Ford Ecoboost experiences ??

[MuskokaCanada]

I'm considering upgrading my tow vehicle and was wondering what you guys think of the F150 with ecoboost in terms of towing capability, gas consumption etc etc.

[iamcdn]

I don't have any direct experience but I have had friends with the new ecoboost and they have had terrible experiences. Something about the intercooler, losing power trying to pass, not getting the advertised gas mileage, etc. There have been very long threads on the F150 forum about these issues. Yet, I keep seeing recommendations on these boat forums when tow vehicles are suggested.

[Clibka]

I drive a 2012 f150 fx4 screw ecoboost. Never had any of the above issues in 30,000 miles over the last year. Thing runs like a champ. 3 oil changes and a lot of fuel is the only thing I have put into it (knock on wood)

Pulls great, gas mileage with a 2012 210 sante behind it was 10.5 on flat roads @75 mph this past weekend over a 530 mile round trip. I probably wouldn't pull a g with it too far but I'm sure it could handle it.

Keep in mind this is purely anecdotal and I have no idea what the real stats are on lemon f150 ecos. But I'm sold on mine. Plus I love the turbo whine and blow off.

Highway I'm getting 18-20 mpg if I keep it around 70.

[sodbuster88]

2011 lariat crew 4x4 with 20,000 pulling 200V. No issues at all. I typically pull 60-65 mph or less due to my z5. I chose 3:55s due to the torque curve (sweet spot at 65 mph @2200 rpm - gear limited to 5th and in tow haul mode). MPGs are 11.5-12.5 depending on grades. I have always had 3/4 or 1 ton trucks (diesels- I6 and v8s)....and like this truck just as much. It's a good truck for yanking up to 8-9000# trailer....so far. Anything heavier, get the heavier truck.

[perry386]

Don't have any experience towing with an F-150 but I have many friends that do and they ALL say don't get Ecoboost. Your better off just getting the V8. They say the MPG isn't anything like they advertise and you can feel a difference in the power. I recommend the 2014 Sierra. Just go this about a month a go and I couldn't be happier with it. 20.2MPG in the CITY!!! and 23ish on the highway. If you haven't been in one of those things yet you should go test drive one. I get 11.5 towing my 230 on backroads and about 14 towing on the highway. You have to get 3:42 rear end though, it's a no-charge upgrade though. The truck rides as good as the F-150, nicer interior, and I think it looks better but that's debatable.

My good friend just got a Platinum and he opted for the V8 instead of the Ecoboost.

[swankster]

We used a friend's 2013 F150 4x4 Platinum crew with Eco to pull my G23 on a two hour round trip. His pulled it better than my 2005 F-150 4x4 Lariat crew with the v8. Both had the lower rear end gear ratio. We didn't check actual mpg but his truck reading said 8 to 9 mpg and mine was 7 to 8 mpg. This was in the DFW area heading to OK, so no real steep grades but on the few hills we encountered it was impressive. It would drop to 5th gear and keep the speed. We were pulling between 65 and 70 mph.

[scott resick]

I'm considering upgrading my tow vehicle and was wondering what you guys think of the F150 with ecoboost in terms of towing capability, gas consumption etc etc.

I too am in the market. I hear a lot of negative about Eco boost. Google motor trends article. It appears to be a good concept, but needs some bugs worked out. If I don't buy the Silverado lt with all star package tomorrow ,I will opt for F- 150 with V8.

[SkiTower]

To Eco or not to Eco, that's the question. But thou ist not making a good choice to part with thou F150 altogether and choosith the Silverado over the F150.

[Nauti-by-Nature]

I just traded my 2008 Sierra (5.3L w/ 4 speed trans) in for a 2013 F-150 w/ ecoboost and 6 speed. I haven't had a chance to pull my 211 with it yet, but in my limited time driving it am very happy with the power, transmission shifting, and overall build quality. Like Sod man said the big advantage here is the torque and hp available throughout the rpm ranges with the ecoboost. My father uses his on the farm and just loves it. I've heard good things from many others as well and read a lot of reviews so I was pretty confident with my purchase. I liked my '08 Sierra, but there really is no comparison here. I did do some research on the 2014 Sierra's and it also looks like a great truck and I think GM has stepped their game up with this truck as well. I don't think you can go wrong with either truck. I'll update you once I get a chance to pull my boat (hopefully this weekend) and also get some mpg numbers.

[Clibka]

If I may update my previous post a bit. If I remember the Eco was on the window sticker as roughly a $3000 option. I did the quick calculation and found that with the fuel consumption savings I thought I would get, it was a smart option ... The 5.0 v8 gets roughly the same numbers so that turned out not so. Long story short, my next one will probably be black with a 5.0. And an upgraded intake/exhaust so I can replace the loss of the turbo sounds :/ either way is a winner IMHO ... Lastly I will say I drove the 5.0 and Eco back to back and the power difference in the Eco was quite noticeable and intoxicating.

[MuskokaCanada]

I test drove the F150 FX4 I'm considering last night. Gotta say I love the backup camera. Not something I would have thought about adding if I optioned out the truck myself but this is a dealer's demo thats fully, fully loaded. I'm going to try to bring the truck home again on Saturday and hook up my boat just to see what it pulls like up and down a few hills near the house. Being as I only have an '84 2001 I really don't expect to even notice the boat is back there. Basically, this is a step up in towing capability to allow for a SAN upgrade in 3 years.

[shawndoggy]

Man I wouldn't not have a backup cam on any tow rig. In fact it was my first mod on my new-2-me excursion 7.3.

[Woody_tobius_jr]

I have an 11 FX4 4x4 with the Ecoboost, I currently have about 75000 km on it. I pulled my buddies X-Star ( he had all his water toys packed in there) with my standup jetski in the back of my truck and holiday supplies for a week, plus the whole family. I went over a government self weigh scale and I was in the high 14000 lbs. Going in British Columbia through the mountains, I could pull out in the passing lane and be at 120 km/hr ( 75 mph) by the top and not even be at the carpet with the pedal. I was averaging 17-19 km/per 100km ( 12-14 mpg). Once I got to about 50000 km, my intercooler started acting up, they tried a few different things, but it's just not the same truck. Fuel mileage has gone in the tank,when I'm towing its shifting a lot more ( before it took a lot to get it out of 6th gear). As mentioned above, when you pull out to pass, the engine starts missing ( the more humid it is, the more it acts up) it actually feels like the transmission is slipping, but its the engine misfiring. This year towing my 211 and with my jetski in the back of the truck and the whole family, I was taking it MUCH easier and I was averaging 23-25 litres per 100km ( 9 - 10 mpg). Ford told my dealership not to try to fix it anymore until they figure out how to fix it properly.
When this engine is running the way it should be, its awesome, now it's alright, but nothing like it was. You really have to plan your trip and know where there are gas stations. When it's running right, they are a blast to drive. Too bad they sound like a V6 though

[Nautiquehunter]

I have always believed there is no replacement for cubic inch displacement. I pull with a 05 GMC Savana 3500 6L 4 speed auto trans and 373 rear gear . It gets 15 highway not towing and 10 towing . I pull a 08 210 about 5500 lbs .
So where is the advantage in buying a 1/2 ton PU with a 3000 dollar V6 that dosnt seem to get any better mileage than mine. Keep in mind that V6 is working a lot harder than a V8 to do the same job. I wonder what the life expectancy of the eco will be after 5 years of towing?

[jmo]

So what is underneath the marketing "ecoboost" branding? I assume its nothing more than a turbo charger?