I'm thinking it may be the ticket. I want something that doesn't get terrible mileage as a daily, but is still capable of pulling a trailer with a car or small tractor when it needs to. How are they holding up long term? Any major issues to look out for?
Im currently driving one. '17 with the 3.5 ecoboost. Overall no complaints, it does everything I ask it to including towing over long distances. I cant say I love it, its an appliance. But I feel that way about most new vehicles. As appliances go its comfy and reliable.
Cam phaser rattle is a known issue with....well damn near every ford motor. A little chatter at startup is to be expected, anything more than that and its a bigger repair.
You can search for issues and you'll find them. You cant sell in the volumes that Ford does without issues. But you cant swing a dead cat without hitting an F150 on the road so they must be doing something right.
I borrowed one for a week or so a couple years ago. I forget what year, but I think it was the first of the 2.7L... so... 2015? I have no idea about maintenance issues, but man I LOVED that engine. The boost was spot on and very linear. It wasn't like it was tuned really low and ran out of steam, nor was it too big and you had to wait for boost. It was just there. I drove it from TX to PA and found it to be truck-ish, but nice truck-ish.
Sounded awful, but towing my 3500 lb boat was great. My buddy (the owner of the truck) also towed a 7000 lb travel trailer with it and he had no complaints. He made several trips with it between Maine and Texas. He finally sold it with about 150k on it and I never heard him complain about failures, but he was also the type of guy who would just open the wallet at the dealer if it needed anything. Not sure if that means he had no problems or if that means he just didn't complain when it exploded, know what I mean?
Edit to say... he replaced it with a new 2020 Ecoboost, so he must have been happy with the first example.
Aside from thinking they have the worst exhaust note I've ever heard, I don't know anyone who has had a bad experience. Modern trucks are pretty far outside my wheelhouse though.
Between a 2011 F-150 and my current 2015 Expedition, (and a 2014 SHO) I've put a bunch of miles on the Ecoboost 3.5, and I'm a fan for sure. If/when I ever buy another truck, it will 100% have this engine. I've done a lot of towing, too, and while it has plenty of torque for towing, the mileage goes to E36 M3 when you're towing something big like a travel trailer.
In reply to Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) :
Thank you for the contribution to my pension check.
My dad has a 2020 FX4 3.5eb. I've towed my e36 on a Uhaul trailer a few times. Averaged 19mpg towing and plenty of power. Gets more like 21mpg highway unloaded. And damn is this thing fast unladen.
The 3.5 ecoboost trucks are comically fast unloaded. Like almost keeps up with my cayman fast. I don't think I'd choose the ecoboost for pure towing or heavy hauling, but for a daily driver that can also do some heavy duty work, it's absolutely the right choice. Like most fords real world mileage seems to not be quite as good as rated unless you're really good at sticking to speed limits, but still better than the V8s.
In reply to dps214 :
Really wish they'd put the 3.5 ecoboost in a regular cab short bed. They did that with the tremor for one year, but that was almost 10 years ago.
As for towing and general half ton duties, it's a tough combo to beat.
In the duratec 3.5 engines, the waterpump can fail catastrophically. Seems to occur at around 60K miles. Replacement is a rather involved procedure. I suspect same is true for 3.5 ecoboost.
In reply to M2Pilot :
I think that problem is mostly with the transverse mounted 3.5EB. To make it fit, they put the water pump inside the timing cover and it can leak water in to the oil, wiping bearings before you'll see a puddle on the ground. And, of course, in the transverse position, there isn't a ton of room to work to get the pump out from inside the timing chain arrangement. On the longitudinal motors, though, they use a regular external water pump that doesn't have the direct path to the crankcase.
At least, that's how I understood what I read....
I love mine in my Expedition. The vacuum pump started leaking and I changed it, what a huge PITA to change on the pre-2015 ecoboost. It started leaking again and I'm not sure I'm up to do that again. It's stupid fast and tows like a diesel minus the gas mileage. I haven't had any crazy issues with the 3.5 specifically. I do 5k mile oil changes and plugs every 50k.
I want a 6.2 f250 and will probably give up the Expedition for it. I don't need the space but my wife loves it.
I just went through this over the summer, finally needing to replace Van Milder with something a bit heavier duty, and determined that a 2.7 EB F-150 XLT was simply the right tool for the job. If anything, it's reported to be more trouble free than both the 3.5 and 5.0. It gets solidly improved fuel economy over both the 3.5 and 5.0. And driving them back-to-back, the real world performance difference between it and the 3.5 is pretty minimal. I've also been impressed enough with the 10-speed auto that I'd even consider trying one out in a Mustang so that my wife could drive it too. This truck will easily do everything I can imagine ever needing it to, and more.
There's one catch though: Frustratingly, Ford isn't as straight forward in equipping their 2.7T for truck duty as GM is. So finding a good condition 2.7 EB XLT with the actual 'trailer tow package' (not just the Class IV hitch), the '2.7 payload package', and the integrated trailer brake controller, was an exercise in patience and perseverance... But also well worth it!
my daily and tow vehicle is a '12 platinum with the 3.5. 18X, 000 miles. Its very good at everything.
A racing friend tows his enclosed trailer and ND Miata with one (3.5l). Averaged around 12 mpg to Birmingham Alabama and back from NE Indiana. Only issues he has had are exhaust manifold stud breaking and HVAC actuation door issues. Easy to find more information on both issues online.
In reply to gearheadmb :
I have a 16 F150 with a V8 and 4x4 Going to and from work I average 22-24 mpg and a little better on the highway depending on what I cruise at.
Mine's set up for towing. And so far nothing I've towed does anything except hurt the fuel mileage. Averaged well over 75 mph last time towing about 7000 pounds over both the Rockies & Sierra Nevadas. Averaged 17 mpg.
I have flex fuel and it really saves me money. Using E85 I drop down to 20 mpg. but I save more than $10 per fill-up.
Right now it's $50 a tank instead of $60 per tank so even calculating the lower fuel mileage I'm still $5 ahead.
Bought it new and so far (87,000) I've only had a $400 repair bill fixing a sensor for the 4x4.
In reply to gearheadmb :
You'll find the newer ones get much better fuel mileage than older ones. With the V8 getting about the same fuel mileage but better when towing ( you aren't in boost so much of the time)
The 16 has the aluminum body ( won't rust from road salt) and I think after 18 they went to the aluminum frame.
In reply to frenchyd :
Minoco in shakopee this week had E85 at $2 a gallon.
frenchyd said:In reply to gearheadmb :
You'll find the newer ones get much better fuel mileage than older ones. With the V8 getting about the same fuel mileage but better when towing ( you aren't in boost so much of the time)
The 16 has the aluminum body ( won't rust from road salt) and I think after 18 they went to the aluminum frame.
This is true. My 2011 was still the all-steel body, and I got mid to high teens in mixed driving. My FIL has a 2019 with the 2.7, so not just the AL body, but the 10-speed, and he gets close to 30 on the freeway. He does drive the speed limit, though, which makes a huge difference.
In reply to Fueled by Caffeine :
That is a good price. I'm seeing typically 40-50 cents higher locally.
In reply to frenchyd :
None of the F-150s have an aluminum frame. Even the current gen (2nd gen of the aluminum body) still has a steel frame.
I'm wondering if an Ecoboost would be an easy button for me too. My 97 k1500 really does everything I want in a work truck but my wife and I are considering a small trailer and some traveling. It gets about 18mpg and we are more thinking double cab than the extra cab of the k1500.
Anybody have the hybrid version? My wife is looking at replacing her tow vehicle.
In reply to Karacticus :
FWIW, Consumer Reports found the F-150 Hybrid specifically to be the #1 'least reliable' vehicle in 2022. I'm not sure where the non-hybrid F-150 was, but it was at least outside of the bottom 10... Unlike the Silverado, sitting at #7.
In reply to Antihero :
Towing with an echo boost has the engine in boost a lot and that's when mileage drops.
A V8 has the torque at freeway speeds and the newest ones get really great fuel mileage towing. compared to a the eco boost. I hauled 7000+ pounds over the Rockies and Sierra Nevadas at 70+ mph (75-85) getting 17 mpg.
The newer ones ( mine 's a 2016) with 10 speeds are supposed to be even better.
Going to & from work I average 22-24 mpg.
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