TomG2
Central Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2004
View Profile
|
From the brochures, it appears that the Ford Ecoboost F-150's are rated to tow somewhere between 8,000-10,000 pounds in most of its usual configurations, axle ratios, body styles, suspension etc. About the same as comparable models from Chevrolet and Dodge. Users are reporting about the same fuel mileage as similarly equipped Silverado's and Ram's. So, what is the big deal, or am I missing something? I am not talking about folks who claim they can tow 15,000 pounds up Mt. Everest while getting 30 mpg at speeds of over 70 mph. My buddy's cousin had a friend whose 56 Ford got 32 mpg, but Ford made him return it to the company.
|
jerem0621
SE Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 05/17/2009
View Profile
 Offline
|
I think the jury is still out for long term benefits. My local ford dealer ( take it with a grain) said the big gas mileage with the Ecobost comes with the 3:15 rear gear. The deeper gears for towing have about the same mpg.
I thought I wanted an Ecobost but the new 5.0 looks pretty good to me.
Jeremiah
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, , 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch with Reese Dual-Cam sway control
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
First of all, the F150 with Ecoboost can tow as much as 11,300 lb. and there are several models that carry this maximum tow rating. While towing my mileage is only about one MPG better than my old F 150 but when not towing it's about 5 MPG better and my old truck was right up there with most of the competition. The big deal is that it gets this 20% fuel mileage improvement with a smaller, cleaner engine that has a HUGE increase in power and torque. If those things are not important to you then the Ecoboost is probably not the truck for you. Yes Dodge and GM both have big block engines that will perform close to the same (at low altitudes) and with the tow ratings YOU said the Ford had (but you were incorrect) but Ford is doing it with a tiny engine that is much better for the environment (and their EPA requirements for the brand).
Just like any OTHER brand the MPG in their adds is an economy model truck (with a high gear ratio and low weight) and this is NOT the one that tows 11,300 lb. NOBODY is going to brag about their fuel mileage with their baddest towing product because the purposes are entirely different so the results are also. MY truck is the towing version with 2,550 lb. of payload and the 11,300 lb. rating with a 3.73 gear. consider that EVERY add for fuel economy uses the term "as much as" ahead of their numbers. This translates to "you will NEVER get more than this" NOT "every model gets this mileage".
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
BenK
SF BayArea
Senior Member
Joined: 04/18/2002
View Profile
|
Smaller engine
GM also has been shipping a direct injection engine since arround 2003, but the idiot bean counter management thinks only for their Caddy CTS line
GM's DOD is more mature, IMHO, then many others
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
|
whisperide
Golden Spike area
Senior Member
Joined: 09/27/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Skip, you can get measurably more MPG than they say, if you always drive slow and gentle, and you measure your MPG without doing any in-town driving. Likewise, you can get more MPG if you lower it , use narrower tires, fit smaller mirrors, and such, to really reduce the drag.
'06 GMC C2500HD RCLB gasser 4.10:1, 4L80E, custom camshaft
'84 Trans Am 6.2 diesel, 700R-4, custom Class-3 receiver
'69 F350 dually. GM 6.2 diesel, turbo, 700R-4, NP208 all pending.
|
|
|
wolvereeny
SE Michigan
Full Member
Joined: 04/07/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I don't use mine for towing but my mileage is disappointing avg 17.1 over 6500 miles. Dealer says that's expected. I don't have the towing package and I don't drive it hard. I got as good or better mileage on my 5.4 litre V8. Considering the eco boost is extra $ I wish I would have gotten the 5.0
|
donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
Senior Member
Joined: 04/21/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
Funny how I see all these claims and not one of them so far as actually told us if the mileage claims are hand calculated or using the overhear lie o meter?
Oh and skip, What exactly are your mileage figures? Hand calculated of course.
Donn,Lorri,Max (rescued Lab)
Saigon International Airport 1966/67
|
TomG2
Central Illinois
Senior Member
Joined: 03/07/2004
View Profile
|
Skip says, "The big deal is that it gets this 20% fuel mileage improvement......."
Twenty percent better than what? While the ratings are bogus, the Chevy and Dodge ratings are within one mpg for similar tow vehicles. Going from 20 to 21 is NOT a twenty percent improvement
|
whisperide
Golden Spike area
Senior Member
Joined: 09/27/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
BenK wrote:Smaller engine
GM also has been shipping a direct injection engine since arround 2003, but the idiot bean counter management thinks only for their Caddy CTS line
GM's DOD is more mature, IMHO, then many others
Smaller engine's benefit to MPG is primarily when taking advantage of it's reduced mass to reduce the mass of all the supporting stuff. With a big pickup, that isn't practical.
The GM 3.6L makes the power of the 4.8L V8, but with 11.3:1 compression that has NO place in a work truck. Work trucks have always had less compression, and always will.
Look at the older LQ4 / LQ9 / LS2. All 3 were 6.0L, all 3 had the same ports and valves, but the car version got 10.9:1, the light truck got 10.1:1, and the 2500HD / 3500 got 9.4:1
As such, to use the 3.6 in a truck would mean dropping it from 11.3:1 to maybe 10.2:1, and it's already-lacking low-RPM torque would seriously suffer. Already it doesn't equal the ancient 4.3L below 3500 RPM, where 95% of driving is done. and everyone on this forum says the 4.3 isn't adequate for a full-size pickup.
The 4.3 was really the inspiration for the Ecoboost, singe GM put boost on the 4.3 back in '85, then put in production, in a pickup, for '91.
Considering the available gear ratios for that truck, using the turbo 4.3 versus the V8 meant they could get about 3-4 more MPG than the V8, at steady highway cruise, while having the desired acceleration of the 5.7L V8. But that pickup had relatively low drag, especially compared to the current F150.
The F150 is meant to be worked, so it has helpful upgrades like forged pistons, multiple knock sensors, and a forged crank.
The 4.3 didn't need the forged stuff for the intended usage, but some few have re-fitted their turbo 4.3s for racing, and have found the practical upper limits for the 4.3.
The 4.3 does need forged pistons to equal the Ecoboost. But that's about the only upgrade it needs. That Ford chose to do the crankshaft also is surprising to me.
Also, factory MPG testing seldom matches real-world results seen by the customers. In reality, you need the next-up rear gear ratio to get best MPG, and none of the big 3 has always offered that option in everything.
And the more gear you use, the less engine you need, but the broader the useful powerband you need. The turbo boost can be done in such a way as to help with that. But VVT also helps. Direct injection is only for MPG and emissions, and to get more money from the customer when the engine needs new injectors the day after the vehicle reaches 100,001 miles.
Ecoboost is a sales gimmick to the same uninformed masses who mistakenly believe that the Prius is really a green car. Put the 3.5L Ecoboost in the old Ranger, they would have had something with more MPG, but just as much acceleration, as putting the new 5.0 in the old Ranger. But they killed the Ranger rather than letting the 3.5L Ecoboost save it. I would have bought one of those.
|
Devocamper
West Haven CT
Senior Member
Joined: 02/15/2004
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Ford Ecoboost is a few $$$$ and it is still a 1/2 ton PU truck, if you are going to tow at the max rated weight of a 1/2 which will be the least MPG why not go with a 3/4 ton ?
08 NU-WA Hitchhiker Discover America 339 RSB
07 Chevy 3500HD LT1 EXT Cab LB DRW D/A
|
|
|
|
