Eco Boost vs V8

[RobertN]

I find it interesting, that for an "Eco" motor, it may burn clean, but still only gets 20ish MPG. It's 2014; I would expect better mileage for an all new "Eco" platform.

Reading here and other places, it seems to be a really nice motor. But still only 20ish mpg...

This is a dumb question but I've been reading this thread hoping to learn what "Eco Boost" means. I have searched it and it seems to mean an engine that is turbocharged and has electronic ignition for fuel delivery. Don't lot of engines do this and why is Eco Boost different or special?

 

[TomSeller]

I find it interesting, that for an "Eco" motor, it may burn clean, but still only gets 20ish MPG. It's 2014; I would expect better mileage for an all new "Eco" platform.

Reading here and other places, it seems to be a really nice motor. But still only 20ish mpg...

It gets 25 highway in the Taurus SHO, a 4400 lb car. That is no econobox, it is big and fast.

 

[RobertN]

I am not saying it is not a strong motor; everything I read from multiple sources says it is a decent rig. Re; Taurus, my Jag XJ8 will do 23-25mpg on the highway when we head to the Bay to sail. It is big, and will go really fast.

My point is still, if you try to sell me something "Eco", in the year 2014 I would expect better than 20ish mpg.

It gets 25 highway in the Taurus SHO, a 4400 lb car. That is no econobox, it is big and fast.

 

[ericher69]

It's not only turbo but directly injected like a diesel. What makes it so special is 3.5L, mor usable power than any current V8 twice it's size while getting 20 or better economy. Chris

Diamondpilot;

Gotta call you on this one

"Our 2011 has averaged 18.3 mpg since new on 87 octane.

Chris"

 

[TSO]

Lol, let's talk efficient...

My V10 just returned 11.9 mpg on a 400 mile trip, only slightly loaded with 4 passengers and a few hundred lbs in the bed. It's a big truck and it hauls/tows alot, but sometimes I miss driving my 1/2 ton around that averaged 15+ all the time.

To the OP, the F150 would not be my first choice for a 1/2 ton truck ... but since you're looking, I would suggest going with the EcoBoost over the 5.0, mainly because it seems to have more power in reserves than the 5.0, and at least now that its been out for a couple years, most of the kinks have been, or are being, worked out.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Diamondpilot;

Gotta call you on this one

"Our 2011 has averaged 18.3 mpg since new on 87 octane.

Chris"

Thats average. Every drop of gas. It pulls trailers, idles with the remote start, is in 4x4 50 miles or so a week. Comparable GM and 5.4L F150 it replaced hovered at 13 mpg doing the same driving.

Chris

 

[sd455dan]

Tell that to this guy that had his ecoboost replaced THREE times because they kept blowing up on him. http://www.f150forum.com/f70/first-time-my-eco-blew-up-208912/

I read the entire thread sometime ago and there were a couple of people who seemed to know a little more about the truck and driver- and they stated that there was more to the failures that was NOT posted on the thread before it was closed.
I got the distinct feeling that a high powered tuner may have been used ?? If there were a bunch of these 150 eco boosts blowing up I am sure it would be on the internet somewhere-I have not seen it.

What I have seen is Consumer Reports removing it from the (recommended list) do to engine problems - but CR admitted it was due to sensor and ancillary part failures NOT a major internal engine failure... That has happened to every manufacturer at some time.

Heck my Dodge has just been recalled due to the left tie rod (which can fail Unexpectedly and cause loss of control)...

to each there own - the Eco boost has a really impressive power band with great torque output at a very low rpm and also a very wide torque curve that is also exceptionally flat.

My guess is the average owners mileage is little lower on the ECO boosts because they are a blast to drive with the power they make- (hard to keep the foot out of the throttle)

 

[DarkBlack]

Looks to me like the actual mileage is quite a bit lower than claimed. About the same as any close competator such as a 5.7l Hemi powered RAM.
Real world F150 Ecoboost Fuel Mileage

I can see pros/cons. On the one hand it has a nice flat torque band. On the other hand it's a V6 stressed with high pressures both internal, and fuel related to perform like a bigger V8. Since the resulting MPG is the same in real world testing, I personally like the real thing... the V8.

 

[Dr Marko]

I had the 2010 f150 with the 5.4 v8 in it and now have the 2013 with the ecoboost. Hands down the ecoboost is faster has better gas mileage and is all around much more fun to drive than the old v8. I leased both vehicles so was not planning on keeping this f150 past the turn in date but that may have changed. The new model needs to be that much better than the 13 was over the 10 for me to trade it in. I have 27000 miles and enjoy driving every day. Average around 16 miles a gallon on a heavy foot

 

[ericher69]

I had the 2010 f150 with the 5.4 v8 in it and now have the 2013 with the ecoboost. Hands down the ecoboost is faster has better gas mileage and is all around much more fun to drive than the old v8. I leased both vehicles so was not planning on keeping this f150 past the turn in date but that may have changed. The new model needs to be that much better than the 13 was over the 10 for me to trade it in. I have 27000 miles and enjoy driving every day. Average around 16 miles a gallon on a heavy foot

Gotta agree with you about the 5.4.

Leased a '06 FX4 and it was a pig until about 80km/hr and then it would really move. Not good for city driving, not good for towing and not good on gas mileage.

Always felt like I had to mash the skinny pedal to make it go.

I was told this was due to a high stall speed.

Haven't driven an EGO BOOST Ford but can relate with 2 previously owned turbo cars. They are FUN to drive...

 

[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