Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoost V6 Engine **Heavy Mechanic Review** | Top 5 ISSUES
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
- I Review a 2023 Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine as a heavy duty mechanic. I talk about the top 5 engine issues and problems on this 3.5L twin turbo Ecoboost engine. I also talk about the reliability and longevity of the Ecoboost engine vs a traditional V8 like the 5L coyote engine.
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F150 Ecoboost FULL review - • Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoos...
F150 Ecoboost Towing Review - • Ford F150 3.5L EcoBoos...
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I hope everyone is having a great weekend! Today I am talking about the dark side of these 3.5L ecoboost engines and going over the top 5 issues that caught my eye if I was going to buy this engine.
1. CAM PHASERS, the cam phasers on these ecoboost for years have plagued these engines and the result is a noisy start up with the phasers and cams slapping around. it seems like these phasers can fail at any time and the main issues is the lock out pins are breaking.
good news is as of 2021 ford has introduced a new cam phasers and it seems like it has solved this issue
2. TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. the timing chains on the first gen ecoboost engines are notorious for failing. if you are looking at buying one make you the timing chain has been replaced at some point. thankfully in 2017 ford changed up the timing chain into 2 separate chains and this seem to solve the issues
3. TURBO FAILURE. I always hear about turbo failures on these ecoboost engines but to me a turbo is a wearable item and they do fail from time to time. just be aware that if you buy an ecoboost turbos may be something you will need to replaced eventually.
4. OIL PAN GASKET LEAK. it seems like the oil pan leaking is another common issue. not catastrophic but an issue that keeps on re-occurring despite multiple new gaskets. looks like the plastic oil pans are to blame for this.
5. SPARK PLUG FAILURE. early spark plug failures are something that happen on this engine simply because of the boost and direct injection on these engines. just something to be aware of.
overall I think ford has a pretty reliable engine but these are my concerns if I was going to buy one of these engines!
Hope you guys liked the video! - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
My 2011 f150 3.5 ecoboost has 429,000 and still running down the road. I’ve had zero, timing chain issues, zero turbo issues and zero valve issues. If you use a quality synthetic oil and filter these issues doesn’t show up much.
Wow nice
Damn! When you retire that thing, Ford should put it in the Hall of Fame.
How you feel.about royal purple oil???
Does it sit much ???
@@user-gm4lc2ym8p no, it’s always on the go.
2018 had a cam phaser tick at idle at 57,000 miles it was still under warranty the dealer replaced the phasers with the newer style it's only been 6 months no issues yet. I like the engine it's a real powerhouse!
I have had no issues on my 3.5L. I learned a long time ago on early turbos to let engine cool a minute before shutting it off. And also start out gently on cold mornings. Also turn off the auto-start feature cause soon as you come off the freeway at highway speeds it shuts off at the first light. Also frequent oil changes, I always use Motorcraft synthetic blend with Motorcraft filter. Lastly after overnight shutdown, hold gas pedal to the floor and let engine crank a short bit, then start it. Gets oil circulating before starting cold.
How do you turn off the auto start feature? I am purchasing one of these soon and really want to baby it
What year is your Ford F150?
@@ajw5743changing code in forscan. Rather simple
@@ajw5743mine is a button by the radio but I can only turn it off each time I turn it off
We have 400,000 literally trouble free with our 2012 3.5 ecoboost . We fkn love it hasnt ever missed a beat. We regularly two out 25 foot trophy ocean fishing boat on a 30 foot tandem trailer around Vancouver island through the mountains no issue . We also pull a 20 foot trailer back and forth through the rockie mountains loaded with airplane that weigh 2 to 3000 lbs plus 2400lbs for.the trailer.
We normally drive it pretty hard . Love❤it. Infact we are buying a new one tomorrow.
What gas and oil are you using?
You need to get ahold of Guiness.....and have it in there books!
You're the only person I've EVER heard that says that motor is good !!
154,000 miles, 2016 3.5 ecoboost 4wd w 3.31 rear end , no problems so far except for coolant leak at one of the turbos. Been a great truck. Not sure if I’m going for the coyote next round. I’m happy with the decent gas mileage I get out of this 3.5. I plan on keeping this for another 150,000. Let’s see how it does. Thank you for the great video.
What's you miles per gallon
I have to have an issue I'm getting 12.5 but it runs great
What kind of mileage are you getting? Also, I have a 2018 with the 5.0 V8....and have a bit of an issue with the 'oil consumption' problem the 5.0 Coyote engines are known for.
I have a ‘19 3.5 eco since new. Fun factor blows me away. Pulls my boat like it’s not there. Hope I don’t jinx it but 22k miles and not one complaint yet. It’s a 2nd vehicle- and I plan to keep it forever!
I couldn't agree more in terms of fun factor. I thought the lack of V8 sound would bug me but I didn't even notice because the massive smile on my face when the boost hits. and as you said this engines pulls like something else. hopefully she stays true to you sir!
Just purchased a 2017 explorer sport with the 3.5 Ecoboost with 51,881 miles on the clock so far i love it no phaser issues that i can hear and no oil leaking
The best engine Ford ever built was the 300 i6.
I’ll trade fuel economy and monster power for a dinky reliable turd any day.
@@kensporalsky3784 I know I probably would too. I was just being nostalgic.
Exactly. As long as you don’t like power, emissions or fuel economy.
@@Maverick09171 it's a generational thing. I like timing gears not timing chains. It was an engine that you couldn't kill and I loved the way it sounded. I'm mostly being nostalgic.
@@frankeem3820 yeah I get it. Just in the same way I’ll still be saying LS engines are forever the best, in 30 years when new internal combustion engines have gone extinct
I think most of the problems are related to lack of oil changes. It doesn't matter if it's a 5.0 or ECO 2.7., 3.5. The early oil pans were two-piece plastic oil pans, they are now one-piece cast pans. Seems 2021 up solved most of the issues you mentioned. I agree changing the plugs early is a good idea.
2021 and up seem to be good running units as you mentioned. but yes changing oil at like 8k miles or above is too long for these engines.
I recommend changing the engine oil every 3k my f150 4.6l v8 has over 400k original engine.
@@theshield1613 oil change intervals should also be adjusted for driving style. If you're doing mostly city driving or short trips with plenty of idle time, 3k intervals are good. If you're doing 50% or more highway without excessive idling, 5k is fine for a healthy interval with good oil. All highway with no towing, 7k intervals are adequate with good oil. Ford's recommended 10k interval with semi-synthetic oil is good if you're only expecting 100-150k miles out of the engine. They are high compression, direct-injected, and turbocharged. All 3 of those traits break down and contaminate oil faster. The v6 ecoboosts are built stout and easily last 200k+ with good maintenance. I've seen a few with over 300k miles.
Spark plugs in ecoboosts are also best done at 50k mile intervals or 30k if tuned.
My 2019 3.5 ecoboost f150 shows 50% oil life remaining when I change it at 5k. No drama, so far. My coworker follows the oil life monitor on his ecoboost f150 and waits until
Totally agree
That Ecoboost will eat a 5.0 for lunch.
I have 2021 3.5 and i absolutely love, tows my 34' trailer so well. So fun to drive also, especially in sport mode !
I owned and towed with a 2011 5.0 V8 before I traded it in on a new 2018 3.5 v6 Eco Boost. The 5.0 was an excellent engine for towing 7500 lbs of trailer. It would heat up some on the rougher passes in Colorado, but that was the only issue and it did not boil over but it concerned me. The 3.5 V6 was, and still is, amazing. I never dreamed I'd be able to tow like this, and still get great gas mileage solo both around town and on the highway. Although at 60K miles I have not had any engine issues with the 3.6V6, I completely agree with your points in your review, and totally agree that if you want to keep a pickup for over 100K miles, the V8 would be the better choice. They have much better power now than in 2011, and seem to have better gas mileage (??). The 5.0 should be able to do anything you have any business doing in a half ton pickup. Still, the 3.5 Eco Boost - amazingly fun to drive.
I have a 2013 with 230,000km, the cam phasers were making noise only if it sat for about three weeks without starting. I used royal purple in my last oil change and it has seemed to have stopped the noise and I am now getting better fuel economy on the highway
2015 3.5 eco boost currently. Had a 2019 5.0 that had a bad rattle at 20k while accelerating at low rpm’s. Traded it in for new Toyota for wife. Swore I wouldn’t by a used 3.5. I bought one with a perfect maintenance records at a local ford dealer. Had 99k on it. I now have 130k and just pulled my camper 500 miles. 3.5 is a beast over my 5.0. It even has 331 axle compared to 5.0 with 355 gears and a 10 speed. I lock my 6 speed in 4th when tow up and down in the rolling hills of pa and have averaged 10 mpg towing 5k camper. I average 23 to 24 mpg empty. My wife even noted how quite the eco boost is going up mountains compared to the 5.0. Great content. Keep up the good work. I may buy a 2021 3.5 in the future . If I get 200k out of this one. The reason behind holding 4th gear is to keep transmission temperatures cooler and I feel that the turbos are not having to work as hard. Let me know what you think?
2016 2.7 EB. here, 109k miles, doing the oil pan and also have to do valve covers on mine, parts were readily available online, no supply issues, bought parts 2 weeks ago.
I have a 2.7 with 130,000 no issues my dad has a 2015 3.5 with 300,000 original engine and transmission, i was very suprised on how he misses oil changes and doesn’t check his coolant but it still runs perfect
The ecoboost are solid engines despite some of the common issues. Alot of people have great results with them!
My brother has a 2016 2.7l 260k km on it oil pan leaks he never changes oil on time last time he changed it there was only 3l of oil in it but for some reason still drives like new
And on my 2015 6.7 I replaced the engine twice
What year is your 2.7?
We pushed a 2021 3.5 eco to 147k before it needed plugs. To this point, Reliability has exceeded the Mercedes diesel it replaced.
wow that's awesome life for spark plugs in general lol
@@TheGettyAdventures
Yeah, I'm not sure I could agree with a 5.0 doing any better. And I know the 5.0 wouldn't have enough torque for 3500 raised, extended awd Transit the 3.5 is powering.
Was there any major problems with the truck during point of ownership?
@@johnnyzhang9839
Tires and brakes, the vehicle did very well.
This is a great video. The only issue I've had developed a month ago with a whiny noise you could easily hear with the window down. It sounded like an older diesel motor or one of the old cars that had a vacuum pump. The dealer said it was a bearing and shaft on one of the turbos. They found another problem that boosted the repair bill, but right now we're hovering around $7500. I'm still getting more information. This truck has always been serviced at the dealership.
How many miles on yours?
Go to your dealership's parts department and get the quote for all the parts. Then go home and get on the internet and search for those parts by part number. There are a lot of dealerships and websites who sell genuine parts for half the price of other retail dealers. If I remember correctly, you should be able to find a genuine Ford replacement turbo for around $380 + core charge. Not sure how mechanically inclined you are, but I was an aircraft mechanic for 10 years and tackle projects like this myself.
Great video. I have a 2015 F150 3.5 with 144K miles on it, and so far the only items to fail have been the cooling hoses you mentioned. I do change the oil every 3K-4K miles using a high quality synthetic oil, and about 80% of my mileage is highway miles. I also change the spark plugs every 40K miles (easy job) and also replace the coils every 60K (also easy job). All in all I've been happy with the truck, and I hope to get another 100K miles out of it before it needs any major work done.
Maintenance is critical with these engines and you seem to be right on top of it. I don't why you wouldn't get another 100k
@@TheGettyAdventures Correction. Maintenance is critical on EVERY engine. Most engines are reliable when properly maintained, no matter the brand.
replaced my plugs at 150k first time they looked pretty good and I did some towing and lots of off road use. no point to change every 40k. 3K is abit low for an oil change for highway driving.
I don't get why people always say the oil minder is off with 10,000 mile oil changes. Have a gen 2 and ever oil change I do a blackstone oil analysis and this last few times I went to a full 10,000 miles and the oil was still well within specs. I'm at 120,000 miles on mine but I did remove and replace the turbo oil screen to verify it wasn't getting clogged. It looked great. I use WIX filters and Penzoil ultra platinum. I also do not use a catch can and scope my intake every 50,000 miles. Engines stay clean and run great with basic maintenance. I also tow two horses regularly and live on dirt roads. Gen 2 engine is very reliable.
The reason why they do have a rattle it's when you put the cheapest oil in it and the cheapest filter you have to put full synthetic in them then they will never do that and then you keep doing your oil changes like it has to be done then there is no issue with the 3.5L EcoBoost 💪💪🤜🤛 they are the most powerful engines from Ford Chevy Dodge
Another excellent video, i appreciate your honest opinion and I would probably go the 5.0l route also for the longevity and less possible issues.
Thank you Brandon, the 5L is not perfect but It's the engine I would want.
I haven’t had any cam phaser issues at all I have a 2012 F150 Lariat with a 120,000 I bought it used and regular maintenance was done on it and I stay on top of the maintenance of it regularly and as of now no issues it depends on the care of the ecoboost and your truck care it can be a bad one from time to time but I love the engine and the truck and the power
I have a 2013 3.5 eco boost, 4 wheel drive, 85,000 miles, regular oil changes, at 5,000 miles, with pure synthetic oil. Only big fix was air conditioning, replaced all related parts, at the 85k mile mark. Tows great even at 8,000 feet, where my campsite is located.
I have a 2012 f150 3.5 ecoboost with 258k miles and it does good. No oil leaks has great power for a little v6 the only issue with mine is when I go up a hill it's fine but when I come off the other side the temp hand will go up about 3/4 of the way and about a mile down the road it goes back to normal. When I say hill I mean mountain because I do live in west Virginia.
Had a 2015,2018,now 2021 no issues. Had over 60,000 miles on the first two and towed 6,000 lb trailer. Changed my oil every 5,000 miles.
I've been on the fence about this truck for a while...I think this trilogy has swayed me towards a yes. Thanks for the great content :)
Happy you liked the series!
Bought a 2011 Lariat w/ 3.5L ecoboost w/3.73 gear and 6speed. 42k mileage when purchased. Owned it for a daily driver for over 8yrs. Warranty work done for moisture in the intake which caused hesitation. T.s.b. performed(pcm flash and cover plate installed on intercooler). Heard the cam phaser noise about around 50k. Took it in a dealer could not reproduce the noise. Heard it again after warranty was out. Said to myself well I’m all in now. Conclusion= Put 150k+ on this engine. 195k still going strong until it was t-boned at a red light and truck was totaled. Would hear the noise only if oil change was behind schedule. Change before and service this engine a bit early, not the recommended 6k and they are amazing!!!!
Great video! Had a 2018 that had the phasers go at 35,000 miles. Dealership made excuse after excuse for not being able to fix it- no parts, no solution that was actually working etc…Swore off Ford for good and traded it not long after on a Ram. Here I am once again with a ‘21 3.5 and 34,000 trouble free miles so far… I missed how this engine tows so much that I convinced myself to give it another shot- you just cannot beat this engine in the 1/2 ton segment for towing. To be honest I had a Ram 2500 with the 6.4 hemi and it doesnt even come close to how well this engine tows. Hoping that the 21+ years are finally fixed (it absolutely took Ford way way too long to address the issues).
❤❤
What are you towing? I'm thinking about getting a '21 to tow a travel trailer that weighs about 9500lbs. Was thinking about a 250 but????
@@bass3587 27ft travel trailer, 7000 fully loaded and 900lbs tongue weight. Pulls like an absolute dream. 9500lbs would probably be 250 territory for me though, you are probably going to be close to 1300lbs of tongue weight which will be too much for a 1/2 ton’s payload imo. The 3.5 will handle that weight no problem, its the stability I’d be concerned with.
Ram isn't junk like Ford Eco Turds
@@ramtrucks721 RAM , you mean italian Fiat CRAP!., LOL! By the way nice name, looks like you have been sucking someones......... All Trucks WILL FAIL at some time, but how hard is to repair and how often is the Concerning Factor. RAMS/Fiats have a decent engine with the Cummins however they wrap it up with a piece of shit dodge body.
2015 3.5 EB owner here, 120,000 miles on mine. I'd say you gave a pretty fair assessment. I will say the phaser, turbo and timing chain issues you mentioned are greatly reduced with proper oil change intervals. Ford is trippin on 10k intervals, I do 5k religiously and have had no issues with timing chain stretch, turbos wear, or phaser rattle. Spark plugs are also just something that just gets changed more frequently. I get about 40-50k out of a set before having misfire issues. Also plug gap works way better at .028, at least for the 1st gen I have anyways.
I didn't realize ford recommended such high interval for oil change. that is completely ridiculous. 5k should be when you change you oil without a doubt.
Am at 72,500 miles, still have original plugs, no misfire issues, am changing them out on my 2015 this summer, totally agree with the oil change intervals, am doing three oil changes a year with full synthetic
Crazy thing to me is they put small screens in the VCT solenoids and Turbocharger oil lines and they are recommending extended oil change intervals. If any one of those gets clogged with debris/sludge then it’s the end of that engine. I don’t understand the confusion or people’s refusal to do proper maintenance. 3-5k is what works and always have. People want to drag this shit out then also neglect the rest of the vehicle by never changing transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid, etc. Makes me never want to buy a used vehicle again. I don’t trust people with basic maintenance.
Reading this comment was honestly the best! I’m looking into a 2015 3.5 L and was afraid of the things I’ve heard of that engine. I’m buying it used with 128,700 miles but the last owner was good about the oil changes and whatnot. Clean carfax report too, I’m taking my chances.
Well I've got 2001 f150. 3.5 eco boost. She's got 340 THOUSAND miles on it. I've changed the oil every 3000 miles with full synthetic high mileage oil. I changed all timing and components at 280 thousand miles. The other major repair I've done is the water coolant lines to the turbos. Now that's a pain in the ass. Pull the intake and remove the turbos. I put driver and passenger side oil catch cans on it when I purchased it.. I also put a bigger tranny cooler on it. I believe it's a raptor cooler. That cooled the tranny down big time. But other then that no major issues..
Great video and good things to keep in mind! I will say that I think the 3.5 is a great motor, though. I have a '13 3.5 with 200k on it and the only issue it's ever given me is an exhaust manifold (which is apparently pretty common on these engines as well). However, I do oil changes religiously at 5k intervals and only use full synthetic. I think that helps mitigate many problems with such an engine
I'm looking at a 13. Are the 3.5 engines similar to the new ones like in this video? I'm used to chevy's, so these are new to me. Thanks
I have 2013 3.5 EcoB at only 50,000 Kms but the engine roars lately and my fuel is at 18+ L/100.
Have a 2014 3.5 eco boost with 130,000 miles. Only issue was a throttle body replaced at 72,000, it runs perfect. I do run Mobil 1 and change every 5k.
Very informative Alex. Thanks!
I used to work on a fleet of Transits with the 3.7, 3.5, and 3.2 diesel (model years 2015-2019). We had a couple of them lose phasers. On the early ones, once the phasers go you need to swap the engine. Every single one of them that needed phasers blew the engine up after new phasers were installed. Even the Ford dealership nearby doesn't change the phasers, they change the whole engine because they've had the same luck (engines blowing up after phasers replacement).
very interesting, I wonder why that's the case
How much is the cost of a new engine? And is it come with the better upgrades in it ???
Can you put a 5.0 in its place??
I had a phasers replacement at a dealership and it worked out well.
@@TheGettyAdventures you can but it will cost over 20k as you need a engine and transmission and their around 5k used 10k new. And 5k for labor and around $2500 for control pack from ford to run it. So yes you can but not worth it
@@TheGettyAdventures It's kinda like on the volvo d13 a rear powersteering idler go's out and cost over 20k to replace, and then 1% to 2% of them blow up soon after. All the metal went threw the engine and caused damage to oil pump and bearings. Over 20% of turbo subarus have rod knock within 10k of replacing turbos to.
Remember when this eco boost 1st came out ford torture tested it, took it a race track ran it wide open for 24 hrs straight, have it to some loggers they used it as a skidder pulling logs for a week, then raced it in Baja , all the same engine A10A block number. I’d like to see someone swamp a 3.5 into a f450 and treat it like a diesel until she blows to see how durable it really is
I mean it's a solid engine without a doubt, but yes I think the golden question is the reliability factor of this engine.
It has more torque than any gas heavy duty engine in the market , albeit none are turbocharged.
That engine will never go in the F450. It will strain the engine in that application. It’s best if it has a diesel engine or a larger gas engine even though the fuel economy is not good.
They sold me on the reliability….i bought one. Selling it now (2018) and maybe shopping 2023’s.
Valvetrain noise. Big woop. The engine is solid. Owners hate noise. Automatically equate it to a failure. Ask yourself this: how many verified stories have you actually read about involving a cam phaser noise on this 3.5 that turned catastrophic? Be honest now.... I'll start first: zero.
Its amazing how ford has kept the track record of bad cam phasers since 2004
Honestly it’s pretty interesting to think about , gm has kept up its rep for electrical gremlins, and lifter failure, Chryslers cracked manifolds and trans issues , and fords lousy timing issues. Not much has changed in the past two decades but the numbers.
@@zach_6.813 I have an 11 F150 Platnium w/6.2L. I bring it to Ford for state inspection, the tech there said here was there when they came out, he never changed a cam phasor. They use a cam phasor that sets the phase based on valve spring pressure not oil pressure, he explained it to me. It just traps oil in the chamber at a certain position using a magnetic system.
Also saves a bit of gas not to pressurize the oil. He also said going past about 5K miles on an eco oil change is really asking for expensive repairs. Huge risk.
3.5Ls are in the shop every day, some 5.0L have issues too. They have some beat up trucks that come for fleet service with 500K on the original powertrain (superduites). I want a new truck but hard to replace that reliability.
@@alb12345672 yea those 6.2s are pretty solid. But the 3.5s aren’t near as bad as people will say we’ve had multiples and my cousin has a very well established automotive shop that he opened after being a GM/Ford master tech for many years and I’ve seen plenty of high mileage ecoboost in the shop for maintenance with no repairs to date. And in our personal owning experience with 3.5s and 5.0s 6 speeds and 10 speeds. Currently the only one to have any mechanical issues has been a 5.0 10 speed had cam phaser issues as well as radio issues. Lots of 5.0 mustangs come in the shop as well for timing issues as well. 3.5s have there own issues no more than any other truck but they get exaggerated because there the engine people love to hate. And many people will regurgitate information they heard from “a” guy and spread it as if they had the experience themselves. The fact that the ecoboost has turbos and turbo hardware does create another area for stuff to fail over the 5.0 but in my experience that’s the only thing that separates the two is just one has more potential components to fail.
Chevy and Dodge been having a long streak with lifter failure 😂
@@zach_6.813 well said
Had a 20 with the 5.0 had 33k miles and lost compression in cylinder 2! Oil changed every 5k and never towed a trailer.. believe the rings broke for some unknown reason. Traded it in for the 23 3.5TT it’s a beast for a V6.
Had a 2011 3.5 and heard the startup noise after 7 years. I switched to full synthetic high mileage oil and only heard it occasionally for the next 5 years. I always changed the at 5,000 miles.
Ya oil maintenance is key on these engine!
Very good review thanks for the info just bought one will find out
Thank you for this video. I just made an offer on this model truck with the condition, in a contract, of them fixing the cam phase issue. That and the slow sales season of Christmas time assured I got the best vehicle for a good deal.
Watching videos like this one will make you second guess buying a modern vehicle. 😅 Most people dont realize that common problems do not mean every vehicle built in that model will have those all of those problems. I have owned a dozen vehicles and one that I have kept long term and am about to sell is an 04 F150 5.4 with the 3 valve 5.4. I have had it since 2007 and it has been extremely reliable. Yes, I have done a few plug changes..😂
I have a 2014 3.5 with 300k miles and it’s been an amazing engine, I’ve never had any of those problems only the spark plugs, until now that I have some coolant lines leaking but it should be an easy fix, but I do change the oil every 3k miles, sometimes 4K when I don’t have the time but no more than that, I guess maintenance is the key.
And I have to mention that’s a work truck and I’m always hauling really heavy loads or pulling a trailer, it handles everything so good
thanks for the review I have a 2014 v6 3.5 eco and it's been running great for me!.
3,000 mile oil changes using full synthetic oil is key on the 3.5 Ecoboost!
Yes sir. Good clean oil is the way to go
and they call 3000 mile oil changes “eco”? how about a better designed engine built for say 250,000 mile longevity and not for pre determined obselence and purposly engineered for difficult repair. ‘this is all solvable’ buying a 75000 mile used turbo vehicle is a crap shoot. take that money to vegas, similar odds
@@fb510m I agree to some extent. There are plenty of 3.5 Ecoboost out there that have surpassed 200k-300k. Of course, with turbo engines, there’s higher costs of maintenance. I agree that these engines are designed on purpose to be hard/more complex to work on.
Is pennzoil ultra platinum full synthetic good to use ?
@@cheizaguirre5494 it’s a very good oil! Top 5 oils out there
I had a 2012 F150 that had the cam phaser failure symptom you described. Independent mechanic that I trust quoted me an approximate price to fix it for $4K to $5K USD (depending on what they found upon disassembly. I traded the truck in for a RAM with the 5.7 HEMI. I would not hesitate to buy an F150 with the 3.5 eb but the dealership experience was so bad that I had to rule them out. I do not do business with dealers that want to charge more than MSRP. Overall I think it is a pretty good and reliable engine. No engine is perfect but I feel like Ford did a good job on this one. Also I agree that this thing is FAST. My RAM would not stand a chance in a race. Good thing I don't race vehicles on the street. 😜
John I completely agree, the dealerships are charging way too much for these trucks and I think the times are starting to turn. the local dealers in town seem to be sitting on a ton of truck inventory that does not want to sell as fast.
@@TheGettyAdventures my other vehicle is a Tesla and that was the best buying experience I have had. I think in the US the laws that protect the dealership model need to go away. Manufacturers should be allowed to sell direct like Tesla does. A dealer would have to offer something above and beyond to get me to use them.
There's another TH-cam channel I follow, Fordtechmakuloco is his name and he's a Ford tech. He talks about how people repeat the same thing "turbos are prone to fail" but in reality, it's the oil lines to the turbos that get gunked up and that leads to premature failure.
How do u keep it from happening
@@wer1984bird he replaces a turbo line filter that gets gunked up. Google it or just search Fordtechmakuloco and you'll see his videos.
As a Ford dealership technician and a multiple 3.5 Ecoboost owner, I can tell you with confidence that regular maintenance is key to a healthy life of this engine. My 2013 had 183k miles when I traded it for my 2023. It had 0 issues and no noises on start-up. I changed oil every 4-5000 miles. All failures I see are directly related to bad maintenance and or abuse.
I have a 2014 F150 4×4 3.5 have 220,000 miles. Use on farm every day. Only issues have had is pump that pumps water through turbo and the water go to it. I have it loaded. Total weight of truck 8011 lbs. The best truck I've ever had.
Had a turbo blow when towing my camper while going through the mountains in western VA, 2016 3.5L. Thankfully we were able to limp home on the other turbo with reduced power.
I lucked out for once, the wife’s 2018 just started the cam phaser rattle & is getting fixed under power train warranty that expires @ the end of the month
there ya go!
Thanks for the time and the effort. My take away is a lot of the issues you brought up could be solved with a pre-lubrication system such as are used on marine diesels, proper warm up and cool down of the engine prior to full throttle and turning it off, proper scheduled maintenance, as well as vigilant oil changes and oil analysis. I've seen turbos on marine diesel engines with over 8000 hours of use and feel that with the proper care this engine would last several hundred thousand miles without a turbo replacement. I do not disagree that with you assertion that the 5.0 L would, on average, be a more reliable engine. Stronger, lighter, cheaper, you only get 2 out of three!
I have a 2020 I like it I think you gave good advice on how to handle the turbos
Informative video. What about the talk around the oil separator can add on for blow by? Is it needed on the newer 3.5?
Oil changes, oil changes and oil changes! Run good oil and change it regularly and the first gen 3.5’s will go for hundreds of thousands of miles.
never a bad idea to keep that oil fresh!
I had a 2014 F150 and cylinder 2 direct injection injector froze open and locked the cylinder threw the rod and took out cylinder 5 too. I went from full throttle merging onto the interstate to setting cruise at 83mph. I had 60,860 miles when it grenaded.
Good upgrades for some of these known issues is a oil catch can, and a bigger oil pump other then you can upgrade the turbos if you so shoose but other then that have a set of intervals for oil changes, and spark plugs, also once the truck has hit a higher mileage point have the rear end oil changed along with the transfer case (if 4wd) and the transmission serviced it also doesnt hurt too have the coolant system flushed out from time too time
There’s a lot to be said for preventative maintenance.
My 2015 has 128k on it and has mostly highway miles. On occasion, I do tow an 16 ft enclosed trailer which it tows like champ, but I have learned to tow at coservative 63 mph for best fuel economy. I have my f150 serviced regularly at Ford service but insist using Amsoil for engine oil and transmission oil. I average 19 mpg during the summer months and 16 mpg during winter months. The only issue I have had is valve cover gaskets and vacumn pump gaskets leaking. The vacumn pump has been worked on three times including be replaced, but it still leaks (not heavily) and it has me thinking what direction I should take. I hate having to purchase a new vehicle for something that is persistent, but I pride myself on care for everthing I own.
Bought my 2020 raptor a year ago with 53k on it and I’m up to 73k. It’s got no problems and I do all the proper maintenance to avoid these problems (oil oil oil). That being said a year ago when I was test driving raptors, a few of them sounded like marbles in a washing machine on cold start. Some had engine lights. And some shifted terribly. It’s definitely luck and you’ll have more luck the more maintenance you do.
I love this engine. When I'm first in line at a red light with two lanes that merge into a single lane, and I put my 3.5 with 93 octane into sport mode, 4H, and traction control off, there's about a 5% chance of whatever random car that's next to me getting in front. Always wanted a sports car but needed the practicality of a truck. Now, I have both.
I have a 2021 3.5 EcoBoost with 35k miles. No cam phaser issues at all. Ford corrected the problem on the 2021+ models. Running a premium motor oil like Pennzoil Platinum, Amsoil, or Mobil synthetic with anti-coking properties with 5k oil change intervals will greatly increase the service life of the turbos and motor. I am partial to Pennzoil platinum because it resists evaporative loss better than any other oil and we all know the EcoBoost runs hot. Not sure if it's in your budget, but I would love to see you do a long-term evaluation of that EcoBoost over 100k+ miles.
I have a 2017 2nd Gen 3.5EB. I had the cam phaser rattle on start up, but I'm not so sure your comment that was that is was an 'indication of them failing' is accurate. The truck made the noise basically from day one. About 5 years and 70k miles later, I had it at the dealer for some work and had them perform a recall related to the phasers. It was just a software update and the start-up rattle stopped. It's never been an issue as far as I could tell, just noisy. They were noisy for a long time with no failure.
I have one as my company truck and so far I’ve put 16k miles on it. I just did a 606 mile trip on 23.6 gallons of fuel running 70-85mph.
Your final comments are so true 👍 thank you
Just my honest opinion
We had a 2015 with about 140k on it. We had 3 turbos go in a year! Same side every time. We would smell a slight burning smell right before it happened. They never could figure out why. We got rid of the truck. We now have a 2020, 3.5, fingers crossed this one is better. And yes we did oil changes every 5k
Great video sir!!
I got a 2019 3.5 eco twin turbos no problems keep the maintenance up , the only problem I have is not getting a speeding ticket…..
They do fly.
How many miles? I'm lookin at a 19 w/ 187k. Gorgeous truck. It's either this or a older f250
Body rust on the 250 is a problem?
I don't know why my comments seem to be attaching to the wrong original comments.
5.0 all day long, but my truck has the 2.7 and it’s remarkably comfortable. It’s smooth and I only have 2wd because I am basically using it for traveling on 75 and 95. I really call it my Town Car but a lot taller so I get better visibility while I’m driving.
What year is your 2.7 and how many miles? Has it given you any major issues?
The 2.7 is best if you dont tow heavy. Pulls 5k fine though. They rarely have engine issues and are very easy to work on.
2022 F150 with a Coyote V8, 4x4, 3.73 gearing. I get avg hwy mileage of 24MPG in Normal mode at 65MPH. I've taken the truck on several multi-state & in-state road trips. With the 36gal tank, my range is over 700mi.
Got a brand new 2023 3.5 ecoboost. Been running minty perfect other than me burning the factory tires away not even 8k Km on it 😂😂 need to get me some new tires !! Love the eco boost ❤️ powers always there ❤️❤️
2011 F150 EcoBoost, first generation. At 137k miles now, never had any issues, half the time i tow my tool trailer around. Keeping it to at least 200k. Previous truck was a 2005 with the infamous 5.4 3v engine, just sold it with 220k miles on it, only reson i sold is because the transmission blew!
2016 - No issues with phasers at 137k - but - 3 out of 6 coils failed, both exhaust manifolds replaced TWICE, both upper/lower shutter units failed and are disconnected for good, and I had a bad torque converter. So far, all covered by warranty except the coils.
well at least it was covered but still seems like a long list for a relatively new truck.
I forgot to add an throttle body replacement... also under warranty. I pull a 2400 pound bass boat all the time at highway speeds and up mountains so I USE my truck all the time.
Would love to hear your opinion on start/stop with turbos spinning when stopping
Just bought a 2018 3.5 ecoboost and yes it is fast. There is a very faint rattle upon engine start up. Not super concerning to me. I used to be an automotive technician and watched some videos on the procedure. Not too complicated of a job but there is alot of disassembly involved. The one thing that kind of threw me off was the plastic oil pan. Its not leaking but l would feel more comfortable with a cast pan and an actual drain bolt. Rms motoworks makes a new pan for it and the price isnt bad. That will probably be my first upgrade
I agree with you. The V8 is tried and true. I made the best decision, when I bought my truck with the 5.0.. No leaks, no oil burning and after putting in new spark plugs, I could have gone another 100-105 on those factory installed spark plugs. Love my Coyote!!
Just rolled 200,000 on my '12. No issues at all. I change the oil every 4000 miles.
great info thanks for the vid
appreciate your review.
Disable the auto start/ stop function is #1 on my list to prolong turbo life
Is that true?
A very informative video thank you
I've got a 2012 4x4 ecoboost f150, 285k miles. Every stock. I have the rattle if the truck sits for over 24 hrs. And converter shudder. I still drive it every day, and have been over 100k miles with these issues. No failure yet.
Have you tried changing the transmission fluid for that torque converter shudder? Fixed mine ahh mine was subtle and only under load going up hill
I have a 2017 with the 3.5. I had the cam sensor and a tensioner go bad at about 60,000 miles. Ford paid for the needed repair and I now have 110,000 miles on the truck. So far it has been trouble free. I use Tier 1 fuel and Valvoline full synthetic oil never going over 5,000 miles on an oil change. So far, so good. If I were to order a new one today I think I would buy the 5.0. A great tested engine and a lot more simple.
Can you swap out the 3.5 to a 5.0 without major install issues ???
Phaser grenade at 50k. Flat bed tow to dealer. Fixed under warranty. 2018 FX4 Screw. The problem is the cam housing wouldn’t hold oil pressure. They redesigned it and added a bolt so I’d cannot be retrofit into the ‘18 and ‘19. The vacuum operated IWD’s fail due to low vacuum at startup so I need a TCCM update so the hubs are locked for about a half mile after each startup.
Awesome Info!
Cam phaser is my issue, but no harm done. Then there was an issue with the drive train; it used to make a terrible noise on occasion, and finally it was fixed. I can't remember the exact reason, but during the attempt at diagnosis, one of the mechanics at the dealer said to turn to four wheel drive the next time it happens, which I did, and it stopped. That told him what the issue was, and it's fixed.
Check valve for the IWE system.
Traded my 2012 F150 3.5 EcoBoost for a 2022 F150 EcoBoost. The engine was so quiet at traffic lights even at 184,000 miles. Not one issue with the motor. The 2022 seems comparable at this point except I hate the automatic shutoff when stopping. Wish I could permanently disable it.
Great video! Thanks for sharing! If you were towing quite a bit and find yourself in mountain passes, would you still pick the 5.0?
Change the oil every 5000 miles with a good synthetic, Motorcraft filter,I am on my 2nd 3.5 and this one 100000 kms no engine issues,and my 17' same.Im planning on keeping this one to 200k.Im not worried. Ford does warrant the cam phasers well past factory warranty .
I could be very wrong here but the cam phaser issue these engines had was because the timing chain stretching past their ability to adjust timing anymore and wasn’t actually an issue with the phasers. If you had an issue under warranty ford replaced the phasers and timing chain. 2019 and newer got beefed up timing chains. Ford also got a lot of turbo failures not because of the turbos themselves but the manual external waste gates were going bad. Reason why 2019 and up went with electronic waste gates. Early 3.5 had issues with the electronic throttle bodies and they addressed that as well. And lastly the direct injection issue where the intake valves are never cleaned off by fuel and get bad buildup was addressed with the direct and port injection fueling system. The spark plug from direct injection comment is irrelevant sense the 5.0 is direct injection as well.
2016 and newer...beefed up timing chains
If anything made of plastic breaks on these trucks (oil pan, valve covers, etc) right now the only place you're going to find them within a year of need is on rental cars from Hertz, Avis, Enterprise, etc. Ford is backordered over 10,000 for valve covers, for example. Make sure to rent a +2021, you'll have all the updated parts available.
I see where your head is at sir! but wow that is a little crazy on the back orders.
I have a 2011 with the 3.5L turbo. I bought it in 30130 with 40,000 miles. Now I'm at 140,000 miles and have been super pleased with the truck. I'm in Georgia and the miles are basically 50/50 highway and city. I am a nut about oil changes at 5,000 mile intervals using high quality full synthetic oil. No mechanical failures or issues in 10 years, but I have a company truck I drive during the week, hence the low miles on mine. I changed the plugs and coils at 100,000 and I do the transmission flush, front, rear diff and transfer case every 50,000 miles., The A/C is now not blowing as cold but my shop says it's still in parameters of good. I get 16MPG in the city and 19 on the Hwy. That is basically what I have gotten the entire life of the truck. I'm hoping to get 250,000 out of it because new trucks are rediculously expensive. If this oone blew up today, I would replace the entire engine before trying to buy a new one. Good Luck and have a good day everyone>
Turbo Timers, a cheap, easy solution to the spool down issue. I had one in my WRX, I forget what brand, I only paid like $45 for it.
Hey @TheGettyAdventures watching this video as I have been experiencing horrible reliability with the driver side E-IWE along with constant issues with metallic grind noise. Took the truck back to the stealership for the 3rd time, they replaced the front center differential found chunks of metal in the diff, cracked tooth on pinion. This truck is mainly road only with towing being 1-4 times a year
Ford released a PCM update that is supposed to prevent the phaser rattle from occurring IF it hasn’t started rattling already. We’ve updated most of them. I’m not sure how it works, but it does involve something to do with the oil pressure. When we performed the update early on, the rattle didn’t occur. But if the rattle had already begun, the update didn’t fix it.
I have a 2016 with no issues so far. Can I get this update for mine? If so is there an update number or specific name I can reference to the dealer? Any information would be greatly appreciated.
@@bq6162 The 2016 does not use the problematic camshaft phasers . 2017 was the first year they were used. So the update is not needed for that particular reason. However, if you want the latest updates for other reasons, you can go to your dealer and ask them to check to see if there are any pcm updates available for your vehicle , and update it if there are.
@@dmandman9 great, thanks for the reply!
I have a 2012 F-150 3.5L EcoBoost V6 that has a little over 200k miles on it. Other than regular maintenance such as oil changes, brakes, and tune ups. I ever only had a coolant leak.
have 2012 3.5 Eco Boost and purrrrs like a kitten!! Never any engine problems.
I have a 2013 F-150 with the 3.5liter (1st generation) Ecoboost engine with almost 130K miles on it. I only use full synthetic oil and change it at 5K miles or less. I do all the maintenance way way before Ford recommends it be done mileage wise. I also installed an oil catch can which I see as a long term maintenance item. So fr no phaser or turbo issues
Thank you for the video. I replaced my 2018 Ecoboost with a 2021. Love that engine, except when towing. . I get 5mpg pulling a 7000 lb camper at 75mph. Pulls like a diesel though.
What happens if you pull at 65?
I recently walked the dealer lot. They had ~100 F150 trucks on the lot. And only 1 had the 5.0 engine. It was special order and sold.
If you’re having issues with the cam phaser slap, depress and hold the accelerator pedal all the way down while turning the key. Vehicle will not fire during fully depressed pedal, allowing the oil pressure to build and eliminating the timing chain slap!
14th gen 3.5 ecoboosts I haven’t heard of 1 truck having a cam phaser issue yet. Which is good news. My 17 went in twice. Once at 17,000kms and again at 35,000kms. That’s with oil changed every 6 months/6000kms done at ford with full synthetic.
Hopefully my 21 never fails. It can just fail at anytime even if you change the oil as much as I do. If it does start to happen you can get in the truck, press the fuel pedal then ignition, the truck won’t start but it will prime the oil and lube everything.
I’m an independent AmsOil dealer and run that in my vehicles. That’s my go to oil. :)
Recall done on cam phaser fixed my for free!
Great review, enjoyed. Turbo engines are the way to go for towing. Travel trailer up to 5000# the 2.7L is good, watch the payload rating, you will easily exceed payload capacity. the 2.7L has a light duty frame. Owned a 2018 f150 2.7L loved it, payload only 1375#. Upgraded to a 22 f150 3.5L payload 1822#, handles 24 foot 5726# GVWR travel trailer & all our stuff including 3500 watt generator,with ease. All 3.5L f150 are equipped with the medium duty frame - huge difference for towing. Most dealers, owners do not understand different motors get different truck frame ratings. Surprisingly fuel economy 2.7L to 3.5L small difference. Axle ratios make the biggest difference for highway fuel economy. And most important with any modern motor: for longevity, reliability change the oil & filter every 5k kilometers. SD.