Why does everyone rant and rave about the EcoBoost?

[Copperhead]

Just a thought, wouldn't a weep hole in the IC cause a loss of boost to some degree? One of the tests I do to commercial trucks annually is a pressure test on the IC. Remove both side pipes and hoses, seal up, and pressure to 35 PSI with a gauge. If the IC looses 5 PSI or more in 15 seconds, time to replace. This type of loss greatly affects power and economy. Seems strange to punch a hole in the system and negate what it is supposed to do.

 

[ultrarunner]

I really don't know except modifying anything remotely emission related in California can get you in serious trouble...

 

[Green Power]

So i take it very few are interested in burning corn (ethanol)?

 

[MinnesotaEric]

So what is so great about a 3.5Ecoboost over a 5.0L Engine... From what i can see the ecoboost only has a couple advantages...
1 mpg better than the 5.0l
33 more pound feet of torque (at a lower rpm)
The 5.0l has
20 more horsepower,
and you can burn corn through it...
2016 Ford F-150 Full Size Pickup Truck | Engine Specifications | Ford.com

This is why.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Just a thought, wouldn't a weep hole in the IC cause a loss of boost to some degree? One of the tests I do to commercial trucks annually is a pressure test on the IC. Remove both side pipes and hoses, seal up, and pressure to 35 PSI with a gauge. If the IC looses 5 PSI or more in 15 seconds, time to replace. This type of loss greatly affects power and economy. Seems strange to punch a hole in the system and negate what it is supposed to do.

Before the EPA jumped down everybody, all factory intercoolers had weep holes. To the best of my knowledge, I was the first to tell people to drill a weep hole in the intercooler to blow out moisture and avoid hydrolocking the engine and misfires that started happening in 2011 with the then new ecoboost.

After people asked me about pressure loss since over a 1/16" hole I finally made this video.

Ford cannot just drill a 1/16" weep hole at the bottom of their intercoolers to solve the on-going water-vapor misfire problem, but you can.

The Result: at idle there is insufficient volume to develop any notable pressure. However, the big idea is if a 1/16" weep hole drilled at the lower left front corner of the intercooler to solve the misfire issue ever draws vacuum, and it does not. As a result, I wouldn't worry about a weep hole at the bottom of the intercooler unless one is crossing a flooded road or doing water crossings. In those conditions, a nipple should be installed, and a breather line popped on that vents at a higher place.

 

[LA Confederate]

Ethanol and forced induction don't mix well together. In my Boost I run 93 octane to get the most performance (the computer will compensate for the increased octane by advancing the timing resulting in an increase of 15 hp and 40 ft-lbs of torque) and better mileage. Once I'm out of warranty, and assuming I don't trade early for a diesel, I plan to install a tuner which by all reports will turn it into a screamer.

 

[LA Confederate]

Just a thought, wouldn't a weep hole in the IC cause a loss of boost to some degree? One of the tests I do to commercial trucks annually is a pressure test on the IC. Remove both side pipes and hoses, seal up, and pressure to 35 PSI with a gauge. If the IC looses 5 PSI or more in 15 seconds, time to replace. This type of loss greatly affects power and economy. Seems strange to punch a hole in the system and negate what it is supposed to do.

The weep hole is 1/16" so you're not getting significant pressure loss. Just enough to allow any moisture to fall out. I saw zero loss of boost by installing the hole. And as Eric pointed out, at no time is the IC under vacuum to pull anything into the cooler.

 

[gsganzer]

One of the knocks I've heard about the Ecoboost is the potential for fuel in the oil. Apparently a problem that can happen with all direct inject engines. My buddy did an oil analysis and the report came back indicating 6% fuel in his. The dealer replaced the PCV with a new design and reflashed the computer. The reflash apparently makes the engine run leaner during warmup, reducing the oil contamination. A subsequent oil test showed the problem was fixed.

I have 30K on mine and will do an oil analysis on the next oil change.

 

[Cord]

Good question. They have had several fixes over the years with varying degrees of success. The 2 most successful aftermarket solutions are a catch can, which is basically a separator for air and vapors, and the weep hole. I have a weep hole on mine which has been there since the week I got it home. There's definitely a residue below the location but I haven't experienced any issues as it blows any crud out the hole.

Actually, they move the blow off valve to the intercooler so the problem solved it's self.

 

[Cord]

Yes. And every one I have seen parked has had a sooty tailpipe. They run rich.

Guess it's a direct injection thing. Mine will actually trail black smoke in the morning when I back up. Can see it in the mirrors. These engines are also prone to "gaining" oil in the cooler months from fuel getting past the rings. Several times mine has been 2 quarts over full when the 10,000 mile oil change comes around. Having replaced the timing chain twice and phasers once, I'm now doing the oil changes at 5,000 miles.