2023-2024 Ford F-150 Raptor R 5.2L Carnivore Engine: Problems, Longevity, and Specs

Ford loves making a lot of fuss about its vehicles and providing us with versions and trims that are very doubtful in terms of practical use. But people buy that! Ford F-150 Raptor R is a clear example of this. They made a performance version of the Raptor which is itself a performance version of the 14th-gen F-150 truck. So, the double performance version we have here.

Today, we'll tell you exactly about the mysterious 5.2L Carnivore engine powering the Raptor R trim in the F-150 truck with so little information about it. We are sure the vehicle will not be sold a lot because this is not the truck for everyone. But if the Raptor is not enough for you, you can clearly think about the Raptor R. And we'll try to explain why it's not a bad idea.

Key features and my opinion about the engine

• Production years:2020-2022
• Average lifespan of V8 Carnivore:230,000-260,000 miles
• Fuel supply type:port injection
• Power range:700 hp
• Fuel efficiency:awful
• Engine block material:aluminum
• Engine reliability score:medium
• The most common problems:overheating, oil consumption, weak timing chain tensioners, weak piston rings.

Key facts about the 5.2L Carnivore engine in the F-150 Raptor R

So, in late 2022 we saw a more appealing version of the Raptor - the Raptor R. It got the famous 5.2L Carnivore engine that was also used in the Shelby GT500 from 2020 and up to 2022. The Predator engine is basically the good old Coyote engine but with some important changes and modifications. It may develop 700 horsepower and 640 lb-ft of torque which is a lot for any engine in the world.

The Supercharged 5.2L engine was a surprise even for experts who didn't expect to see an even more performance-oriented version of the F-150 truck. But the engine itself is pretty good. This choice proved to be great for the Shelby GT500 and, after some key modifications, it keeps working well under the hood of the crazy truck.

Here's what we should highlight about this engine:

• the displacement of 5.2 liters and 8 cylinders allow this engine to be close to bulletproof in terms of reliability;
• the supercharger is a great choice for such a powerful unit and it allows the engine to gain 700 hp of power which is ridiculously much;
• the engine is mated to the 10-speed automatic transmission like in all other F-150 trims but with some modifications to withstand the needed torque;
• the engine belongs to the modular family of engines and has all the advantages of the series like durability and toughness;
• the 0-60 mph acceleration takes about 3.7 seconds which is a decent result even for a supercar, not just for a full-size truck;
• gas mileage is the last thing you will consider when buying the Raptor R but still good to know - it goes 10 MPG in the city and 15 MPG on highways.

Well, gas mileage is just a paper thing in the case of the Raptor R. Ford claims it can go 10 MPG in the city but you will have to drive it just like it's a normal truck. But it's not. You will want to accelerate faster, hear that Carnivore's roar from under the hood, feel your body trembling a bit just like the body of the spacecraft crew when the rocket is launched. Never will you see that 10 MPG figure in city driving. Never.

Also, the price issue is here to mention. The Raptor R with no add-ons will cost you slightly more than $109,000 and it's a lot. For this money, you can buy a simple Raptor and get the Ford Escape for a change. Also, any other truck in the US costs that much and this proves that the Raptor R is certainly not for those who want a practical and reasonable vehicle.

How many miles will the 5.2L Carnivore live in your Ford F-150 Raptor R?

While someone claims this engine is able to go 200 thousand miles, we don't think it's possible given how exactly you will be driving it. We think that the optimal lifespan for this engine is about 120-140 thousand miles or a little more if you maintain it properly which is going to cost you quite a lot.

Of course, we haven't seen a single high-mileage Raptor R because they have been selling for less than half a year now. This means that no one can tell you for sure how many miles this exact version will live.

In a Ford Shelby GT500, the problem is more or less the same - no high-mileage cars with these engines are there yet to investigate the durability.

So, we can only guess if all these simple yet very performance-oriented technologies will be reliable. And this is one of the first problems with the Raptor R - you will pay a lot of money for something that you don't know anything about.

To level the scales of pros and cons a bit, we should say that all Modular engines, especially the Coyote and Voodoo, are very reliable and durable. Even supercharging these engines will not take a lot of lifespan off them.

What are the most common problems with the 5.2L Carnivore engine?

This section is really hard to write. For now, we haven't found a single report about the 5.2L Carnivore engine in the Ford F-150 Raptor R because all these several trucks that have been sold now are new and barely have 10K miles on them.

But we've decided to look at the Shelby GT500 engine and also on other Modular engines related to the 5.2L Supercharged Carnivore and we've found some things to consider.

Here are some of the most expected problems with the 5.2L Raptor R engine:

1. Timing chain issues (with recalls)

While the F-150 Raptor R hasn't had any recalls yet, the Shelby GT500 had. The most important recall was connected with the secondary timing chain tensioner that, as Ford claimed, was installed wrongly. This affected just some vehicles but now it's one of the major causes of attention.

If the timing chain breaks or jumps, the engine may die. This is the performance engine and everything should work perfectly in it. One or two issues with such parts as the timing chain can be the reason for huge expenses.

2. Oil leaks - reported issue for the Raptor R

As with many other performance engines by Ford, the Raptor R Carnivore engine leaks oil. The oil circulates in the engine under huge pressure to lubricate all parts properly even when the engine revs up like crazy. So, this pressure is the source of the problems sometimes.

Leaking oil from your Carnivore engine should be the reason for concerns. Low oil levels will kill this engine pretty fast. The good news is that Ford covers all of these issues and will repair your engine for free even when the warranty period is over. At least, this is what they say now.

3. Overheating issues

The supercharged engine is not the same as a turbocharged one. And while EcoBoost engines by Ford are great and almost never get completely bad reviews and reports, the supercharged Carnivore engine got some unpleasant opinions from GT500 owners. And especially bad was the point of overheating.

You are certainly going to run your 5.2L engine in the Raptor R at high RPM. And superchargers will need to work hard to create a lot of heat. This means the engine may overheat and eventually die sooner than expected.

4. Unexpected minor issues

Although the 5.2L supercharged Ford engine is considered to be reliable, it's not bulletproof. It will make you go to the dealer quite often. And while the car is still under warranty, it will only take your time. But when the warranty is over, the vehicle will obviously require expensive maintenance and small repairs.

What should you remember to prolong the life of your Raptor R?

It's hard to give any advice to the Raptor R owners. Those people who paid over a hundred thousand dollars expect to get a vehicle that will not require any special attention. But every car needs some TLC from you to work longer.

Here are some of the key things you should remember:

• only Ford dealers are informed enough to repair and maintain these engines;
• parts and fluids should be OEM, otherwise, the durability is questioned;
• don't ignore problems - have the vehicle diagnosed once you feel something is wrong;
• keep an eye on recalls which, we are pretty sure, are going to happen now and then;
• be careful with undercarriage damage - it may be fatal for this engine;
• after you see some oil leaks, don't drive the vehicle for too long and just go to the dealer.

Although we hate that Ford dealers are quite expensive, we don't recommend servicing and repairing this vehicle anywhere else. You will obviously need professional help once something happens or once regular maintenance is needed.