F150

[oldwave]

Does anyone tow with the F150 base v6 engine (not the the turbocharged)?. I have a 2017 21 c. I am towing right now with a 2004 f150 with the 5 liter. There are some decent deals with dealer loaners with the base v6. The old 2004 has a three speed with over drive and slightly more horsepower than a v6 with a 6 speed. Torque is less though with the new v6.
Thanks
Extended cab

[Ron in BC]

I towed with a 2011 Ranger V-6. Don't know how the h.p. compares to the newer F150 base V-6 but I have the say the 2.7l with the 10 speed is like a dream come true for a tow vehicle. Unless you can get an absolute screamer of a deal I'd consider the 2.7.

Ron

[oldwave]

Thanks for your reply, I know the turbo is better, but I was looking for direct experience with someone who owns the base engine

[Ron in BC]

I was thinking that there might be some relationship to the Ranger 4.0 l V-6 but I can see that the F150 3.3 V-6 has way more h.p etc. than the 4.0 did.

You're right, nothing like a first hand report from someone that has one.

Ron

[Brian B-P]

Originally Posted by Ron in BC

I was thinking that there might be some relationship to the Ranger 4.0 l V-6 but I can see that the F150 3.3 V-6 has way more h.p etc. than the 4.0 did.

Even if they were the of the same family, a few years can make a big difference to performance. In this case, the Ranger's 4.0 was the final (and largest) evolution of the old Cologne V6 which started in 1965, while the F-150 now has the Cyclone V6 which replaced it (and replaced the Vulcan, which was the other V6 previously used in the Ranger). All of these engines are similar in size and configuration (60 degree V6), but the current (Cyclone) engine has double overhead cams, four valves per cylinder, variable cam timing, etc.

I believe that the Ranger's SOHC 4.0 was notable mostly as being unreliable in the early SOHC version (due to timing chain problems) and having remarkably low power output for its size (especially by the standards of the later years in which it was built). Be happy it's not in the F-150.

The EcoBoost V6 engines are derived from the Cyclone engines with turbocharging and direct fuel injection added, but a lot of details have changed. The direct injection makes turbocharging possible with high compression ratio, and the turbocharging makes a huge difference to power, especially at lower engine speeds. The non-turbocharged Cyclone - the F-150's base 3.3 L V6 - is the simpler (and thus lower cost to buy and maintain) option for applications in which its performance is adequate. Compared to either of the EcoBoost V6 engines, the base 3.3 will need to run at higher engine speed to make the same power, which should be especially noticeable when climbing grades.