your engine. If any of them are damaged or leaking, they will need to be replaced. You can do this yourself with a few tools and some replacement parts from your local auto store.

Next, check for cracks in the engine block or head. These can often be repaired with a sealant or patch kit. If the cracks are too large, you may need to replace the engine block or head.

Finally, check all of the bolts on your engine. Loose bolts can cause leaks, so make sure they are all tightened according to Ford's specifications.

If you have checked all of these things and your engine is still leaking, it's time to bring it to a mechanic for further diagnosis and repairs. However, if you have followed these steps and fixed the leaks yourself, you can save yourself a trip to the mechanic and some money on repairs.

Engine Can't Take Even Small Performance Mods

One of the key selling points of Ford engines is their versatility when it comes to performance-based mods. Despite its already high output, there are power-hungry motorheads who still subject the 5.8L Trinity to various tuning packages. However, this is usually where most troubles in the V8 unit come from.

According to mechanics familiar with the engine, there were a number of complaints from owners who raised the output of their Trinity engines without recalibrating their RPM. For starters, it means such a scenario leads to a constant level of high stress and strain for the engine.

The 5.8L Trinity is designed to handle high grades of stress, but it still takes a toll on the engine over time. Eventually, components will gradually wear out and break down. This can lead to expensive repairs or even replacements. When the extra power forces the engine to operate mostly on its peak at 7,000 rpm, the first casualties in the Trinity engine are typically its piston and rods.

If you want to lower the rpm of your Ford GT500 5.8L Trinity to accommodate extra power without putting too much stress that can potentially damage the internal components of the engine, there are a few things you can do.

One is by installing a smaller pulley on the supercharger. This will decrease the amount of boost that the supercharger produces, and therefore lower the engine's rpm. Another is via the installation of a lower-profile air filter. Adjusting the ECU settings can further lower the engine's rpm, too.

With these simple mods, you can easily lower the rpm of your Ford GT500 5.8L Trinity to accommodate extra power. We highly advise doing these with a certified mechanic though to ensure that everything is done properly.

How Good is the Ford 5.8L Trinity?

The Ford 5.8L Trinity was a rather promising engine with features that definitely looked great on paper. It powered one of the world's most powerful production cars of its time, which was the 2013 to 2014 Ford Shelby GT500.

The 5.8L Trinity is a V8 engine featuring a dual overhead camshaft (DOHC) valvetrain with four valves per cylinder. It is made of aluminum block and head material. The power unit has a displacement of 5,810cc, a bore of 3.681 inches, a stroke of 4.165 inches, and a compression ratio of 9.0:1.

The Trinity has a supercharged and intercooled aspiration consisting of a Eaton TVS 2300 supercharger providing a 14 max psi boost, cold intakes, and a 60 mm throttle. Fuel delivery is managed via an SPFI system.

All these allow the Trinity to produce up to 662 hp at 6,500 rpm and 631 lb-ft of torque at 4,000 rpm. Its normal redline is at 6,250 rpm with an over-rev allowance of up to 7,000 rpm that's limited by an electronic control to eight-second short bursts.

Partnered with the amazing engineering of the Shelby GT500, the engine pushes the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.5 seconds and to a top speed of 200 mph. For such a performance-focused power unit, it wasn't expected to deliver a good fuel economy but it defied naysayers with its 15-mpg city and 24-mpg highway ratings.

The Ford 5.8L Trinity V8 engine actually made it in the prestigious "10 Best Engines" list of Wards Auto in 2013. The famed automotive publication praised the product for its efficiency, strong character, and value for money. It was also recognized as the world's most powerful V8 in its heyday.

Conclusion

Overall, the Ford 5.8L Trinity engine is definitely a mixed bag. Many users have praised its performance and even the world-renowned Wards Auto also gave its thumbs up to it. In fact, it was even considered by Wards as one of the world's best engines.

However, there are a number of owners who were critical of the engine, too. For such a controversial engine, maybe it was right all along for Ford to ax it.