F150 Engine Preference

[Birdhunter1]

I've had my '14 model F 150 with a 3.5 Ecoboost for 2 years now, it has 57,000 miles on it and i absolutely love it. I've towed with every engine, carbed and fuel injected, that Ford has had since 1980 in F 150's and most F 250/F350 trucks and the 3.5 Ecoboost is the best of them all when it comes to towing. A friend of mine is a Ford mechanic and admits he would rather have the 5.0 V8 only because he is a V8 guy but says he doesn't see that many Ecoboost engines in the shop with problems.

I will admit I have not towed with the 6.0 Diesel, 6.4 Diesel, 6.7 Diesel or the 6.2 gas engine so I am not comparing the Ecoboost to these.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

My 2011 F150 with 110,000 miles and with 50,000+ of those towing (thanks to the tech that tracks what trailer you're hauling). Has had the following issues.

This was my half-ton playing 3/4 ton experiment. The truck chews throught tires every 30,000 miles. I Run Michelin LT M2 and now a set of LTX.

It chews through spark plugs. every 30-35,000 miles I'll pick up a misfire from a spark plug grounding. The rest look as though they too were well on their way.

One set of rotors and front brakes and rear brake pads. This is surprising as this truck did a bunch of city driving in its first four years. Great brakes.

Rear power sliding window took a crap dispite being used only once. Dirty contacts thatr cannot be cleaned.

Vacuum-assisted front hubs were replaced at 90,000 miles (this truck also spends a lot of time in 4x4 both in the snow and light off-road running around my RE just getting from one end of the RE to the other end, although now that I have a RZR, not as much).

The speed control on the HVAC blower died at 30,000 miles.

I've replaced the blower motor around 95,000 miles.

I'm at the point now where external lights are randomly dying.

Master cylinder and all brake fluid swapped out somewhere around 70,000 miles.

This spring I will flush out the power steering fluid to prevent the pump and rack from dying.

 

[WilliamBos]

2.7 Ecoboost would be my first choice, 3.5 EB second, no interest in 5.0. The 5.0 will be dropped for 2021 in favour of a new 4.8 V8.

 

[jmc]

2.7 Ecoboost would be my first choice, 3.5 EB second, ...

I'd be interested in your comparison of the two EBs for your situation.

 

[deerefan]

I'd be interested in your comparison of the two EBs for your situation.

I own a ‘15 2.7 EB. First EB I have owned. It is really impressive. From my research, it is built very stout, like a diesel. I average right at 25mpg, commuting about 110 miles a day. Have not towed much with it. There are several you tube videos, especially one on the ike gauntlet, that are very informative.

 

[jmc]

Interesting YouTubes, deerefan. Thanks. 25 mpg isn't much less than the high 20s I get with an Outback on the highway, but with a lot more room. This thread has me considering trading vehicles.

I was curious why someone would pick a 2.7 EB over a 3.5 EB. Cheaper? Much better mileage?

 

[deerefan]

Interesting YouTubes, deerefan. Thanks. 25 mpg isn't much less than the high 20s I get with an Outback on the highway, but with a lot more room. This thread has me considering trading vehicles.

I was curious why someone would pick a 2.7 EB over a 3.5 EB. Cheaper? Much better mileage?

For me, it had better reviews in my research. Also better mpg. I only tow occasionally, never more than 6k lbs, so no need for the 3.5. It is a tick faster than the 3.5 iirc.

 

[dalola]

I was curious why someone would pick a 2.7 EB over a 3.5 EB. Cheaper? Much better mileage?

The 2.7 is a $995 option, the 3.5 is $1600. The 2.7 is EPA rated 2mpg better than the 3.5.

The only meaningful advantage to the 3.5 is for heavy towing (>7K) and high trim availability.

In my own personal experience, I find the 2.7 to be a more refined engine, delivering better overall performance in a variety of situations. It's daily driving characteristics are more satisfying to me than either the 3.5 or the 5.0, while enjoying similar power, and superior FE.

Until you actually test drive one, it's hard to grasp how good 165 cu in can be, when done right.

 

[desertdog71]

I went with a V8 as God intended. :laughing: Something about that sound just seems right in a pickup.

 

[Birdhunter1]

Interesting YouTubes, deerefan. Thanks. 25 mpg isn't much less than the high 20s I get with an Outback on the highway, but with a lot more room. This thread has me considering trading vehicles.

I was curious why someone would pick a 2.7 EB over a 3.5 EB. Cheaper? Much better mileage?

My wife has a '14 Forester with the H4 engine and day to day driving around town and to work and back for us she gets 28, on the highway at 60 mph it will be around 30-32. My 3.5 in a 2014 model F 150 supercab 4wd will get 20-22 at 60 mph (depending on the headwind) but will drop to around 17 at 70-75 mph. My dad's 2016 F150 supercab 4wd with the 2.7 in it is getting 20-21 in the same kind of driving my wife does with her Subaru.

From what I can see if you aren't towing to the upper limits of an F 150 then the 2.7 is a great engine, and its a great engine for towing to its just that the 3.5 is a greater engine for towing. I wouldn't give up your Subaru for the day to day driving but my wife and i have started using my truck on longer trips simply for the room and the ride.

The 2.7 that my dad has in a Supercab 4wd is getting 20-21 in the same day to day kind of driving my wife does and I'm not sure what it gets on the highway yet.