Big Block to EcoBoost

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

I have had my new truck for awhile now, but waited to write this up until I had the opportunity to make the run from Portland to the Oregon Coast on Highway 6. This route provides a lot of turns and hills to give the truck a good test of the power train and the vehicle stability.

My observations are based on coming from a 2001 Suburban 2500 8.1L with a 4.10 as a point of reference. This is not intended to be an F150 vs Suburban 2500 post. The Suburban towed well.

A Little Background
I had been sitting on the sidelines for awhile waiting to decide what truck to purchase. The rig needs to serve as my daily driver and provide a stable towing platform for my trailer that comes in loaded at 8,150 lbs. I live in town and have a short commute of 4 miles one way with 8 stop lights that are not timed very well. For several reasons I had decided to go with a gas truck. I have driven Toyota, Chevy and Ford, looked at these as well as Ram and focused on an F250 with the 6.2 or the F150 Max Tow / HD Payload.

After completing my research and performing some test drives I ordered a 2012 F150 in June of 2012 and took delivery in August. It was late enough in the year that we really did not have time to tow much after the break-in period.

Non Towing Performance
Engine / Transmission – I am very pleased with the EB engine performance. Plenty of power and I like the low end torque. This is the quietest engine I have ever had and I like it. It took a little while to get used to the lower rpm shift points but that is part of the character of the engine. The EB engine combined with the 6 speed transmission does very well.

Stability / Handling – The truck handles great and is a pleasure to drive. This is the preferred vehicle for DW and myself on trips.

Non Towing Milage In Town
Milage is as low as 12mpg on my 4 mile commute through 8 stop lights. If I am driving longer trips around town when the engine warms up and I am not stopping every couple of hundred yards I see up to 16-17mpg.

Non Towing Milage On the Road
Milage on the road varies from 19 to 21 when I am unloaded depending on terrain and speed. When on the flat running at 65 I see about 20-21mpg.

Towing Performance
Engine / Transmission – The EB delivers plenty of power and at low rpms. This combined with the 6 speed transmission has made for a comfortable towing experience. With the tow / haul turned on the engine braking did better than I expected and was helpful. I did not see any need to use the Select Shift to override the transmission behavior. Coming from the 8.1L and 4.10 I felt like I had as much or more power than before.

Stability / Handling
The truck provided a stable platform. It handled the braking and turns well. The integrated brake controller is awesome. The F150 with a canopy weighs about 500 lbs less than the Suburban 2500 but has a foot longer wheelbase. Overall better steering and braking made the driving much more relaxed with the new rig.

Towing Milage
Milage runs about 9 to 10 based on speed and terrain.

Summary
After coming from a 2001 Suburban 2500 to a 2012 F150 Max Tow / HD Payload I am happy with the change. Overall driving is more comfortable whether towing or running empty and I have cut my fuel consumption by a third.

An Important Note
The F150 Max Tow / HD Payload is NOT an F250 (or 2500). I am towing a trailer that weighs 8,150 which puts me at 88% GCVWR and 90% or less on GVWR, axle ratings and payload. However I am nearly maxed out on the receiver with a tongue weight of 1100 when it is rated at 1150. Although it tows my trailer well I would not tow a larger trailer with this truck because I would not want to exceed the specs. This is fine for me because I have no plans to go to a larger trailer, but this may be a concern for others.

Good luck all,
Stu

[russellsawatsky]

We have a 2011 F150 screw ecoboost 6.5 box max tow and a Freedom Express 310 BHDS we are very happy with the combination tow's wall and gets similar mileage to the op great tv and dd 😄

[AlmostAnOldGuy]

joshuajim wrote:

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:

I am towing a trailer that weighs 8,150 which puts me at 96% GCVWR and 90% or less on GVWR, axle ratings and payload. However I am nearly maxed out on the receiver with a tongue weight of 1100 when it is rated at 1150.
Good luck all,
Stu

I'm not understanding your percentages. I have the same basic vehicle, 2013 XLT Crew with Max tow and HD payload. I also tow at 26' Wildwood which scales at just over 8.000 and 1,100 on the ball.

My GCVWR is 17,000 . CAT weights fully loaded is about 14,000 or about 82% and 4,000 on rear axle or about 83%.

You are correct. I am at 88% GCVWR. I had a mistake in my numbers and will edit the original post.

Thanks,
Stu

[joshuajim]

AlmostAnOldGuy wrote:

I am towing a trailer that weighs 8,150 which puts me at 96% GCVWR and 90% or less on GVWR, axle ratings and payload. However I am nearly maxed out on the receiver with a tongue weight of 1100 when it is rated at 1150.
Good luck all,
Stu

I'm not understanding your percentages. I have the same basic vehicle, 2013 XLT Crew with Max tow and HD payload. I also tow at 26' Wildwood which scales at just over 8.000 and 1,100 on the ball.

My GCVWR is 17,000 . CAT weights fully loaded is about 14,000 or about 82% and 4,000 on rear axle or about 83%.

[Mike_Up]

5.3L is the direct competitor of the 5.0L, not Ecoboost. Still Ford's 5.0L puts out 5 more HP. Even though GM's speced torque curve is better than Ford's speced torque curve, the dyno will show the real output. Besides, Ford puts in a 3.73 axle gear while Chevy is still stuck with their under performancing, torque hating, 3.42 axle gear. By comparison, Ford won't even use a gear that low on a Crew Cab 4WD truck with the 5.0L and with the Ecoboost, they offer a 3.31, 3.55, and the 3.73 (max tow, FX4, or Off road packages). It obviously sits right next to Fords "MPG" axle gear, the 3.31 as that's the closest.

[Engineer9860]

Sh!t fire and save matches........

Another RV.net thread done gone and went off topic.

[jerem0621]

I drove one of these super 5.3 tow beasts crew cab 4x4 1500 and was totally underwhelmed. I don't know why but it didn't feel any better than my old 5.4 F-150, maybe a little more power but I liked the ride on the F150 better. Jmho

Clydesdales are not impressive if that is what they are.

[EcoBullet]

Lessmore wrote:

Traditionally Ford's horses have been Shetland Ponies and Chevy's horses have been Clydesdale's. 😄

:B

[Lessmore]

EcoBullet wrote:
"5.3L V-8 certified at 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque"

This is a big improvement, but it doesn't beat the Ecoboost at 365 & 420.

Traditionally Ford's horses have been Shetland Ponies and Chevy's horses have been Clydesdale's. 😄

[Targa]

It seems to be an amazing engine. This engine and the Mustang are about the only decent products put out by ford.....:E:B

[EcoBullet]

"5.3L V-8 certified at 355 horsepower and 383 lb.-ft. of torque"

This is a big improvement, but it doesn't beat the Ecoboost at 365 & 420.

[Dadoffourgirls]

Kevin O. wrote:
...What are the #'s on the new 5.3L ??? Just curious on what they changed from the older 5.3L to now give it a tow rating over 11,000lbs like the Ecoboost?? Don't forget that the Ecoboost started out under the hood of a Lincoln and Taurus SHO before they decided to beef up the internals, add a little more boost and drop it in the F150's.... Looking at Fords sales #'s it's the best thing they ever did! I'm certainly a happy customer. :B

2014 Silverado 1500 at a glance
EcoTec3 engines: Silverado 1500 will offer three all-new EcoTec3 engines – a 4.3L V-6 SAE-certified at 285 horsepower (212 kW) and 305 lb.-ft. of torque (413 Nm), a 5.3L V-8 certified at 355 horsepower (250 kW) and 383 lb.-ft. of torque (519 Nm), and later this year, a new 6.2L V-8.

All three EcoTec3 engines feature direct fuel injection, Active Fuel Management (cylinder deactivation) and continuously variable valve timing. The engines also use a compact overhead-valve design and weight-saving components such as aluminum blocks and cylinder heads, to reduce mass, for additional energy savings

All three provide the proven power, torque and dependability of a large-displacement engine, seamlessly switching to four-cylinder mode to save fuel during light-load driving. The 5.3L V-8 has EPA–estimated fuel economy of up to 23 mpg highway (2WD models), the best of any V-8 pickup, and better than Ford EcoBoost V-6.

Silverados equipped with the 4.3L V-6 will have towing ratings up to 7,200 pounds, the highest for any base V-6 in the segment. Silverados equipped with the 5.3L V-8 and the max towing package, available later this year, will have towing ratings of up to 11,500 pounds, which is more than any light-duty pickup currently on the market.

A crew-cab with 5.3 and 3.42 will have a tow rating of 9600 lbs.

I know of an individual that has averaged over 22 mpg in a 4wd crew-cab with the 5.3 and 3.08.

[Kevin_O_]

Dadoffourgirls wrote:

carringb wrote:

BurbMan wrote:


I wonder if GM has their version of the EcoBoost on the drawing board somewhere?

Yup. It'll be in the Caddy's next year and presumably the trucks a little bit later.

It is true that the 3.6 Twin Turbo is coming to the XTS and CTS. However, GM has commented that they do not intend to put a car engine into a truck. The new 5.3 has the same towing capacity of the Ecoboost, and better fuel economy. The new 4.3 V6 has similiar power to the current (old) 5.3, and they have not released fuel economy ratings. I know that the 4.3 feels similiar to the current (old)5.3. Time will tell what happens, but I would not expect the 3.6 in a truck.

In regards to the 3.6 Twin Turbo in the XTS, I would love to experience that. The current 3.6 in the XTS AWD feels awesome and quick.

What are the #'s on the new 5.3L ??? Just curious on what they changed from the older 5.3L to now give it a tow rating over 11,000lbs like the Ecoboost?? Don't forget that the Ecoboost started out under the hood of a Lincoln and Taurus SHO before they decided to beef up the internals, add a little more boost and drop it in the F150's.... Looking at Fords sales #'s it's the best thing they ever did! I'm certainly a happy customer. :B

[Dadoffourgirls]

carringb wrote:

BurbMan wrote:


I wonder if GM has their version of the EcoBoost on the drawing board somewhere?

Yup. It'll be in the Caddy's next year and presumably the trucks a little bit later.

It is true that the 3.6 Twin Turbo is coming to the XTS and CTS. However, GM has commented that they do not intend to put a car engine into a truck. The new 5.3 has the same towing capacity of the Ecoboost, and better fuel economy. The new 4.3 V6 has similiar power to the current (old) 5.3, and they have not released fuel economy ratings. I know that the 4.3 feels similiar to the current (old)5.3. Time will tell what happens, but I would not expect the 3.6 in a truck.

In regards to the 3.6 Twin Turbo in the XTS, I would love to experience that. The current 3.6 in the XTS AWD feels awesome and quick.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

BurbMan wrote:
I'll never buy another GM unless they go to stainless brake and fuel lines :M

You're going to have a tough time buying a truck. I don't know of any manufacture that puts SS brake lines in their trucks.