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Old 12-23-2016, 01:30 PM   #1
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Real world towing MPG with Ford 5.0L V8?

We have been on the Ford 2.7L EcoBoost bandwagon for a while now, and it still tops our short list for a future tow vehicle. But recent reviews on the web (for what they are worth) are getting more and more mixed. And that concerns us. Some obviously love their 2.7L EB. It's all they had hoped for and more. But there seems to be a growing voice out there of those who are disappointed that their 2.7 hasn't lived up to it's mpg promises. But then the details of 4x2 vs 4x4, differential ratios, etc., start clouding the picture. Just out of curiosity, is anyone out there pulling a 19, 21 or 5.0 with the a new generation Ford F-150 with the 5.0L V8? And if so, what has your real-world experience been - especially your mpg while towing and not? Again, just curious....
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Old 12-23-2016, 01:49 PM   #2
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Thank you for posting this question ! When we looked at new trucks in 2014 , the three Ford dealers in our area tried to steer us away from the Eco Boost engine and recommended the V8 for varying reasons . We ended up purchasing a 2014 Ram 1500 with the Hemi V8 mainly because of price and availability . We are planning on purchasing a new truck in the fall of 2017 and are seriously considering a Ford truck with the V8 engine . We get between 13 to 15.5 MPG with our Hemi and it has performed well but would like to improve our MPG's while towing. I am not a fan of turbo charged engines but it seems that we are being forced in that direction.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Old 12-23-2016, 01:59 PM   #3
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Thank you for posting this question ! When we looked at new trucks in 2014 , the three Ford dealers in our area tried to steer us away from the Eco Boost engine and recommended the V8 for varying reasons .
Problem is one of those reasons might be their profit margin on the V8 or that they had several to sell. Same with any sales of anything.
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Old 12-23-2016, 02:05 PM   #4
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FWIW, when I went from a GMC 5.3L to the 3.5L Ford Ecoboost I saw little if any change in MPG when under tow, the difference in mpg was when not towing.

I was looking for more power at the time, thinking of a midsize Airstream. Escape 21's or 5.0TA's didn't yet exist.
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Old 12-23-2016, 02:29 PM   #5
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I went from a 3.5l EB to a 2.7l EB, and I wouldn't go back. I get between 14 and 15.5 when towing, depending on external conditions (wind, etc.). Not towing, I get around 25.5 on the highway and in the low 20s in stop and go situations. I'm not sure why people are complaining about mileage per gallon. The F150 is a pick-up truck, not a Prius. In 1972 I had a V-8 Dodge Challenger that seemingly couldn't pass up a gas station. Prior to the F150s, I had a V-6 Ranger that did not get close to the mileage as my current F150. If anybody is looking for a tow vehicle that gets 50 mpg, I'm sure it will be available......someday. But the F150 V-8 is not going to get equivalent gas mileage to either of the EcoBoosts.
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Old 12-23-2016, 02:32 PM   #6
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My Mule is a 2011 super crew 2 wd,5.0 V8 with 3.73 R.E. 5'-6" bed w/tow package, She averages about 18 mpg everyday driving, 20-21 hwy and about 14 towing. She was very hard to find (bought her new), seems like all the dealers where pushing the eco's. I like the simplicity and reliability of a naturally aspirated of the coyote V8 engine and in combination with the 3.73 R.E makes for a very sweet tow. The 3.73 R.E. increases payload,max trailer wt., Gawr and other ratings at a reasonable price.
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Old 12-23-2016, 02:45 PM   #7
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Problem is one of those reasons might be their profit margin on the V8 or that they had several to sell. Same with any sales of anything.
I agree that profit may be an underlying reason but the Ford dealer in the small town near us said that they have had numerous service and warranty issues with the early Eco Boost engines and far fewer issues with the V8. It may well be that Ford has worked out the problems with the Eco Boost by now but back in 2014 , I was unwilling to take that gamble . I still lean toward a V8 engine over a turbo charged V6 because they are less complicated plus I still have locked in my brain the turbos of old which were a constant source of problems.
Gas mileage is a consideration when I purchase a vehicle but not the major or only consideration.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
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Old 12-23-2016, 02:53 PM   #8
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Cheer up you guys.
My RAV4 V6 turned in 13.6 MPG towing ( that's 17.3 liters/100K ). Mountain roads mostly.
It's much better not towing and highway, but not that great around town.
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Old 12-23-2016, 03:57 PM   #9
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You aren't the only one with this question. You can't go wrong with either. I just bought a 2016 F150 with the 5.0 V8. I also just bought a used Escape 19 and averaged 15 mpg over 150 miles towing it home. Not a real world test, but indicitive. We live in a congested area and average 13 - 14 mpg around town. Here are two articles with a different conclusion, but much the same facts.

https://www.edmunds.com/ford/f-150/2...-liter-v8.html

2016 Ford F-150 5.0L V-8 4x4 vs. 2016 Ford F-150 3.5L EcoBoost 4x4 - Comparison Tests - Page 3
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Old 12-23-2016, 04:31 PM   #10
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Hi: War Eagle... I reiterate... the terms mpg's and trailer towing should not be used in the same paragraph. If you set up a truck for trailer towing, non towing mpg's will suffer and vise versa!!! Our 4ltr V6 Nissan Frontier gets poor mileage both towing and not towing... but its got torque aplenty. That's what you need for towing. My biggest beef is with a small fuel tank I'm constantly looking for a fill up!!! Size really does matter. Alf
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Old 12-23-2016, 04:32 PM   #11
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I agree that profit may be an underlying reason but the Ford dealer in the small town near us said that they have had numerous service and warranty issues with the early Eco Boost engines and far fewer issues with the V8. It may well be that Ford has worked out the problems with the Eco Boost by now but back in 2014 , I was unwilling to take that gamble . I still lean toward a V8 engine over a turbo charged V6 because they are less complicated plus I still have locked in my brain the turbos of old which were a constant source of problems.
Gas mileage is a consideration when I purchase a vehicle but not the major or only consideration.

MERRY CHRISTMAS
I have read that the 3.5l EcoBoost was the most tested engine in Ford's history. I'm really not as concerned with the turbos as I am with direct injection.
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Old 12-23-2016, 04:42 PM   #12
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I drive a 2013 f150 with the 5.0. When we drove out to pick up our 21 we got about 18 MPG at 80 MPH and on the way home towing the 21 at 65-70 MPH got anywhere from 11-13 MPG. The 11 MPG was with strong cross winds 13 was on flat lands.
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Old 12-23-2016, 05:28 PM   #13
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... the terms mpg's and trailer towing should not be used in the same paragraph. If you set up a truck for trailer towing, non towing mpg's will suffer and vise versa!!! ...
Alf, Clearly, we would be getting a new tow vehicle for it's ability to tow - when we need to tow. But in our situation, we can't afford a vehicle dedicated just to towing alone. Like perhaps others, there will also be times (in our case, maybe 75% of the time) that we will need to use it for tasks other than towing. So I don't think it is unreasonable to question what kind of real world fuel efficiency we might expect under both situations in order to help find a balance in fuel efficiency we feel comfortable with. In this case, quite literally, YMMV (your mileage may vary)! Inquiring minds want to know....
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Old 12-23-2016, 05:41 PM   #14
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I drive a 2013 f150 with the 5.0. When we drove out to pick up our 21 we got about 18 MPG at 80 MPH and on the way home towing the 21 at 65-70 MPH got anywhere from 11-13 MPG. The 11 MPG was with strong cross winds 13 was on flat lands.
I picked up my 5.0TA with a 2012 3.5l EB. I typically got 13 mpg, but coming east across SD into rain and a headwind I got about 10 mpg. The same conditions dropped my 2.7l EB to 11.4 mpg. That was the worst I have experienced. The 2.7 usually gives me somewhere between 13.5 and 14.5, but under ideal conditions, I've gotten 15+.
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Old 12-23-2016, 08:30 PM   #15
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I'm getting 15-17 mpg not towing with the 5.0 motor and 6 speed and lots of smiles......
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Old 12-23-2016, 08:51 PM   #16
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And, getting even better mileage by parking.
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Old 12-23-2016, 08:58 PM   #17
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I'm getting 15-17 mpg not towing with the 5.0 motor and 6 speed and lots of smiles......
Our neighbor's teenage son across the road from us has a little black convertible Pony with the same Ford 5.0L Coyote engine (and sweet rumbling exhaust system!). Not sure how often he has to buy new tires for it, but he leaves rubber everywhere he goes in that thing. With smoke billowing out of the wheel wells, I'm quite sure his actual horizontal advancement is far less than his odometer indicates based on tire revolutions. Luckily, our house sits about a quarter mile back up off the county road between us, so the impact on us is more bewilderment than annoyance....
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Old 12-23-2016, 09:20 PM   #18
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Our neighbor's teenage son across the road from us has a little black convertible Pony with the same Ford 5.0L Coyote engine (and sweet rumbling exhaust system!). Not sure how often he has to buy new tires for it, but he leaves rubber everywhere he goes in that thing. With smoke billowing out of the wheel wells, I'm quite sure his actual horizontal advancement is far less than his odometer indicates based on tire revolutions. Luckily, our house sits about a quarter mile back up off the county road between us, so the impact on us is more bewilderment than annoyance....
Hi: War Eagle... Kinda makes you want to buy shares in a tire company Eh?. Alf
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Old 12-23-2016, 11:27 PM   #19
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For 2017 the F 150 3.5 Eco Boost will be paired with a 10 speed transmission while the 2.7 will have the current 6 speed. I am very interested in the 10 speed as a tow vehicle although I'm pretty sure I will wait for the 2018 or 2019 models.
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Old 12-24-2016, 01:36 PM   #20
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For 2017 the F 150 3.5 Eco Boost will be paired with a 10 speed transmission while the 2.7 will have the current 6 speed. I am very interested in the 10 speed as a tow vehicle although I'm pretty sure I will wait for the 2018 or 2019 models.
My VW Touareg has a 8 speed transmission which can be shifted manually. I really like the combination as you can find the sweet spot when towing both up and down hills.
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