Ecoboost 3.5 Towing MPG Sucks

[Grodyman]

Hi all, back after a couple years without a RV......I jumped back in with a Passport Ultra Lite 153ML, GVWR of 4500lbs.

I just returned from picking up the trailer and pulled it with my 2017 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with 3.55 gears.

I was astonished to pull such a lightweight, aerodynamic trailer and the best MPG I got was 10.2 MPG. I went as low as 8.5 MPG.

I could have done better than that with my F250 with the 6.2 V8.

I am surprised how dreadful the towing MPG is with truck considering the overall weight of the truck/trailer combo is a couple thousand pounds lighter than I usually travel.

Unloaded this truck is great, but if you are on the fence about a F150 and a F250, go with the F250 gasser all the way UNLESS you drive a lot of unloaded miles.

The truck had plenty of power, no issue there, but I simply cannot imagine pulling 7K-10K lbs with this truck, the MPG's must be around 5.

My current range is about 250 miles pulling this Ultralight, given the fuel tank size. So, essentially, adding an ultralight trailer dropped my MPG nearly in half. Not what I expected.

Gman

[Perrysburg_Dodg]

BarabooBob wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

Are you saying that you got 24 mpg with a diesel, going 85 mpg, while pulling a TT? I would love to purchase that rig if I could get that mileage.

No I'm not saying that. I wouldn't run 85+ towing anything!

[spoon059]

ppine wrote:
It is counter intuitive, but larger diesel trucks solve all of these limitations. A 3.5 liter engine has to work hard to pull. That generates heat and uses a lot of fuel.

The Ford 7.3 liter is not working hard at all towing 4,500 pounds. It gets much better mileage than a 3.5 liter gas engine and will last twice as long.

I was thinking that reading the comments... My 7500 lbs Ram gets 21 on the highway at 70mph (empty) and towing 5 tons I get around 12 on the highway at 68 mph. Eco and boost... ironically, I also got my truck for less than most of the half ton Ecoboost's I see people raving about on here.

The only downfall is that my diesel doesn't like spending 3 weeks on an island in Florida every year. Those short, low speed drives from my camper to my parent's rental house every day make the truck want to regen far more often...

[LanceRKeys]

Watching those Ike gauntlet videos makes me want to take my rig up there just to see how it would do, I don’t think I could push mine as hard as they do.

[BarabooBob]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

Are you saying that you got 24 mpg with a diesel, going 85 mpg, while pulling a TT? I would love to purchase that rig if I could get that mileage.

[MFL]

I have a son that drives 250 miles of interstate, each way, to go hunting here with me. He traded a 3.5 6-speed EB for his new 2.7 10-speed EB. Last time he came, we used his truck to go to my hunting area. I noticed he enjoyed using the power, and also the very high tech electronic radar detection mounted on the dash. I asked if the 10-speed improved his mileage, and he said no...still about 18 mpg. With 500 miles of interstate, speed limit 80 mph, but high dollar radar equipment still needed, I'm guessing, that he is keeping up with light aircraft.

I'm not a slow driver, but makes me wonder what the 2.7 EB would get for mileage, if I was driving?

Jerry

[librty02]

womps wrote:

librty02 wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I'll keep my 10.5mpg Ecoboost pulling my 30' trailer anyday over any half ton diesel that has absolute **** for payload. The 3.5 with 10 speed gets 22mpgs running high 70 speeds and better...oh and the fuel is 80 cents a gallon cheaper here and no need for DEF or fuel filters either. 99% of half tons aren't able to pull 10k travel trailers without being over GRAWR and the trucks GVWR
Just my 2 cents...

My 2018 Lariat with the 2.7, 10 speed gets 19 mpg running high 70 speeds. Guess I should have the 3.5 for improved fuel economy.

Yeah unfortunately the 2.7 in my experience did not do as well as the 3.5. I had a loaner 2.7 from my dealer waiting for my 3.5 to come in for about a month and as the 2.7 felt a little peppier off the line it did not perform once up to speed like the 3.5 does. The mileage was about 2mpg under my 3.5 daily driving. With my 18 3.5 I get 18.7 in all stop n go up and down hill city driving where as the 2.7 was in the 16's. My 11 3.5 does the same driving at 14.5mpg. So with my 3.5 gets mid 18's city and 22's on the highway.

[womps]

librty02 wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I'll keep my 10.5mpg Ecoboost pulling my 30' trailer anyday over any half ton diesel that has absolute **** for payload. The 3.5 with 10 speed gets 22mpgs running high 70 speeds and better...oh and the fuel is 80 cents a gallon cheaper here and no need for DEF or fuel filters either. 99% of half tons aren't able to pull 10k travel trailers without being over GRAWR and the trucks GVWR
Just my 2 cents...

My 2018 Lariat with the 2.7, 10 speed gets 19 mpg running high 70 speeds. Guess I should have the 3.5 for improved fuel economy.

[Bionic_Man]

ShinerBock wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I towed over 9.5k up 7% grade mountain roads through the Rockies maintaining 70 mph.

LOL. I’d like to see that.

I don't have my old tuned 2012 F150HD EB anymore, but you can watch this stock 2013 F150 Ecoboost tow 10k.

Ford F-150 EcoBoost takes Ike Gauntlet

Thanks. I pull that route a dozen times a year and know what is realistic.

[1320Fastback]

ShinerBock wrote:


I towed over 9.5k up 7% grade mountain roads through the Rockies maintaining 70 mph. Try that in an Ecodiesel. :B

I know, Iknow, not everyone wants to race. Well not everyone is so concerned about saving an extra $20 in fuel, and time is more valuable than money. I can make more more money, I can't make more time and the less amount of time I have to spend on the road stuck behind some 18 wheeler because I don't have the power to pass him, the happier I am. That my friend is worth every penny in extra fuel spent. I understand that you don't feel the same way.

Oh man this reminds me of something my Uncle did and got a ticket for. He was a heavy truck mechanic back in the 80s and 90s and got a ticket for doing 107 UP THE GRAPEVINE in his Gray Hound bus conversion. I can't remember what motor was in it, probably a Detroit, but do know it was a Quad Turbo.

I agree with not being concerned about mpg all the time especially when towing. I'll keep it hammer down, eye on EGT when I get within 100 miles of my destination especially in the mountians.

[ShinerBock]

Bionic Man wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I towed over 9.5k up 7% grade mountain roads through the Rockies maintaining 70 mph.

LOL. I’d like to see that.

I don't have my old tuned 2012 F150HD EB anymore, but you can watch this stock 2013 F150 Ecoboost tow 10k.

Ford F-150 EcoBoost takes Ike Gauntlet

[Bionic_Man]

ShinerBock wrote:

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I towed over 9.5k up 7% grade mountain roads through the Rockies maintaining 70 mph.

LOL. I’d like to see that.

[librty02]

Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
With that size TT you should look at the f-150 3.0 diesel. But what I don't understand is where are all the guys that claim to be making 12/13 mpg towing a 32' 10K# TT with their Eco Boost at? Dump the EB and get the baby diesel if you want fuel mileage. I made 24 mpg coming home for Knoxville running 85 mph average. Try that in a EB.

Don

I'll keep my 10.5mpg Ecoboost pulling my 30' trailer anyday over any half ton diesel that has absolute **** for payload. The 3.5 with 10 speed gets 22mpgs running high 70 speeds and better...oh and the fuel is 80 cents a gallon cheaper here and no need for DEF or fuel filters either. 99% of half tons aren't able to pull 10k travel trailers without being over GRAWR and the trucks GVWR
Just my 2 cents...

[ShinerBock]

At max boost, the effective displacement of the 3.5L Ecoboost just about doubles. So it is essentially moving the same amount of air that a 7.0L N/A engine would. Since air dictates the amount of fuel being added in a gasoline engine, it will add enough fuel to keep the air/fuel ratio around 14.7:1 plus or minus up to 2.5 mass of air.

The turbos on the 3.5L are made for low end power(with emissions) and start to loose their breath after 3,500 rpm especially by the time you hit peak horsepower. This is why it has way more power/torque than all half ton V8's(even the GM 6.2L) at low rpms between around 1,700 and 3,500 rpm, but it does not have higher peak horsepower numbers compared to other V8's that start to push more air as rpms increase.

OP, if you want to get better fuel mileage in the Ecoboost, try dropping it down a gear to pull it around 4,000 rpm or so. The problem you may have is that it is at too low of an rpm using more boost and fuel to move the load. It sounds backwards, but it works. I have done it in my old Ecoboost. It also works on my Cummins. Even though peak torque is at 1,600, it is more efficient pulling a load at higher rpms between 1,800 and 2,200 rpm.

Some people may say to drive it and let the computer do the rest. Well, the fuel mapping and shift points on your truck are generic and apply to many different scenarios. There is no way to tune the shift points for every hill, every trailer, or every situation. This is where the experience of the driver comes into play or you can just have it custom tuned for how you use your truck.

[2edgesword]

F-250 6.2L 3.73 pulling 8,000 lbs and getting 10 mpg. Was pulling 4,500 lbs trailer with a 4.6L 3.73 Silverado and got 10 mpg.

[ib516]

I think by now, most educated people understand that for a 3.5L V6 to make V8 like power, it uses V8 like quantities of fuel. The low RPM torque for towing is good to have though.