If there was one mechanic that I would trust completely with this type of situation, Brian you're it! I think since the guy takes such good care of his truck he'd appreciate the honesty, even if it cost.
As a former tech for a different flavour of pickup trucks, what bothered me the most is that these very basic issues are happening on vehicles with $70-100,000 (Canadian) price tags. There’s a place for budget minded vehicles, but not when it’s being advertised as a premium product.
@John Smith There’s some pretty good money made off of Toyota’s too. They are not immune to the corporate greediness of charging the most they can for the perceived value of the product. I don’t think the Toyota truck line of today is as robust as it’s been in the past.
Hold on tight Brian you sounded really emotional at the beginning of this video and we can all understand why. You love what you do, you do it very well and you hate to see people suffer through the things that shouldn't happen to them, but you're there for them and we're behind you, even if it's just at a distance for moral support. You're a man of integrity and you have it.
It sucks, but they aren't building vehicles for the type of people that keep these trucks for 10+ years and really start putting miles on them. It made it to 70k miles which is about the time when most people are going to be thinking about "upgrading" to the new hot F150. Your average consumer is going to keep their vehicle until it's paid off or almost paid off, at which point it starts breaking down (like this video!) and it's off to the dealership. What's the deal with newly designed V6's and Turbo Fours having timing chain issues? VW 2.0T, Nissan VQ engines, 3.5 EB etc.
Around 2012-13, I was working at the rail yard next door to Ford's Brook Park Plant(aka Cleveland engine). Ford scrapped a whole run of the EcoBoost 3.5 engines. Brand new engines, went right to the smelter. It cost them millions. The rumor was they caught a major defect.
I used to be an ASE master +L1 and what you are seeing is common here in TX. The constant heat wreaks havoc on drivetrains and interiors here and does far more damage than most realize not to mention long drives in the excess heat in traffic at high speeds. There are so many of these F150s sitting in farmers fields that look immaculate but the cost of the engine and often electrical repairs far outweighs what the truck is worth so they just get parked. I can't tell you how many guys that have had this happen that they end up going back to an earlier 2000s Chevy that just keeps running. My experience with Ford products here and what I see in reliability in our climate shows that repairs are going to be constant and very expensive. It's the reason that I don't own one anymore that isn't a classic.
All customers that I have that did not listen to me and went out and bought an ecoboost have had every thing from leaks to major damage. Latest customer bought a 2021 F150 ecoboost. 4800 miles and timing chain guide came apart with significant damage. $62,000 truck ---this should not happen. After engine repair now it has constant start up noise.
Been watching this FORD mechanic for years this guy knows his stuff about Ford's this guy is saved people thousands and thousands of dollars over the years from his Ford mechanic secrets you're a great man love what you do you very intelligent when it comes to mechanic brother
Same. Started watching his videos when I had an issue with my '14 Focus ST. Even though it wasn't related to my issue, I still learned a few things to pay attention to. Overall it was a great car, but started having too many issues with it over 270k miles. Got an F150 with the NA 3.2 V6 now. Was more interested in having something I could fit more than fingers under the hood when I had an issue with it. Felt like I had to drop the motor every time to get a good look otherwise. lol
This bothers me also Brian. I work for Ford in Canada and i see some things at work building engines that i openly complained about to some of the engineers from Dearborn. I absolutely hate seeing this kind of stuff where our customers are getting screwed over by these kind of pesky issues. I hate to say it but my Dodge Minivan doesn't have this kinds of leaks and runs great. It's gas over 220,000 kms on it. I do not like seeing our customers dealing with such ridiculous issues at this miles. I watch your channel a lot so i keep up on what issues may be happening with our vehicles. Your my go to guy for anything Ford. Thank you for keeping us informed.
Just had these issues repaired, both turbos leaking coolant and vacuum pump leaking oil, $2300 later they're fixed and guarenteed for the next 2 years, so I got that going for me, which is nice. 2013 Limited, 106,000 miles, and other than this, has been a brilliant truck which I still love!
Agree, worked on fords from 1979 to 2017 seen a lot of changes, the one I cannot agree with is the addition of turbocharging, from the expense to repair and turbo lag, and add direct injection, these are nothing but money pits.
Ford Australia produced some great turbocharged I6 engines in their performance sedans. I don't know what Ford USA did with that institutional knowledge when they closed down the local factory, but apparently it wasn't much.
Tips for EB F150 guys: drive it like you stole it and you won’t have as many issues. I have 190k on my 2011 and it’s still an animal. Basic maintenance and oil changes. With a couple minor coolant leak issues that cost less than $1000 DIY with the help of these awesome videos from Brian.
Wholeheartedly agree with you, I drove it so hard I blew my transmission at 180k. It's now at 214k it has a coolant leak but oil changes is all it needs.
I have 286,556 13 mkz 2.0 eco boost oil changed every 5k trans fluid every 30k air and cabin filter every 10k I use mobil 1 5w30 and trans fluid I drive 60 miles a day to go back and forth to work.
I had a '12 Mustang with a 5.0 and it had phaser issues but that was the only issue. Knock on wood my '13 F150 ecoboost has been good but only has 77k.
Great video. I experienced similar issues with my F150 and by the time I had Around 160,000 miles I had spent over $10,000 keeping that truck on the road. Much of what you talked about here I went through as well as bearings on all four wheels and worst of all the TwinTurbo went out at around 150,000 miles. That cost me $3680 to replace. It was the final straw for me. It is why I got rid of the truck swore off Ford forever and bought a Toyota tundra which I should’ve bought in the first place.
I traded in my 16-year-old Toyota Tacoma with 190,000 miles on it that never once let me down. You probably won’t believe me but it’s still have the original exhaust on it.. Besides normal maintenance, major tuneups when recommended, I only had to replace the lower belt on a trip to North Carolina one time. But it didn’t break down on me. I made it to the dealership but the belt was starting to shred and I could hear the sound. By far the most reliable vehicle I ever had. As for turbos, it is no secret you may need to replace them by 100,000 miles, even less.. That’s pretty common knowledge. Can’t really complain that you got 150,000 miles out of them. I bought my raptor knowing this. But I plan on selling it at around 60,000 miles when the drivetrain warranty ends.
Well, all those (theoretical) fuel savings evaporate pretty quickly once the high-tech goodies start to break. My view is always to choose the lowest-tech drivetrain available.
Fuel mileage is terrible on the ecoboost. My gmc with the 5.3 does better. Manufactures lie about fuel mileage on turbo's. Yeah they do alright if you're not accelerating. But with turbo gas engine you have to run richer to prevent knock vs an non turbo engine when accelerating
I’m with you on keeping it simple, but that’s getting more difficult with each new model year. I ordered the 5.0 for my 2013, sold it to my son who is driving it now. I then ordered my 2017 with a 5.0. It has the lighter (aluminum) body, and gets 24 mpg on the highway, and that’s where 80% of my driving is. Why gamble with the more complex eco-boost when I get better mileage with the normal aspiration engine?
@@artstewart1894 Exactly mate. I have a 2011 Ford F150 with a 5.0L Coyote V8 in it with 141,000 miles on it and still going strong and it's a beast and it sounds like a beast with the Borla ATAK Catback exhaust on it.
The only I can say is be glad it's not German. I spent 10 years working on VW and you would be shocked at repairs we had to do. EcoBoost reminds me a lot of German stuff, except it's more poorly laid out. Also, a good tip. Get rid of that garbage Ford Orange coolant. Its actually dexcool. Same composition. It's been known to cause leaks. Flush it and put the new yellow in.
WOW that sucks. I am really impressed by you that this bothers you that the truck is having those kind of major issues at relatively low miles. You're a good guy.
These problems are just as much a time issue, when you don’t drive a truck often seals harden and dry up ,the oil drains back all the way and it dry starts ... this isn’t an ecoboost issue as much as a truck that isn’t used enough. I am a highway dept mechanic we have 2005 trucks with only 25000 miles on them , our 2017s have 5-6000 miles, These trucks are constantly breaking and leaking . It’s from lack of use . Same trucks that are driven daily are much better trucks. I wish our guys would take them out once a week in the off season ,to keep them from rusting away and everything from seizing up.
@@JohnDiMartino A lot of that depends on the climate that the vehicle is driven in too...I would think? Plus, little engine and forced induction...lots of stress and weak parts. Just a bad design all the way around. imo.
What about is it normal for a 2013 Ford F-150, fx4, 5.0 waterpump to go at 47,000? Can’t tell cuz of its age or miles that this would happen! Sound about rite?
Ford Technician here for 19+ years, I gave my 2015 Ford Fusion 2.0 ecoboost a chance in 2016 and the engine blew 4 months ago. I don't want anything turbo, the car had 40,000 miles and I religiously took care of it. Bought a used 2020 F150 5.0 with 6,900 miles. I love Ford but these ecoboost have so many problems.
First, I just received my FORDTECHMAKULOCO tee shirt. I support this channel because of all the advice and service tricks, torques and tech that is provided. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!! Second, Ford is a great truck maker but, they have been leaving to much on the table in engineering especially the little details stuff. Things that should not be giving any grief to the truck owner. Pretty bad when say the driver window regulator breaks from just closing the window, $150.00 fix Thanks Dorman Products. The rear door driver side harness between door and B=Pillar breaking a wire and not allowing the door lock to work and giving an "Door Ajar" warning. Heater blower motor resistor (third one) on a 2012 F150. Coolant leak from $5.00 O-ring that mimics a water pump. How many people were talked into a new water pump when all it was was a square shaped O-ring? The coating on the caliper brackets being too thin and letting rust start under the stainless slides and causing the front brake pads to not move freely leading to stuck calipers and uneven rotor wear. Bastards. My all time favorite the Lead Frame Connector in the trans above the valve body that just craps out due to metal build up and causing shorting across solenoids. That was $300.00 plus including fluid to repair and Where in the hell is the dip stick tube for easy fill? But, NOOOOOO!!!! So yea! Ford has dropped the ball on a bunch of little things the last couple of years. There was a time when the car companies hired people who actually liked cars and knew how to work on them. Does not seem to be the case with the new group of engineers these days.
That's why my F250 2000 almost 500K running strong - Reliable and Simple! Modern engines won't ever make up even to 300K without major repairs. Great video, thanks Bryan.
You are passionate about your work, and obviously love it. This comes through loud and clear. So rare. My 2016 3.5 Platinum has been flawless, over 100k. Great motor so far.
I’ve watched a bunch of your videos and I can really appreciate how honest and straight forward you are. It’s a bummer when you have to break this kind of news to a customer. Same time you didn’t engineer it and you’re literally helping them out by saving them ungodly dealership repairs. Definitely a great tech and I can appreciate your knowledge and honesty. Keeps a good name for all of us out there trying to make a living and help people out!
My 2014 F-150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost currently has 55k miles. I bought the truck 4 years ago with 36k miles. I began to hear the start up rattle at about 38k miles shortly after switching to that full synth oil made from natural gas. I don't drive the truck regularly, and have been holding the accelerator pedal to the floor which disables the fuel pump when cranking the engine at start up. I hold the pedal to the floor, crank the engine for about 10 seconds until I see pressure on the oil pressure gauge in the dash, quit cranking the starter, take foot off the pedal, then start the engine normally with no start up rattle due to pre-lubing and pre-pressuring the oil system. I have since learned through research that synthetic oil molecules are many times smaller than traditional mineral based oil molecules and this is why stories of oil leaks after switching to full synth. I have recently switched oil to Ford Motorcraft Semi-synth 5w30, 5qts oil to 1qt Lucas synth oil stabilizer. The engine has returned to mostly rattle free start up even after sitting for several days and starting without the pre-lube procedure. My theory is that the smaller molecule full synth oil bleeds past the cam phaser seals and the oil pump needs a couple of seconds to pressurize the phasers before the rattle stops. Before the Motorcraft oil change, the rattle would happen slightly after sitting for only 8 hours and much more rattle after sitting over night or greater than 12-16 hours during every start up. Now, the rattle is mostly gone, very slight rattle in about 1 in 8-10 start ups after sitting. Only about 500 miles since the oil switch, and I will be changing oil every 3k miles or so. I will keep you posted at the next oil change regarding whether rattle issues have been eliminated.
At 72k on '13 F150 EB I had much of the same experience. Occasional timing chain rattle on startup, estimate 1 out of 10 cold starts. I've done Blackstone oil analysis after every oil change. Only used Motorcraft semi-synth, Pennzoil UP, Chevron ProDS or Castrol synthetic. Played around with oil filters a little OEM Motorcraft FL-500s, ACDelco PF63, STP S10590, Wix 57502XP, Purolater PL22500 across the oil changes. I've tried several other oil additives Ceratec, Archoil, Prolong maybe got a marginal benefit to number of timing chain rattles on startup, but the change if any wasn't truly notable. Only real observed changed was UOA indicating additional molybdenum. boron and potassium level increases. Wear metals didn't change all that much. I like you started using Lucas synth oil stabilizer. I've only been using 6 oz to 8oz of Lucas stabilizer instead of the recommended 1 quart for every 4 quarts of oil used. I've had two instances of timing chain noise on startup in the last 6 months. Both of these times it was a cold start run for 60 second then another start say 10 minutes later. Estimated number of cold starts 50, number of total starts 150 over 6 months. I've used Castrol 5w-30 black bottle and Purolator PL22500 the last two oil changes with good success. Going forward only plan on using Chevron ProDS or the Castrol oil with what I know and understand for now. One thing I notice about the Lucas upon draining the oil is that it has an adherence property. I might be described as sticky, but that's not right. Its more of a tacky property that clings or bonds to everything. I got some of the used oil with Lucas my hand changing the oil the last go around. There was a notable difference in the solution of oil and Lucas had from physical contact compared to just plain used motor oil. To go from 1 out of every 10 cold starts having timing chain noise, no practically none, the Lucas is doing something for sure. Not sure if there are any draw backs for using Lucas, but Blackstone hasn't indicated any. In full disclosure I did also 3 months ago remove the intake and clean all the carbon buildup from the intake valves using various solutions (brake clean, CRC GDI intake cleaner, picks, brushes, screw drivers, air wand and liquid vacuum). The carbon buildup even after two driveway CRC GDI intake cleaning treatments, and a service shop BG intake valve cleaning treatment still left the valves covered in a layer of carbon. Subjective but can't imagine the extra reciprocating weight of the carbon on the intake valves helps when trying to get the valvetrain in motion.
Great info, as this Lemon Engine ages might be good to add a 'pre-oiler' electric driven oil pump to pressurize system when twist key to run. a few hundred spent could avoid thousands in repairs!
"synthetic oil molecules are many times smaller than traditional mineral based oil molecules" I don't dispute your observations about your truck and the oils you've used, but this statement from your research is simply false, at least if you are using a major brand full synthetic. If it were true, the viscosity of the oil wouldn't meet specifications, film thicknesses would be too small, and your engine components would wear like you were using water for oil. Any stories of oil leaks after switching to synthetics are probably from the 1980's when initial formulations didn't swell seals enough. This was fixed long ago and had to do with molecular type, not size. Synthetic oils usually do have lower viscosity (are "thinner") at cold temperatures and, in most situations, this is *good* for getting oil soon to the places it needs to go.
Yup adding more complexity adds more to repair. While the 3.5's have great power I bought a 5.0l for the very reason of extra issues down the road....And I'm a tech of 20+ years so cost isn't really an issue. I just don't want to work on my own stuff till absolutely necessary.
Rob Buell, YUP I too am a tech who has been wrenching for almost thirty years now as well, the last twenty one of which have been with Ford. And trust me, I totally get where you're coming from, not wanting to have to wrench on your own ride. Right now, I drive a 2021 F-250 6.7 CCSB 4x4 Lariat and absolutely LOVE the power it puts out. But I don't see myself keeping it for more than a few years for two reasons. One, I'll be able to get decent money for it when it comes time for me to get out of it to put toward my next vehicle. Two, it will be in someone else's hands long before it gets old enough to start needing constant repairs. Long gone are the days for me to have any patience having to constantly wrench on my own daily driven ride. I'd rather pay the premium money to drive something new, if it means I'll only have to do oil changes and the odd brakes on my own ride any day. I'm sure there are those who think I'm being wasteful, but only the ones who have been turning wrenches for as long as you and I have, will really understand.
@@cheeznhard I can remember literally laughing when the PowerBoost drivetrain was announced. Two turbos, VCT, direct injection, 10 speed transmission, 4x4, and hybrid batteries and motors. What a disaster waiting to happen.
@@jayhawker03 there's no denying that they are selling like hot cakes though. Just about everywhere you go, you see them. I just don't want to be the lucky one having to fix it when it breaks.
That’s why TH-cam is the new advertising platform for service guys that know their stuff. Pretty much every known mechanic TH-camr is rolling in jobs that requires a little skill. The benefit is big dolla bills and endless videos. It’s a positive feedback loop that ends in a very wealthy retirement.
@@markm0000 I'm personally thinking of driving from Denver to Amarillo when my transmission needs rebuilt. Precision Transmission has a TH-cam channel and they seem to be experts and it's only a 6 HR drive for peace of mind.
I’m in Texas also and absolutely would consider driving to his shop or having my truck hauled to him for more in-depth work like that just because I have seen he takes the time to do things right and gives it the attention to detail that I do
@@PAUL_MAUSER I agree. My first transmission rebuild experience was bad. Went back 21 times before I was refunded my money. The cost of Uber rides and and getting rides to and from the shop by friends and Family and the countless hours wasted in diagnostic fees from other shops.... I'l drive down to Precision.
I have a 2014 3.5L. Bought it several years ago with 59k on the ODO. It has 206,XXX on it now. The only major problem I’ve had has been throttle body related. Had one get stuck open (according to the ford techs). Cost me $800 to replace. Had it gum up last year which put it into limp mode, and a $50 cleaning fixed it. Knock on wood, I have been extremely happy with it. Not sure what problems lie ahead since I’ve hit 200k, but if I had to do it over again, I would’ve done more research and bought a 5.0, but I can’t really complain at this point.
I had a 2013 just like this one with 71000 miles on it (even white), I took it in for a computer update. They called me after 1 week and had really bad news, they said it had all the leaks you have shown plus the turbos were supposedly worn out needing to be replaced. $13,700 to fix it all. I decided to trade it off and get a new truck, I loved my ecoboost, it was powerful and never had a problem till I took it in for a free update! Thank you for making me feel better about my decision!
They really aren't building these new vehicles to a quality level that most of them will reach 300,000 miles before they have major issues. I feel like manufacturers are still trying to push people to buy new vehicles every 3-5 years if it's driven like the majority of owners drive them. But the price of these vehicles new is very quickly becoming astronomical. It's hard to find a new 1/2 ton truck for less than 40,000$ and if you do it really is a base model vehicle with no options. It's not just ford all manufacturers have a ridiculous build quality anymore. When you work on these vehicles day in and day out you can see the trend pretty easily. Everything they can possibly make out of plastic is made out of plastic. They used to impregnate Teflon plates in aluminum timing chain guides now they are plastic. Every thing cooling system wise is made out of plastic that literally just crumbles cracks or shatters after 5 years. Volkswagen and bmw both sale engines with a plastic water pump attached to a cast iron or cast aluminum block. New vehicles are literally just a rip off. I literally drive a 30 year old ford ranger back and forth to work everyday because I don't want to have to deal with the stuff I see wrong constantly coming into the shop on the newer vehicles.
Same here ....am still driving a 20 year old Honda, with over 200,000 miles, NO oil leaks and still running the original engine/transmission....bought it new and have kept up my routine maintenance.....
@@spanishh2001 the older Hondas will last forever as long as you keep up on the maintenance. The new ones can make it to 200,000 probably longer if you replace the timing chain. They get chain stretch and the guides wear around 150,000. The old timing belt motors are great though.
@@jeremypike9153 the first time I had to spend money outside of regular maintenance, was at 90,000 miles, alternator went bad ....got the part from the dealership and did it myself, was easy compared to some of these new engine compartments I've seen...
Same here, I drive a 2004 Honda Accord with the 2.4L, 160K+ on it, no engine or transmission issues. I'm slowly replacing most of the suspension components to keep it reliable, only thing under the hood I replaced was the power steering pump and the high pressure hose/sensor to the rack, that's it. Was my aunt's car bought brand new in 04'.
I feel you man and to go it off truck now a days are so expensive and for it to break in less than 70k miles that's crazy. I continue to drive my frontier k24 with 300k miles lol
It’s crazy. I have a 13’ with 120k hard miles of towing and “off-roading” I live down a rough dirt road. I fixed the turbo leak and a throttle body on it and other than that it’s been rock solid. I love my ecoboost. At least for now. 🤞🏽
They have sold over 1 million ecoboost f150's . Some of them will have problems. It's funny when you go to any dealership that carries any brand of vehicle. Their shop is full of that brand of vehicles. Even the over hyped Toyota's break all the time, they all do
@@shroom903 I worked for a Toyota stealership for a while, gotta tell you, their shop was almost empty they had cars but mostly for routine service. Then I worked for a Ford dealership their service department parking area is extremely large and packed to the brim. Cars and trucks came in for engine or transmission replacement under warranty. There was always a parade of towing trucks bringing in more and more broken down cars. Some times cars that were sold the prior weekend were in for repairs and were brought on a flat bed. So it's really bad.
@@noelaguirre7104 that’s because ford sells significantly more vehicles than toyota in addition to toyota vehicles being more reliable More vehicles sold = more vehicles required to be maintained or repaired
my nephew bought an f150 with ecoboost brand new, of the 14 months he has owned it, its spent 3 of those months at dealership for numerous issues with the drivetrain, severe vibration at certain speeds, engine driveability issues that led to engine replacement and then the straw that broke the camels back, its stopped/quit running numerous times for unknown reasons, replaced ECM or computer and it still quits, at that point he had to sue Ford to take the POS back, plus he won damages
wow, am i ever glad I went with the 5.0 when I bought my F150 and the added parts and complexity of the turbos is exactly why I chose to avoid these motors. I still have the same truck and it has been flawless for me so far.
The '18 and newer 5.0s have a high occurrence of excessive oil burning, like 1qt per 1,000mi excessive. Ford is "fixing" them by installing a longer dipstick and telling people to top off between oil changes. There are not a large # of high mileage vehicles yet so no telling where all that oil is going and what else it's doing to the engine. All of the newer trucks have plastic oil pans which are notorious for leaking over time, and it's very hard to change out the pan without creating another leak since the sealant will not set properly if there is any oil residue on the mating surfaces. Basically it's a 48h process to do properly, you have to completely drain out the vehicle of oil for 24h+, then clean it thoroughly, wait a few more hours, clean again, and repeat until there's no longer anything seeping out of the system at all. Then you install the pan with sealant, wait another 24h for it to set before adding new oil. So your typical dealership or even independent shop is never going to do it that way, especially for a warranty repair. The 2nd gen ecoboost models fixed a lot of problems with the first gen, the intercoolers no longer have the condensation issue, the injection system is now both port and direct so the valves don't cake up with deposits nearly as much. If I were buying a 21 model year and I didn't need the towing capacity I'd probably go with the 2.7l. The 2.7 is a pretty fantastic engine with its compressed graphite iron block. If I noticed the oil pan leaking I would either live with it if it's just a tiny bit of seepage, or replace with an aftermarket aluminum pan that I installed myself. I would really stay away from the newer 5.0s, the oil burning issue is well documented at this point and if it's burning that much oil I would expect that there's a serious flaw somewhere in the engine design that will cause excessive out of warranty repairs down the line. The 3.5 eb seems to have more people reporting problems than the 2.7, but they also sell a lot more of those, so that could be part of it. It's hard to find reliable statistics with large sample sizes. If you go by forum anecdotes there isn't a single vehicle made that doesn't have people saying it's the best ever or it's the worst thing on the road. I own a '18 2.7eb and my oil pan seeps oil. I clean it off every time I do an oil change and there's always a sheen of oil on it by the next time. It's not enough leakage to be detectable on the dipstick at all so I just don't worry about it. It's not even enough to drip down to the skid plates. My transmission came about 2l low on fluid and would sometimes shift extremely harshly when it was cold, but if I let the truck warm up it would be fine. I dropped the transmission pan and changed filter, all the rubber fittings and topped off fluid, (about 11 qts) at 30k and since then it's been running great. I'm at 42k mi and still on original plugs, gap is within tolerance and I check a different one alternating banks every oil change. I will probably swap them out at 50k regardless. No warranty repairs so far and no major issues. Truck is a blast to drive, definitely the quickest truck I've driven and I get 25mpg on the highway unladen with AT tires. Towing a 6,000lb trailer drops it down to 11mpg, but that's about the same as I get at work with a super duty.
@@jgalt99 Recently bought a 103k mile 2017 XLT 2.7, 3.55, w/6-spd auto off a friend. I got the oil pan leak. I think that's why they put that aerodynamic diaper under it. Love the truck and motor. It's got over 118k now. Love the 36 gallon tank too. It does everything I could ask for. My friends new model is having some issues with a chip and aluminum driveshaft....
@@brentworls8509 The 2.7 is such a great engine. I really don't understand the change to a plastic oil and trans pan when they made the engine itself so strong with the CGI block. There are aftermarket aluminum oil pans if your oil leak is enough to require a top-off between changes. Mine still seeps a little oil but it's not enough for me to do anything about yet and I've had no other issues.
Brian, honestly the extended life coolant isn't what it's supposed to be. It corrodes fittings and gaskets. Max life 5 years. Also dang if you do and dang if you don't, low usage vehicles, the seals and gaskets get hard. It's not like it used to be. There's no extensive research on vehicles no more. It's all about the profit. They're not making any money if it lasts longer than 10 years. Thanks Brian for your great videos.
I would put toyota or honda coolant (P-HOAT) instead of the HOAT in Fords. Ford cannot even get the recommended interval on the differential and transfer case correct. Do you expect them to get coolant right? All systems now are using aluminum rads and aluminum engines. The only difference is the fittings, hoses, and piping are a little different.
@@wildman1137 Funny i never had any coolant issue with Toyota that is under 200k km. I worked for Toyota and i rarely ordered water pump or hoses for replacement...
I really liked my 2012 FX2, but I'm glad I got rid of it. Between direct injection valve carbon issues, timing cover seal issues, eating spark plugs, it just wasn't worth keeping. Of course, these hit or miss quality issues are because the group in charge of quality control at Ford is just phoning it in. To them, everything looks good.
This is exactly why I bought a 5.0. I knew that turbo charging a V6 in a truck was never going to outlast a V8 making roughly the same power. The only similar issue my truck has had was the leaking water pump at 70,000 miles, which I fixed myself in a couple hours for less than $200.
Ouch! This one hit home. I live in Texas and just sold my '15 SHO with under 60k miles. Got the car with 28k miles, it was my baby, parked in the garage and had its oil changed (Amsoil) every 3k-4k miles. In less than 32k miles it had to have some suspension work, timing chains, chain guides, phasers, intake cam replacement, PTU replacement and the final repair was a VCT solenoid. Not too long after the VCT solenoid was replaced, I got that now infamous rattle with a check engine light (cam correlation). I could no longer justify putting money into that car, the only big 3.5L EB failure I didn't have was the water pump but I'm sure that was around the corner. Selling that car was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I grew up admiring the original SHO, my interest for it got reignited for the fourth generation after seeing it on display overseas. Needless to say that I'm avoiding theses engines and its newest valve dropping relative from now on.
You are very right on some engines have issues and some dont, my 2011 f150 3.5 ecoboost has 144k on it and zero leaks, only major repairs i have had done has been a water pump, and recently had my blend door actuators replaced due to the clicking noise! Other than that i change my oil with castrol edge synthetic every 4500 miles with fl500 filters, truck runs great!
The safest bet seems to be an F150 XL with the 3.3 liter V6 or the 5.0 liter on a fancy model. A co-worker with the 2.7 ecoboost had his truck in the shop for over a month waiting on a high pressure fuel pump for the GDI circuit. Newish truck, parts are in production--Ford just didn't have any, anywhere. I'm not taking out a mortgage to buy a truck in any event.
The late 17's thru early 19's have the oil consumption issue with the 5.0. We had one that was using 3 qts in 5000 miles and ford tried to say that was the norm for the mod motors and their fix was to install a new dip stick with a larger safe zone on the new stick. After many many trips and arguments with ford they replaced the engine at 50,000 miles and had it for 10 weeks, we had it back for 17 days and the steering locked up going down the hwy which resulted in a near head on crash with a big oak tree which totaled the truck. Ford said they sent an engineer to the insurance holding lot to investigate our claim of the locked steering but of course said the steering issue was a result of the crash. So we replaced it with a 2020 Ram and its been in the shop twice now with a wet headliner and they cant seem to find the source of the leak. Im come to the conclusion that all the new trucks of today are complete garbage.
@@poorhouseracing agreed. Ford was the last brand I really trusted. Now I don't trust any of them. The new stuff is just plain and simple trash. Designed by lean process six sigma goons to squeeze every single penny from the process with no thought to the customer who goes beyond 36k miles. I went backwards from a 2017 eco Expedition to a 99 Suburban when a dealer offered me really sweet money for it. When the dust settles on this shortage, if I decide to get something newer it might not come from the big three and that makes me sad
It's a shame that it goes to show no matter how well a person takes care of some vehicles they are so poorly designed they are doomed to fail. That's why I will not ever own certain vehicles. There should be no reason that chain driven timing components go bad at 70k miles. Thanks!
@@SpaceRanger187 Government is part of the problem with over regulation about everything that manufacturers have to comply with while trying to keep costs down. Something has to give.
Dude its very, very rare...even Brian said so. F150s are the best trucks out there by far. Had 3 so far ...explained fully in another comment. Ran my gen1 Ecoboost well over 200k mis zero issues. Now have gen2- 2.7L Ecoboost F150 4wd an fully expect 250k mis +.
Been subscribed to you for a long time because you tell it like it is. You are very knowledgeable and treat the vehicles like they are your own. It’s really a shame that the quality of the parts and seals just doesn’t exist anymore. All seals and components are made as cheaply as possible yet the prices keep on climbing. It’s really sad quality ceases to exist. You can’t blame it all on workmanship the materials they use are just good enough quality to drive the vehicle off the showroom floor and you are on your own. Thanks for sharing and stay safe and well. Artie
Just speculation but it is possible that the original chemical composition of Nitrile and Neoprene has been changed over the last couple of decades to meet environmental edicts and has made the product (often used in seals) less durable for the higher operating temperatures and more complex designs now used. Too bad for anyone who wants to own a vehicle beyond the first three or four years.
Hi Brian. I guess I have been lucky with my 2012 F150 Eco (King Ranch) I have replaced myself the front struts, the rear shocks front and rear rotors multiple times, the front calipers, replaced the brake booster vacuum pump which is electric on this year, I have also replaced Spark Plugs twice including new coil rubber boots - I replaced and re-gapped them a second time to 28 thousand because I think the turbos were blowing out the spark and causing misfires on hard pulls. The truck is currently at 177k today and only now am I starting to hear the phaser rattle you're describing. All I can say is I travel approx 120 miles each day for work and the truck has never let me down. I love this F150 and the Eco-boost engine and when I finally decide to have the timing done I will have everything done at once including the turbos and water pump! Your an excellent mechanic and please keep producing the videos, I certainly appreciate them.
I have a 2013 f150 with 3.5 Eco with 95k miles. Been having occasional start up rattle for a year or so but the last 3 months, it’s every start-up. I changed the oil and put in Liqui Moly 20232 Molygen New Generation 5W40 . Start up rattle stopped immediately and not one time in 2 months. I have went as long as 48 hrs between starts with no rattle. I don’t know if it’s the viscosity, the additives or what, but I am happy. Anyone have any thoughts??
So glad my head was screwed on correctly when I was looking for a F150 3 years ago. I wanted a crew cab, 4x4 and had to have the 5.0. I found exactly what I wanted and I have been really happy with my 2014 F150. I was scared of exactly this with the ecoboost engine
I’m looking at used 2014 F150 5.0 V8 with 88k on it and have been reading many good things about the V8’s. I’m tempted with going with the 3.5 V6 turbos, but like Brian said I think you can be hit or miss with the V6 Ecoboosts. I just want a good truck that will last long long mileage if you regularly maintain it. Don’t get me wrong, the V6 ecoboost has major torque at low RPM’s, but I think there are give and takes with turbo’s especially on V4 and V6 engines. Nice now, but pay down the road later. Your post was 1 year ago. How is your 2014 F150 holding up now?
jrbpit1. Exactly!! You'll have to give the ol'e girl a little cosmetic face-lift to give'er a new truck look, it'll definitely be cheaper than a newbie. I just got done with the update on my one owner of 31 years and other than the odo reminder of her age she's looking pretty good. 👊👊👍👍✌✌
I changed the same left turbo coolant feed seal without taking the turbo off on my 2015 F150 4x4. I was actually very surprised to get it done so fast.
@@jessemartin9720 the right seemed about the same. I had to replace the oil feed seal on that side. Took longer to clean the mess than it did to change the seal. Taking the starter out on the right side really opens it up.
Couldn’t be happier to sell my ecoboost for the 3.0 Powerstroke. The ecoboost is powerful and fun to drive, but it’s a nightmare to repair and long term reliability isn’t great. Gotta appreciate good and honest technicians tho! Thank you!
I have the same truck. Water pump leaked at 80k (replaced) and the electronic steering system went completely out at 90k. The steering fix alone was $2k. I've only ever bought F150s, and this is the last one I'll ever buy. When this one dies, I'm trying the Tundra.
I had the rattle and cam to crank corralation code on my 2013 Ecoboost at 72,000 miles. Ford quoted me $4000 minimum to fix it. I bought the parts and tools and repaired it myself. Thanks for another great video. Keep the inspiration coming.
Show customer the video, give him a price on coolant leaks and one for turbos leaking, separating them may lower payments where he could do it a couple months apart, you are good man pointing the problem out to the customer, a tow bill would suck
If that was mine I would have you fix the timing as planned. Replace the water pump since the leak is obvious from the top side, than trade it immediately for a Tundra.
Same issues!! I own a 2012 150 ecoboost. Had startup rattling at 58000. Took it in to dealer for repair under warranty but issue came back right after warranty was out. So ( thanks to your videos) I repaired it myself. I had never been into an engine that deep. Followed the videos to the letter and everything turned out good. So thank you for that… As of now I have over 100,000 on the truck and still see issues with it. I usually research and fix them myself as I don’t trust the dealerships to work on my truck. This is the first domestic vehicle I’ve ever owned and unfortunately don’t think I’ll own another. I like the truck if it just didn’t have so many damn issues. It’s frustrating. Maybe Ford hadn’t worked all the bugs out of this 3.5 ecoboost before the put it into production, I don’t know. Anyway, Thank you for your detailed videos they have been of great value to me owning this truck.
You just gained a new subscriber after reading everyone’s comments. I’m losing sleep at night after purchasing my 2020 super cab raptor that I spent months looking for with only 15,000 miles on it. This cam phaser issue seems like every single raptor has is completely making me regret my decision. As I understand it it’s not a matter of if, but when. Basically 100% of these 3.5s need to have the cam phasers replaced? And by the looks of your video several other things 😢. I look forward to your future videos. Thank you.
I felt this way when I bought mine. plugs, IWEs, vacuum pump, cracked IWE actuator, blend door actuators, blower motor module, signal stock wiper switch, and a newly found startup rattle all within 2 years. Yet I know plenty of guys going years with no problems at all.
So glad I bought an F250 Super Duty -4wd back in 2003, manufactured in June a few months before the 2004 3valve Triton was introduced with the spark plug, phasers and rocker roller issues. The engine has started every time except twice, a bad fuel pump and cruise control wire in the shifter lever. After all this time there is not a single leak anywhere including the differentials. With so many advancements in technology, its a shame that we still have this garbage engineering!
I have a '99 super duty with the v10 and it's got a very slow power steering leak, nothing else....and this truck sits a lot..so it's not exactly like I baby it...I don't think it's garbage engineering, I think they're just cheaping out on the builds (while charging you a lot more in the process).
Take care of that vehicle and keep it out of accidents. -New ones don't last like older ones. I would even look for another one as a back-up. Simple reliable trucks that can be used for work. =Reason for the new 7.3L Godzilla gas Super-Duty.
I’ve got two non eco boost 3.5 engines, one in an edge and one in my flex. Both have 160,000 and 180,000 and only one has had the water pump issue. So there is a definite gap in reliability between the NA and turbo engines. Glad I have the NA!!
Tbh, had they used a standard turbo or the custom one they have on the 2.0 and one of the other engines, it'd probably hold up alot better. But this engine can't take the extra load a dual set up brings to it. It's just not made for it.
I have a ‘13 F150 Ecoboost with 230K miles. Had to replace the vacuum pump, head gaskets and passenger side turbo, but have not had to change timing chains. Water pump has been incident free. Thanks for your vids. I watch every one!
96 powerstroke 380k running great. Last Ford I bought, 2004 Triton 3v Lariat, new. I have never bought Ford since. Changed 3 generations of Ford buyers.
Good job informing your viewers on all of these common issues. We inform our customers on all of these when they come in on a person to person basis but your channel reaches a lot of people. We’re seeing a lot of these leaks at mileages far too low for customers to have to be liable for the repairs. Ford should step up to the plate and help these people out especially since they pushed the whole platform as the greatest thing since but we all know how unlikely that is. Thankfully we’ve built up a lot of trust with our customers because coming to them and telling them they need some expensive repairs on a truck with relatively low mileage that was well maintained can make people really question you.
Yep! That's why I'll be trading-in my '05 Lariat for a '22 Tundra instead of another F150. These videos are an "eye opener" for us guys who own F150's. This is how we'll find out what expensive breakdowns to expect down the road. Thanks again Bryan!
Yes, you are right. For that reason and because most truck manufacturers are currently charging thousands over sticker price will force me to wait at least until early 2023.
@@cma8165 yes, both the new and used car market are insane right now. I'm glad that my 2014 truck has been paid off for the last 2 years and I'm sticking to it for at least a couple more years
Better off buying a tundra with the v8. That's IF you can find one with decent payload. When we looked for a tundra last year I couldn't find a crew max with more than 1250 payload on the door frame. The highlander we were trading had 1340. Doubt payload will be any better in the '22 with the new suspension system. Probably will be even worse.
I was an automotive tech for 30 plus years, now retired. I still keep up with what's going on though. From all that I have read and seen, Ford can't seem to build a decent engine. Strangely, that doesn't seem to have affected sales. Lot's of Ford trucks on the road here in Alberta. I never liked working on Fords and wouldn't own one today. Just my personal experience with the brand. On another note, I spent a good part of my career with Volkswagen. In the later years I became fed up with the poor quality and high incidence of repairs. Same things over and over again. So I left. You must really like Fords to keep on working on them with all the same problems. Thanks for the videos and your efforts to produce them.
I'd like working on them if I'm good at it and will bring me big $$$$ PS. Good VW techs also make big money, used to know one of these guys in my town and he always had his shop packed with vehicles waiting for repairs.
Brian,there is no question you are a professional,hard to find one these days, years ago when a person took there car to a dealership it meant a good mechanic would work on your car I have had very bad mechanics at dealerships do work on my cars and trucks,to the point where I do not Take them there for oil changes.
There is a 2.7 ecoboost on F150 forum, 465,000 miles. Original motor. Arod powerstroke, 6.7 powerstroke 1-million miles, original motor. Ford makes good engines overall, some years are better than others. The 2018+ ecoboosts seem to have far less issues than the earlier versions. I have a 2019 2.7 F150, 44k miles...thought there was a front cover leak, turned out to be just a loose bolt under the oil filter housing. Dealership re-sealed under warranty, checked pan as a courtesy, no leaks. I hope to get another 200k miles out of this 2.7. I think the 2.7 is the best overall engine in the F150 line up for longevity, power, fuel economy.
I love your videos as I own a 2011 F-150 EcoBoost. I currently have 144K miles, it's been a good truck for me. But your videos do make me worry! At least I've been meticulous in following your maintenance recommendations for it. That water pump looks like the easiest job on his truck. I replaced my wife's 2014 Mustang water pump, a pretty easy job, and I thought I saw that my 2011 F-150 uses the same pump. But I'm just a home garage weekend mechanic, I'll defer to you! Brian, you are an excellent person and a stellar mechanic. If I were this customer I'd pay you to get everything done correctly. Looks like he's planning to keep this truck... Thanks again for taking the time to post another great, informative video. Oops, just read oakydoak06 comment where it's his truck and he's getting it all done. Which makes sense since he drove to Brian for his professional work!
Thanks Brian. Great videos!! I never miss them! I have a 2015 F 150 with the 2.7L twin turbo and 60K miles in CA. Thankfully no problems yet but I did get the 7 year/75,000 mile extended warranty. This video makes me want to take the truck into a good independent mechanic for a thorough inspection before the warranty is up next June.
Seen coolant leaks at the fittings pretty regularly even up though 2018s. Have done trucks with 430000 miles. There is a design change recently so we'll see how that goes. Exhaust manifold leaks are also common. Always replace the coolant lines now due to corrosion. Its a huge pain but will save customer future costs to go back in a year after the repair. Water pumps 3.5 and 5.0 fairly often as well. Ford does the vct phaser rattle so often under warranty we have a tsb with a parts list. Have had to do some that were done 20000 miles before. Its an ongoing problem.
I just sold my 2016 2.7 f150. Had almost 90k miles and zero issues BUT this is what drove me to get rid of it. I did notice the leaking of something within the last year of owning it so hopefully the next guy doesn’t have major issues. Outside of minor issues like new battery and break pads, it never left me stranded. I’m actually done with trucks now. 65k is just bananas to me.
This is a long shot but one worth taking. You are an insanely talented mechanic and obviously know these vehicles inside and out. I have a 2013 F150 Ecoboost 100K that I have owned since brand new. I have the coolant leaks at the jiffy tite fittings (amongst a few other common issues) and I am having the hardest time finding a mechanic that has any experience with these trucks at all. Any chance you know one that you might recommend in South Florida? Not sure what your charging per hour for labor, but I would be through the moon to pay whatever knowing someone with your knowledge and expertise was doing it right. I want someone to go through my truck like you did with this customer and make sure I am aware of what needs to be done. Its nearly impossible for me to do that with confidence when none of them have eve heard of the coolant connector leaks as a common problem. Thanks in advance for any support/advice!
I have a 2010 Fusion with the 2.5L and a few years ago thought about trading up to a newer Fusion with Ecoboost. No sale. The 2010 has the Ford ticking engine but no leaks like the madness found on those EBs. Will hang on to the 2010 till the wheels fall off. Appreciate your content and telling us Ford owners what’s what. Take care
@@borisjankovici662 I have heard the stories about that. Bought the car new in 2010 and drive rather conservatively plus been changing the trans fluid every 20k so hoping that helps extend the life of it. Only 108k miles on the car so crossing my fingers on that as it gets closer to 125-130k miles. So far still shifts smooth. Time will tell, eh?
@@CygnusX168 Good luck. Maybe yours is alright. I considered getting that generation fusion used, but after I read about the trans there was just no way. Same with the last gen Focus. Good looking car, horrible transmission. I just want a naturally aspirated car with a 5 speed manual transmission for daily driving. Is that so much to ask, auto manufacturers? I don't need turbos or 10 speed automatics.
I would love a new F150 with one of these newer engines, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to part with my 2 valve 4.6 in my ‘08. 247,000 miles on the original engine and timing components, and still sounds like new. No dreaded ticking or startup rattle that its 5.4 counterpart was prone too. All maintenance was done at the recommended intervals, and the worst leaks it’s ever had were a vacuum hose, the muffler, and the washer fluid tank. Seems like the 2V 4.6’s were indestructible. Brian, you are a godsend to anybody who owns a Ford! Glad to see this customer’s truck get fixed right.
I have a '15 3.5 EB F-150 and I had the Vacuum pump leak as well as the front timing cover oil leak. I had the dealer fix them under warranty. (I bought the extended warranty.) It took them two tries to fix the Vacuum pump leak. Glad I checked it again before the warranty expired.
I have a 2.7, I use Amsoil and change it every 3,000. I love the power when you need it. Gets 10klm per 100 normally. I also added a catch can. I think I'll have good luck considering how I maintain it. There expensive and very few maintain a vehicle properly. After 5-8 years there all junk...regardless of make or model.
good choice. Catch can is unnecessary in Eco because of valving in intake. Yes for Voodoo. Whatever makes you happen. Ford doesn't make catch can for eco, but for Voodoo, so obviously it doesn't need one
Unfortunate set of circumstances. I think the people designing these engines design them so they have to go back for repair to pull in the money to fill their pockets. Don’t worry about longevity ! Short term is where the cash is at. Owners get the shaft. I had a exploder sport Eco stretched chains, phaser replacement. Luckily I still had the powertrain warranty. After the repair the vehicle didn’t run and perform like it did before the engine issue. Decided to get rid of it and get a normally aspirated V6. F150’s I’m on my 5th in 22 years all had the V8’s. Only had a misfire from a bad coil pack and a replaced alternator. No other problems, Knock on wood.
The people who design them design them well, which is how you get so many 3.5 EBs that just work their butts off and last to very high mileage with low emissions, relatively low fuel consumption, and all that. A lot of these problems are from farming out the manufacturing to save a few dollars, and companies that really don't want to admit their mistakes unless there's a lawsuit. And it seems like with Fords, there's always one big thing that makes the whole vehicle a turd. It used to be some of their transmissions, especially in passenger cars and SUVs. Or a whole engine family that had coolant control/gasket issues like the Essex (3.8/4.2 OHV V-6es). It was heartbreaking because the rest of the vehicle seemed to be pretty reliable. Trying to get repair parts can be frustrating, and it was a bad scene even years before the pandemic; sometimes a whole run of new/rebuilt parts is defective, so you end up changing the thing a dozen times before you give up and buy it somewhere else that might source it from another vendor. It's even like this with parts for older vehicles. You'd think nobody could f--- up rebuilding a mechanical fuel pump for a mild 1970s American V8 like a 351 in an F250 or whatever, but all I can say is thank f--- it's about a 15 minute job on an old pickup because there are such garbage parts for sale. Parts from the dealer used to be better, but even some of those will burn you. Sometimes I think they should stop selling cars and trucks and just sell "vehicle starter kits." If you can put it together and spot the shitty components, good for you. Otherwise, enjoy riding the bus or hope your tow truck driver isn't allergic to your pet cat/dog/whatever. If you're lucky, you can get some of the best vehicles ever made. If you're not, you're kind of SOL and the repair is financially out of reach to a lot of people anymore. Even if it's a simple vehicle they know how to fix, if it breaks down on the way to work, it could be bye-bye job. Same scenario with
@Sblackfll Most people do not buy extended warranties. Extended Warranties pay out 10%. Failures under 100-150k miles are rare. After 150k failures start to occur, but by then the extended warranty is over.
@Sblackfll Extended warranties pay out 10% in claims compare to premiums. If you like making other people rich by all means buy extended warranties on everything you buy. They are a total ripoff on modern vehicles that hardly ever break. When they do break it’s not something the warranty will cover anyway like, tires, brakes, windshield wipers, oil, oil filters, air filters, body damage, glass damage, light bulbs, seat tears, etc. If it is something that is covered they will find a way to deny it, like missing an oil change by one mile, off-roading, or racing. Smart people do not buy optional warranties on anything. In my entire life I have never had a warranty claim on any product. I’ve never had an issue that an extended warranty would have covered. Ford sells a lot of cars so some bad ones will slip through, but I’d bet it’s way less than one percent in 150k miles that is not covered under the base warranty, recall, or special coverage. The angry people with a problem are usually the ones that never change the oil or let someone under 25 drive the car. Cars just don’t break nowadays unless they are misused or one is extremely unlucky.
Pennsylvania purchased truck here. 2015 F150 2.7 Ecoboost Supercab. I bought the vehicle in mid 2018 to replace my 2004 F150 (I was living in Virginia at the time). Moved to New Orleans mid 2019. Drove the truck up to PA in April 2021. My 68k mile engine took a dive because the same turbo fitting failed and it was a catastrophic loss of coolant. Thankfully was 1 mile from dealership in PA when it happened. 4 days of waiting to get repaired, and then I was on my way back to southern Louisiana. Only failure I've had with the truck since purchase.
My company truck is a 2016, 2.7 Ecoboost. it suffered injector failure at 112,000 miles and washed 2 cylinders. Fords solution was to replace the motor to the tune of $9,000.00. For such a small motor in a full sized truck, I'm surprised by the power and fuel economy. It averages 18-19 mpg and it replaced my 2013 F150 with the 5.0 that only averaged 13-14 mpg.
after watching your videos i'm glad it had a 4.6. you do great work and i really appreciate your vids, don't get upset, it's not your fault. all mechanics and body shop guys want to have the engineers come in the shop and work for a day fixing there mistakes.
As a 12' Focus owner who has taken care of my car to the point where my engine is almost to 400k miles with no repairs, but I've had to have the transmission worked on at least every year, I know what that customer's feeling.
Man, between the 3V 5.4 and the Ecoboost engines, Ford is really losing it. I'd never buy either of those engines. Can you even get a newer Expedition without an Ecoboost anymore? I'm still hanging onto my 5.4 2V Expedition -- it's bulletproof. Just shy of 260,000 miles and it just passed another smog check with no problems at all. Probably the best engine Ford has made.
I just bought a 2009 XLT with the 5.4 with 239000 miles to replace the 2013 Lariat 3.5 Ecoboost that was totaled in an accident. As of right now, comparing both trucks, I love the way this 5.4 drives over the Ecoboost and sounds like a truck. Miss my leather seats....and the step bumper.. my next truck will be a Coyote..Just hope I can find something to pull #12000. The lariat was only going to do 9000. This XLT..only 6000 I think..It has a 3.31. Lariat had, I think the 3.73..maybe
@@colinwatt00 Bad reputation as in the problems are overrated? Look at how many 3V timing jobs Brian does at his shop. In 260k, the only thing that's been done to my 2V 5.4 is new head gaskets because of an oil leak.
@Colin Watt. I couldn’t agree more. I have a 2005 F150 with the 5.4 3v, 280,000 miles and counting. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
I've got a '16 Transit van with this engine and it's been great...but it gets hotter than hell under the hood. I've notice that on the newer models they've really opened up the grill to get more air in there. I've been changing the oil myself and haven't noticed any leaks...but now I'll take a better look around after seeing this video. Always cheaper to fix than replace...it is and always has been a crap shoot with vehicles. Had a few that ate up money back in the 80s but since then I've been very lucky....all Fords, about 6 of them in the last 30 years....work vans and pickups. Bought them all new.
I have the 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost. I love the driveability and utility of my truck - lots of power and decent gas mileage for a truck - but these issues do make me miss my Toyota. I have a coolant leak and am about to remove the skid plate to find the origin. I'm pretty sure it's going to be those turbo fittings. Hopefully it's just one side, but I imagine if it's one side, the other is coming soon.
I was considering an eco boost for my next truck just because of the awesome power they make but i’ve heard som not so great things about them. This video seals the deal, i’ll stick with the brand i have used for many trouble free years.
The 7.3 is already proven to be pretty reliable. It had a pretty decent launch year compared other gas V8s and diesels and it’s making it’s way into a Blue Bird buses and RVs. It’s a simple design and was long overdue imo.
I just now subscribed to your channel, not because I'm interested in car repairs, or Fords. My mechanic has told me to stay away from Fords. I subscribed because I appreciate an honest and knowledgeable mechanic. I will also Like any of your videos that show up.
We had the t-chain rattle at around 30k miles on a '14 Explorer w/ the 3.5L E-boost. Ford did the chain, guides, tensioner and cam phaser, too. The vehicle never ran right again. Fuel consumption went from 20ish MPG, down to 15.5ish MPG. When you would get heavy into the throttle, it would run real rich and blow black smoke. We had it back to the dealer several times after that and they could never find anything wrong with it. We still have it today and just turned 100k. I wish we had known about your shop earlier. You're only about 8hrs away.
I’m sure the answer is “no”, but I would hope that Ford (and other makers as well) would track down people like Brian and pay them to pick their brains a few times a year to help make heir cars better...
Agreed. The man is an expert in the field. Engineers and bean counters should take a field trip to hang out and watch Brian. Might help them get their heads out of their asses.
Ford is more interested in making sure the vehicle is reliable through the warranty period and that's it. Then they basically only make money off parts. What sells more parts? Parts that fail. Really though these days most vehicles are dead set reliable to at least 100k.
@@markcrawford1982 look at GDI engines. Won't they all start running inefficiently unless you clean the valves regularly? Granted, part of it is govt CAFE standards but some car makers still find a way to do port injection or how hard would it be to design in an oil catch can? Unfortunately, more people care about if the car has Apple Carplay than how the engine and drivetrain operate and were designed so consumers reap what they sow, I suppose....🤷♂️
I have a 2011 f150 3.5 with 280k on it. No engine issues to speak of. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones. However the output shaft sensor is starting to fail. This is an issue
I just changed the coolant fittings on the driver's side turbo on my 2014 F-150, 3.5 with 81,000 miles. The fittings were $26.00, seal kit $30.00, and turbo mounting bolts $27.00 plus two gallons of Motorcraft concentrate coolant $ 36.00. It was a time consuming repair for that little fitting and a pain to do.
Did you check your rear manifold bolts? I’m at 97k and both driver and pass. rear studs are broken. I will be replacing all the fittings and gaskets along with the studs. I do love the motor. Has been good to me. Knock on wood with the timing chain. I have been using mobile one every 5k. To good health and safety 👍
Thanks for fueling my hatred to the Ford. Apart from leaks my 2011 Fusion V6 Flex does not have OEM parts for exhaust available anymore - not just out of stock, the category vanishes when I check in my car. I had to buy aftermarket, I bought Walker and now I am dealing with exhaust leak. And I did that only as preventive replacement, because flex connector was torn out and small hole was forming, no audible leaks though...
You could save the customer a lot of labor by lifting the cab to do the timing components, makes the turbos a breeze. Glad they fixed the turbo coolant line issues and went away from the vacuum pump on the 2nd gen 3.5. Even so, the v6 ecoboost engine are VERY reliable.
@@eldonerc2524 Not really. Cabs and cradles are build to be quickly assembled, and its usually only a handful of hours to separate. The tighter the engine bay, the more sense it makes to just lift the cab or drop the cradle.
@@eldonerc2524 NO, I lift the cabs cause it takes me 40-60min. makes working on the engine easier. instead of hanging over the top, with arms dangling down.
Seems like with each passing year cars are becoming more and more disposable. They become so expensive to repair that it's almost cheaper to crush them and buy another new vehicle. 70k miles needing that much work is ridiculous. Manufacturers don't make much profit in selling new cars. They get their profit with having parts fail sooner and sooner and making it so difficult to work on that you have to bring it to a repair shop or dealership. Makes me not want any new vehicles. I rather buy a 20 year old one and repair it properly.
After seeing this video, I can't help but think that the environment of high temperature Texas climate and lack of driving this truck factors into the problems it has. The first generation EcoBoost engines seems to have its own problems, just like the 5.4 3v does. The broad stroke engineering method of take one engine and test it to death- therefore all production engines will also withstand these tests- is where Ford is going wrong. The millions of variables involved in real world testing is made even more complex when coupled with how each customer uses, treats, and maintains each truck. Ford needs to recognize the patterns of failures that are occurring in these vehicles, and realize the direct correlation of failure mode and part design. This is the only way that they can stay number one in the truck sales arena. If they don't do this, it ultimately will affect the legacy of the F150, as well as the relationship between the customer and the company/dealership. I have 2 Ford trucks, and no other brand really appeals to me. Every manufacturer has a unique set of shortfalls , so I'm not throwing shade at anyone here, but when it comes to putting my money down on anything, experience with a known reliable product is among the first things that I consider. Price be damned, if it won't last, and it won't do what's required of it, why buy it?
@@crisprtalk6963 yeah, less than 10,000 miles a year is below national averages. Not saying it's a bad thing, but most 8 year old trucks are past 100,000 miles at this age.
I think Ford needs to help him on this. These trucks are so expensive and for 70k? That’s unacceptable in my opinion. Your very passionate about your work and people’s vehicles
Only problem with my 2011 f150 XLT 3.5 ECOBOOST 6 speed, was a bad coil on #3 cylinder. Runs very well, lots of power, 6 speed trans, 2wheel drive, 140k miles.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
If there was one mechanic that I would trust completely with this type of situation, Brian you're it! I think since the guy takes such good care of his truck he'd appreciate the honesty, even if it cost.
Plus repair is a heck of a lot cheaper than buying a new truck now
Oh man have i met emaculate people who would take that personally.
As a former tech for a different flavour of pickup trucks, what bothered me the most is that these very basic issues are happening on vehicles with $70-100,000 (Canadian) price tags. There’s a place for budget minded vehicles, but not when it’s being advertised as a premium product.
It is completely unacceptable
I talk about this very issue frequently. You're exactly right.
It's things like this is why I never buy brand new anymore. I have a trusty mechanic and he warns me what to stay away from.
@John Smith There’s some pretty good money made off of Toyota’s too. They are not immune to the corporate greediness of charging the most they can for the perceived value of the product. I don’t think the Toyota truck line of today is as robust as it’s been in the past.
@John Smith yah, I bought a Toyota also.........back in 88, still driving the same truck!😂🥃
Hold on tight Brian you sounded really emotional at the beginning of this video and we can all understand why. You love what you do, you do it very well and you hate to see people suffer through the things that shouldn't happen to them, but you're there for them and we're behind you, even if it's just at a distance for moral support. You're a man of integrity and you have it.
this made me cry ... so emotional
It sucks, but they aren't building vehicles for the type of people that keep these trucks for 10+ years and really start putting miles on them. It made it to 70k miles which is about the time when most people are going to be thinking about "upgrading" to the new hot F150. Your average consumer is going to keep their vehicle until it's paid off or almost paid off, at which point it starts breaking down (like this video!) and it's off to the dealership. What's the deal with newly designed V6's and Turbo Fours having timing chain issues? VW 2.0T, Nissan VQ engines, 3.5 EB etc.
Around 2012-13, I was working at the rail yard next door to Ford's Brook Park Plant(aka Cleveland engine). Ford scrapped a whole run of the EcoBoost 3.5 engines. Brand new engines, went right to the smelter. It cost them millions. The rumor was they caught a major defect.
I used to be an ASE master +L1 and what you are seeing is common here in TX. The constant heat wreaks havoc on drivetrains and interiors here and does far more damage than most realize not to mention long drives in the excess heat in traffic at high speeds. There are so many of these F150s sitting in farmers fields that look immaculate but the cost of the engine and often electrical repairs far outweighs what the truck is worth so they just get parked. I can't tell you how many guys that have had this happen that they end up going back to an earlier 2000s Chevy that just keeps running.
My experience with Ford products here and what I see in reliability in our climate shows that repairs are going to be constant and very expensive. It's the reason that I don't own one anymore that isn't a classic.
All customers that I have that did not listen to me and went out and bought an ecoboost have had every thing from leaks to major damage. Latest customer bought a 2021 F150 ecoboost. 4800 miles and timing chain guide came apart with significant damage. $62,000 truck ---this should not happen. After engine repair now it has constant start up noise.
Been watching this FORD mechanic for years this guy knows his stuff about Ford's this guy is saved people thousands and thousands of dollars over the years from his Ford mechanic secrets you're a great man love what you do you very intelligent when it comes to mechanic brother
Fords, not Ford's
@@georgewetzel4380 You got a love U word Nazis, like it’s real important?
Same. Started watching his videos when I had an issue with my '14 Focus ST. Even though it wasn't related to my issue, I still learned a few things to pay attention to. Overall it was a great car, but started having too many issues with it over 270k miles. Got an F150 with the NA 3.2 V6 now. Was more interested in having something I could fit more than fingers under the hood when I had an issue with it. Felt like I had to drop the motor every time to get a good look otherwise. lol
@@rad4627 just trying to help immigrants learn the language
@@rad4627 indeed, some of us just hit whatever the phone pops up as far a grammar/spelling goes.
This bothers me also Brian. I work for Ford in Canada and i see some things at work building engines that i openly complained about to some of the engineers from Dearborn. I absolutely hate seeing this kind of stuff where our customers are getting screwed over by these kind of pesky issues. I hate to say it but my Dodge Minivan doesn't have this kinds of leaks and runs great. It's gas over 220,000 kms on it. I do not like seeing our customers dealing with such ridiculous issues at this miles. I watch your channel a lot so i keep up on what issues may be happening with our vehicles. Your my go to guy for anything Ford. Thank you for keeping us informed.
Just had these issues repaired, both turbos leaking coolant and vacuum pump leaking oil, $2300 later they're fixed and guarenteed for the next 2 years, so I got that going for me, which is nice. 2013 Limited, 106,000 miles, and other than this, has been a brilliant truck which I still love!
Very nice Carl!
23 yrs working for Ford and I personally will not own anything with a turbo from them....especially the 3.5 eco.
Agree, worked on fords from 1979 to 2017 seen a lot of changes, the one I cannot agree with is the addition of turbocharging, from the expense to repair and turbo lag, and add direct injection, these are nothing but money pits.
Ford Australia produced some great turbocharged I6 engines in their performance sedans. I don't know what Ford USA did with that institutional knowledge when they closed down the local factory, but apparently it wasn't much.
Turbochargers are problems. So much extra heat, oil temps, and pressure.. They can perform wonderfully..... but it comes at a cost
no one cares. Your bias oozes. Zero facts
Agree 100% only engine I would get in a f150 would be a 5.0. I work for a dealer in the parts department and all the ecos have issues
Tips for EB F150 guys: drive it like you stole it and you won’t have as many issues. I have 190k on my 2011 and it’s still an animal. Basic maintenance and oil changes. With a couple minor coolant leak issues that cost less than $1000 DIY with the help of these awesome videos from Brian.
You gotta spool those turbos to keep them lubricated
Wholeheartedly agree with you, I drove it so hard I blew my transmission at 180k. It's now at 214k it has a coolant leak but oil changes is all it needs.
Just don't forget to flush and change coolant every 30000 miles. Those turbos beat the shit out of the coolant.
I have 286,556 13 mkz 2.0 eco boost oil changed every 5k trans fluid every 30k air and cabin filter every 10k I use mobil 1 5w30 and trans fluid I drive 60 miles a day to go back and forth to work.
The good ole Italian tune up. It works great for Turbo powered vehicles.
That’s why I went with a 5.0 when looking for a 2013 F150. Felt like it was too big of a risk getting an EcoBoost.
Thought the Coyote engines also have Timing Sprocket/Phaser issues.
They added Cylinder Deactivation to the 5.0 in 2021. Thanks Ford for screwing up your best engine
I had a '12 Mustang with a 5.0 and it had phaser issues but that was the only issue. Knock on wood my '13 F150 ecoboost has been good but only has 77k.
@@tagle2818 my 14 eb F150 got chains and phasers at 65k 🤦♂️
same!.. I stayed away from the twin turbos for that reason.... the added complexity and parts.
Great video. I experienced similar issues with my F150 and by the time I had Around 160,000 miles I had spent over $10,000 keeping that truck on the road. Much of what you talked about here I went through as well as bearings on all four wheels and worst of all the TwinTurbo went out at around 150,000 miles. That cost me $3680 to replace. It was the final straw for me. It is why I got rid of the truck swore off Ford forever and bought a Toyota tundra which I should’ve bought in the first place.
Welcome to the club.
Awesome choice brother and I bet that 5.7L I-Force V8 in the Toyota Tundra will definitely outlast the EcoBoost with ease.
I traded in my 16-year-old Toyota Tacoma with 190,000 miles on it that never once let me down. You probably won’t believe me but it’s still have the original exhaust on it.. Besides normal maintenance, major tuneups when recommended, I only had to replace the lower belt on a trip to North Carolina one time. But it didn’t break down on me. I made it to the dealership but the belt was starting to shred and I could hear the sound. By far the most reliable vehicle I ever had.
As for turbos, it is no secret you may need to replace them by 100,000 miles, even less.. That’s pretty common knowledge. Can’t really complain that you got 150,000 miles out of them. I bought my raptor knowing this. But I plan on selling it at around 60,000 miles when the drivetrain warranty ends.
We were just looking at my brothers truck a 16 F150 and found much of the same things, thanks for all you do.
Well, all those (theoretical) fuel savings evaporate pretty quickly once the high-tech goodies start to break. My view is always to choose the lowest-tech drivetrain available.
Fuel mileage is terrible on the ecoboost. My gmc with the 5.3 does better. Manufactures lie about fuel mileage on turbo's. Yeah they do alright if you're not accelerating. But with turbo gas engine you have to run richer to prevent knock vs an non turbo engine when accelerating
That's why people swear by Toyotas. Too bad the new Tundra is going twin turbo V6
I’m with you on keeping it simple, but that’s getting more difficult with each new model year. I ordered the 5.0 for my 2013, sold it to my son who is driving it now. I then ordered my 2017 with a 5.0. It has the lighter (aluminum) body, and gets 24 mpg on the highway, and that’s where 80% of my driving is. Why gamble with the more complex eco-boost when I get better mileage with the normal aspiration engine?
@@artstewart1894 Exactly mate. I have a 2011 Ford F150 with a 5.0L Coyote V8 in it with 141,000 miles on it and still going strong and it's a beast and it sounds like a beast with the Borla ATAK Catback exhaust on it.
@@CJColvin Other than the sound is a cat back worth it? Serious question,I’ve never had one.
The only I can say is be glad it's not German. I spent 10 years working on VW and you would be shocked at repairs we had to do. EcoBoost reminds me a lot of German stuff, except it's more poorly laid out.
Also, a good tip. Get rid of that garbage Ford Orange coolant. Its actually dexcool. Same composition. It's been known to cause leaks. Flush it and put the new yellow in.
Good to know...👍
My VW used a pink coolant that was self-sealing. I think it did wonders. I ran my 2000 for 14 years and 350,000 miles on original rubber hoses.
WOW that sucks. I am really impressed by you that this bothers you that the truck is having those kind of major issues at relatively low miles. You're a good guy.
Yeah he's real. If a vehicle has 130,000 mile problems at 70,000, it just plain sucks.
These problems are just as much a time issue, when you don’t drive a truck often seals harden and dry up ,the oil drains back all the way and it dry starts ... this isn’t an ecoboost issue as much as a truck that isn’t used enough. I am a highway dept mechanic we have 2005 trucks with only 25000 miles on them , our 2017s have 5-6000 miles, These trucks are constantly breaking and leaking . It’s from lack of use . Same trucks that are driven daily are much better trucks. I wish our guys would take them out once a week in the off season ,to keep them from rusting away and everything from seizing up.
@@a.s.4914 You're damn right he's real. That's rare these "daze."
@@JohnDiMartino A lot of that depends on the climate that the vehicle is driven in too...I would think? Plus, little engine and forced induction...lots of stress and weak parts. Just a bad design all the way around. imo.
What about is it normal for a 2013 Ford F-150, fx4, 5.0 waterpump to go at 47,000? Can’t tell cuz of its age or miles that this would happen! Sound about rite?
Ford Technician here for 19+ years, I gave my 2015 Ford Fusion 2.0 ecoboost a chance in 2016 and the engine blew 4 months ago. I don't want anything turbo, the car had 40,000 miles and I religiously took care of it. Bought a used 2020 F150 5.0 with 6,900 miles. I love Ford but these ecoboost have so many problems.
Brian, you are correct about hit or miss. My son has a 2011 3.5 EB with 280,000 miles on the clock and still going strong
First, I just received my FORDTECHMAKULOCO tee shirt.
I support this channel because of all the advice and service tricks, torques and tech that is provided.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!
Second, Ford is a great truck maker but, they have been leaving to much on the table in engineering especially the little details stuff.
Things that should not be giving any grief to the truck owner.
Pretty bad when say the driver window regulator breaks from just closing the window, $150.00 fix Thanks Dorman Products.
The rear door driver side harness between door and B=Pillar breaking a wire and not allowing the door lock to work and giving an "Door Ajar" warning.
Heater blower motor resistor (third one) on a 2012 F150.
Coolant leak from $5.00 O-ring that mimics a water pump. How many people were talked into a new water pump when all it was was a square shaped O-ring?
The coating on the caliper brackets being too thin and letting rust start under the stainless slides and causing the front brake pads to not move freely leading to stuck calipers
and uneven rotor wear. Bastards.
My all time favorite the Lead Frame Connector in the trans above the valve body that just craps out due to metal build up and causing shorting across solenoids.
That was $300.00 plus including fluid to repair and Where in the hell is the dip stick tube for easy fill?
But, NOOOOOO!!!!
So yea! Ford has dropped the ball on a bunch of little things the last couple of years.
There was a time when the car companies hired people who actually liked cars and knew how to work on them.
Does not seem to be the case with the new group of engineers these days.
Makes me love my 03 even more, no leaks, starts and runs perfect with 243,000 miles
my 04 has a sketchy frame rust but still drived
@D Swl i had 220,000 on my 03 5.4 F150 when i got rid of it and bought a 14 f150 5.0 with 10,000 on it
That's why my F250 2000 almost 500K running strong - Reliable and Simple! Modern engines won't ever make up even to 300K without major repairs. Great video, thanks Bryan.
With proper care they will. People fail to read the service guide...
True I own the f150 same year. It's over 200k miles
Yea but what engine, some are great others are cr@p
I recently saw a 2015 Silverado 2500HD with the 6.6 duramax diesel sitting at 355k miles, so I guess we will see.
My 2011 F150 EB has 372k only major repair transmission ate 350k. Some is maintenance some is luck of getting a ghost truck.
You are passionate about your work, and obviously love it. This comes through loud and clear. So rare. My 2016 3.5 Platinum has been flawless, over 100k. Great motor so far.
I’ve watched a bunch of your videos and I can really appreciate how honest and straight forward you are. It’s a bummer when you have to break this kind of news to a customer. Same time you didn’t engineer it and you’re literally helping them out by saving them ungodly dealership repairs. Definitely a great tech and I can appreciate your knowledge and honesty. Keeps a good name for all of us out there trying to make a living and help people out!
My 2014 F-150 with the 3.5 Ecoboost currently has 55k miles. I bought the truck 4 years ago with 36k miles. I began to hear the start up rattle at about 38k miles shortly after switching to that full synth oil made from natural gas. I don't drive the truck regularly, and have been holding the accelerator pedal to the floor which disables the fuel pump when cranking the engine at start up. I hold the pedal to the floor, crank the engine for about 10 seconds until I see pressure on the oil pressure gauge in the dash, quit cranking the starter, take foot off the pedal, then start the engine normally with no start up rattle due to pre-lubing and pre-pressuring the oil system. I have since learned through research that synthetic oil molecules are many times smaller than traditional mineral based oil molecules and this is why stories of oil leaks after switching to full synth. I have recently switched oil to Ford Motorcraft Semi-synth 5w30, 5qts oil to 1qt Lucas synth oil stabilizer. The engine has returned to mostly rattle free start up even after sitting for several days and starting without the pre-lube procedure. My theory is that the smaller molecule full synth oil bleeds past the cam phaser seals and the oil pump needs a couple of seconds to pressurize the phasers before the rattle stops. Before the Motorcraft oil change, the rattle would happen slightly after sitting for only 8 hours and much more rattle after sitting over night or greater than 12-16 hours during every start up. Now, the rattle is mostly gone, very slight rattle in about 1 in 8-10 start ups after sitting. Only about 500 miles since the oil switch, and I will be changing oil every 3k miles or so. I will keep you posted at the next oil change regarding whether rattle issues have been eliminated.
At 72k on '13 F150 EB I had much of the same experience. Occasional timing chain rattle on startup, estimate 1 out of 10 cold starts. I've done Blackstone oil analysis after every oil change. Only used Motorcraft semi-synth, Pennzoil UP, Chevron ProDS or Castrol synthetic. Played around with oil filters a little OEM Motorcraft FL-500s, ACDelco PF63, STP S10590, Wix 57502XP, Purolater PL22500 across the oil changes.
I've tried several other oil additives Ceratec, Archoil, Prolong maybe got a marginal benefit to number of timing chain rattles on startup, but the change if any wasn't truly notable. Only real observed changed was UOA indicating additional molybdenum. boron and potassium level increases. Wear metals didn't change all that much.
I like you started using Lucas synth oil stabilizer. I've only been using 6 oz to 8oz of Lucas stabilizer instead of the recommended 1 quart for every 4 quarts of oil used. I've had two instances of timing chain noise on startup in the last 6 months. Both of these times it was a cold start run for 60 second then another start say 10 minutes later. Estimated number of cold starts 50, number of total starts 150 over 6 months. I've used Castrol 5w-30 black bottle and Purolator PL22500 the last two oil changes with good success. Going forward only plan on using Chevron ProDS or the Castrol oil with what I know and understand for now.
One thing I notice about the Lucas upon draining the oil is that it has an adherence property. I might be described as sticky, but that's not right. Its more of a tacky property that clings or bonds to everything. I got some of the used oil with Lucas my hand changing the oil the last go around. There was a notable difference in the solution of oil and Lucas had from physical contact compared to just plain used motor oil.
To go from 1 out of every 10 cold starts having timing chain noise, no practically none, the Lucas is doing something for sure. Not sure if there are any draw backs for using Lucas, but Blackstone hasn't indicated any.
In full disclosure I did also 3 months ago remove the intake and clean all the carbon buildup from the intake valves using various solutions (brake clean, CRC GDI intake cleaner, picks, brushes, screw drivers, air wand and liquid vacuum). The carbon buildup even after two driveway CRC GDI intake cleaning treatments, and a service shop BG intake valve cleaning treatment still left the valves covered in a layer of carbon. Subjective but can't imagine the extra reciprocating weight of the carbon on the intake valves helps when trying to get the valvetrain in motion.
Great info, as this Lemon Engine ages might be good to add a 'pre-oiler' electric driven oil pump to pressurize system when twist key to run. a few hundred spent could avoid thousands in repairs!
That "pre oil" procedure is what a lot of 4.0 SOHC owners do on the older Explorers for it's poor timing chain / guides setup.
"synthetic oil molecules are many times smaller than traditional mineral based oil molecules"
I don't dispute your observations about your truck and the oils you've used, but this statement from your research is simply false, at least if you are using a major brand full synthetic. If it were true, the viscosity of the oil wouldn't meet specifications, film thicknesses would be too small, and your engine components would wear like you were using water for oil. Any stories of oil leaks after switching to synthetics are probably from the 1980's when initial formulations didn't swell seals enough. This was fixed long ago and had to do with molecular type, not size. Synthetic oils usually do have lower viscosity (are "thinner") at cold temperatures and, in most situations, this is *good* for getting oil soon to the places it needs to go.
Yup adding more complexity adds more to repair. While the 3.5's have great power I bought a 5.0l for the very reason of extra issues down the road....And I'm a tech of 20+ years so cost isn't really an issue. I just don't want to work on my own stuff till absolutely necessary.
Don’t those rattle and leak too?
Rob Buell, YUP I too am a tech who has been wrenching for almost thirty years now as well, the last twenty one of which have been with Ford. And trust me, I totally get where you're coming from, not wanting to have to wrench on your own ride. Right now, I drive a 2021 F-250 6.7 CCSB 4x4 Lariat and absolutely LOVE the power it puts out. But I don't see myself keeping it for more than a few years for two reasons. One, I'll be able to get decent money for it when it comes time for me to get out of it to put toward my next vehicle. Two, it will be in someone else's hands long before it gets old enough to start needing constant repairs. Long gone are the days for me to have any patience having to constantly wrench on my own daily driven ride. I'd rather pay the premium money to drive something new, if it means I'll only have to do oil changes and the odd brakes on my own ride any day. I'm sure there are those who think I'm being wasteful, but only the ones who have been turning wrenches for as long as you and I have, will really understand.
Unfortunately the whole "less complex engine" went out the window from 2018 on, (the new 3rd gen 5.0)
@@cheeznhard I can remember literally laughing when the PowerBoost drivetrain was announced. Two turbos, VCT, direct injection, 10 speed transmission, 4x4, and hybrid batteries and motors. What a disaster waiting to happen.
@@jayhawker03 there's no denying that they are selling like hot cakes though. Just about everywhere you go, you see them. I just don't want to be the lucky one having to fix it when it breaks.
The problems are one thing but the fact that this guy drove from TX to get service done is nuts. He's probably been dealing with incompetent techs.
That’s why TH-cam is the new advertising platform for service guys that know their stuff. Pretty much every known mechanic TH-camr is rolling in jobs that requires a little skill. The benefit is big dolla bills and endless videos. It’s a positive feedback loop that ends in a very wealthy retirement.
@@markm0000 I'm personally thinking of driving from Denver to Amarillo when my transmission needs rebuilt. Precision Transmission has a TH-cam channel and they seem to be experts and it's only a 6 HR drive for peace of mind.
@@DJR5280 Yep, 100% pros there.
I’m in Texas also and absolutely would consider driving to his shop or having my truck hauled to him for more in-depth work like that just because I have seen he takes the time to do things right and gives it the attention to detail that I do
@@PAUL_MAUSER I agree. My first transmission rebuild experience was bad. Went back 21 times before I was refunded my money. The cost of Uber rides and and getting rides to and from the shop by friends and Family and the countless hours wasted in diagnostic fees from other shops.... I'l drive down to Precision.
I have a 2014 3.5L. Bought it several years ago with 59k on the ODO. It has 206,XXX on it now. The only major problem I’ve had has been throttle body related. Had one get stuck open (according to the ford techs). Cost me $800 to replace. Had it gum up last year which put it into limp mode, and a $50 cleaning fixed it. Knock on wood, I have been extremely happy with it. Not sure what problems lie ahead since I’ve hit 200k, but if I had to do it over again, I would’ve done more research and bought a 5.0, but I can’t really complain at this point.
I had a 2013 just like this one with 71000 miles on it (even white), I took it in for a computer update. They called me after 1 week and had really bad news, they said it had all the leaks you have shown plus the turbos were supposedly worn out needing to be replaced. $13,700 to fix it all. I decided to trade it off and get a new truck, I loved my ecoboost, it was powerful and never had a problem till I took it in for a free update! Thank you for making me feel better about my decision!
They really aren't building these new vehicles to a quality level that most of them will reach 300,000 miles before they have major issues. I feel like manufacturers are still trying to push people to buy new vehicles every 3-5 years if it's driven like the majority of owners drive them. But the price of these vehicles new is very quickly becoming astronomical. It's hard to find a new 1/2 ton truck for less than 40,000$ and if you do it really is a base model vehicle with no options. It's not just ford all manufacturers have a ridiculous build quality anymore. When you work on these vehicles day in and day out you can see the trend pretty easily. Everything they can possibly make out of plastic is made out of plastic. They used to impregnate Teflon plates in aluminum timing chain guides now they are plastic. Every thing cooling system wise is made out of plastic that literally just crumbles cracks or shatters after 5 years. Volkswagen and bmw both sale engines with a plastic water pump attached to a cast iron or cast aluminum block. New vehicles are literally just a rip off. I literally drive a 30 year old ford ranger back and forth to work everyday because I don't want to have to deal with the stuff I see wrong constantly coming into the shop on the newer vehicles.
Same here ....am still driving a 20 year old Honda, with over 200,000 miles, NO oil leaks and still running the original engine/transmission....bought it new and have kept up my routine maintenance.....
@@spanishh2001 the older Hondas will last forever as long as you keep up on the maintenance. The new ones can make it to 200,000 probably longer if you replace the timing chain. They get chain stretch and the guides wear around 150,000. The old timing belt motors are great though.
@@jeremypike9153 the first time I had to spend money outside of regular maintenance, was at 90,000 miles, alternator went bad ....got the part from the dealership and did it myself, was easy compared to some of these new engine compartments I've seen...
Same here, I drive a 2004 Honda Accord with the 2.4L, 160K+ on it, no engine or transmission issues. I'm slowly replacing most of the suspension components to keep it reliable, only thing under the hood I replaced was the power steering pump and the high pressure hose/sensor to the rack, that's it. Was my aunt's car bought brand new in 04'.
I feel you man and to go it off truck now a days are so expensive and for it to break in less than 70k miles that's crazy. I continue to drive my frontier k24 with 300k miles lol
It’s crazy. I have a 13’ with 120k hard miles of towing and “off-roading” I live down a rough dirt road. I fixed the turbo leak and a throttle body on it and other than that it’s been rock solid. I love my ecoboost. At least for now. 🤞🏽
Sure bud just don't open the hood or look at the puddles in your driveway and you will be a happy consumer.
@@TokenTombstone Or maybe there are just failures everywhere and the vast majority of EcoBoosts are fine.
They have sold over 1 million ecoboost f150's . Some of them will have problems. It's funny when you go to any dealership that carries any brand of vehicle. Their shop is full of that brand of vehicles. Even the over hyped Toyota's break all the time, they all do
@@shroom903 I worked for a Toyota stealership for a while, gotta tell you, their shop was almost empty they had cars but mostly for routine service. Then I worked for a Ford dealership their service department parking area is extremely large and packed to the brim. Cars and trucks came in for engine or transmission replacement under warranty. There was always a parade of towing trucks bringing in more and more broken down cars. Some times cars that were sold the prior weekend were in for repairs and were brought on a flat bed. So it's really bad.
@@noelaguirre7104 that’s because ford sells significantly more vehicles than toyota in addition to toyota vehicles being more reliable
More vehicles sold = more vehicles required to be maintained or repaired
Can always tell how well someone cares for the car by the tires …and he’s got good ones
Well some are just clueless who are easily persuaded to buy kitchen sinks from the service
my nephew bought an f150 with ecoboost brand new, of the 14 months he has owned it, its spent 3 of those months at dealership for numerous issues with the drivetrain, severe vibration at certain speeds, engine driveability issues that led to engine replacement and then the straw that broke the camels back, its stopped/quit running numerous times for unknown reasons, replaced ECM or computer and it still quits, at that point he had to sue Ford to take the POS back, plus he won damages
wow, am i ever glad I went with the 5.0 when I bought my F150 and the added parts and complexity of the turbos is exactly why I chose to avoid these motors. I still have the same truck and it has been flawless for me so far.
The '18 and newer 5.0s have a high occurrence of excessive oil burning, like 1qt per 1,000mi excessive. Ford is "fixing" them by installing a longer dipstick and telling people to top off between oil changes. There are not a large # of high mileage vehicles yet so no telling where all that oil is going and what else it's doing to the engine. All of the newer trucks have plastic oil pans which are notorious for leaking over time, and it's very hard to change out the pan without creating another leak since the sealant will not set properly if there is any oil residue on the mating surfaces. Basically it's a 48h process to do properly, you have to completely drain out the vehicle of oil for 24h+, then clean it thoroughly, wait a few more hours, clean again, and repeat until there's no longer anything seeping out of the system at all. Then you install the pan with sealant, wait another 24h for it to set before adding new oil. So your typical dealership or even independent shop is never going to do it that way, especially for a warranty repair.
The 2nd gen ecoboost models fixed a lot of problems with the first gen, the intercoolers no longer have the condensation issue, the injection system is now both port and direct so the valves don't cake up with deposits nearly as much. If I were buying a 21 model year and I didn't need the towing capacity I'd probably go with the 2.7l. The 2.7 is a pretty fantastic engine with its compressed graphite iron block. If I noticed the oil pan leaking I would either live with it if it's just a tiny bit of seepage, or replace with an aftermarket aluminum pan that I installed myself. I would really stay away from the newer 5.0s, the oil burning issue is well documented at this point and if it's burning that much oil I would expect that there's a serious flaw somewhere in the engine design that will cause excessive out of warranty repairs down the line. The 3.5 eb seems to have more people reporting problems than the 2.7, but they also sell a lot more of those, so that could be part of it. It's hard to find reliable statistics with large sample sizes. If you go by forum anecdotes there isn't a single vehicle made that doesn't have people saying it's the best ever or it's the worst thing on the road.
I own a '18 2.7eb and my oil pan seeps oil. I clean it off every time I do an oil change and there's always a sheen of oil on it by the next time. It's not enough leakage to be detectable on the dipstick at all so I just don't worry about it. It's not even enough to drip down to the skid plates. My transmission came about 2l low on fluid and would sometimes shift extremely harshly when it was cold, but if I let the truck warm up it would be fine. I dropped the transmission pan and changed filter, all the rubber fittings and topped off fluid, (about 11 qts) at 30k and since then it's been running great. I'm at 42k mi and still on original plugs, gap is within tolerance and I check a different one alternating banks every oil change. I will probably swap them out at 50k regardless. No warranty repairs so far and no major issues. Truck is a blast to drive, definitely the quickest truck I've driven and I get 25mpg on the highway unladen with AT tires. Towing a 6,000lb trailer drops it down to 11mpg, but that's about the same as I get at work with a super duty.
@@jgalt99 Recently bought a 103k mile 2017 XLT 2.7, 3.55, w/6-spd auto off a friend. I got the oil pan leak. I think that's why they put that aerodynamic diaper under it. Love the truck and motor. It's got over 118k now. Love the 36 gallon tank too. It does everything I could ask for. My friends new model is having some issues with a chip and aluminum driveshaft....
@@brentworls8509 The 2.7 is such a great engine. I really don't understand the change to a plastic oil and trans pan when they made the engine itself so strong with the CGI block. There are aftermarket aluminum oil pans if your oil leak is enough to require a top-off between changes. Mine still seeps a little oil but it's not enough for me to do anything about yet and I've had no other issues.
@@jgalt99 Never heard of a single-use oil pan, but here we are....
What year do u have? Is it burning oil like another relply says on 18s and newer?
Brian, honestly the extended life coolant isn't what it's supposed to be. It corrodes fittings and gaskets. Max life 5 years. Also dang if you do and dang if you don't, low usage vehicles, the seals and gaskets get hard. It's not like it used to be. There's no extensive research on vehicles no more. It's all about the profit. They're not making any money if it lasts longer than 10 years. Thanks Brian for your great videos.
I would put toyota or honda coolant (P-HOAT) instead of the HOAT in Fords. Ford cannot even get the recommended interval on the differential and transfer case correct. Do you expect them to get coolant right? All systems now are using aluminum rads and aluminum engines. The only difference is the fittings, hoses, and piping are a little different.
@@wildman1137 Funny i never had any coolant issue with Toyota that is under 200k km. I worked for Toyota and i rarely ordered water pump or hoses for replacement...
@@wildman1137 LOL...Hey they Ford shill, you suck at your job.
I really liked my 2012 FX2, but I'm glad I got rid of it. Between direct injection valve carbon issues, timing cover seal issues, eating spark plugs, it just wasn't worth keeping. Of course, these hit or miss quality issues are because the group in charge of quality control at Ford is just phoning it in. To them, everything looks good.
This is exactly why I bought a 5.0. I knew that turbo charging a V6 in a truck was never going to outlast a V8 making roughly the same power. The only similar issue my truck has had was the leaking water pump at 70,000 miles, which I fixed myself in a couple hours for less than $200.
Except catastrophic engine failures from 5.0s drinking oil like water
Ouch! This one hit home. I live in Texas and just sold my '15 SHO with under 60k miles. Got the car with 28k miles, it was my baby, parked in the garage and had its oil changed (Amsoil) every 3k-4k miles. In less than 32k miles it had to have some suspension work, timing chains, chain guides, phasers, intake cam replacement, PTU replacement and the final repair was a VCT solenoid. Not too long after the VCT solenoid was replaced, I got that now infamous rattle with a check engine light (cam correlation). I could no longer justify putting money into that car, the only big 3.5L EB failure I didn't have was the water pump but I'm sure that was around the corner. Selling that car was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I grew up admiring the original SHO, my interest for it got reignited for the fourth generation after seeing it on display overseas. Needless to say that I'm avoiding theses engines and its newest valve dropping relative from now on.
You are very right on some engines have issues and some dont, my 2011 f150 3.5 ecoboost has 144k on it and zero leaks, only major repairs i have had done has been a water pump, and recently had my blend door actuators replaced due to the clicking noise! Other than that i change my oil with castrol edge synthetic every 4500 miles with fl500 filters, truck runs great!
The safest bet seems to be an F150 XL with the 3.3 liter V6 or the 5.0 liter on a fancy model. A co-worker with the 2.7 ecoboost had his truck in the shop for over a month waiting on a high pressure fuel pump for the GDI circuit. Newish truck, parts are in production--Ford just didn't have any, anywhere. I'm not taking out a mortgage to buy a truck in any event.
I bought an xl with the 5.0. After watching many of these videos, I'm glad i did.
The late 17's thru early 19's have the oil consumption issue with the 5.0. We had one that was using 3 qts in 5000 miles and ford tried to say that was the norm for the mod motors and their fix was to install a new dip stick with a larger safe zone on the new stick. After many many trips and arguments with ford they replaced the engine at 50,000 miles and had it for 10 weeks, we had it back for 17 days and the steering locked up going down the hwy which resulted in a near head on crash with a big oak tree which totaled the truck. Ford said they sent an engineer to the insurance holding lot to investigate our claim of the locked steering but of course said the steering issue was a result of the crash. So we replaced it with a 2020 Ram and its been in the shop twice now with a wet headliner and they cant seem to find the source of the leak. Im come to the conclusion that all the new trucks of today are complete garbage.
@@poorhouseracing It wouldn't be so awful if they didn't start at $30k and average out at $55k.
@@bannedtwice7767 Same here!
@@poorhouseracing agreed. Ford was the last brand I really trusted. Now I don't trust any of them. The new stuff is just plain and simple trash. Designed by lean process six sigma goons to squeeze every single penny from the process with no thought to the customer who goes beyond 36k miles. I went backwards from a 2017 eco Expedition to a 99 Suburban when a dealer offered me really sweet money for it. When the dust settles on this shortage, if I decide to get something newer it might not come from the big three and that makes me sad
It's a shame that it goes to show no matter how well a person takes care of some vehicles they are so poorly designed they are doomed to fail. That's why I will not ever own certain vehicles. There should be no reason that chain driven timing components go bad at 70k miles. Thanks!
Blame the government for allowing shit like this to go on..Not only way over priced but also garbage parts
@@SpaceRanger187 Government is part of the problem with over regulation about everything that manufacturers have to comply with while trying to keep costs down. Something has to give.
I agree. Too much regulation for emissions and WE the end user end up paying.
Dude its very, very rare...even Brian said so. F150s are the best trucks out there by far. Had 3 so far ...explained fully in another comment. Ran my gen1 Ecoboost well over 200k mis zero issues. Now have gen2- 2.7L Ecoboost F150 4wd an fully expect 250k mis +.
@@Davido50 it isn't rare. Mine went at 30,000 miles. Full synthetic oil change every 5,000 miles. Changed it when the oil life was at 50% each time.
Been subscribed to you for a long time because you tell it like it is. You are very knowledgeable and treat the vehicles like they are your own. It’s really a shame that the quality of the parts and seals just doesn’t exist anymore. All seals and components are made as cheaply as possible yet the prices keep on climbing. It’s really sad quality ceases to exist. You can’t blame it all on workmanship the materials they use are just good enough quality to drive the vehicle off the showroom floor and you are on your own. Thanks for sharing and stay safe and well. Artie
Just speculation but it is possible that the original chemical composition of Nitrile and Neoprene has been changed over the last couple of decades to meet environmental edicts and has made the product (often used in seals) less durable for the higher operating temperatures and more complex designs now used. Too bad for anyone who wants to own a vehicle beyond the first three or four years.
Hi Brian. I guess I have been lucky with my 2012 F150 Eco (King Ranch) I have replaced myself the front struts, the rear shocks front and rear rotors multiple times, the front calipers, replaced the brake booster vacuum pump which is electric on this year, I have also replaced Spark Plugs twice including new coil rubber boots - I replaced and re-gapped them a second time to 28 thousand because I think the turbos were blowing out the spark and causing misfires on hard pulls. The truck is currently at 177k today and only now am I starting to hear the phaser rattle you're describing. All I can say is I travel approx 120 miles each day for work and the truck has never let me down. I love this F150 and the Eco-boost engine and when I finally decide to have the timing done I will have everything done at once including the turbos and water pump! Your an excellent mechanic and please keep producing the videos, I certainly appreciate them.
I have a 2013 f150 with 3.5 Eco with 95k miles. Been having occasional start up rattle for a year or so but the last 3 months, it’s every start-up. I changed the oil and put in Liqui Moly 20232 Molygen New Generation 5W40 . Start up rattle stopped immediately and not one time in 2 months. I have went as long as 48 hrs between starts with no rattle. I don’t know if it’s the viscosity, the additives or what, but I am happy. Anyone have any thoughts??
So glad my head was screwed on correctly when I was looking for a F150 3 years ago. I wanted a crew cab, 4x4 and had to have the 5.0. I found exactly what I wanted and I have been really happy with my 2014 F150. I was scared of exactly this with the ecoboost engine
I’m looking at used 2014 F150 5.0 V8 with 88k on it and have been reading many good things about the V8’s. I’m tempted with going with the 3.5 V6 turbos, but like Brian said I think you can be hit or miss with the V6 Ecoboosts. I just want a good truck that will last long long mileage if you regularly maintain it. Don’t get me wrong, the V6 ecoboost has major torque at low RPM’s, but I think there are give and takes with turbo’s especially on V4 and V6 engines. Nice now, but pay down the road later. Your post was 1 year ago. How is your 2014 F150 holding up now?
I’ll keep my single cam v8 Silverado going as long as I can. She’s not much to look at anymore, but easy to work on for sure!!
I really like those first gen Silverado’s. They look good when they’re clean and maintained.
jrbpit1. Exactly!! You'll have to give the ol'e girl a little cosmetic face-lift to give'er a new truck look, it'll definitely be cheaper than a newbie. I just got done with the update on my one owner of 31 years and other than the odo reminder of her age she's looking pretty good. 👊👊👍👍✌✌
I changed the same left turbo coolant feed seal without taking the turbo off on my 2015 F150 4x4. I was actually very surprised to get it done so fast.
Is the left easier than the right?
@@jessemartin9720 the right seemed about the same. I had to replace the oil feed seal on that side. Took longer to clean the mess than it did to change the seal. Taking the starter out on the right side really opens it up.
@@hmayesh The access in the wheel wells is really quite excellent. I was scared of the turbos until I found how easy they were to access.
Couldn’t be happier to sell my ecoboost for the 3.0 Powerstroke. The ecoboost is powerful and fun to drive, but it’s a nightmare to repair and long term reliability isn’t great. Gotta appreciate good and honest technicians tho! Thank you!
Do they still offer the 3.0 Powerstroke?
I have a 2014 Tundra and never been to a shop since , no leaks. I do change the oil and filters and that's it .
I have the same truck. Water pump leaked at 80k (replaced) and the electronic steering system went completely out at 90k. The steering fix alone was $2k. I've only ever bought F150s, and this is the last one I'll ever buy. When this one dies, I'm trying the Tundra.
I had the rattle and cam to crank corralation code on my 2013 Ecoboost at 72,000 miles. Ford quoted me $4000 minimum to fix it. I bought the parts and tools and repaired it myself. Thanks for another great video. Keep the inspiration coming.
How much time and money by diy?
About 1000 dollars in parts and tools. It took about 16 hours. I worked at an international dealer and used the shop for the weekend.
And I purchased the parts through the dealer wholesale.
Show customer the video, give him a price on coolant leaks and one for turbos leaking, separating them may lower payments where he could do it a couple months apart, you are good man pointing the problem out to the customer, a tow bill would suck
If that was mine I would have you fix the timing as planned. Replace the water pump since the leak is obvious from the top side, than trade it immediately for a Tundra.
Same issues!! I own a 2012 150 ecoboost. Had startup rattling at 58000. Took it in to dealer for repair under warranty but issue came back right after warranty was out. So ( thanks to your videos) I repaired it myself. I had never been into an engine that deep. Followed the videos to the letter and everything turned out good. So thank you for that… As of now I have over 100,000 on the truck and still see issues with it. I usually research and fix them myself as I don’t trust the dealerships to work on my truck. This is the first domestic vehicle I’ve ever owned and unfortunately don’t think I’ll own another. I like the truck if it just didn’t have so many damn issues. It’s frustrating. Maybe Ford hadn’t worked all the bugs out of this 3.5 ecoboost before the put it into production, I don’t know. Anyway, Thank you for your detailed videos they have been of great value to me owning this truck.
You just gained a new subscriber after reading everyone’s comments. I’m losing sleep at night after purchasing my 2020 super cab raptor that I spent months looking for with only 15,000 miles on it. This cam phaser issue seems like every single raptor has is completely making me regret my decision. As I understand it it’s not a matter of if, but when. Basically 100% of these 3.5s need to have the cam phasers replaced? And by the looks of your video several other things 😢. I look forward to your future videos. Thank you.
I felt this way when I bought mine. plugs, IWEs, vacuum pump, cracked IWE actuator, blend door actuators, blower motor module, signal stock wiper switch, and a newly found startup rattle all within 2 years. Yet I know plenty of guys going years with no problems at all.
I have a 2011 5.0, had it since 100k now has 207k miles and zero issues, other than a coolant drip from the Y but has since been fixed
Same problems with my 2018. Huge disappointment after my 2012 was flawless. I need to get rid of it but now truck prices are ridiculous
So glad I bought an F250 Super Duty -4wd back in 2003, manufactured in June a few months before the 2004 3valve Triton was introduced with the spark plug, phasers and rocker roller issues. The engine has started every time except twice, a bad fuel pump and cruise control wire in the shifter lever. After all this time there is not a single leak anywhere including the differentials. With so many advancements in technology, its a shame that we still have this garbage engineering!
I have a '99 super duty with the v10 and it's got a very slow power steering leak, nothing else....and this truck sits a lot..so it's not exactly like I baby it...I don't think it's garbage engineering, I think they're just cheaping out on the builds (while charging you a lot more in the process).
The newer ones are ridiculous when it comes to parts like a rear tail light over $700 when leds go out. Bring back old school motors and bulbs.
Take care of that vehicle and keep it out of accidents. -New ones don't last like older ones. I would even look for another one as a back-up. Simple reliable trucks that can be used for work. =Reason for the new 7.3L Godzilla gas Super-Duty.
I’ve got two non eco boost 3.5 engines, one in an edge and one in my flex. Both have 160,000 and 180,000 and only one has had the water pump issue. So there is a definite gap in reliability between the NA and turbo engines. Glad I have the NA!!
Tbh, had they used a standard turbo or the custom one they have on the 2.0 and one of the other engines, it'd probably hold up alot better.
But this engine can't take the extra load a dual set up brings to it. It's just not made for it.
I have a ‘13 F150 Ecoboost with 230K miles. Had to replace the vacuum pump, head gaskets and passenger side turbo, but have not had to change timing chains. Water pump has been incident free. Thanks for your vids. I watch every one!
96 powerstroke 380k running great. Last Ford I bought, 2004 Triton 3v Lariat, new. I have never bought Ford since. Changed 3 generations of Ford buyers.
Good job informing your viewers on all of these common issues. We inform our customers on all of these when they come in on a person to person basis but your channel reaches a lot of people. We’re seeing a lot of these leaks at mileages far too low for customers to have to be liable for the repairs. Ford should step up to the plate and help these people out especially since they pushed the whole platform as the greatest thing since but we all know how unlikely that is. Thankfully we’ve built up a lot of trust with our customers because coming to them and telling them they need some expensive repairs on a truck with relatively low mileage that was well maintained can make people really question you.
Yep! That's why I'll be trading-in my '05 Lariat for a '22 Tundra instead of another F150.
These videos are an "eye opener" for us guys who own F150's. This is how we'll find out what expensive breakdowns to expect down the road.
Thanks again Bryan!
These companies need to get their crap together or recall their junk.
Don't get the first MY of a new generation car/truck.
Toyota is not immune to this
Yes, you are right.
For that reason and because most truck manufacturers are currently charging thousands over sticker price will force me to wait at least until early 2023.
@@cma8165 yes, both the new and used car market are insane right now. I'm glad that my 2014 truck has been paid off for the last 2 years and I'm sticking to it for at least a couple more years
Better off buying a tundra with the v8. That's IF you can find one with decent payload. When we looked for a tundra last year I couldn't find a crew max with more than 1250 payload on the door frame. The highlander we were trading had 1340. Doubt payload will be any better in the '22 with the new suspension system. Probably will be even worse.
I was an automotive tech for 30 plus years, now retired. I still keep up with what's going on though. From all that I have read and seen, Ford can't seem to build a decent engine. Strangely, that doesn't seem to have affected sales. Lot's of Ford trucks on the road here in Alberta. I never liked working on Fords and wouldn't own one today. Just my personal experience with the brand. On another note, I spent a good part of my career with Volkswagen. In the later years I became fed up with the poor quality and high incidence of repairs. Same things over and over again. So I left. You must really like Fords to keep on working on them with all the same problems. Thanks for the videos and your efforts to produce them.
Its not a charity, have you seen the size of his house? Of course he likes working on them!
I'd like working on them if I'm good at it and will bring me big $$$$
PS. Good VW techs also make big money, used to know one of these guys in my town and he always had his shop packed with vehicles waiting for repairs.
Brian,there is no question you are a professional,hard to find one these days, years ago when a person took there car to a dealership it meant a good mechanic would work on your car I have had very bad mechanics at dealerships do work on my cars and trucks,to the point where I do not Take them there for oil changes.
There is a 2.7 ecoboost on F150 forum, 465,000 miles. Original motor. Arod powerstroke, 6.7 powerstroke 1-million miles, original motor. Ford makes good engines overall, some years are better than others. The 2018+ ecoboosts seem to have far less issues than the earlier versions. I have a 2019 2.7 F150, 44k miles...thought there was a front cover leak, turned out to be just a loose bolt under the oil filter housing. Dealership re-sealed under warranty, checked pan as a courtesy, no leaks. I hope to get another 200k miles out of this 2.7.
I think the 2.7 is the best overall engine in the F150 line up for longevity, power, fuel economy.
I love your videos as I own a 2011 F-150 EcoBoost. I currently have 144K miles, it's been a good truck for me. But your videos do make me worry! At least I've been meticulous in following your maintenance recommendations for it. That water pump looks like the easiest job on his truck. I replaced my wife's 2014 Mustang water pump, a pretty easy job, and I thought I saw that my 2011 F-150 uses the same pump. But I'm just a home garage weekend mechanic, I'll defer to you! Brian, you are an excellent person and a stellar mechanic. If I were this customer I'd pay you to get everything done correctly. Looks like he's planning to keep this truck... Thanks again for taking the time to post another great, informative video.
Oops, just read oakydoak06 comment where it's his truck and he's getting it all done. Which makes sense since he drove to Brian for his professional work!
Thanks Brian. Great videos!! I never miss them! I have a 2015 F 150 with the 2.7L twin turbo and 60K miles in CA. Thankfully no problems yet but I did get the 7 year/75,000 mile extended warranty. This video makes me want to take the truck into a good independent mechanic for a thorough inspection before the warranty is up next June.
Just do it.
Seen coolant leaks at the fittings pretty regularly even up though 2018s. Have done trucks with 430000 miles. There is a design change recently so we'll see how that goes. Exhaust manifold leaks are also common. Always replace the coolant lines now due to corrosion. Its a huge pain but will save customer future costs to go back in a year after the repair. Water pumps 3.5 and 5.0 fairly often as well. Ford does the vct phaser rattle so often under warranty we have a tsb with a parts list. Have had to do some that were done 20000 miles before. Its an ongoing problem.
I just sold my 2016 2.7 f150. Had almost 90k miles and zero issues BUT this is what drove me to get rid of it. I did notice the leaking of something within the last year of owning it so hopefully the next guy doesn’t have major issues. Outside of minor issues like new battery and break pads, it never left me stranded.
I’m actually done with trucks now. 65k is just bananas to me.
Just brought a 2022 Ford Maverick, and after three recalls, I’m spooked what the future holds for me with this unit. Thx for the vid.
This is a long shot but one worth taking. You are an insanely talented mechanic and obviously know these vehicles inside and out. I have a 2013 F150 Ecoboost 100K that I have owned since brand new. I have the coolant leaks at the jiffy tite fittings (amongst a few other common issues) and I am having the hardest time finding a mechanic that has any experience with these trucks at all. Any chance you know one that you might recommend in South Florida? Not sure what your charging per hour for labor, but I would be through the moon to pay whatever knowing someone with your knowledge and expertise was doing it right. I want someone to go through my truck like you did with this customer and make sure I am aware of what needs to be done. Its nearly impossible for me to do that with confidence when none of them have eve heard of the coolant connector leaks as a common problem. Thanks in advance for any support/advice!
I have a 2010 Fusion with the 2.5L and a few years ago thought about trading up to a newer Fusion with Ecoboost. No sale. The 2010 has the Ford ticking engine but no leaks like the madness found on those EBs.
Will hang on to the 2010 till the wheels fall off.
Appreciate your content and telling us Ford owners what’s what.
Take care
You know that transmission in your Fusion is also notoriously garbage too, right?
@@borisjankovici662 I have heard the stories about that. Bought the car new in 2010 and drive rather conservatively plus been changing the trans fluid every 20k so hoping that helps extend the life of it. Only 108k miles on the car so crossing my fingers on that as it gets closer to 125-130k miles. So far still shifts smooth.
Time will tell, eh?
@@CygnusX168 Good luck. Maybe yours is alright. I considered getting that generation fusion used, but after I read about the trans there was just no way. Same with the last gen Focus. Good looking car, horrible transmission.
I just want a naturally aspirated car with a 5 speed manual transmission for daily driving. Is that so much to ask, auto manufacturers? I don't need turbos or 10 speed automatics.
I would love a new F150 with one of these newer engines, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to part with my 2 valve 4.6 in my ‘08. 247,000 miles on the original engine and timing components, and still sounds like new. No dreaded ticking or startup rattle that its 5.4 counterpart was prone too. All maintenance was done at the recommended intervals, and the worst leaks it’s ever had were a vacuum hose, the muffler, and the washer fluid tank. Seems like the 2V 4.6’s were indestructible. Brian, you are a godsend to anybody who owns a Ford! Glad to see this customer’s truck get fixed right.
I have a '15 3.5 EB F-150 and I had the Vacuum pump leak as well as the front timing cover oil leak. I had the dealer fix them under warranty. (I bought the extended warranty.) It took them two tries to fix the Vacuum pump leak. Glad I checked it again before the warranty expired.
A d,mn shame, all those leaks with 70,000 miles on it, that's a big repair job. Plus he's far away from home.
I have a 2.7, I use Amsoil and change it every 3,000. I love the power when you need it. Gets 10klm per 100 normally. I also added a catch can. I think I'll have good luck considering how I maintain it. There expensive and very few maintain a vehicle properly. After 5-8 years there all junk...regardless of make or model.
good choice. Catch can is unnecessary in Eco because of valving in intake. Yes for Voodoo. Whatever makes you happen. Ford doesn't make catch can for eco, but for Voodoo, so obviously it doesn't need one
Unfortunate set of circumstances.
I think the people designing these engines design them so they have to go back for repair to pull in the money to fill their pockets. Don’t worry about longevity ! Short term is where the cash is at. Owners get the shaft. I had a exploder sport Eco stretched chains, phaser replacement. Luckily I still had the powertrain warranty. After the repair the vehicle didn’t run and perform like it did before the engine issue. Decided to get rid of it and get a normally aspirated V6.
F150’s I’m on my 5th in 22 years all had the V8’s. Only had a misfire from a bad coil pack and a replaced alternator. No other problems, Knock on wood.
The people who design them design them well, which is how you get so many 3.5 EBs that just work their butts off and last to very high mileage with low emissions, relatively low fuel consumption, and all that. A lot of these problems are from farming out the manufacturing to save a few dollars, and companies that really don't want to admit their mistakes unless there's a lawsuit. And it seems like with Fords, there's always one big thing that makes the whole vehicle a turd. It used to be some of their transmissions, especially in passenger cars and SUVs. Or a whole engine family that had coolant control/gasket issues like the Essex (3.8/4.2 OHV V-6es). It was heartbreaking because the rest of the vehicle seemed to be pretty reliable.
Trying to get repair parts can be frustrating, and it was a bad scene even years before the pandemic; sometimes a whole run of new/rebuilt parts is defective, so you end up changing the thing a dozen times before you give up and buy it somewhere else that might source it from another vendor. It's even like this with parts for older vehicles. You'd think nobody could f--- up rebuilding a mechanical fuel pump for a mild 1970s American V8 like a 351 in an F250 or whatever, but all I can say is thank f--- it's about a 15 minute job on an old pickup because there are such garbage parts for sale. Parts from the dealer used to be better, but even some of those will burn you.
Sometimes I think they should stop selling cars and trucks and just sell "vehicle starter kits." If you can put it together and spot the shitty components, good for you. Otherwise, enjoy riding the bus or hope your tow truck driver isn't allergic to your pet cat/dog/whatever. If you're lucky, you can get some of the best vehicles ever made. If you're not, you're kind of SOL and the repair is financially out of reach to a lot of people anymore. Even if it's a simple vehicle they know how to fix, if it breaks down on the way to work, it could be bye-bye job. Same scenario with
@Sblackfll Most people do not buy extended warranties. Extended Warranties pay out 10%. Failures under 100-150k miles are rare. After 150k failures start to occur, but by then the extended warranty is over.
@Sblackfll Extended warranties pay out 10% in claims compare to premiums. If you like making other people rich by all means buy extended warranties on everything you buy. They are a total ripoff on modern vehicles that hardly ever break. When they do break it’s not something the warranty will cover anyway like, tires, brakes, windshield wipers, oil, oil filters, air filters, body damage, glass damage, light bulbs, seat tears, etc. If it is something that is covered they will find a way to deny it, like missing an oil change by one mile, off-roading, or racing. Smart people do not buy optional warranties on anything. In my entire life I have never had a warranty claim on any product. I’ve never had an issue that an extended warranty would have covered. Ford sells a lot of cars so some bad ones will slip through, but I’d bet it’s way less than one percent in 150k miles that is not covered under the base warranty, recall, or special coverage. The angry people with a problem are usually the ones that never change the oil or let someone under 25 drive the car. Cars just don’t break nowadays unless they are misused or one is extremely unlucky.
Pennsylvania purchased truck here. 2015 F150 2.7 Ecoboost Supercab. I bought the vehicle in mid 2018 to replace my 2004 F150 (I was living in Virginia at the time). Moved to New Orleans mid 2019. Drove the truck up to PA in April 2021. My 68k mile engine took a dive because the same turbo fitting failed and it was a catastrophic loss of coolant. Thankfully was 1 mile from dealership in PA when it happened. 4 days of waiting to get repaired, and then I was on my way back to southern Louisiana. Only failure I've had with the truck since purchase.
My company truck is a 2016, 2.7 Ecoboost. it suffered injector failure at 112,000 miles and washed 2 cylinders. Fords solution was to replace the motor to the tune of $9,000.00. For such a small motor in a full sized truck, I'm surprised by the power and fuel economy. It averages 18-19 mpg and it replaced my 2013 F150 with the 5.0 that only averaged 13-14 mpg.
after watching your videos i'm glad it had a 4.6. you do great work and i really appreciate your vids, don't get upset, it's not your fault. all mechanics and body shop guys want to have the engineers come in the shop and work for a day fixing there mistakes.
Please remove your comment and if you have to ask why you will never know
As a 12' Focus owner who has taken care of my car to the point where my engine is almost to 400k miles with no repairs, but I've had to have the transmission worked on at least every year, I know what that customer's feeling.
Are transmission problems common with that car?
@@piggy310 Bad enough to warrant a class action lawsuit. Look it up.
Man, between the 3V 5.4 and the Ecoboost engines, Ford is really losing it. I'd never buy either of those engines. Can you even get a newer Expedition without an Ecoboost anymore? I'm still hanging onto my 5.4 2V Expedition -- it's bulletproof. Just shy of 260,000 miles and it just passed another smog check with no problems at all. Probably the best engine Ford has made.
I feel like the 5.4 3V got a bad reputation. Phasers - $90. VCT Solenoid - $65. Roller followers - $12 e/a. 3.5L EcoBoost timing job - $5,000+
Hate to hear this. We have a 2007 Expedition EL with 180,000 on it. Was thinking about getting a newer one, but the eco boost engine had me worried.
I just bought a 2009 XLT with the 5.4 with 239000 miles to replace the 2013 Lariat 3.5 Ecoboost that was totaled in an accident. As of right now, comparing both trucks, I love the way this 5.4 drives over the Ecoboost and sounds like a truck. Miss my leather seats....and the step bumper.. my next truck will be a Coyote..Just hope I can find something to pull #12000. The lariat was only going to do 9000. This XLT..only 6000 I think..It has a 3.31. Lariat had, I think the 3.73..maybe
@@colinwatt00 Bad reputation as in the problems are overrated? Look at how many 3V timing jobs Brian does at his shop. In 260k, the only thing that's been done to my 2V 5.4 is new head gaskets because of an oil leak.
@Colin Watt. I couldn’t agree more. I have a 2005 F150 with the 5.4 3v, 280,000 miles and counting. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance. Take care of it and it will take care of you.
I've got a '16 Transit van with this engine and it's been great...but it gets hotter than hell under the hood. I've notice that on the newer models they've really opened up the grill to get more air in there. I've been changing the oil myself and haven't noticed any leaks...but now I'll take a better look around after seeing this video. Always cheaper to fix than replace...it is and always has been a crap shoot with vehicles. Had a few that ate up money back in the 80s but since then I've been very lucky....all Fords, about 6 of them in the last 30 years....work vans and pickups. Bought them all new.
Love your Boxer Brian, my Boxer is 12 yrs old now......... best dog I've ever had.
I have the 2017 F150 3.5L Ecoboost. I love the driveability and utility of my truck - lots of power and decent gas mileage for a truck - but these issues do make me miss my Toyota. I have a coolant leak and am about to remove the skid plate to find the origin. I'm pretty sure it's going to be those turbo fittings. Hopefully it's just one side, but I imagine if it's one side, the other is coming soon.
I was considering an eco boost for my next truck just because of the awesome power they make but i’ve heard som not so great things about them. This video seals the deal, i’ll stick with the brand i have used for many trouble free years.
Never get echo boost just get the 5.0 V8
Hoping the new Ford 7.3 liter push rod motor will be more prevalent in the future to include 5.0 liter versions. I hate these modular motors!
The 7.3 is already proven to be pretty reliable. It had a pretty decent launch year compared other gas V8s and diesels and it’s making it’s way into a Blue Bird buses and RVs. It’s a simple design and was long overdue imo.
Yes...#LongLiveThePushRod
I just now subscribed to your channel, not because I'm interested in car repairs, or Fords. My mechanic has told me to stay away from Fords. I subscribed because I appreciate an honest and knowledgeable mechanic. I will also Like any of your videos that show up.
We had the t-chain rattle at around 30k miles on a '14 Explorer w/ the 3.5L E-boost. Ford did the chain, guides, tensioner and cam phaser, too. The vehicle never ran right again. Fuel consumption went from 20ish MPG, down to 15.5ish MPG. When you would get heavy into the throttle, it would run real rich and blow black smoke. We had it back to the dealer several times after that and they could never find anything wrong with it. We still have it today and just turned 100k.
I wish we had known about your shop earlier. You're only about 8hrs away.
I’m sure the answer is “no”, but I would hope that Ford (and other makers as well) would track down people like Brian and pay them to pick their brains a few times a year to help make heir cars better...
Agreed. The man is an expert in the field. Engineers and bean counters should take a field trip to hang out and watch Brian. Might help them get their heads out of their asses.
Ford is more interested in making sure the vehicle is reliable through the warranty period and that's it. Then they basically only make money off parts. What sells more parts? Parts that fail. Really though these days most vehicles are dead set reliable to at least 100k.
Ford only cares about the next quarter revenue. They care about the customer until you pay for the car, after that you are on your own.
@@markcrawford1982 look at GDI engines. Won't they all start running inefficiently unless you clean the valves regularly? Granted, part of it is govt CAFE standards but some car makers still find a way to do port injection or how hard would it be to design in an oil catch can? Unfortunately, more people care about if the car has Apple Carplay than how the engine and drivetrain operate and were designed so consumers reap what they sow, I suppose....🤷♂️
I have a 2011 f150 3.5 with 280k on it. No engine issues to speak of. I guess I’m one of the lucky ones. However the output shaft sensor is starting to fail. This is an issue
280k wow !!
I just changed the coolant fittings on the driver's side turbo on my 2014 F-150, 3.5 with 81,000 miles. The fittings were $26.00, seal kit $30.00, and turbo mounting bolts $27.00 plus two gallons of Motorcraft concentrate coolant $ 36.00. It was a time consuming repair for that little fitting and a pain to do.
Did you check your rear manifold bolts? I’m at 97k and both driver and pass. rear studs are broken. I will be replacing all the fittings and gaskets along with the studs. I do love the motor. Has been good to me. Knock on wood with the timing chain. I have been using mobile one every 5k. To good health and safety 👍
@@paulroberts1695 No, I didn't check the manifold bolts.
2014 FX4 so I bought the V8 model....still strong with 148000 KMS....tuned it up at 100000kms....so far so good
Thanks for fueling my hatred to the Ford. Apart from leaks my 2011 Fusion V6 Flex does not have OEM parts for exhaust available anymore - not just out of stock, the category vanishes when I check in my car. I had to buy aftermarket, I bought Walker and now I am dealing with exhaust leak. And I did that only as preventive replacement, because flex connector was torn out and small hole was forming, no audible leaks though...
You could save the customer a lot of labor by lifting the cab to do the timing components, makes the turbos a breeze. Glad they fixed the turbo coolant line issues and went away from the vacuum pump on the 2nd gen 3.5. Even so, the v6 ecoboost engine are VERY reliable.
Anytime step 1 is : remove cab. It's not gonna be cheap.
@@eldonerc2524 Not really. Cabs and cradles are build to be quickly assembled, and its usually only a handful of hours to separate. The tighter the engine bay, the more sense it makes to just lift the cab or drop the cradle.
@@eldonerc2524 NO, I lift the cabs cause it takes me 40-60min. makes working on the engine easier. instead of hanging over the top, with arms dangling down.
Seems like with each passing year cars are becoming more and more disposable. They become so expensive to repair that it's almost cheaper to crush them and buy another new vehicle. 70k miles needing that much work is ridiculous. Manufacturers don't make much profit in selling new cars. They get their profit with having parts fail sooner and sooner and making it so difficult to work on that you have to bring it to a repair shop or dealership. Makes me not want any new vehicles. I rather buy a 20 year old one and repair it properly.
After seeing this video, I can't help but think that the environment of high temperature Texas climate and lack of driving this truck factors into the problems it has. The first generation EcoBoost engines seems to have its own problems, just like the 5.4 3v does. The broad stroke engineering method of take one engine and test it to death- therefore all production engines will also withstand these tests- is where Ford is going wrong. The millions of variables involved in real world testing is made even more complex when coupled with how each customer uses, treats, and maintains each truck. Ford needs to recognize the patterns of failures that are occurring in these vehicles, and realize the direct correlation of failure mode and part design. This is the only way that they can stay number one in the truck sales arena. If they don't do this, it ultimately will affect the legacy of the F150, as well as the relationship between the customer and the company/dealership. I have 2 Ford trucks, and no other brand really appeals to me. Every manufacturer has a unique set of shortfalls , so I'm not throwing shade at anyone here, but when it comes to putting my money down on anything, experience with a known reliable product is among the first things that I consider. Price be damned, if it won't last, and it won't do what's required of it, why buy it?
@@crisprtalk6963 yeah, less than 10,000 miles a year is below national averages. Not saying it's a bad thing, but most 8 year old trucks are past 100,000 miles at this age.
I think Ford needs to help him on this. These trucks are so expensive and for 70k? That’s unacceptable in my opinion. Your very passionate about your work and people’s vehicles
Only problem with my 2011 f150 XLT 3.5 ECOBOOST 6 speed, was a bad coil on #3 cylinder.
Runs very well, lots of power, 6 speed trans, 2wheel drive, 140k miles.