I just got through with a trip visiting family in California. We rented a 2017 Expedition out of LAX with the ecoboost. We traveled I-5 over the Grapevine both ways into the San Joaquin Valley.

Sorry to say this for all of you lovers, but that thing is a dog. The turbo lag off of the line is quite noticeable and you quickly realize you really are just driving a V-6 in a very heavy vehicle. It did okay once in the mid-RPM range, but I think it would fall on its ass actually hauling anything, especially if there was a lot of stop and go.

To be quite honest, it felt great to arrive back home and be behind the wheel of my wife's 2013 Sequoia with the 5.7L V-8. A week's worth of experience in the Ford made me appreciate that engine and transmission combination so much more. (I drive a 2014 Tundra 4X4; same running gear). There is just no replacing the low-end torque of a V-8 with those small displacement forced induction engines in this particular application. Sorry boys. That's just the way I see it. NO WAY in hell would I ever own an Ecoboost.

Where the ecoboost shines is in towing. Not going to set any MPG records towing but it definitely tows better than the V8. Driven both hauling the same load (gooseneck with 15-16 round bales on it). Obviously a 1/2 ton truck is not ideal for that, but buying a 3/4ton diesel to need a diesel 2-3 times a year isn't worth it. Or you can buy a 3/4 ton gas burner and get 10mpg whether youre hauling a trailer or not.


The turbo lag does take some getting used to. Especially if you're trying to accelerate quickly from a stop. More than once I have broken the rear wheels loose when the turbos come in. When I get around to replacing my 02s and such I'll report back if it increases my MPG.

quote:

Originally posted by model7LSS:
Where the ecoboost shines is in towing. Not going to set any MPG records towing but it definitely tows better than the V8. Driven both hauling the same load (gooseneck with 15-16 round bales on it).

You got a better truck than I did, in the field with 6 big rolls on a hay trailer, I have to put mine in 4WD Low to get the trailer started...it'll pull them OK on the road, just doesn't want to take off with them.

Well, it's damn sure not happy doing it, but it does it. I will say it was in a 2017 model with the tow package, not my 13 ecoboost lariat.

Still tickled pink with mine. Consistently getting between 21-25 not towing. Towed a flat utility trailer weighing about 1,500 pounds on the highway about 200 miles to pick up a canoe and averaged 21. Just did the same 102 mile round trip to our fishing spot towing our 4,500 boat and averaged 14.8 towing. Our 2103 Tundra 4x4 ran the same loop and averaged low to mid 12's.

Zero issues so far.

Update on my experiences with ecoboost and Ford. As posted earlier, it started smoking at about 32,000 miles and was in the dealers shop waiting on the "engine internals specialist" diagnosis and opinion. His expert opinion was that there were no major defects, burning oil is common with many motors...some more than others. Fast forward to earlier this month, the truck was running a bit rough, although not smoking very much, and still using a bit of oil and the gas mileage has dropped considerably. So, I took it back to the dealership for another round and after two weeks, they tell me that an engineer from Ford is coming to have a look at the vehicle before they install a new longblock, the service guy told me the computer was "full of error codes" and that they have had a couple of others with similar issues. Hope to have it back in a couple of days.

Sorry to hear about that, Karl. My 2013 just turned 100k this week an has (knock on wood) been trouble free for me.

My brother has a 2013 4 door 4x4 Ford eco boost with 3.55 running gears. He's had it since driving it off the showroom floor. I think he told me it had in the neighborhood of 70,000 miles on it as a few months ago. He has had a few minor issues with suspension and a few with the engine. Ford tried giving him the run around on fixing it under warranty because he was close to being out of warranty. He contacted corporate and had them set their dealership straight.
Over all he likes the truck. Doesn't do great when towing in the mountains of Idaho though. He was averaging 8mpg towing a small trailer with 4 quads on it.

I was all set to buy one like his only a 2016 model. That is until I was able to get into a Ram 2500 Diesel for the same price as i was going to pay for the F150.
Now that I have the RAM I am glad I didn't get the F150. I have one as a company vehicle now and the interior isn't as comfortable as I like. It's a nice truck though. It does handle the bumps off road much better than my 2500 does though. My RAM gets 20mpg on the freeway at 80mph and I can make it from Vegas to LAX on a single tank of fuel. Towing a toy hauler it gets 14mpg to 16mpg average and worst was 12mpg when driving into a nasty headwind.

Update on Ford Ecoboost experience, as posted earlier Ford finally decided there was a problem with my truck and proceeded to install a longblock.
31 days after I left the truck they called and said it was ready. I picked it up about 10 days ago and it really ran good, seemingly more power (but in reality I was likely used to less than optimum performance)and not smoking?running rough, etc.. However, gas mileage has gone to hell, currently averaging 11.4 mpg whereas it was averaging over 22 mpg. I think they might have screwed something up! It'll be going back to the dealership tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
Update on Ford Ecoboost experience, as posted earlier Ford finally decided there was a problem with my truck and proceeded to install a longblock.
31 days after I left the truck they called and said it was ready. I picked it up about 10 days ago and it really ran good, seemingly more power (but in reality I was likely used to less than optimum performance)and not smoking?running rough, etc.. However, gas mileage has gone to hell, currently averaging 11.4 mpg whereas it was averaging over 22 mpg. I think they might have screwed something up! It'll be going back to the dealership tomorrow.

Karl:

Sorry about your experience with eco boost.
Does Texas have a lemon law?

Mine has performed well. 2 years 33k miles - 19-20 average fuel economy. Mainly stop and go city traffic. Highway is 20-21 but my bed cover might be impacting that. No issues with truck other than software clich with radio.

Overall pretty happy. Ford customer service could be better for a $58k truck.

Mike

Sorry to hear about your troubles Karl. Makes me glad that I bought a Chev Silverado in October. I have owned Fords for years but I cannot warm up to the aluminium body and bed on the new F150s. I will say that I have been greatly surprised by the mileage on my Silverado. Mine has the 5.3 L V8. I am getting 21-22 mpg in a mix of highway and city driving. Good luck getting things sorted out with Ford.

The dealer wanted me to bring it in to "re-flash" the computer, a Ford mechanic on a Ford forum suggested I disconnect both battery cables for 10-15 minutes, reconnect the cables and immediately drive the hell out of it for 50 to 100 miles, I did as he suggested and today my mileage average was a little over 24 mpg. Ain't technology great? I suspect I'm not done with problems though and one more will send it on it's way to a new owner.

I have a 2006 F 150 with the 5.4 Triton. I love the way the truck has performed and driven for 153,000 trouble free miles.

It pains me to think I will have to drive a lighter, snowflake inspired truck with an aluminum body and a smaller V6 with a complicated and trouble susceptible turbocharger to stay with Ford. I know they offer a 5.0 liter V8 on the newer models, but I have owned a vehicle with that engine in the past, and it didn't really suit me in a Mercury Mountaineer, and I don't think I will like it in a truck.

I won't own a Chevy, and now they are aluminum bodied as well, but they do seem to have a decent engine based on the tried and true 327 or the 350. I guess that leaves me with a Dodge Hemi. Problem with the Dodge is that the interior fit and finish is cheesey compared to the Ford, but you can't have everything, I guess. I just don't want a V6 or an aluminum body in my damned truck.

The 5.0 in the old mercury mountaineer is not the same 5.0 in the new Fords, not even close. The 5.0 is a torque tuned version of the 5.0 coyote in the new mustangs. I've got one in a 2016 Lariat and it's great. I do miss the peppy nature of the Ecoboost, but the 5.0 is great motor.

quote:

The dealer wanted me to bring it in to "re-flash" the computer

Keep track of all your troubles and check and see if your state has a lemon law.

if it keeps giving you trouble I push for anew trk or my money back

I would suspect electronics + dumb technicians .
I've been told that they've gone backward and the computer systems are all connected in some way especially hearing from a friend who had a ABS problem . The things that were affected was a long list !! That's poor engineering !
Well wish me luck . My present F-150 has done fine for years but a new one is in the works .It will have a 6 but no gadgets My only problem has been the Rust Belt !

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Originally posted by p dog shooter:

quote:

The dealer wanted me to bring it in to "re-flash" the computer

Keep track of all your troubles and check and see if your state has a lemon law.

if it keeps giving you trouble I push for anew trk or my money back

Yes, Texas has a lemon law and I've documented everything very well and will also be talking to their regional service manger (or what ever they call him) next week. New longblock, less than 1500 miles on it and now losing coolant, bet a head gasket leaking.
As for mete and his rust belt concern, mine is aluminum and won't "rust" but if you look at the damn thing too hard a dent will form. I think aluminum truck beds and bodies are a poor idea if you use it like a truck.

quote:

Originally posted by frankinthelaurels:
You won't like it when the turbo's need rebuilt/replaced at 60K...for every action there is an equ and opposite reaction, sure does make power but at what cost to the hardware ?

I have 170,000 on mine l guess the turbos forgot to crash, or did you forget to tell them to?

Sorry to hear about your truck's troubles Karl.

I was going to pipe up earlier in the thread but decided against it. Your experience with this truck has closely mirrored my experience with Ford products as well.

I've owned 5 of them since 1978. Without exception, they have all been lemons. I've had good experiences with Chevy and Great experiences with Dodge. Funny but it really seems to be hit and miss with Fords. Some, like me, only have problems with them while others report no issues at all.

As to the earlier comment of Diesel engines being more expensive to maintain, I STRONGLY disagree. My 2004 Cummins has 400,000 miles. The only thing I've done to it is replace the fuel injectors at around 270,000 miles or so.

I have a Dodge Cummins.I've owned GM,Chevrolet and Dodge.Winter caribou hunting in the James Bay area roads permanent skating rinks.I've been up there 13 times and drove many thousands of miles.There are nothing but hunters with pick-ups up there and it makes a great testing ground to pit trucks against each other.I would have a Ford in my rear view mirror 5 miles away and as much as I try to keep the gap they catch up and put another 5 miles ahead.They can sure hold the road.
The Cummins motor is fine and it will last almost forever but too front heavy.Dodge is low on maintenance too-it almost never goes in for repairs unlike my GM and Chevy that went in every week.Once you own a Cummins you never want another motor.