Ford Ecoboost questions

[rodsterinfl]

Greetings,

I wanted to chime in on this discussion as I have some good and bad info. First, I had a 2009 F150 V-8. Great truck heavy and under geared for towing in hills underpowered torque-wise pulling my 1000# tongue weight 25'.It could climb just slowly. It had a payload of 1450# People said that my HO V8 was not big enough and I needed the 5.4 which was the biggest for that model year. Truth be told, the 5.4 barely had any better specs. Anywho, got a 2015 Lariat 3.5 liter eco with max tow- 1560# payload. The Airstream was like so much easier to tow BUT, I had some trouble in 2017- two years later. The brake controller burned up and almost caught the truck on fire. Smoke was everywhere. I found out that Ford had six different "redo" jobs on the controller that year. Add to that, a problem began surfacing on the ecoboosts and other OHC engines- carbon build-up. I bought a catch can system for about $600 and added it to the truck. (I removed it before trading and still have it in the garage) but I ended up trading the truck in when an electrical issue emerged after my controller burn ( I lived with an electrically challenged BMW for five years I bought new that acted up a few years into ownership and was not going through that kind of thing again)

SO, I traded it in on a 2017 F150 3.5 eco max tow and loaded platinum. The previous two trucks had 6 speed transmissions. The 10 speed is phenomenal and makes a huge difference towing. Also, in 2017 Ford revamped the eco boost engine and added another injector for the purpose of helping to burn off piston carbon- idea from Toyota who had the same build-up problem with OHC. I can tell you that there is no comparison between the 6 speed and 10 speed transmissions towing. They are totally different and cannot even be compared as same vehicles.

I know it would cost more but I would suggest looking for a 10 speed, 3.5, max tow, model. Also the higher in trim level you go, the lower the payload you can carry. Ford has compensated a bit with some tweaks to the Frame the past few years but it is still true. The gadgets weigh down the truck. Shop using that door sticker- just use the max load figure.

[JeffE]

We have a 2017 F150 Lariat with the 3.5L Ecoboost and 10 speed transmission. Tow a 2018 Tommy Bahama 27 with it. We have 12k on the trailer.

Power is *no* issue. We haven’t done high altitude with it, but the Grapevine south to Los Angeles is easy.

Downhill is a little iffy. We have a Blue Ox hitch, and generally, going down steep grades, I pretend we’re a semi, and go down slowly. The first time descending the Grapevine (northbound), I didn’t, the brakes on the truck overheated and I had to turn the rotors. After that, I’m very conservative, going downhill. But uphill, we go with the traffic.

Reliability has been no issues. We change the oil between 5-10k, depending on convenience. Ford wants every 10k. Dealer likes the income from 5k.

I really like the truck. More importantly, so does my wife! A heavier truck might handle downhill better, but we like the ride and everyday convenience of the F150.

Jeff

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by JeffE

Downhill is a little iffy. We have a Blue Ox hitch, and generally, going down steep grades, I pretend we’re a semi, and go down slowly. The first time descending the Grapevine (northbound), I didn’t, the brakes on the truck overheated and I had to turn the rotors. After that, I’m very conservative, going downhill. But uphill, we go with the traffic.

Downshift. Very steep downhills, I do in 1st gear.

[pjshier]

The EGR with direct injection on the older Ecoboost engines can gum up the intake valves from exhaust gas recirculation in some use cases. By 128K this will certainly have manifest. It may not be fatal but is unwelcome in any engine. There are a number of Youtube videos on the subject.

In 2018(?) Ford added intake injection to the Ecoboost to help "wash" the valve train and prevent the buildup. Might want to consider a newer version. The 10 speed transmission is so far a nice upgrade from the 6 speed.

We enjoyed both our 2016 Ecoboost and the 2018 Ecoboost. I added an oil capture system in the EGR on the 2016 at fairly low miles as an effort to combat the buildup. Easy and relatively inexpensive.

Overall: Ecoboosts were great but at the King Ranch and Platinum trims the payload was insufficient. Now operating an F250.

[turk123]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Downshift. Very steep downhills, I do in 1st gear.

And here lies the Devil in the details. The Ecoboost just cannot hold a steep downhill run without using the brakes. I owned one with my 27' International and for pulling it had plenty of power. Going down steep grade (7 - 12%) you could downshift but it would pull into the 5000 RPM (and more if you let it!) range every time.

I have to admit, I never tried 1st gear, but that sounds awfully slow as semi's whizz by!

[Old PJ]

We have 2017 25FC fb towed by a 2017 3.5L ecoboost lariat. The 10 speed is awesome. Great Smokies, Rookies, Black Hills were all easy up and down. If you set the cruise control at 50, or 40, or whatever you are comfortable with given curves and traffic, the gearbox will maintain without touching the brakes. The first time it did that, I was pleasantly surprised. Now I just watch it do it's thing. I forget the numbers, but have the forms in the tt, but with full fresh h2o, 92# genset, 5 gallons of fuel, weber grill, and all that other stuff, the spouse, 97#dog with her food, I was 12% tongue weight and 350+ lbs under payload. I am dealing with a cam advance issue right now( diagnosed today)which will bite, but I love my rig.

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Downshift. Very steep downhills, I do in 1st gear.

Originally Posted by turk123

And here lies the Devil in the details. The Ecoboost just cannot hold a steep downhill run without using the brakes. I owned one with my 27' International and for pulling it had plenty of power. Going down steep grade (7 - 12%) you could downshift but it would pull into the 5000 RPM (and more if you let it!) range every time.

I have to admit, I never tried 1st gear, but that sounds awfully slow as semi's whizz by!

Which is why you hit the brakes HARD when the speed gets too high to slow down significantly, then release them and let it slowly build up speed again, then hit the brakes HARD again. Occasionally hitting the brakes like this won't overheat the brakes.

Personally, it doesn't bother me one bit for the semis to pass me.

[Ginophiles]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

... I suppose what I'm really saying is, talk me out of it, PLEASE.



Jim

Not a chance brother!

As I'll be keeping my 'ol guy for a few more years, people like me need to live vicariously through you. Expecting a full report and tour when you pull the trigger.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, Jim and Susan. I bought a brand new 2014 F-150 Ecoboost. It is the last year of the steel body. The Ecoboost is a pulling monster. 2014 is the first year where the vacuum pump is mounted on the back of the head and mechanical. Prior to that, 2009 to 2013 they had an electric vacuum pump mounted behind the left headlight. I have a nicely equipped XLT with a payload of 1745 lbs. Fancier models have a much lower payload. 1065 lbs. was the lowest that I saw. I don't like or want the higher center of gravity and the much harsher ride of the 250/ 350's. My only draw back, and I knew that going in, is the lack of engine braking. My 5.4 L Navigator had the perfect amount of engine braking, but no where near the towing power especially in the mountains and high altitude. I personally would not tow anything heavier than something in the 7,000 + range. [less than 8,000 lbs.] My trailer's GVWR is 6,300 lbs. With my trailer loaded for a trip and my truck bed loaded with tools, generator and other necessary's [900 lbs. tongue weight] my truck can and will burn rubber.

I would highly recommend and XLT like mine.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

I have zero complaints about how my F-250 or F-350 rides. They have changed a *lot* in that respect over the last decade or two.

Bob

[Powerrunner]

Originally Posted by pjshier

The EGR with direct injection on the older Ecoboost engines can gum up the intake valves from exhaust gas recirculation in some use cases. By 128K this will certainly have manifest. It may not be fatal but is unwelcome in any engine. There are a number of Youtube videos on the subject.



In 2018(?) Ford added intake injection to the Ecoboost to help "wash" the valve train and prevent the buildup. Might want to consider a newer version. The 10 speed transmission is so far a nice upgrade from the 6 speed.



We enjoyed both our 2016 Ecoboost and the 2018 Ecoboost. I added an oil capture system in the EGR on the 2016 at fairly low miles as an effort to combat the buildup. Easy and relatively inexpensive.



Overall: Ecoboosts were great but at the King Ranch and Platinum trims the payload was insufficient. Now operating an F250.

Not all Ecoboosts King Ranch/Platinum have poor payload. My 2018 King Ranch with tow package and 4WD had a payload of 1872. Just depends on the trucks options and configuration.

[pjshier]

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

Not all Ecoboosts King Ranch/Platinum have poor payload. My 2018 King Ranch with tow package and 4WD had a payload of 1872. Just depends on the trucks options and configuration.

True that. In my cases, they were both what was on the lot. You can save a lot of weight by passing on the sun/moon roof, for example. In my cases the Platinum was just over 1400 lbs payload, and the KR was about 1500 - both pretty loaded but priced right for the circumstances.

The Ecoboost in Sport mode is a hoot to drive! I miss that part.

[JFScheck]

Great dependable engine, go check “YouTube” for TFLTrucks interview with some EcoBoost owners.

High mileage with lots towing and no issues!

Bonus - with turbos you won’t loose the power that a naturally aspirated V8 or V10 does when at altitude!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by Powerrunner

Not all Ecoboosts King Ranch/Platinum have poor payload. My 2018 King Ranch with tow package and 4WD had a payload of 1872. Just depends on the trucks options and configuration.

Hi

Keep in mind that the original question was about a steel body F150 and not one with the newer aluminum body. That alone is a roughly 400 pound difference. It also has the Limited package on it so there's pretty much every option in the book on the vehicle.

Bob

[Ultraclassic]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

As jcl points out, 2014 is the 4th production year of F150 Ecoboosts and "the bugs" were pretty much worked out by then.

The truck you're looking at has low payload capacity, but if your profile is up to date, you're towing a '73 so you may not have a lot of tongue weight to deal with either (compared to modern largish Airstreams.) Know your weights to make your decisions...

As for the Ecoboost itself... I had an '07 5.4L tow vehicle before, with a lighter Airstream and a penchant for Colorado camping. Taking that rig to the mountains made me VERY interested in the Ecoboost (I've driven forced-induction vehicles for my daily driver for 30 of the last 40 years...)

So, I was watching the Ecoboost F150 from its introduction until I was ready to upgrade my truck... Several people in my Airstream Club unit had 1st-gen trucks, a couple of whom put BIG miles on them. 2 of them (both '11 models IIRC) experienced the early intercooler issue, one '12 had a computer issue, all 6 ppl in the unit who had them between 2011 and 2015 would definitely buy another (and several of them did.)

I bought my 2nd-gen 3.5 in 2017. It's got 44k miles (it would likely be 60k except for the weird year in 2020) about half of which are towing about 6600 lb, with many (though never enough) of those miles being in the mountains. I am thoroughly satisfied with the truck. It's a little different than what you're looking at, in that it has the 10-speed auto and a bit more hp and torque but the only real vice it displays is its thirst, and it's not really that far off the competition in that department. I'm not afraid to make the truck work, and I travel about 68 mph with the Airstream most of the time. A good day without much wind in the flatlands will return about 11 mpg at that pace, a headwind or a mountain will make it drink like a sailor on shore leave (but it'll do the work.)

I had to have the air-conditioned seat fixed, and there have been a couple of software updates and "service campaigns" (almost-recalls I guess?) but it's been very reliable, it's nice to drive, and does a good job towing my Airstream. I custom-ordered it with the big trailer mirrors, they're hard to find on a dealer lot.

You can add the trailer tow mirrors your self after I did on my 05' Lariat

[Ultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

That's the thing, right? Prices are thru the roof right now! I don't need this "new" truck, the 2002 F250 will do fine for a couple years until prices come back down to earth. But man, it's a beauty. Rides great, lot's of gadgets I don't actually need, but man is it pretty. I suppose what I'm really saying is, talk me out of it, PLEASE.



Ok, back to reality now. [emoji38]


Jim

Jim, wait until next year and buy a 2016' second year aluminum body.....

[JFScheck]

Only down side - tough time purchasing a truck now - either used or new due to demand….

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by Ginophiles

I don't want to sound like my dad bragging about $0.25 a gallon gas,

!971 or so. Madison, WI was having a gas war. 24.9. I'll never forget it.

[Rburkard]

I have a 2014 F150 3.5 Ecoboost and I pull a 2019 25 foot FB. My truck’s payload rating is 1690, and I use an Equalizer hitch. I travel as light as I can and the numbers work for me. I love the way our Airstream tows and I feel save, even on the highways with large trucks. With that said, I never travel with more than minimal water in the tanks and I leave my heavy kayaks at home. I am at the limit for an F150.

You will get many different opinions on this, and I recommend that you work the numbers and don’t over load the payload. There are many threads on this forum that address towing vehicles.

[Sgilcrest]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

I'm in the market (sorta) for new-to-me Tow Vehicle. I'm looking at 5 to 6 year old Fords and ran across a really nice 2014 F150 Limited today. This truck has just about every option on it for that year. 4 X 4, Crew Cab, towing package, leathers, new tires, very clean and low mileage at 128k. Price is in my ballpark at $29,400.

It has the 3.5L Ecoboost engine. I remember when these came out a few years ago there was a lot good press about them. I remember folks here on the forums having good things to say about them. So my question is, for those of you that have owned them, what are your thoughts? Reliability good? Plenty of actual power to tow with? This truck can (theoretically) tow 10,400 lbs, according to the manual as fitted from the factory.

Anybody* out there with real world info they care to share?

*I'm a dyed in the wool Ford Guy, so that's all I'm considering at his point.

Jim

I have a 2018 Eco boost. 3.5l Very happy with it. The torque is great/ better than an 8 cyl and mirrors a diesel. The only problem I have had with the engine is that I had to replace the throttle body. I have 70k on it and tow a 25’ international. .about 19k miles towing.