Eco Boost vs V8

[C4Ranch]

I've been considering the ecoboost and what impresses me is it makes peak torque at 2.5k rpm vs v8's around 4k. Who drives at 4k rpm? 2.5k is pretty close to where I tow. Got 214k miles on my '99 chevy 5.3 and kinda holding out to 250k so maybe next year I'll buy.

 

[bdog]

Get the V8. I am the type that buys vehicles and keeps them a long time. I did a lot of research and bought a brand new 4x4 4 door ecoboost in 2012. It was my first new vehicle purchase ever. I kept it about 5 months before trading it in. I could not afford to drive it. The thing had all the power in the world - no complaints there. The fuel mileage was horrible. Pulling a 18' utility trailer with 2 four wheelers on it I was getting 4-6 mpg. Empty I was getting 14 mpg. I took it to the dealer several times and they found nothing wrong. Said my mileage problems were due to me adding a grill guard, having a tool box in the the bed, having an air compressor in the bed, and my mud terrain tires. I am sure these items don't help MPG but it was horrible. I have had these same things on every other truck I have had with no significant adverse affects. I traveled for work with three F-250 gas trucks pulling heavier trailers. We were having to stop all the time for me to fuel up because I was running out of gas while they still had plenty. From what I was told the turbos were always spooled up due to the additional load which made it suck fuel. I know people who have ecoboosts that are completely stock and they are pleased with them.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Get the V8. I am the type that buys vehicles and keeps them a long time. I did a lot of research and bought a brand new 4x4 4 door ecoboost in 2012. It was my first new vehicle purchase ever. I kept it about 5 months before trading it in. I could not afford to drive it. The thing had all the power in the world - no complaints there. The fuel mileage was horrible. Pulling a 18' utility trailer with 2 four wheelers on it I was getting 4-6 mpg. Empty I was getting 14 mpg. I took it to the dealer several times and they found nothing wrong. Said my mileage problems were due to me adding a grill guard, having a tool box in the the bed, having an air compressor in the bed, and my mud terrain tires. I am sure these items don't help MPG but it was horrible. I have had these same things on every other truck I have had with no significant adverse affects. I traveled for work with three F-250 gas trucks pulling heavier trailers. We were having to stop all the time for me to fuel up because I was running out of gas while they still had plenty. From what I was told the turbos were always spooled up due to the additional load which made it suck fuel. I know people who have ecoboosts that are completely stock and they are pleased with them.

You had a Lemon. Heck, the worst V8 gas guzzling truck could do better than 6 mpg towing.

Chris

 

[TomSeller]

. Said my mileage problems were due to me adding a grill guard, having a tool box in the the bed, having an air compressor in the bed, and my mud terrain tires. .

I trust these are not your mudders?

 

[bdog]

It was not a lemon. Went to dealer multiple times they found nothing wrong. My tires were slightly larger than stock but I did not have a lift or anything so they were not that big. I put all the accessories on the truck the week I got it so I didn't really have a stock mpg to compare with but everyone I talk to that has an ecoboost says they drink the gas when under load. I have a diesel now. 17 mpg empty and never got below 10 towing even towing 14k.

 

[TomSeller]

It was not a lemon. Went to dealer multiple times they found nothing wrong. My tires were slightly larger than stock but I did not have a lift or anything so they were not that big. I put all the accessories on the truck the week I got it so I didn't really have a stock mpg to compare with but everyone I talk to that has an ecoboost says they drink the gas when under load. I have a diesel now. 17 mpg empty and never got below 10 towing even towing 14k.

Everyone believes you, there just doesn't seem to a good explanation why yours was so bad.

 

[timswi]

Easy to do with a gutless 5.3 GM.

Chris

Say what you want but none of my 5.3's were "gutless"...Why is that kind of comment always necessary?

 

[jejeosborne]

The neighbor brags about his ecoboost mileage but his on dash average is the same as my GMC 5.3L and he does more highway driving.

Easy to do with a gutless 5.3 GM.

Chris

Say what you want but none of my 5.3's were "gutless"...Why is that kind of comment always necessary?

Maybe this will shed some light on why Chris made the comment. I agree gutless was probably the wrong word choice. Maybe something like weaker or puny would have been more appropriate for comparing these two engines output. Basically what ruffdog is saying, in GM language, is that the ecoboost gets similar MPG as the 5.3 but has similar power of the 6.2.

I would agree that the 5.3 liter isn't "gutless" when compared to the 4.3 liter as another example.

Point being, MPG numbers shouldn't be compared between engine with dissimilar outputs. The ecoboost hands down gets better MPG than the 6.2 liter that it most resembles in output.

To the OP,
If the 5.0 has enough power to accomplish your needs, I would suggest that engine. If you NEED or ENJOY the extra performace, get the ecoboost. Simple as that.

 

[lutt]

I would get the v-8 also, a lot of my farmer friends drive fords, the ecoboost is probly a good engine, but the mileage sucks on the farm. Those who tried them are going to the v-8s. Far as a 5.3 being gutless, I would say not, I had my 08 for five years, 100000 miles, mostly farm miles doing this all day, in arkansas summer, with a bed full of tools, when I start one in the morning, I don't shut it off for all day unless I have to fuel the truck, I like ac! I check over 30 rice and soybean irrigation wells and keep them going. Most of the miles were rough gravel and farm roads pulling this fuel trailer with a heavy right foot, my days usually start at 6:00 am and end between 9:00 and 10:00 pm that time of year. Mileage around 11, I also am liable to be in and out of 4wd fifty times a day. Gutless, not hardly, if you want to see what a truck is made of, load them past their max and use them in these conditions, I get cracked up at how people talk about how their truck can tow or haul this, all three make a decent truck, they all can tow. Your dealer and personal preference is the difference! And no truck gets fuel mileage when worked hard, especially 4wd's! There not made for that! LUTT

 

[Diamondpilot]

Say what you want but none of my 5.3's were "gutless"...Why is that kind of comment always necessary?

Look at the numbers and compare it to the other V8 options and Eco Boost. It's gutless. I tow in large groups during the summer and the 5.3 L trucks get left in the dust merging on to the free way and climbing hills. The Hemi trucks drink the fuel, just the way it is.

I will say the 5.3 is a good motor. It's track record shows that but the 6.0 is much more powerful with decent mpg ' s towing.

Chris