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

I bought new a 2016 F150 ss 365 hp 3.5 twin ecoboost.and I have put 28k miles on it.

I have only driven on hunting trips.
It is too hard to park in the greater Seattle area.
Seems to work just fine.

That is a Gen 1 ecoboost. I personally think the gen 1 ecoboost was better

I have a 2016 with 97,000. I ruined the CAT and Ford replaced under emissions austen warrantee. Found a coolant leak at one turbo ( that i had been smelling) otherwise trouble free. Oil changes are important. I try not the exceed 5K even running synthetic. The 3.5 is a torqy engine, moreso than the 5.0. In a drag race its about ever with the coyote motor but i pulled Wolf creek pass at 110. Can't do that in the 5.0.

I read where a few mechanics said to stick with a non turbo 5.0

Has anyone has issues with the 5.0 V-8?

I'd also be hacked if I were you in that instance.

My 2020 4wd 3.5EB has 39k on it so far and no issues. Very comfortable and strong-running truck. My cousin recently went from a 2014 5.0L to a 2021 3.5EB and his description fits well "The Ecoboost never seems to get in a bind for power when you need it". I agree. I like the torque that's always available. Long highway trips have run as high as 24mg and I often have months where I average around 21mpg (factory tires, level kit, winch).

The old 5L V8 here.

And more than a few mechanics. The excessive blow-by and regenerative exhaust circulating within the engine fouls valves in as little as 10,000 miles. Then the problem with the cylinder head seal design leaves a lot to be desired. The 3rd gen design helped to reduce these problems, however, it do not eliminate them.

Learn about PVC catch cans and what you find in them - especially on turbo engines. I've been using them for six+ years and have them on every engine.

Bought mine new in 2014. F150 crew cab 4WD. It has 92,500 miles on it. Only thing I had to do was change out 1 coil pack. Other than that no issues.

Ron

If you search on the internet for "3.5 ecoboost problems", one finds many problems reported with the older units, not as many after 2016-2107.

That being said, many people, just like this thread, reported no probelms with their ecoboost engines after many miles.

Makes me wonder about Ford's quality control on this engine for a few years.

Yeah I just inherited Dad's 2019 3.5 and it is such a nicer vehicle than I would have deemed to buy for myself. I got 22mpg coming from New Mexico downhill.
I have that same Cam phaser issue and I am trying to resolve through an oil additive. I added half quart and it helped for about a week.

Saw a video on how to prime the oil system prior to starting but have not gotten it tow work for me.

My only complaint is I cannot turn off autolock. Major annoyance.

I have the baby one. It's a 2.7l TT Ecoboost. I tried not to like the motor at first. But at 145,453.8 miles, I've not had a major problem. I have had some issue with a fuel sensor that wouldn't allow my to start my truck until I tried 3 times after gas fills. That was a $75 repair.

Also replaced the rear pinion seal this past June. That has nothing to do with the engine though. I pull a 5100# boat all over MN, WI, and the Dakotas from April until October and don't have trouble with it. It actually pulls nice.

I have had two of them, one was a 2014 and the other was a 2017. Both were King Ranch models.

The 2014 was excellent in every way. Never the slightest problem.

The 2017 was exactly the opposite. Turbo problems, one that started when I was about 50 miles from home on the way to New Mexico for an elk hunt. The valve train was replaced not once but twice. Numerous electronic problems and weird stuff such as the GPS showing me 10 and 20 miles from my actual location. Once I was going east to west on a major highway. My GPS was showing me going north to south in the local river.

If I had bought another Ford when I traded earlier this year, I would have bought the 5.0 gas motor.

I bought a used F-150 with the 2.7 ecoboost today. It sure seems to have power for a small engine.

the 2.7 is a very peppy little motor. its more responsive than the 3.5. when you floor it the 2.7 just peters out sooner. for most people, especially if you don't tow the 2.7 is all anyone really needs. plus they aren't prone to cam phasers issues of the 3.5 or oil burning like the 5.0.

2012 3.5L with almost 180k and by far the best truck I’ve ever owned. Drive train has been outstanding.
2018 2.7L with 80k had an exhaust pressure sensor code. Otherwise flawless.

I’d buy another ecoboost without question. Hard pass on the 5.0L for me.

Do you remember the first time you went to a strip club? It’s kinda like that driving a 3.5 EB the first time.

No sir. Pick the 3.5 every time .

Don't know that I would trust that website....

A few quotes from the "article"

Finally, be prepared for some potential issues down the road, as deleting the cam phaser can cause additional stress on other parts of the engine. Overall, deleting the cam phaser from your 3.5 Ecoboost engine can be a daunting task but it’s one that could ultimately save your engine from further damage.



Locking out your cam phasers is a great way to prevent unauthorized access to your camera.

I have a 2011 F150 FX4 with the 3.5L Ecoboost with a 6sp transmission. 3.73 rear end, max tow package.

About 175,000KM.

No issues with the engine or transmission. Lovely drivetrain.

They should be named “Eco-or-boost”. I owned a 2019 F150 4wd Lariat. Empty - fast, decent mpg (18mpg mixed). Towing - plenty of power (for a half ton) but mpg dropped big time (10mpg towing a 5x9 utility trailer with a small side by side). I dove hunted with a friend who guides duck hunters a couple of months back and he was in a new Superduty - asked why he got a new truck, and he said he was tired of 7-8mpg with his F150 3.5L (pulling his tandem axle utility trailer with a Polaris 6 seater). I had no significant issues with mine in 2yrs and 35k miles, but I did get a recall notice on the cam phasers (but when I took it in a few months later they had stopped that repair, said it wasn’t fixing the issue). Traded my F150 in last year for an Explorer ST for the wife (3.0 Ecoboost, all wheel drive - fast and fun but disappointed with mpg, no better than the F150 on cruise on the hwy) and bought a GMC. For reference, my 2021 GMC AT4 6.2L gets maybe 0.5mpg less empty, but 1.5mpg better towing same trailer, same routes, etc.

My brother bought a 2.7l F150 several years back. They love it (don’t tow or haul anything besides groceries, luggage, 3 small kids, etc) and it gets awesome mileage for a pickup with some pep, but it did get a new motor under warranty at about 50k miles (don’t remember the reason).