Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Ford 3.5 ecoboost F-150 experience

I'm looking at a used 2018 F-150. What experience do you have with that truck and engine?
Dave

2018 4wd, supercab w 77k on it, not 1 single issue to date.
16to19mpg in town, 19 to 24 on interstate.
11to15 mpg when towing my trailer.
I do my own oil change every 7to8k miles.

Got the high output in that year model.

No issues. Strong pickup.

I had a 2015 F150 until it got totaled in an argument with a dump truck. Replaced it with a 2019 in January 2020. I haven't had any problems with the replacement and the original was trouble free. Mileage runs from 18.6 to 21.5 in town depending on driving conditions like traffic. Damn thing gets better gas mileage than my 1998 Explorer. (12 to 13 MPG)
PJ

Which ecoboost? The 3.5 has serious issues with cam phasers in that year. It’s about a $3500 repair. If they have the parts to fix it. You may have to wait months for parts. Many trucks need the repair multiple times. My 2017 did.

The 2.7 However is the most reliable of the engines for ford in that year.

Had a 2019 for a work truck

Fast, fuel efficient, very capable. I wouldn’t hesitate owning one.

The only problem I had was an ignition coil went out once. Replaced under warranty.

My son has one and has had zero issues to date.. Loves it.

2017 with 100k

We had a cam phaser repair that was quoted at $2,500 but after all was said and done Ford kicked down and it was $800.

Sounded like it was gonna throw a rod for a few seconds on a cold start. Dealership told us to run it as it wasn’t hurting anything but I couldn’t hang.

I have a 2019 T 150 Supercrew 4x4 with the Ecoboost, no problems so far. 28,700 miles on it.

A cheaper route would be to delete the cam phasers. Here's an outfit that will sell you a delete kit. Since I don't believe this is emissions related, it should be legal to delete the cam phasers.

Click Here


Also, I believe Ford changed the cam phasers in trucks from 2019 on, making them more robust.

2020 with 50K. Been solid so far. Pulls a trailer better than my previous 1/2 ton V8's.

Have the older gen 1, a 2012. You have the newer two-chain (timing) setup. And port-injection (cleaning, basically) on top of DI. All desirable changes. Still, be fastidious with oil changes, as between being DI and twin turbo it’s tough on oil longevity. That said, absolute stud of an engine, and at altitude puts others to shame; love it.

New Raptor is gonna have a 3.5 in it, so Ford must like it.

I have 13’. Been an amazing truck. 245k. Timing chains are done though. Not worth fixing I’m afraid. Just waiting on her to go now. Every single thing still works. A/C is on original charge still. Has been a farm truck it’s whole life. Would recommend.

I have a 2018 4 door 2.7 EcoBoost that I bought as a leftover in 2019. 127K miles and the only issue was the wiper motor chit the bed under warranty. I get 18.5 MPH and I don't drive slow, the 2.7 has a lot of balls when you need it.

Same here. One of the best trucks I’ve owned.

i had a 2018 F150 with the 3.5 for exactly 28 days, 24 of those were at the dealership trying to find a gremlin in the computers, the 28th day i went to pick it up and it crapped out same issue while signing the paperwork idling in the service bay

it would somehow go into limp mode on a hard acceleration, on the downshift. would have to pull over, turn it off for a few minutes and it might go 8-10 miles and do it again. worst day i had it happened 14 times in 75 miles pulling my boat. also would loose oil pressure per the gauges, but i dont think it really was cause it never tapped rattled or anything

Ford told me it was a glitch between the ECU and the computer that shut it off at stoplights or whenever it idles for long periods??

i have no idea what parts they threw at it, and didnt care. Ford made it right, took it back with 100% money back

Mine was a big POS. 2018 xlt 3.5 ecoboost 4wd

Over 20g in warranty repairs before 60,000 miles all told and ford acted like everything was somehow my fault.

It was almost comical if it wasn’t so painful to go through at the time

Both turbos and intercooler replaced before 35000
Camphaser issue took 4 visits to dealer to fix
Bed had to come off twice due to water leaks in the cab requiring carpet and backing to have to be replaced twice and part of the wiring harness was affected by this as well.
Front end went totally all to hell when vacuum solenoid shiiit out and put truck in 4wd low at 55mph or so.

Driveshaft had to be replaced as well

So I’m not a fan and won’t buy ford again

Thanks for the replies. I may have a line on a low milage 2019 with the V8. I normally only put 6k miles a year on my truck. I have a 2005 Siverado crew cab with the 5.3 V8.

I have a 2015 and the only thing i have had go bad was the throttle body.

My truck has the tow package and i tow some tractors with no problem.