Ford F150 3.5L Eco Boost

[DKB_SATX]

@Road Ruler: Does the CR paper article have anything specific to say about the reported issues with the EcoBoost Flex? (I subscribe to their web service to get ratings and such, but they apparently keep most of their print articles off the website to soak web customers for a bit more $. There's basically zero specific info on this vague report, and the article I linked earlier states that it's NOT engine-related.)

[perryg114]

Anything with a sideways mounted engine is going to be more maintenance intensive to work on and more stuff to go bad. If your like most folks and you get a new TV every two years then it don't matter. I love the fact that my ranger and Excursion have no CV joints accept for the main drive shaft. Of all my vehicles, I spend more time replaceing CV joint boots on front wheel drive cars than anything else. The wife has a Subaru and it has 8 boots to go bad.

Perry

[skipj]

New TV every 2 years????
Not us

[dznf0g]

OK, So maybe some of you will look at this as "sleeping with the enemy", but even though we're talking Ford........CR has long been an incredibly inaccurate, unreliable source whose ratings are 100% based on opinion and emotion, (RESPECTIVE of demographics, which make a big difference in expectations, and has little to do with unbiased data driven performance). What do I mean? I can remember MANY instances of vehicle ratings where 2 brand's models run down the same line, built by the same machines and hands, and one brand comes out poor and one comes out above average!!!!!!! Folks, this can't happen!

Better sources of discussion and consideration are JD Powers (balance initial quality ratings with 5 year dependability studies) and Vincentric total cost of ownership. At least they are predominently data driven.

[mutcth]

According to CR's website, first year reliability for the F-150 Ecoboost was "average."

Tom

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

@Road Ruler: Does the CR paper article have anything specific to say about the reported issues with the EcoBoost Flex?

There is no additional info on the Flex or EB V6 in the hard copy of CR.

It did however report that the F150 with the EB engine was on the recommended list as there was now sufficient data for them to do this.

[DKB_SATX]

I eventually found the info I was looking at online... you just have to approach it differently. It's not in the general section about the big 2012 report, it can be found in the section about the Flex, and it allowed me to drill down to just the EcoBoost model and show that in fact the problems were close to the categories I described above: Transmission (Minor), Drive System, Brakes and Squeaks and Rattles. So, none of that pertains to the engine itself nor would it apply to the F150.

I suspect that this page is only visible to subscribers, but the link is here.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

There is no additional info on the Flex or EB V6 in the hard copy of CR.

It did however report that the F150 with the EB engine was on the recommended list as there was now sufficient data for them to do this.

Data???? Really????? You mean OPINION! CR is NOT good data!

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

Data???? Really????? You mean OPINION! CR is NOT good data!

Data, opinions, info, feedback, whatever...... In my 35 years of subscribing to CR I found their feedback from tens of 1,000's of vehicle owners very accurate. Yours or others opinions may of course differ.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Data, opinions, info, feedback, whatever...... In my 35 years of subscribing to CR I found their feedback from tens of 1,000's of vehicle owners very accurate. Yours or others opinions may of course differ.

If you believe in popularity contests, and the human nature effect of "I gotta defend what I just spent more than I have" feedback, have at it. I'm just sayin' it isn't dollars and CENTS, factual feedback. We all do it, but it ain't real!

[Road Ruler]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

So, none of that pertains to the engine itself nor would it apply to the F150.

That is good news about the EB DKB. Many of us hope this engine is a success story for many years to come.

[Aage]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Data, opinions, info, feedback, whatever...... In my 35 years of subscribing to CR I found their feedback from tens of 1,000's of vehicle owners very accurate. Yours or others opinions may of course differ.

39 years for me, RR, but now I only have the online version.

CR still doesn't accept advertising, and other than tests they do by purchasing the item under test, the only data they publish is that which is collected from subscribers that own the same product.

But let's get back on topic, shall we?

I agree, the CR data is about items that are peripheral to the EB motor, and not the motor itself. From what I can see, the motor remains unblemished.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Aage

39 years for me, RR, but now I only have the online version.

CR still doesn't accept advertising, and other than tests they do by purchasing the item under test, the only data they publish is that which is collected from subscribers that own the same product.

But let's get back on topic, shall we?

I agree, the CR data is about items that are peripheral to the EB motor, and not the motor itself. From what I can see, the motor remains unblemished.

But don't ya see? Therin lies the rub with CR...you can never see the trees for the forest. And opinion dictates the forest is sometimes green, sometimes yellow, and mostly psychodelic!

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Aage

I agree, the CR data is about items that are peripheral to the EB motor, and not the motor itself. From what I can see, the motor remains unblemished.

Hi, I would much rather read what actual owners say than to look at little red and black dots in a magazine. And just like Airstream owners will tell it like it is, so will F-150 owners. And Aage, I thought that the F-150's had gas engines, not electric motors.

[Aage]

My mistake, Robert, and I have notified General Motors that they need to change their name to General Engines, too.

Oh wait, GE is already taken!

[BigAl]

After 22000km my EB performs better than I expected, even with all the hype by Ford. Time will tell if it keeps on ticking.(you can hear the injectors at idle)
Al

[bmark]

i have 11892 miles on my ecoboost . about 50% of these miles are towing 23ft AS . i have not had any issues or problems. the mileage towing between 12 and 14 (gets lower as speed increases) 20+ highway unloaded. My opinion is it tows like a big block but gets the mileage of a small block. its really more comparable to the 6.2 power wise.still very happy with this truck!

[LFM]

Darn, if only we could get one of the owners of the Ecoboost to diss the truck like the non-owners, then we could figure the truck is not really any good. Darn those (me) owners, they just don't know anything about the trucks they own & tow with.

[skipj]

Since I won't use my tow truck for anything other than towing, and local travel at destinations, I cant see the Ecoboost as useful for my needs. Also, my last and only new Ford an F350 has been a disappointment. Partly a poor choice, tried to get a vehicle which would do everything. I does everything: just does non of them well. As a SE Michigan resident knowing so many folks in the auto industry, I am very hesitant to buy a first year product.

[mojo]

Buy a 2012, it's the second year...