F-150 ecoboost

[Coldfinger]

Snokaw, keep us posted. Thanks.

I went to the Ford Dealer yesterday and they only had 3 ecos, all the 5.5' box.

The front license plate holder on those trucks was offset to the drivers side.

My question before was not if an eco could tow 10,000 but how the engine would respond when faced with what would ultimately push the truck to its limit. Would the engine "scream" at high rpm or would it stay at lower rpms as compared to the non-turbo v-8s.

?

 

[snokaw]

After 260 miles the past week-end on my F150 EB pulling the 28 foot Featherlite enclosed trailer, I ended up with about 9.2 MPG. That included around town about 45 miles and the rest driving 65 -74 MPH highway. The big factor was a head wind of about 20 -25 MPH for about 120 miles. This is a small sample of miles. I have done the same trip in my F150 EB without a trailer and the result was about 17.5 MPG.

I got back from my trip on Monday with my F150 EB, parked my truck and trailer. Jumped into an F350 with the 5.4 gas motor and did a 280 mile round trip pulling an open single car trailer with an F150 on it. 140 miles into a 20 -25 MPH headwind and 140 miles back with a tailwind, 8.8 MPG for the round trip @ 65-75 MPH. I sure missed the power of the EcoBoost, huge difference.

Observations:

The EcoBoost pulls hard from a start to 70 MPH. Did not lose any MPH on inclines even against the wind. Motor has very good torque and low end useable power, minimal downshifting. It has the power I was looking for in a gas motor.

Not much sway from wind gusts, holds it's lane. Good aftermarket tires make all the difference in the world with a trailer this big or any load. The first thing replaced on my new trucks is the tires. The longer 6.5 wheelbase helps also along with Max Tow.

Pulling a trailer into the wind with any truck will always suck the fuel.

The small 26 gallon tank is not good(I was told this is the only tank you can get with the EB unless you order a fleet of trucks, then you can order the 36 gallon)...go figure.

Can't mount a winch on the front because cooling is a factor.

The F150 is a great truck, was gonna buy an F350 with the 6.2 gas. I'm not disappointed in the F150 EB with my set-up. I'm getting 2-5 or 20-40% more MPG than any of my other pick-ups and it's got the best motor.

 

[Nytroty]

Really like what i am hearing about this!!! Sure would be Awesome if Ford would put this motor in the 250 and 350 as a gas option!! That would be my next truck for sure!!!!

 

[moonshiner]

Snokaw, keep us posted. Thanks.

I went to the Ford Dealer yesterday and they only had 3 ecos, all the 5.5' box.

The front license plate holder on those trucks was offset to the drivers side.

My question before was not if an eco could tow 10,000 but how the engine would respond when faced with what would ultimately push the truck to its limit. Would the engine "scream" at high rpm or would it stay at lower rpms as compared to the non-turbo v-8s.

?

Coldfinger-I am just outside of Lincoln and have been looking at the new F150 as well. I test drove the 5.0 liter at Anderson and I really did not think it had that much more power than my 5.4, which does have a gryphon power programmer. I would like to try out an ecoboost but they did not have any at the new south Lincoln store. I am also looking for the 6.5' box but they are really hard to find around here. Woodhouse has some but that is about it. I can't decide if I will buy new or wait till next summer and try to find a nice used one. Will depend on how good the deals get towards the end of the year! If you want more info you can check out f150online.com or f150forum.com. Lots of info on the ecoboost, mostly positive.

 

[Coldfinger]

Dnkrm-I was at their north store. Thanks for telling me about the south because the salesman said they may have something down there.

Still waiting for someone to tell me how the engine rpm's are when pulling. I know the torque peak is low but when climbing a steep grade, etc, does the engine cry like a baby just like a non-turbo, spinning up to high rpm and downshifting the tranny?

 

[snokaw]

The motor downshifts to 5th or 4th, it does not rev out like the 5.4 on a steep grade. Slight grades it might downshift to 5th, this is at speeds of 65-75MPH pulling the 28 foot trailer. It does not lose any speed.

It likes to run between 2500 - 3500 RPM if you need more power and get up and go, otherwise it drops into 6th and just stays there. As far as shifting, you hardly notice because it is so smooth.

It is different than driving a V8 gas. If I come off a highway ramp with a 5-8000 pound trailer driving the V8, I am to the floor on the gas and rev it out to get up to 65 MPH. The EcoB likes to roll on the gas and it short shifts to stay in its max torque. You look at the speedo and you are doing 75MPH pulling a trailer.

 

[GlennRMK]

Great report snokaw

I test drove one the other day and was impressed. Way more torque then the V8s.

Fast and responsive as well.

Seems to be tuned more like a diesel with the wide torque curve.

I hate towing with the gas V8s. You just rev the hell out of them and get 7 MPG. And everyone passes you to boot.

I personally think the Ecoboost is a great setup.

I would also love to see a V6 Duramax or 4 cylinder Cummins in a half ton.

Its nice to have something that rides good but actually has some nuts.

 

[miko]

I just test drove one myself. I shouldn't have done that cause now I want one! I really think out of the 2% of the time I am actually pulling a trailer that there is no need for a diesel or a gas guzzeling 6.0L like I have now.

I am all for getting fuel mileage in the summer and still have power when I'm pulling. I just can't get over the price tag on the ecoboost.

 

[Coldfinger]

The main downside for me is the eco payload is good but not as much as a 2500.

Another thing is - I'm wondering what the actual fuel mileage is with the max tow/max payload with 3.73 gears. I don't think their ratings reflect that.

The back seat in the crew seems roomier than the GMC 2500 HD, but maybe that is my misconception.

Is there a dipstick to check tranny fluid level because I didn't see one?

 

[noob]

way more room in the ford 150 then gmc. I have an 09 gmc crew cab and looking for a 2nd truck for work to drive around. Stuck on the fence and not sure what to do. both my wife and I like the ride of the dodge better then the ford, felt like it had better power then the 5 litre, but i'm stuck as to what to get. dodge, eco boost or ford 5 litre motor.

 

[volcano buster]

I believe the Ram 1500 has coils in the rear so it should ride better around town. Less stable for towing, but on a 2wd, that might make a nice set up. I would imagine you could find a sweet deal on a 2011 F150 with either motor as Ford will likely be discounting them off the lots to make room for the '12's.

 

[GlennRMK]

Just picked up an 11 FX4 Ecoboost Supercrew today.

Lovin it so far!

 

[miko]

Just picked up an 11 FX4 Ecoboost Supercrew today.

Lovin it so far!

OK Glenn. I need your help with updates on the true fuel mileage and how it pulls. I have one coming and I will have to decide if I will take it when it gets here. I have a couple weeks before it arrives.

Thanks.

 

[8hundo]

Tow pkg 6.5' box eco with 8,000 miles on and averaging around 17 mixed with 50 mile a day commute at 75-80 mph on the interstate. Improves if I top out around 70 mph. Premium fuel makes a 1.5 to 2 mpg difference. I have a hard time believing the 22 mpg window sticker, although some say they are getting it. VERY satisfied with the truck so far. Regarding the dipstick, i was told the tranny fluid is designed to last the life of the transmission so no way to check/change it. I will say it is the finest, most inteligent shifting auto transmission I have ever driven and I have driven most and still prefer a manual!

 

[Mafesto]

It'll be interesting to see the foreigners & bail-out makers scramble to come up with their version of an engine like the Ecoboost!

 

[Coldfinger]

Tow pkg 6.5' box eco with 8,000 miles on and averaging around 17 mixed with 50 mile a day commute at 75-80 mph on the interstate. Improves if I top out around 70 mph. Premium fuel makes a 1.5 to 2 mpg difference. I have a hard time believing the 22 mpg window sticker, although some say they are getting it. VERY satisfied with the truck so far. Regarding the dipstick, i was told the tranny fluid is designed to last the life of the transmission so no way to check/change it. I will say it is the finest, most inteligent shifting auto transmission I have ever driven and I have driven most and still prefer a manual!

Do you have the max tow and max payload package?

Do you have the 4.10 or the 3.73 gears?

 

[440dart]

It'll be interesting to see the foreigners & bail-out makers scramble to come up with their version of an engine like the Ecoboost!

Bail-outs? Hurray for ford lets screw our customers by buying a pos then when they break down and need parts well we have a monopoly on our parts so lets screw them again, I sell parts and ask anybody who sells parts i hate looking up ford parts, there is 35 differnt steering colums for a 97 ford and 9x out of 10 you have to get them from ford.

 

[440dart]

eco boost is a pretty cool truck tho

 

[noob]

I went with the fx4 5 liter truck. Figured if I had a heavy load to tow the duramax would take care of it. Can't wait to pick it up next week. Every person I talked to had a different store about fuel mileage on the eco boost. some were getting 15 mpg towing a 6000 pd trailer doing 75 mph(cough bullshi%, cough cough) some say they were getting 25 mpg empty. the truck I picked up shows 21 mpg doing about 65 with 80 miles on it. I would be happy if it stayed within that for mileage.

 

[WyoBoy1000]

Now if ford could just make them hug the rode like a gm it would be great, can't stand the handling, and on slick rodes it gets sketchy at a lot lower speeds than the gm trucks. I would rather pay for a few year older gm and turbo it, stay out of it and get great mileage or use it and pay. Nothing pulls like a turbo. I think ford should have used the 5.0 on boost and just turned it down with the fuel management of 4-8 cylinders. I have gotten from 15-22 out of the 5.3, currently get 15 with 35''s though, I would bet the ecoboost with the 3:73 and 35's would make a nice package and not loose much mileage like I did with the 5.3. I had a old 98 5.7 gm that had better power than the 5.3 and pulling 8000+ through MT mtns got 11mpg, should have kept that one. All the fords non eco I have never seen more than 15. Has anyone checked what the computer says vs actual.