I think a lot of people still don't understand that the legal towing speed in California is 55 mph. That pretty much prevents getting a run on a hill. And there are a great many CHP on the Grapevine, Gotcher grade, Hwy 58 you name it. These are 7% grades and there are a great many more similar grades in California. They top out at just below 5000 foot elevation in most places. But over the Donner Summit it's closer to 8000' And we do have passes at about 10,000', Tioga pass being one of them.
In some ways towing in California is much more difficult than over Eisenhower. One being the 110 plus degree summer temps. The other for certain is the 55 mph speed limit. Most of those roads also seem much more congested than Eisenhower.
So I would just guess, I've never driven the Eco boosts but I have driven the Eisenhower, that you would experience much more shifting on these roads than you would on the Eisenhower. I am saying that for any engine.
As for wear on the turbo engines. So far with out a doubt the Cummins and most likely the GM and Ford have been designed and real world tested for the extra stress of the turbo pressures. The 3.5 has some history behind it but I haven't seen any info on a 200,000 mile 3.5. You would think that if Ford can design a diesel to run with a turbo. They could do the same with the 3.5.
Now the 2.7 is putting more power per cubic inch than the 3.5. That means more pressure per cubic inch. And there have only been the Ford testing done on it. No real world testing by customers that I know of.
In addition the mpg are not impressive, when considering the lead up to it's release pretty much called it the eco diesel slayer.
The eco diesel is a 2800 dollar option and it has been proven to be a good engine in Europe. The 2.0 eco appears to be about a 1500 dollar option on the Ford Escape. I haven't seen anything on the 2.7 F150 option.
Now the fact that I have been driving since 1965 means that I have, more cubic inches makes more power, etched into my brain.
Okay, I may be a little prejudice. I prefer motors of 400 cubic inches or more.
I have seen the results of the Fords pre-release stress tests in the Baja 1000. And they were not good. Many early problems with the 3.5. Most notable was the intercooler condensation.
I am saying lets wait and see. I am Saying I think that in a truck the size of the f150, the 3.5 might be the sweet spot.
