F150 ecoboost towing

[CantCampEnuf]

Just got back from our first trip with new truck/trailer combo. I am impressed. The truck was very comfortable to drive, got good gas mileage, felt comfortable towing, had little sway, and had power to spare ascending 6% grades.

Questions: I always have driven my Fords in tow/haul, then downshifted when descending grades over 5%. I have not downshifted ascending at all. ON one climb coming out of Camp Verde...We got a message on dash display saying engine was running hot and would downshift to lower gear. It did and engine temp dropped dramatically. I don't know if that was normal, or because we were climbing 6% in tow/haul, but forced to ascend slower than we wanted due to traffic. Note: truck had sat idle run after filling up with gas/getting food for kids for 20 minutes right before climb started and we are in AZ, it was 98 degrees. Thoughts?

Also, there is drive, M, 1 and 2. Along with tow haul. Let me know what you cruise at. We are pulling 9k, 32 ft.

[CantCampEnuf]

Tystevens wrote:
OP, it sounds to me like the truck did its job and handled the situation. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

But ShinerBock's description of what is going on with lower rpms and EGTs is on point. I would continue to just operate in D. If you see temps rise, or have a long climb w/ your rpms stuck under 2k rpm, downshift a gear and let more air run through the engine. Personally, I downshift before the truck gets to the point of having to do it on its own (only have seen temps rise a couple times in conditions similar to what you've described, so it isn't like it is an every-trip scenario), but the truck is managing the issue appropriately, and I feel confident in saying you didn't hurt anything.

Good luck. These Ecoboosts really tow well. Compared to the naturally aspirated 1/2 tons I've owned or driven, the EB takes the take with a trailer hooked up to it!

Great. Thank you! I was very pleased in how this truck towed. In comparison to the Excursion/Sprinter combination we used to have... no contest. Ecoboost felt better, preformed better and got 11.5 mpg.

[Tystevens]

OP, it sounds to me like the truck did its job and handled the situation. I personally wouldn't worry about it.

But ShinerBock's description of what is going on with lower rpms and EGTs is on point. I would continue to just operate in D. If you see temps rise, or have a long climb w/ your rpms stuck under 2k rpm, downshift a gear and let more air run through the engine. Personally, I downshift before the truck gets to the point of having to do it on its own (only have seen temps rise a couple times in conditions similar to what you've described, so it isn't like it is an every-trip scenario), but the truck is managing the issue appropriately, and I feel confident in saying you didn't hurt anything.

Good luck. These Ecoboosts really tow well. Compared to the naturally aspirated 1/2 tons I've owned or driven, the EB takes the take with a trailer hooked up to it!

[CantCampEnuf]

tragusa3 wrote:
I don't have the background of some of the knowledgeable posters you've had, but wanted to add that I manually downshift on grades. The engine is very reluctant to do so itself. It never seems to be "lugging", but I feel more comfortable up above 2k rpm while climbing. Hearing the comments of better cooling at higher rpm, I may start keeping it even a little higher.

So, define manually downshifting to me. Will you shift to 2 or lock out 5 and 6 while in D? Or will you go M and pick your gear?

[marcsbigfoot20b]

Just came back from Greer to Phoenix. Some pretty decent hills and 90+ degrees. Even in my 7.3 Ford I have to downshift to 3rd to keep my EGTs down. Lugging the engine even on small but long hills and the temps shoot up. Just one more reason that I want the power to tow 65+ UP the hills so I can have plenty of airflow to keep things cool.

[tragusa3]

I don't have the background of some of the knowledgeable posters you've had, but wanted to add that I manually downshift on grades. The engine is very reluctant to do so itself. It never seems to be "lugging", but I feel more comfortable up above 2k rpm while climbing. Hearing the comments of better cooling at higher rpm, I may start keeping it even a little higher.

[Turtle_n_Peeps]

RobertRyan wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Thoughts?

When you're passing twice the amount of fuel and air of a normally aspirated engine, turbocharged engines will get hot very quickly.

When you have a very small engine and cram it full of air and fuel you won't have much of a duty cycle.

When pushed to the max in hot weather the EB will get hot and derate to save itself.

A premium fuel will give you a slight cushion from the derate. Octane boost will give you even more.

Totally agree. You making a basically small engine do something that a bigger gas engine or diesel do with less stress.Also the EB's fuel efficiency drops off under load, you have to drop it down in gears to save the engine

I can take my 6.6 liter LBZ Dmax and turn it up to 600 HP. Or I can just buy a 15 liter C15 with 600 HP.

This is a good example of what Ford is doing with the EcoBoost. They take a small engine and turn it up. Where as the big Cat can live all day at 600 HP the Dmax will not live very long at all at the 600 HP level.

The HUGE size of the C15 along with its cooling system can suck up and reject a lot of heat; the Dmax will melt down like a stick of butter in the Az sun at the 600 HP level.

Much like the example above the Ecoboost does not have a lot of duty cycle.

Bottom line is, it's easy to make HP with a turbocharger. It's extremely hard to deal with the heat it puts out. OP, you ran into both.

[BenK]

Robert...agree with you and that guy is the one going oblique...with
his gotta have one to be able to talk about it...

Like your example of his does own or not own one...

Laws of Physics applies to everyone...but not everyone thinks so...

That if you don't own an XYZ...then you have no business talking
about anything on an XYZ...

RobertRyan wrote:

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Thoughts?

When you're passing twice the amount of fuel and air of a normally aspirated engine, turbocharged engines will get hot very quickly.

When you have a very small engine and cram it full of air and fuel you won't have much of a duty cycle.

When pushed to the max in hot weather the EB will get hot and derate to save itself.

A premium fuel will give you a slight cushion from the derate. Octane boost will give you even more.

Totally agree. You making a basically small engine do something that a bigger gas engine or diesel do with less stress.Also the EB's fuel efficiency drops off under load, you have to drop it down in gears to save the engine

[3oaks]

ShinerBock wrote:

CantCampEnuf wrote:


Great information. Thank you. Think it sound spot on as the big trucks going up were going slow, we were behind them and left lane very busy. So we went up hill slow, 35-40 and at under 2000 rpms. So should I have shifted to 2?

Wow, you just about had the perfect storm right there. Driving slow behind big trucks with no wind getting to the radiator while the EGTs were rising and you were in hot weather. Yeah, I would have put it into 2nd or any gear that got me into 3,000-4,000 rpms if the temps started climbing. I would not have put in manual mode to do it though. With the SelectShift feature on that Ford, you can take away gears while in drive and add them back again once you get going.

Not owning an Ecoboost, I only know what I read and hear about them. But I belive ShinerBock has provided you with the best answers. And without going out on a tangent!

By the way, I know a Ford F-150 Ecoboost is in my future (2016) so I do all the research that I can on them.

[RobertRyan]

ShinerBock wrote:
CantCampEnuf,

I would not put too much weight in the words of what Robert from Australia is saying about your truck as he has zero experience towing or driving with a 3.5L Ecoboost nor has any engineering background to make his assumptions. Your engine is just fine and as I said earlier that ALL turbocharged or forced induction engines regardless of size have to worry about EGTs. Also, diesels put A LOT more stress on engine through higher cylinder pressures of compression ignition and boost pressures from the much higher psi. However diesels are "overbuilt" in their design to handle these added stresses just like your Ecoboost is. Which is why it has 6 bolt mains where most other gas engines have 4 and steel cylinder liners where most others have iron sleeves just to name a few things that are "overbuilt" to handle what it was designed to handle.

As for Robert, he is just taking his aggression for me out in your thread and for that I am sorry. I will leave your thread so he does not ruin it any further. If have any other questions then feel free to PM me. Hope you have many great trips with your TV.

No the thread is fine, I am just agreeing with Turtle N Peeps.

[ShinerBock]

CantCampEnuf,

I would not put too much weight in the words of what Robert from Australia is saying about your truck as he has zero experience towing or driving with a 3.5L Ecoboost nor has any engineering background to make his assumptions. Your engine is just fine and as I said earlier that ALL turbocharged or forced induction engines regardless of size have to worry about EGTs. Also, diesels put A LOT more stress on engine through higher cylinder pressures of compression ignition and boost pressures from the much higher psi. However diesels are "overbuilt" in their design to handle these added stresses just like your Ecoboost is. Which is why it has 6 bolt mains where most other gas engines have 4 and steel cylinder liners where most others have iron sleeves just to name a few things that are "overbuilt" to handle what it was designed to handle.

As for Robert, he is just taking his aggression for me out in your thread and for that I am sorry. I will leave your thread so he does not ruin it any further. If have any other questions then feel free to PM me. Hope you have many great trips with your TV.

[RobertRyan]

ShinerBock wrote:

RobertRyan wrote:

Wait there you showed photos of a Dodge RAM pulling a 5th wheeler,, which is your current vehicle now you have an Ecoboost ?

Why are you changing topics? Review my past posts if you want an answer.

Changing topics? Posting to the thread the Turtle N Peeps comment is spot on. still a mystery what you actually drive, an Ecoboost or a RAM? You quote Ecoboost , but appear to. Have shown a RAM

[ShinerBock]

RobertRyan wrote:

Wait there you showed photos of a Dodge RAM pulling a 5th wheeler,, which is your current vehicle now you have an Ecoboost ?

Why are you going off topic? Review my past posts if you want an answer.

[RobertRyan]

Turtle n Peeps wrote:
Thoughts?

When you're passing twice the amount of fuel and air of a normally aspirated engine, turbocharged engines will get hot very quickly.

When you have a very small engine and cram it full of air and fuel you won't have much of a duty cycle.

When pushed to the max in hot weather the EB will get hot and derate to save itself.

A premium fuel will give you a slight cushion from the derate. Octane boost will give you even more.

Totally agree. You making a basically small engine do something that a bigger gas engine or diesel do with less stress.Also the EB's fuel efficiency drops off under load, you have to drop it down in gears to save the engine

[IdaD]

ShinerBock wrote:

IdaD wrote:


Do you force the shift manually or does the transmission kick down automatically with the EGT gets too high? I've yet to tow anything with my Cummins so I'm curious. Is EGT one of the parameters you can monitor in the EVIC?

Yes, I will Force shift to 5th or 4th if I see the temps start to climb. I have an Edge tuner CTS on my truck to monitor EGTs. The EVIC does not have a gauge for EGT, but there is a post turbo EGT sensor that the ECM monitors. The truck will defuel and back itself down in stock form if the EGT get too high. However pulling grades ,especially for long periods, I would switch to a gear that kept my rpms between 1,800 to 2,200 rpm to keep the EGTs down if they start to rise.

That's a good tip - thank you.

[ShinerBock]

IdaD wrote:


Do you force the shift manually or does the transmission kick down automatically with the EGT gets too high? I've yet to tow anything with my Cummins so I'm curious. Is EGT one of the parameters you can monitor in the EVIC?

Yes, I will force shift to 5th or 4th if I see the temps start to climb. I have an Edge tuner CTS on my truck to monitor EGTs. The EVIC does not have a gauge for EGT, but there is a post turbo EGT sensor that the ECM monitors. The truck will defuel and back itself down in stock form if the EGT get too high. However pulling grades ,especially for long periods, I would switch to a gear that kept my rpms between 1,800 to 2,200 rpm to keep the EGTs down if they start to rise.