My dad bought a 2011 F-150 3.5L

[Diamondpilot]

I bought the 2011 XLT Supercrew 4wd with the 3.5 Ecoboost three weeks ago. I continue to be impressed with this truck.

I'm now averaging 17 mpg which is a combination of city and highway driving. I will be doing a 200 mile trip next month of Interstate Highway driving so I should get a pretty good idea of its highway numbers. I'm going to predict 20 mpg. The best I ever did with my 2004 F150 with the 5.4 Triton was 17 mpg higway.

I too am impressed with the power of the Ecoboost. I too was a little nervous about a new engine but I've got some confidence with this one.

What gear did you get?

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

price?

Its sticker was $44,220. He is a A plan buyer as a prefered Ford Supplier and the fact that my Uncle is also retired from the Ford Plant in Connersville, In. He can get employee pricing on all makes from Dodge to Harley. His company, Stant Manufacturing, makes parts for about 80 manufactures. Everything from GM to Honda, Harley to Suzuki, and Mercury to Yamaha.

I am not sure on the price yet to be honest. He sent me the window sticker so thats all I know.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

I've been following owner comments on the EB 3.5 on a few F150 forums and most owners comment that the engine really seems to gain power and economy after break-in, roughly 2000 miles. I've been looking at this one at my local Ford dealership.

That is pretty. The one he test drove was identical, the same color, and a extended cab, ect. He wanted a crew cab. His comes in tomorrow and ready for pickup Saturday. Around here, they call that color Colts Blue, for the Indianapolis Colts. They have a special addition with some Colts badges, ect.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

One other thing I would like to state. While my father has had Fords for the last few vehicles he is by no means a Ford Man. He also has a Corvette in the garage and a Hemi Challenger.

From best I can remember I set down and in my dads 63 years he has had:

7 Fords/Mercury's

8 Dodge/Chrysler's

13 GM's

He has never had a foreign car. Not that he does not like them, they just don't fit his needs. When I was growing up all I can remember was GM muscle cars. In my HS years it was a few Dodges then when it came to pulling and working around the farm he went to Fords.

Chris

 

[Patches]

I will keep you all up to date and will be non biased. If it breaks or gives him any fits I will let you know. If its anything like the 20 or so F-150s me, my dad, and my BIL have owned it will be virtually trouble free. Only real question is the motor, not the truck itself.



Maybe this summer I will trade him trucks for a week and give it a good workout with one of my 10,000# boats. Run down to Tennessee or something in mid July when its pushing 100 deg and running 75 mph will show what its made of.

Chris

Why would you want to break your fathers truck :confused2:

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why would you want to break your fathers truck :confused2:

We pull them boats all the time with 1/2 tons. I have used every make and model except then newer Tundra's. I am going on a 800 mile trip tomorrow in my Nissan Titan pulling 9,500# or maybe a little more running south though the smokey mountains toward Gatlinburg.

Chris

 

[Dmace]

He said the only truck that held a candle to the F-150 was the Tundra in power dept.

This one had me laughing out loud! :laughing:

I will keep you all up to date and will be non biased.

Actually, this did too! :laughing:

It will be nice to see everyone's impressions of these trucks in the real summer heat. I know my turbo vehicles certainly don't like the humidity and "heat soaked" intercoolers.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Believe what you want Dmace. Power is what you can get to the ground, not on paper.

As for the Turbos I have read that they are water cooled? You seem to know quite a bit about turbo motors, have you heard of this before?

Chris

 

[dgl24087]

Another article on sales numbers:Ford's EcoBoost V6 accounts for 36% of all F-150 sales Autoblog

 

[Dmace]

As for the Turbos I have read that they are water cooled? You seem to know quite a bit about turbo motors, have you heard of this before?

I have and even tried it on a road course car. I don't know exactly how Ford's system is but on most (like mine) the water cooled turbo was plumbed into the engine coolant system. Normal turbo's are cooled and lubricated by engine oil which can easily withstand the high turbo temps (over 1400F) and the constant change in temps. A normal vehicle will only get coolant temps up to around 200F before cooling, now take a 1400F turbo and feed that coolant through it and now the radiator and water pump are trying to move and cool down boiling water.

I used that water cooled turbo for about a month before scrapping it as my cooling system just wasn't enough to handle it. Plus even with an additive like Water Wetter in my coolant, oversized radiator and dual electric fans, I was still overheating. I would be willing to bet the Ecoboost has a better system but I'll let others find out first.

Congrats on the truck purchase, if this engine stands the test of time I will certainly look at Ford again.