Ford F150 EcoBoost Twin Turbo

Discussion in 'The Choo-Choo shop' started by gsfred, Jan 9, 2012.

  1. Buicksky

    Buicksky Gold Level Contributor

    We have a 2014 F150, 3.5 Eco boost 4 Door Crew cab 4WD. My impression, power is plentiful and we average 17.4 mpg combined. We have 29,000 miles on it now and I drove it to BG this year driving 920 miles round trip towing a 22 enclosed trailer with my A body Buick inside traveling 65 to 80 MPH. I got 7.5 MPG, thank goodness for the 35 gallon gas tank. I have not seen the mileage some others are reporting. We had the 5.4 in the previous 2007 F150 but never towed this trailer and car for a extended haul.
     
  2. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    I run an auto repair shop, even those these motors seem to make good power. They are still having the same issue as many other ford v8 and v10, they all are having issues with timing chains and phaser for the variable valve timing.

    It's not if your going to have this problem but when. If you follow the Ford fixes they don't even replace or recommend to replace the chains when replacing the phasers. That's like replacing the cam gear and nothing else.

    To replace all the parts your almost 1250 in parts, and hopefully the new parts won't do the same thing as the orginals. The v10 and v8 had many many updates, so I doubt ford got these one correct by now either.

    First signs or this starting is a rattling noise upon cold starts. I also feel the oil pumps are lack luster in the volume department I think this is helping wear thesee parts early.

    Oh and these trucks also has a fire issue that ford won't admit too. There is something behind the dash shorting out and causing major vehicle fires. Just look on copart and see the number of these things burnt up. Had a buddy have his burn and it was so hot he could not find the dog tags from his best friend to high school.

    Asking such a little motor to do big work in my opinion is like asking to eat your cake and still have it.
     
  3. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    The internal water pump scares me. When it fails, it fills the crankcase with coolant, destroying the engine, and, if you don't shut it down quick enough, the turbos, too.
    A friend of mine bought one and the first day he had it, he put an aftermarket tune in it. A week later he had to take it to the dealer for something and they told him his warranty was voided because of the tune...
     
  4. onemansgarbage

    onemansgarbage I'll take it!

    I have a 16 4x4 supercab and tow 2 or 3 cars a month with an 18' Big Tex. And I'm towing big cars, like Electras. The truck has more than enough power. You would never guess it was a 6. The ride while towing is smooth and tight with no sway. The mileage is about 14 while towing and 19 normal highway driving. Great truck!
     
  5. red67wildcat

    red67wildcat Well-Known Member

    A little off subject , last year I bought a slightly used 14 f150 4x4 crew cab but with the 5.0
    I just wasnt sold on the hair dryer engine guess Im old school but love my ford truck
    just my 2 cents
     
  6. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    The internal water pumps are only on the "east-west" layout, not the "north-south" layout. Pickups have an external water pump, whereas the explorer, taurus, etc have the internal water pumps. Not a very common failure but when it does fail it is catastrophic in nature. The engine is destroyed and if you are out of warranty, it's a $12-15,000 repair. Most of these are occurring after 100,000 miles but a few before. I bought an extended warranty on my 2015 Explorer Sport for this and other issues that could happen with the "high tech" options my vehicle has. I plan on keeping it to around 80-85,000 miles and then buy another. Honestly, it's the best new vehicle I have ever bought with zero issues, even better than the previous 2011 Subaru Outback.

    As far as the warranty being voided because he put a tune on it, well, yea, they will do that. Anything that will alter performance you'd have to expect that as it places extra stress on components. Can't really argue about that one, sorry. I had my warranty voided on a 2001 GMC Yukon because I installed a Ham radio. Dealer and I went around on that one...I won. But I will NEVER AGAIN OWN A NEW GM PRODUCT. PERIOD. Lost a life long customer that supported that company through thick and thin. Driving Ford's now and no issues with them. Done with GM. Adios!!
     
    70skylark350 and Guy Parquette like this.
  7. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    This is good to know. I was under the impression it was all the 3.5 & 3.7 V6's, NA or EcoBoost, north-south, east-west. So the Mustangs and F150s are safe from this crazy problem. I have two friends with F150 EcoBoosts and, so far, they both love them.
     
  8. 64 wildcat conv

    64 wildcat conv Silver Level contributor

    There's several of us here at Borgwarner who tow with F150s with the 3.5L EB. I myself have towed 6000 lbs in the mountains w/o issue. Up steep grades MPG will suck (usually about 3-4 MPG at 65 MPH passing everything on the road). On average I get about 13-14 MPG highway towing 6000 lbs (open car hauler). Others here tow more and get less MPG. The good thing is that my truck will get 20+ MPG in combined driving, sometimes getting 23 MPG highway and still have 420 ft-lbs of TQ and well over 300 HP on 87 octane fuel. My truck has a max towing capacity of 10,700 pounds. The 6000 pounds I haul is like nothing is back there other than the downshifting when in "Tow" mode. My truck has the 6 speed automatic which has been trouble free once it was reflashed by the dealer.
    I'd recommend the truck to anyone doing occasional towing under 7500 lbs. If you're towing more weight on a weekly basis something with a large diesel is probably a better choice.
    BTW, I designed the DMAX turbos for 2017 and my buddies designed all of the 3.5 EB turbos from 2012ish to current. We sell a Hi Po turbo worth another 90ish HP and TQ but requires a retune and 93 octane fuel. It is real similar to the Raptor power output.
     
  9. Dragdoc

    Dragdoc Well-Known Member

    Sooooo, a couple years ago I actually had a conversation with a Ford powertrain engineer while I was looking at a Mustang for sale south of Detroit. He was telling me about development of some big gas motors over concerns Ford had for government potentially clamping down on light truck diesels. We talked some about towing and I’d asked how the turbo 6 was for towing. They tow great, he said, but with regular towing duty the motors are beating the crank into the bearings! I.E. seeing excessive wear and failure as compared to N/A V8s.

    Anyone hear of premature engine failure with routine towing???
     
  10. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    Never heard of that but I'm sure the company employee would know better that you or I.

    This may be why there is now a new 7.3 liter GAS N/A V8 available in the Super Duty's...
     
    SpecialWagon65 likes this.
  11. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Do you still have your Sport?
    We purchased a new 2014 and still have it with now over 100k and zero problems. Knew about the timing chain issues. So add zink additive with every oil change... screw the cats. And knowing about the direct injection not cleaning the valves, and possible water moisture building up in the intercooler, first thing I did was install a catch can and got rid of the pcv system and vented the crank case to the air box.
    So far so good.
     
  12. Brad Conley

    Brad Conley RIP Staff Member

    Well, yes and no. Sold the 2015 and bought a 2019. Looks identical excepted I opted for the 2nd row bench instead of buckets (the dogs like it better). I usually trade every 5 years which would have put me in a 2020. Knowing there was a complete re-design coming for 2020, I elected to buy a '19. VERY glad I did. There have been TONS of issues with the 2020's and many are getting bought back.

    My dealer, when I asked about the catch-can, told me they would void my warranty if I installed one, hence no catch can. Never really had an issue on the '15 and none so far on the '19.
     
    70skylark350 likes this.
  13. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Good for you on the '2019. I think the 2020's are ugly and will just hold up resale value on the teens...
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2020
    70skylark350 likes this.
  14. efogs400

    efogs400 Platinum Level Contributor

    I bought a 2015 Sport new in the summer of 2014, 80K and still runs like a champ. Other than batteries and one set of tires it has been the most maintenance free vehicle I have ever had, very comfortable and quick. I too was dissappointed in the new Explorer, just does not do it for me and have been thinking about what is next. Might just look at a gently used 2019 Sport also.
     
    Guy Parquette likes this.
  15. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    I have a 2018 sport, bought new two years ago this month. I love that car...…. but I did buy the extended powertrain warranty to 120,000 miles. I keep my cars 10 years or so.
     
  16. Guy Parquette

    Guy Parquette Platinum Level Contributor

    Same here at 10 years. I like to pay them off within 3 years of purchase. Its nice not having a car payment...
     
  17. Chuck Bridges

    Chuck Bridges Well-Known Member

    Old thread, but.... I have been towing my travel trailer with my 2012 F150 3.5L Ecoboost since new. I have got 184,000 Km on it (114332 miles) on it and only had problems on my last tow. It would lose power and shudder when I applied more power to it. The CEL would flash, then go solid. After driving on level ground (Which is most of it in Southern Alberta, flat, flat flat) it would act normally and the CEL would go out. I checked the code, P0305, Cylinder 5 misfire. It still got me home 350 miles and even got decent mileage. I took it to the mechanic and told him what happened. It took him about 2 hours, since I asked for all new plugs while he was under the hood. The plug in cylinder 5 was cracked and the ignition coil top was broken. He could not find the piece. He asked me if I was under the hood (We have an agreement that I stay out, since the carb issue on the Wildcat.) I told him no I am not going under a modern hood since I didn't even know where the plugs were. He told me that things don't just break like that it was damage. I told him that before him, only Ford mechanics were under there.

    Long story short, plenty of power, even after eight years, quiet and smooth. With 113,000 miles, no problems, I give the Ecoboost a big thumbs up. Mileage will go down if you tow with your foot in it, but that is just common sense.

    Chuck
     
  18. SpecialWagon65

    SpecialWagon65 Ted Nagel

    my 2014...I checked out the 2020's since the Limited is available with the high output V6 (Raptor)...just not enough better to trade in the '14 now with 85,000 miles.
    Never mind that orange thing...that is not mine!
    I've had 1 coil pack go bad but that is about it. Cheers.
    IMG_0353.JPG
     
    70skylark350 likes this.
  19. 70skylark350

    70skylark350 Jesus loves you unconditionally

    nice truck. my son bought a 2012 last year with the 5.0, 150,000 miles. great truck.
     
  20. 436'd Skylark

    436'd Skylark Sweet Fancy Moses!!!!!

    I had heard the same thing. The trucks that are regularly towing heavy loads (6k and up) are having issues with the rotating assemblies- pistons and rod bearing issues. Since 95% of f150 owners aren't towing that much weight it has not been an issue for Ford.
     

Share This Page