2020 3.5 ecoboost

[Vermilye]

I have a 2018 3.5 Ecoboost (Super cab, 6 1/2' bed, tow mirrors, 36 gallon tank & the lowest level tow package). I really like the tow mirrors - convex lower sections on both sides & large! Only 35,000 miles, but like it so far. A good tow for the 21, although for non towing I still loved my Tacoma. Unfortunately, not quite up to the job.

I did have the timing chain rollers replaced at 32,000 miles under warrantee, a known problem...

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

I have a 2018 3.5 Ecoboost (Super cab, 6 1/2' bed, tow mirrors, 36 gallon tank & the lowest level tow package). I really like the tow mirrors - convex lower sections on both sides & large! Only 35,000 miles, but like it so far. A good tow for the 21, although for non towing I still loved my Tacoma. Unfortunately, not quite up to the job.

I did have the timing chain rollers replaced at 32,000 miles under warrantee, a known problem...

What drove your attention to getting the timing chain rollers replaced?

That a very uncommon thing for new engines.

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by WillyB

What drove your attention to getting the timing chain rollers replaced?

That a very uncommon thing for new engines.

A rattling noise when starting the cold engine. Online forums mentioned the problem, took it to Ford & they confirmed the problem. Took a long time to get the parts...

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by Vermilye

A rattling noise when starting the cold engine. Online forums mentioned the problem, took it to Ford & they confirmed the problem. Took a long time to get the parts...

I’ll definitely keep my ears open.

Was it very loud? Like clatters rocker arm or bad like no oil?

[Vermilye]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I’ll definitely keep my ears open.

Was it very loud? Like clatters rocker arm or bad like no oil?

Similar to the sound of rocker arms before the oil hits them, but not as loud. Only on cold starts & not every time. Only lasts for a few seconds.

[GregColdewey]

I had a 2015 F-150 with the 3.5 ecoboost. Traded it for a 2018 with the 5.0. The 2015 had about 85,000 miles when I traded it and it ran beautifully and had no failures or issues. I got the 5.0 based on several videos interviewing Ford Technicians about what engine they would buy and 95% said the 5.0 due to easier maintenance and longevity. Was told by several people that the turbos tend to go out at around 125,000 miles and that is a $4000 repair. That is not conclusive, but enough to sway me as the gas mileage on the eco boost was not really any better and the 5.0 has plenty of HP and torque to pull anything I want.

[johnnyv]

Yes, 10-4 on the super.

[johnnyv]

Yes Greg, saw the same video, living on the edge.

[Mike Lewis]

Originally Posted by C&G in FL

Mike,

Electronics damaged by EMP from nearby lightning strike. Living in Florida I’m sure you can understand.

Yep. Your area of Florida, mid-peninsula, has the highest incidence of lightning in the U.S. My area, the panhandle, has the second-highest incidence. My father, a farmer, was hit twice indirectly. Once he was working on a fence when lightning hit it. It burned the soles off of his shoes. He survived both strikes with no major injuries.


Thanks for the feedback.

[JIMF]

Those are the same concerns I had, specifically with the turbos. I was all set to purchase the 3.5ecoboost but I talked to my mechanic who also just purchased the 5.0. He said that as long as you keep up with the maintenance you should be good but if not, repairs can get very expensive.

[johnnyv]

Other than oil changes, not much maintenance until 100k.

[WillyB]

Originally Posted by GregColdewey

I had a 2015 F-150 with the 3.5 ecoboost. Traded it for a 2018 with the 5.0. The 2015 had about 85,000 miles when I traded it and it ran beautifully and had no failures or issues. I got the 5.0 based on several videos interviewing Ford Technicians about what engine they would buy and 95% said the 5.0 due to easier maintenance and longevity. Was told by several people that the turbos tend to go out at around 125,000 miles and that is a $4000 repair. That is not conclusive, but enough to sway me as the gas mileage on the eco boost was not really any better and the 5.0 has plenty of HP and torque to pull anything I want.

I researched the 3.5 Eco by talking with real owners for over 3 years across multiple states on my sales travels. All of them, probably 30 or 40, had nothing but great things to say about this engine. The average mileage was over 150,000 miles. About 5 had over 250,000 miles.

None of them had any turbo problems. Maybe they had those super special diesel turbos in their trucks that defy the Laws of Physics.

Ford bet the bank on Turbo Power on the #1 Truck in the World. I would be hard pressed to believe that they would design in failure.

[GregColdewey]

Can’t disagree with anything you said, just decided there weren’t enough benefit to the 3.5 vs. the 5.0.

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by WillyB

I researched the 3.5 Eco by talking with real owners for over 3 years across multiple states on my sales travels. All of them, probably 30 or 40, had nothing but great things to say about this engine. The average mileage was over 150,000 miles. About 5 had over 250,000 miles.

None of them had any turbo problems. Maybe they had those super special diesel turbos in their trucks that defy the Laws of Physics.

Ford bet the bank on Turbo Power on the #1 Truck in the World. I would be hard pressed to believe that they would design in failure.

I also talked to many 3.5 owners as well as V8 owners before buying our 2015 3.5 EB and continued talking to owners and bought a 2019 3.5 EB. I found the same results. I found a couple of 3.5 EB owners who had some issues, but also found V8 owners that also had issues. I found slightly more mechanics who now own 3.5 EB, because they did not see the problems others perceive about these engines. In this situation we have people who believe what they want to believe. Ford is no idiot.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Rossue]

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/ford...-8-first-test/

Sounds good(literally) they say!

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by jontom

got mine last month and love it. you'll love the gas tank. went from ohio to alabama to visit son for thanksgiving with no pit stops. You get the supercab?

Speaking of pit stops...lately when we travel without the trailer we still take the truck. With the rear seats folded up and the completely flat floor, we put a port-a-potty in the back so we have our own facilities with us. The other side holds our compressor fridge with all of our snacks. Many of the normal spots and restaurants had the washrooms closed this summer and fall.

[Effie]

A good friend of mine is on his second F150 3.5 Eco. About 40k mile between them towing a 25 feet Airstream during the last three years. The first was totaled when he went off the road rolling few times (not towing) all four passengers came out ok. He replaced it with used one before even getting the insurance money. Obviously he is happy with the towing performance of the truck.

[oldwave]

With turbos meticulous oil changes are recommended as there is much higher pressures in the manifolds. I have a 2004 f150 5.4 non turbo that many people have had problems with the timing phasers and roller arms because of an oil pump that was not robust enough. So far I have not but I change oil and filters around 4000 miles. Modern oil is better, but increasingly getting high power out of small engines increases wear. That said, I’m interested in the upcoming Tundra with turbo charging. I’ll compare it to the F150 for my next truck in 2022

[C&G in FL]

In my previous post, I failed to mention that I have owned Ford vehicles with the Coyote V-8. They were good engines back then, but not particularly fuel efficient. I switched to EcoBoost in 2012 and have not looked back. When I was considering it, I talked with several Ford mechanics (or technicians as they are now called). Most of the anti-EcoBoost comments came from those who, by physical appearance, were very close to retirement age. The younger or recently trained techs were more accepting of the EcoBoost technology. My take was that many of the anti-EcoBoost opinions were coming from those who were “set in their ways” with an attitude of “why change something that has worked relatively well” for years.
But I will add this comment: Ford introduced the EcoBoost to better meet progressively strict fuel efficiency standards while retaining the performance produced by larger engines. The EcoBoost is not the future of Ford, it is nothing but a stop gap measure. I have read that Ford has stated it views electric vehicles as its future and has indicated that at some future time it will only produce electric vehicles, and they are aiming for sooner rather than later.
As an interesting aside, I have to wonder what effect that will have on those who choose to boondock in remote locations, and how many existing campgrounds will go through the expense of adding charging stations at every campsite. They can’t have a small bank of them at the office because every Tom, Dick, and Harry will want to recharge after arrival.

[Ryanb-72]

I guess mine is really old, LOL! I have a 2013 F-150 EB. Back then I believe the 3.5 is all they had. The truck has about 120,000 miles on it now. It is the longest F-150 you can get, Supercrew 6.5ft bed and 4X4. We travel with it more than any other vehicle. It has been reasonably trouble free. I have replaced a few coil packs over the years and had a few warranty/recall fixes done. It has a small oil seep on it now that they mention when getting the oil changed but have never thought it is bad enough to fix yet. I like the truck and would buy another one. As for the 2.0 EB in the Ford Edge that is a whole different story! 2017 and on our second engine.