I have seen some folks pulling small 5th wheel RV's with the F150 Eco Boost and wonder how well these engines hold up over time. Seems like everyone says the torque is there when needed and it does a decent job but my question is how long will they hold up?? It would seem that screaming an engine under boost would make it wear out quicker. How many miles have any of you accumulated with your Eco Boost??

Likes to tow wrote:I have seen some folks pulling small 5th wheel RV's with the F150 Eco Boost and wonder how well these engines hold up over time. Seems like everyone says the torque is there when needed and it does a decent job but my question is how long will they hold up?? It would seem that screaming an engine under boost would make it wear out quicker. How many miles have any of you accumulated with your Eco Boost??I've been towing with a 3.5 eco since 2011 and it is the best gas towing engine I've ever had. Have over 100k on the 11 with at least 50k of that being towing and a newer 18 3.5 with 14k on it with 8k towing on it so far. The engine does not scream per say as it is almost silent while even towing up 77 in the blue ridge mountains 65mph 7th gear at 2200 rpms....as it has been and is a great engine it tows my 7000lb travel trailer very well and with ease. With that being said half tons are known for their lower payload numbers. I have 1801 lbs of payload with my '18. With the 7000lb trailer connected my wife, daughter, dog, and I in the truck with only a few lighter things in the bed we are near the trucks GVWR. I would not even think about towing a 5th wheel with the 150 unless it had the max tow and the heavy duty payload package to give you a payload north of 2200lbs and a heavier 4800lb rear axle rating. Could that V6 pull a 10000 trailer yes it can no problem at all but even a 7000lb fifth wheel could have anywhere from 1400 to 1750lbs of pin weight alone. So take my truck with 1801lbs of payload that 7k 5th wheel could leave me with only 51lbs of available payload left meaning I couldn't even get into the truck and drive it without being over the trucks GVWR. The HDPP 150 will give you more wiggle room with that 2200lb payload but you would still have to watch the weights. Even a 3/4 ton diesel may not work as I have seen their payloads range anywhere from as low as 1700lbs to 2500lbs. You have to choose the exact trailer you want 1st and then go get the truck needed with the capacities to tow it.

Just remember, the F150 is still a 1/2 pickup. Regardless of what they advertise, you will be happier if you keep your towing weight below 9,000. Less even more comfortable.

My question was a sincere effort and poll on the longevity of the 3.5 Eco Boost. They have been around now for a while and some of these engines must be getting some miles on them. I'm always hesitant to buy new technology or engines until there is a proven track record. I suppose the Ford 6.0 diesel taught us all a lesson on that. My son has a 2012 F150 that has the 5.0 V8 and is considering a new F150. The problem now is that availability of the 5.0 is only on certain trim levels or option packages so looks like Ford is pushing the Eco Boost engine. I suppose that has something to do with the CAFE rules on mpg. At any rate, he bought his wife a new Ford Escape when they first came out with the Eco Boost and by the time it was in the 90k range it started having lots of issues and leaks. They traded for a Jeep Cherokee several months ago. Now in replacing his F150 he is doing research on engines. His 2012 has 135K and has been very good. But now that engine is not available in his option package. So this post was not made to anger or draw criticism on it's sincerity. We just wanted to hear from folks who have been towing for a long time with an Eco Boost.

They been making the 3.5 ecoboost since 2009, and I don't see a bunch of posts about them blowing up. Does that satisfy the longevity question.P.S. Poster has already posted in a previous thread that he wouldn't "GO FOR" the 3.5 ecoboost. This thread is just trolling.

The engine doesn't "Scream". Mine will pull my 7500± lbs. trailer at 70 mph in 9th gear at right around 2000 rpm's. And sometimes it even shifts into 10th while pulling the trailer. It has a 10 spd transmission. Peak torque is at 2900 rpm. The truck is always in the proper gear for the load without "Screaming".

Question for those pulling with an F150 Eco Boost

humblerb
Explorer
Oct 22, 2019
Thermoguy wrote:
With the ecoboost, is there more maintenance for the twin turbo? I was surprised once sitting in a waiting area where a guy next to me was recommended a turbo maintenance at 30K miles (I think) and it was expensive. What experience to people have with the added maintenance on the ecoboost?

I really wanted to like the F150 diesel, but the towing numbers and payload is dismal. I am looking to replace an explorer as a work vehicle and really like the flexibility with the F150. I have a small goose neck horse trailer that I would pull on occasion but want the added advantage of the gas mileage on the diesel... Just to mention, the weight of the horse trailer is only about 7K lbs with a fairly light tongue weight.

Again, I had my 2012 until last year.
Never heard of "turbo maintenance".
There is nothing special that needs to be done specifically to the turbos. Maybe some of the routine maintenance schedules were different for the EB, but not specific to the turbos.
Thermoguy
Explorer II
Oct 18, 2019
With the ecoboost, is there more maintenance for the twin turbo? I was surprised once sitting in a waiting area where a guy next to me was recommended a turbo maintenance at 30K miles (I think) and it was expensive. What experience to people have with the added maintenance on the ecoboost?

I really wanted to like the F150 diesel, but the towing numbers and payload is dismal. I am looking to replace an explorer as a work vehicle and really like the flexibility with the F150. I have a small goose neck horse trailer that I would pull on occasion but want the added advantage of the gas mileage on the diesel... Just to mention, the weight of the horse trailer is only about 7K lbs with a fairly light tongue weight.
johndeerefarmer
Explorer III
Oct 15, 2019
I had a '11 ecoboost, a '13 and now a '17. The '17 gets 1-1.5 mpg better than the first gen. This is due to port injection being added and the 10 speed.

Pulling my 26' GD Reflection 22rk I get 9-9.5 mpg driving 63 mph. With my '16 SD and driving closer to 70 I get 10 mpg. Not a lot of difference any more between a diesel and the ecoboost for loads of this weight. If I slowed down with the SD to 63 like with the F150 I would expect maybe 11 mpg

The big difference is the wind. The SD is way more stable in high winds. I took my 32' GD 29rs to Colorado with the SD and would probably never try that with the F150. On the other hand the F150 rides better and gets better fuel economy unloaded in both highway and city
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2019
humblerb wrote:
Did some checking with Jerry Reynolds "The Car Pro" prior to buying my 2012 F150 Ecoboost. One thing Jerry told me was the Ecoboost is not a new engine - it was just new in the F150 (back then).

It is a very close cousin to the original Taurus SHO 3.5L (code name Cyclone). The base engine dates back even farther and include the 3.7L version that was in F150 between 2011 and 2014.

The current version of the 3.5L (code name D35) was introduced in 2017. The biggest change was adding port fuel injection to the direct injection. Several other internal changes were made including redesigning the water pump.
2112
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2019
94K miles on my 2011 without issue. It hasn't blown up yet. Still running the original spark plugs.
DutchmenSport
Explorer
Oct 02, 2019
wing_zealot wrote:
....This thread is just trolling.

Maybe not? OP is a senior member on these forums with over 1000 posts since Jan 2006

Sounds like a fair and honest question to me, regardless of what might have been asked previous.

Personally, I have no experience with the Eco Boost. I'm a Chevy guy. But this much I do know, folks who dive them sure do like them!
MitchF150
Explorer III
Oct 02, 2019
82,000 miles on my 13 Eco. No issues at all, (except for the couple of recalls, but all taken care of without issue). You do need to change the plugs more often than the "100,000" in the manual, but they are easy to do and there are only six of them! :)

Tows my new #7000 TT just fine, but it's different from the old #5000 I used to tow with it.. Getting used to the new trailer and it'll be fine once it's all dialed in.

Mitch
philh
Explorer II
Oct 02, 2019
I was a displacement kind of guy... don't have nearly the experience with the engine most of the other respondents have, but it's a sweet towing engine
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Oct 01, 2019
Gee, OP, at least say you are rethinking your previous opinion on the 3.5. I don’t have one but friends do. They are satisfied.
humblerb
Explorer
Oct 01, 2019
Did some checking with Jerry Reynolds "The Car Pro" prior to buying my 2012 F150 Ecoboost.
One thing Jerry told me was the Ecoboost is not a new engine - it was just new in the F150 (back then).
I towed 7200# with mine for 5 years (not a lot of towing miles) but traded in last year for a RAM 2500 and new Fifth Wheel.
Can't speak from long time experience, but Jerry is a big fan of it for towing.
And I never had any towing issues.