Ford F150 Eco-Boost.

[BoldAdventure]

Seems from reading various threads the ecoboost is about equal to most V8's while towing, the difference is around town not towing or on the highway you get slightly better milage.

[Larry C]

Originally Posted by Earthcreeper

Yes. I turn off the "Tow Sway Control" ONLY when not towing and I do this on every key cycle because there is no setting to leave it in the off position. I leave it on when towing. I agree that the brakes must be involved somehow. I asked Ford Dealer Salesperson about this and a mechanic at that same Dealership and they know nothing about it. Go figure. Don't take my word for it. Clear out your mileage and start fresh, you will see a notable increase in mileage. Still want better mileage, burn NON_ETHANOL in your tank and pick up another increase in mileage.

Does anyone have valid data about the mileage increase with Non-Ethanol gas, vs. ethanol/gas mixtures? Is it worth the extra cost or not? ome friends tell me the milage is a bit better, but here in Lower Alabama, Non Ethanol is about $0.50/gallon more that the diluted stuff..
Just wondering.
Larry

[n2916s]

Well, fundamentally, it takes "x" btu's/hour to move my airstream at, say, 60 mph. So, other than a minor gains or losses in efficiency of a power train or the aerodynamics of a tv/trailer combination, whatever I tow it with is going to burn roughly the same amount of gas to move it a given distance. Of course, more btu's per gallon with diesel. More efficiency at altitude with turbos...

There really is no "magic bullet" that is going to give me 25mpg while I am pulling 4 tons of shiny aluminum down the road. So, I vote for track record of reliability, comfort in the cabin, reasonable payload.

Still shopping...


Mike

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Larry C

Does anyone have valid data about the mileage increase with Non-Ethanol gas, vs. ethanol/gas mixtures? Is it worth the extra cost or not? some friends tell me the mileage is a bit better, but here in Lower Alabama, Non Ethanol is about $0.50/gallon more that the diluted stuff..
Just wondering.
Larry

Hi, All I know is that I was consistently getting 11.5 MPG while towing before the Ethanol and now get 10.0 MPG. My old Lincoln wasn't designed to run this new gas. Maybe newer vehicles can handle it better. We can't get the non-Ethanol here anyway.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by Larry C

Does anyone have valid data about the mileage increase with Non-Ethanol gas, vs. ethanol/gas mixtures? Is it worth the extra cost or not? ome friends tell me the milage is a bit better, but here in Lower Alabama, Non Ethanol is about $0.50/gallon more that the diluted stuff..
Just wondering.
Larry

Typical reformulated gasoline is advertised as having up to 10% ethanol, ie E10. Ethanol has much less energy content on a volume basis (33 percent less) so the net impact is around 2-3%. That is just based on energy content. If your engine does not run as well on an ethanol blend the impact can be more.

If you are dealing with E85, the impact is of course much greater, about 28%.

When I find non-ethanol fuel for no more than a 3-5% premium over blended (up to 10%) I buy it. Engine runs better, and it is near enough a wash on cost per mile.

Jeff

[r carl]

I don't think you should buy a TV that requires premium. There is no 3/4 or 1 ton trucks that require premium that I know of.

[kscherzi]

Based on reading on the internet.... The Ford Ecoboost is ignition system is mapped for regular 87 octane gas, with regular it produces its rated power. Its also mapped to recognize up to 91 octane and adjust timings accordingly where it can make an additional 20 HP and 10 lbs torque. I read its suggested to use premium for more demanding applications like towing in mountains. My 2002 Volvo does the same thing with different grades of fuel.

[BoldAdventure]

Originally Posted by kscherzi

Based on reading on the internet.... The Ford Ecoboost is ignition system is mapped for regular 87 octane gas, with regular it produces its rated power. Its also mapped to recognize up to 91 octane and adjust timings accordingly where it can make an additional 20 HP and 10 lbs torque. I read its suggested to use premium for more demanding applications like towing in mountains. My 2002 Volvo does the same thing with different grades of fuel.

Interesting, my Pontiac G8 GXP does the same, you can run 87 in it, even though it's the same 6.2L v8 found in the Corvette, but because the car is originally from Australia, they have a tougher emissions, but if you throw in 92 the car really wakes up.

So this makes sense they would map the programing like that.

[newroswell]

Originally Posted by n2916s

Well, fundamentally, it takes "x" btu's/hour to move my airstream at, say, 60 mph. So, other than a minor gains or losses in efficiency of a power train or the aerodynamics of a tv/trailer combination, whatever I tow it with is going to burn roughly the same amount of gas to move it a given distance. Of course, more btu's per gallon with diesel. More efficiency at altitude with turbos...

There really is no "magic bullet" that is going to give me 25mpg while I am pulling 4 tons of shiny aluminum down the road. So, I vote for track record of reliability, comfort in the cabin, reasonable payload.

Still shopping...


Mike

Single best upgrade to improve MPG's is the circuitry between the drivers ears. Have you ever watched the traffic around you flooring it from the green light to slamming on the brakes for the red light they were never going to make? A little discipline with the skinny pedal can save a bunch. Visualize every time you hit the brake you're paying for the gas twice. This requires slowing down. You're not trying to make every light (you won't). You are trying to not waste fuel for speed that you can't use very long. I actually started this a while back when the vehicles started coming with the fuel economy dash screen. It's a full on challenge now for me and the vehicle to meet my best millage (most of the time ).

[boliversr]

I took my first trip towing 24' double argosy with 2013 5.0 3.55 gear it worked great plenty of power lowest fuel mileage was 12.8 I was happy with it not towing it get hwy 19.5 to 20.5 local 16.8 17.4 I think the ego boost does better but i'am happy with the 5.0

[msmcv51]

I wanted an Eco boost since they came out, I believe in 2011. I talked about the F150 EB with the guys in our WBCCI unit and they never said anything bad about the EB. The things they keep saying was that the F250 was an all around heavier built truck. The killing blow to my dream of an Eco boost was in pricing both the Eco boost equipped for towing and a standard F250 that meet the same requirements. The difference was that F250 was about $10,000 cheaper and the towing mileage was about the same. I bought a 2005 F250 V10 with a 4.10 rear end and only 38,000 miles for $13,000. About 95% of our mileage is towing and it gives us 10.5 to 11 mpg. The other 5% of the time we get 15 mpg. The way I see it the $30,000 difference between new and used will buy a lot of gas mileage difference. Our old truck was a F 150 set up for towing, this F 250 is much more stable and a joy to two with.

[r carl]

Originally Posted by msmcv51

I wanted an Eco boost since they came out, I believe in 2011. I talked about the F150 EB with the guys in our WBCCI unit and they never said anything bad about the EB. The things they keep saying was that the F250 was an all around heavier built truck. The killing blow to my dream of an Eco boost was in pricing both the Eco boost equipped for towing and a standard F250 that meet the same requirements. The difference was that F250 was about $10,000 cheaper and the towing mileage was about the same. I bought a 2005 F250 V10 with a 4.10 rear end and only 38,000 miles for $13,000. About 95% of our mileage is towing and it gives us 10.5 to 11 mpg. The other 5% of the time we get 15 mpg. The way I see it the $30,000 difference between new and used will buy a lot of gas mileage difference. Our old truck was a F 150 set up for towing, this F 250 is much more stable and a joy to two with.

You have made great decisions there.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by msmcv51

I wanted an Eco boost since they came out, I believe in 2011. I talked about the F150 EB with the guys in our WBCCI unit and they never said anything bad about the EB. The things they keep saying was that the F250 was an all around heavier built truck. The killing blow to my dream of an Eco boost was in pricing both the Eco boost equipped for towing and a standard F250 that meet the same requirements. The difference was that F250 was about $10,000 cheaper and the towing mileage was about the same. I bought a 2005 F250 V10 with a 4.10 rear end and only 38,000 miles for $13,000. About 95% of our mileage is towing and it gives us 10.5 to 11 mpg. The other 5% of the time we get 15 mpg. The way I see it the $30,000 difference between new and used will buy a lot of gas mileage difference. Our old truck was a F 150 set up for towing, this F 250 is much more stable and a joy to two with.

So, you're talking about the comparison between used and new? Because the comparison of mostly-equivalent trucks does NOT show a $10k difference. For 2wd trucks:

F150 XLT SuperCrew w/6.5' box, 3.73 limited-slip diff, Ecoboost (this config includes Max Tow and HD Payload by default) MSRP: $41,195

F250 XLT Crew Cab w/ 6.75' box, 3.73 e-locker diff, 6.2l (the new base engine for Superduty trucks) MSRP $39560.

I don't track F250 equipment levels regularly but I'm assuming that the equipment level is pretty similar XLT to XLT. The price difference is almost entirely due to the Ecoboost option on the F150 vs. the base engine on the F250. The 250 gets you another thousand pounds of payload and of tow capacity in the listed configurations (and another thousand pounds to drag around when the truck is empty.)

[kscherzi]

Even your comparison isn't equal. You upgraded the F-150 engine, but compared to the F-250 base engine. But most guys getting a F-250 will want the 4x4 with the upgraded Powerstroke diesel engine. This brings the price of the F-250 to MSRP $50,835.

[iowaroots]

Took a short 750 mile round trip this week from Iowa to South Dakota. I got 20.7 mpg with the 2013 F150 EB 4x4 crew cab, 3.55 rear axle. Best mileage I have ever gotten. I was not towing. Used 87 octane NON alcohol fuel....the regular old stuff. I have the E-rated tires now and cranked them up to 65-lbs. Ran with Tow Sway Control setting on OFF. Now, if the Walleye's were bigger..........

[driftwood]

What mileage are you getting towing the 2006 25' Classic ??

[pappy19]

I always get at least 1-2 more mpg using non-ethanol gas, but yes, it is more expensive than ethanol. Thing is that 87 non-ethanol probably has more btu's that 89 or 91 ethanol, so you are getting more bang there, plus none of the ethanol issues.

[MartinF]

jumping late in this thread but I tow a 19' my 2013 F150 EB and I couldn't be happier.

I have the max tow and HD packages, max payload is 2200lbs or so (door sticker). I have a cap over the bed with 4 bikes in it + camping gear and I'm still far from that 2200lbs capacity.

I can merge on the highway at 60mph without problems and the truck just pulls great. I get 11-13mpg on Michigan roads when pulling the Airstream and ~18-19 without.

[iowaroots]

Bob, the Tow Sway Control is "always on" (even when not using the Tow/Haul feature) anytime the truck is started. My guess is that this feature works the brakes and in doing so improves towing safety. When not towing I feel as though it does not need to be on and for me it is an amazing improvement in mileage when off. I have to turn it "off" each time I start the vehicle. It is a little effort with a nice $aving$ in fuel expense.

[iowaroots]

I sold the 25 Classic but when I pulled it I got 10.x

Heavy tongue weight on that trailer.