GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Fuel Economy > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Is the Ford ECO Boost F150 really as good as they claim?	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Maddog Sophomore Author Twin Cities Posts:156 Points:108,020 Joined:Jun 2002	Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 4:28:32 PM Ignore Maddog Report Abuse I have friend that got an F150 with ECO Boost 3.5 liter engine. He lives in the country and only getting about 16 to 17 mpg. Is this the best it can do?

Maddog

Sophomore Author
Twin Cities

Posts:156
Points:108,020
Joined:Jun 2002

Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 4:28:32 PM

Ignore Maddog Report Abuse

I have friend that got an F150 with ECO Boost 3.5 liter engine. He lives in the country and only getting about 16 to 17 mpg. Is this the best it can do?

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

tjts1 Rookie Author Orange County Posts:14 Points:1,255 Joined:Feb 2004	Message Posted: Jan 15, 2013 2:17:04 PM Ignore tjts1 Report Abuse Its good but the 2014 3.2L diesel will be better.
dgsteven All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:792 Points:205,825 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 14, 2013 2:50:39 AM Ignore dgsteven Report Abuse I think so
wunderbrad Rookie Author Texas Posts:2 Points:32,940 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 11:16:53 AM Ignore wunderbrad Report Abuse Ford is doing well with it in a lot of vehicles. The marketing name is genius, yes, but the fact of the matter is that it is a great engine.
Alexi7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:533 Points:13,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 8, 2013 6:35:12 PM Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse Kinda tough to move a 5000 lb. vehicle around and expect much more than 16-17 mpg. Maybe on the highway you might see 22 mpg at a steady 65 mph. Just my guess.
dgsteven All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:792 Points:205,825 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 7, 2013 12:23:23 AM Ignore dgsteven Report Abuse I think so, My friend told me that is great
GBHUGVA Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:4,697 Points:789,160 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 9:13:38 AM Ignore GBHUGVA Report Abuse Ford ECOboost 6cyl like the old days and V8's but with gas savings! Good Job FORD!!!! ECOBoost has also put the F series pickups at the top of the sales lists by a large margin
pinbuster2005 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,210 Points:1,521,475 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 1:25:26 AM Ignore pinbuster2005 Report Abuse focusSVT - "The Ford Eco-boost is not matured yet as one guy had one and had problems. Back to dealer few times for underpower and high fuel consumption. Hope the new 2013 Escape with the 1.6L will work out good" The thing is you can get problems with anything. There have been people that have had problems with engines that have been out for many years. It happens. Sometimes you can just plain have bad luck with an automobile but it doesn't mean that it's not a good engine.
smoketown Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:6,231 Points:1,381,875 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 10:40:06 AM Ignore smoketown Report Abuse Might have to work out a few bugs.....................
smoketown Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:6,231 Points:1,381,875 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 10:39:06 AM Ignore smoketown Report Abuse I.d sure rether have it than any G.M. junk................
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,341 Points:693,355 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 10:26:03 AM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse FOCUSSVT writes: The Ford Eco-boost is not matured yet as one guy had one and had problems. _____ One guy has problems and the technology has not matured yet? That doesn't convince me.
GBHUGVA Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:4,697 Points:789,160 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 8:55:40 AM Ignore GBHUGVA Report Abuse Have not heard any negative news on the Ecoboost motors, that one guy must think a 1.6L eco is suposed to be like a V8, most with the 3.5L ecoboost seem to feel it has more power than the 4.6L V* and better mpg's!
FocusSVT Champion Author Toronto Posts:4,285 Points:1,366,245 Joined:Apr 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 8:43:35 AM Ignore FocusSVT Report Abuse The Ford Eco-boost is not matured yet as one guy had one and had problems. Back to dealer few times for underpower and high fuel consumption. Hope the new 2013 Escape with the 1.6L will work out good
GBHUGVA Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:4,697 Points:789,160 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 8:30:12 AM Ignore GBHUGVA Report Abuse Ford ECOboost 6cyl like the old days and V8's but with gas savings! Good Job FORD!!!!
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,341 Points:693,355 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 5:48:10 PM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse Let me summarize the improvements here with Ford's Eco-Boost engine: The engine produces 365 hp and with the 2WD, the EPA rates it at 16/18/22 while the 4WD gets 15/17/21. I chose to use a 2004 Ranger as a baseline just because my Ranger is from the 2004 model year. The 2008-type EPA estimate for a 2004 Ranger with 5-spd auto, 4.0L V-6 and 4WD is 14/15/18. The Ranger engine produces 158 less horsepower and the truck weighs roughly a 1000 pounds less yet the Eco-Boost gets better mileage. I don't think one can escape the fact that Ford has made substantial progress with their Eco-Boost engines. [Edited by: Houckster at 4/28/2012 8:52:13 PM EST]
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,040 Points:2,446,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 5:41:34 AM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse anymore, I feel when something says "eco" anything, I tend to believe it's just marketing.
pinbuster2005 Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:5,210 Points:1,521,475 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 28, 2012 2:29:40 AM Ignore pinbuster2005 Report Abuse maddog - One thing you have to look at as well is how much of his driving is in-town/city driving. If he isn't on the highway that much it's very possible that is the case. houckster - "I wrote: The EPA figures for a 2WD F-150 with the 3.5L Eco-Boost is 16/18/22. For the 4WD version it is 15/17/21. A one mile penalty . . . not bad." No it isn't bad but you also have to look at the combined mileage from the EPA is figuring 45% highway and 55% city driving. Someone like me that drives 95% highway and 5% city should pull about 21.7 with it. Not much more than I used to get out of my 4.2 liter v-6 2001 F-150 with a 5-speed standard. I averaged 19.5 mpg overall and on a long trip could pull 23-24 mpg out of it. So sure it's a 11.2% increase but still not as much as I would have expected.
Z12 Champion Author Toledo Posts:3,657 Points:758,710 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 6:18:41 PM Ignore Z12 Report Abuse Don't know
diesdown Champion Author North Carolina Posts:1,700 Points:511,500 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 27, 2012 9:26:56 AM Ignore diesdown Report Abuse Drive gear ratios make a huge difference in mpg......something the manufacturer does not specify on the sticker.
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,341 Points:693,355 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Apr 23, 2012 8:15:14 AM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse I wrote: The EPA figures for a 2WD F-150 with the 3.5L Eco-Boost is 16/18/22. For the 4WD version it is 15/17/21. A one mile penalty . . . not bad. TROPICALMN wrote: The ECO Boost 3.5 liter engine is used in 3 different style cabs F150's with so many different rear end gear ratios(3.13-4.10) & tire sizes that two people comparing fuel mileage of two F150 pickups could be comparing apples to oranges. _____ The EPA fuel economy site does not discuss body styles so there will be some variation in MPG when one combines body styles, tires, and rear axle ratios into a specific F-150. That said, it should be pointed out that the EPA figures are not intended to tell us how many miles per gallon we will get. They are for comparison purposes only so that we know, for example, that all other things being equal, the 2WD version of the F-150 will get better than the 4WD version. We can also be pretty sure that the figures provided are from trucks that are as close as possible to each other in body weight, axle ratio and tires since the EPA regulations would specify that Ford test truly comparable vehicles. The power figures for the 3.5L Eco-Boost are definitely impressive. It produces 365 horsepower and gets almost the same mileage as my Ranger with a 207 HP 4.0L V6. [Edited by: Houckster at 4/23/2012 11:16:44 AM EST]
wornoutWV Sophomore Author West Virginia Posts:219 Points:5,660 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 3:56:43 PM Ignore wornoutWV Report Abuse I'll buy a full sized truck when they start putting small diesels in the 1500 series. I have no use for a 6 litre diesel in a 2 ton truck.
tropicalmn Sophomore Author Minnesota Posts:172 Points:145,815 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 1:33:38 PM Ignore tropicalmn Report Abuse Specs for 2012 Ford F150 The ECO Boost 3.5 liter engine is used in 3 different style cabs F150's with so many different rear end gear ratios(3.13-4.10) & tire sizes that two people comparing fuel mileage of two F150 pickups could be comparing apples to oranges.In any case the ECO boost 6 cylinder has both more HP & torq than the 5 liter V8.
PatAZ Champion Author Tucson Posts:9,246 Points:122,320 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 8:15:38 AM Ignore PatAZ Report Abuse Don't know, no interest in a truck anyway.
Houckster Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,341 Points:693,355 Joined:Sep 2003	Message Posted: Apr 21, 2012 8:01:09 AM Ignore Houckster Report Abuse I would buy an Eco-Boost F-150 in a heartbeat if I needed one. The EPA figures for a 2WD F-150 with the 3.5L Eco-Boost is 16/18/22. For the 4WD version it is 15/17/21. A one mile penalty . . . not bad. I have a 2004 Ford Ranger with a 4.0L engine, 5-spd and 4WD. The engine produces about 100 hp less and weighs less than the F-150 but it gets the same mileage so it's clear that things like Eco-Boost have definitely improved fuel efficiency. There is no substitute for driving smart. Avoid hard stops/starts, minimize idle time and keep the vehicle properly maintained. People who do these things get better than EPA-estimate mileage. If I were to take delivery of this truck, I would immediately convert it to true synthetic lubricants as a step towards long-term fuel efficiency. [Edited by: Houckster at 4/21/2012 11:03:56 AM EST]
GBHUGVA Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:4,697 Points:789,160 Joined:Mar 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 12:52:06 PM Ignore GBHUGVA Report Abuse Ecoboost engine actually has higher horse power than the v8! And gets 22mpg hywy!! Great truck!!
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,047 Points:306,700 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 6:55:15 AM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse When my friend at a dealership tells me not to buy one, it kind of makes you wonder. Looks like they have been having some problems.
OilerFan Champion Author Tulsa Posts:14,040 Points:2,446,600 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Apr 8, 2012 3:54:45 PM Ignore OilerFan Report Abuse I'd like to know the answer to this too.
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,513 Points:2,023,925 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Apr 8, 2012 6:39:37 AM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse I have talked to aa few people who love theirs. They get over 20 on the highway.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,526 Points:2,835,315 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Apr 7, 2012 5:47:45 AM Ignore gvan Report Abuse It depends if it is 2WD or 4WD. The 2WD is rated at 16mpg city and 22 mpg highway. The 4WD is rated 15 mpg city and 17 mpg highway.
cokezero All-Star Author Philadelphia Posts:830 Points:401,510 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 9:34:49 AM Ignore cokezero Report Abuse is the fuel savings worth the extra price of the engine?
fondupot Sophomore Author Illinois Posts:180 Points:92,280 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Apr 6, 2012 8:43:05 AM Ignore fondupot Report Abuse I actually just rented one a few weeks ago for a business trip. Had to drive about 5 hours on the highway. Driving 70-75 the whole way, best it could do was 18mpg. BUT i think it could have done better. It had 5000 miles on the engine, and I checked the oil on it when i stopped for gas and it was BLACK. Fricken Enterprise needs to take better care of their vehicles. Im sure with a proper oil change an a high quality synthetic, in the same driving conditions, that truck could have pulled 20mpg easy on the highway. This was a supercrew 4x4, low end of the build spectrum. So it had regular 17" wheels and the smaller tires. But I can see it being hard to get good mileage...the spool of the turbos is invigorating. [Edited by: fondupot at 4/6/2012 11:43:57 AM EST]
reb4 Champion Author Chicago Posts:19,099 Points:1,821,150 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 9:12:22 PM Ignore reb4 Report Abuse It really does make a difference what the driving is. Friend has an 8 cylinder F150 and he gets 15 on highway (maybe)... More like 11 - 13. He indicated the eco engine actually has higher horse power than his v8!
maxstar Champion Author Chicago Posts:18,478 Points:808,570 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 7:23:51 PM Ignore maxstar Report Abuse The mpg sounds about right depending on how the truck is equipped and driven. You might find your answer in the Ford category where others might have more incite. Ford
Gas_Buddy Champion Author Maryland Posts:25,967 Points:3,033,090 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Apr 5, 2012 5:19:40 PM Ignore Gas_Buddy Report Abuse How do we know unless you tell us something about his driving? Or about the truck, other than what engine it has?