Hello All,

I'm going to pull the trigger this week on a 2013 FX4. My question is, which motor? I have read many pro's and Con's of each? But please tell me some real life findings?
I'm going to this new truck from an 01, 7.3 diesel Excursion. I have had this truck since new and put 330k on it. I keep my vehicles long term. Of course mileage is a concern, but maintaince issues mean more to me! Has anyone found out after the fact something that could have been a deal breaker, had you known?? Please due tell?

Thanks in advance

Paul

 

If you are coming from a diesel, the Ecoboost will feel most at home due to the turbochargers.

 

The Ecoboost feels like a V8 (a strong V8 at that). I think maybe you've never driven one?
Neither feel like a 7.3L Powerstroke. I think maybe you've never driven one of those either?

Back to the OP's question, I had a 2000 Superduty 7.3L with 6-speed manual before my F150 Ecoboost. The 7.3L is a very old engine design with lots of turbo lag, low horsepower, and runs rough and loud... but it was reliable to legendary levels. When I bought new I did not have expectation that any engine would be as reliable as the 7.3L. I think you should have that same expectation. But what you can expect is a lot more power, and that feels nice. First time I hooked up my car trailer to my Ecoboost I was shocked at just how slow and gutless that 7.3L really was. It's nice to have an extra 100 lb-ft of torque in the diesel (after the turbo lag is over), but it's even nicer to have an extra 140 Hp with the Ecoboost.

I don't think you'll get a good answer which F150 engine is proven to be more reliable because not enough time has passed to prove it. I bought an Ecoboost because that's what came with the Max Tow package (5.0L does not). I wanted to maintain as much towing safety margin as possible seeing that I came from a Superduty. I don't need to tow 11K pounds, but I always marveled how composed the Superduty was on the freeway with a car in tow. I've been in a situation where I had to slam on the brakes and do an emergency lane change at freeway speeds and that is when you appreciate the extra capability of your truck!

Regarding fuel economy... results vary. It seems a lot of Ecoboost owners with Max Tow, like me, get lowest mileage (17 - 18 on freeway). Whereas, other Ecoboost owners with numerically lower gear sets get great mileage, even up to 24 mpg. Choose your axle gear ratio wisely to meet your needs. Bear in mind that towing mileage sucks with gasoline engines. You're going to see a huge drop in fuel economy while towing compared to the 7.3L. I don't have a 5.0L but I've noticed most owners report really good mileage. Seems the gap between 5.0L and Ecoboost is between 1 to 1.5 mpg difference if you go by what people are reporting here.

 

If you are planning on towing with it i would recommend the Ecoboost. Being able to reach max torque at 2500rpm's makes towing anything with these trucks very enjoyable. My truck is a 2011 and i have had zero issues since day one. I would also recommend getting the max tow pkg and even the HD payload pkg for the extra payload cushion.

 

5.0 or 6.2L. i would go 6.2L personally.

 

I chose the Ecoboost engine because of the torque, and not having to wind up the engine while towing. I didn't choose the 6.2 because of the potential low fuel economy and the pulling power at higher rpm's. As already mentioned, towing fuel economy won't compare to a diesel, but the power is there.

 

I drive both at work I love the 5.0 for the sound and it gets better MPG towing. the eco is a nice motor for towing. I don't care for it to much, to much hype for all the times its been in the shop! it keeps going in to limp mode, twice we had to have the intercooler replaced, seems it keeps drowning the motor with water build up, and the turbo had a leak and sent the first one up in flames. as for the 5.0 never had a problem other than it needs brakes now with only 48,k on the clock. but it dose a lot of heavy towing!

 

I have a 13 FX4 with the 5.0l and am happy with it, I think it handles the load at speeds better than my 00 F-250 with the 7.3L but I havent put it to the test yet. I have had my cobra on my steel car trailer and it did just fine, but only put like 100 miles on it with that load. Some weeks I am hooked to the trailer most of the week but most weeks its just me driving back and forth to work, I am getting great mileage with it and I just didnt feel a big difference in the Ecoboost to make me want to jump into one. I am happy with my choice for now and have put 4k miles on it in 2 months, but I will jump back into a Super Duty and give this to my wife as soon as we are financially able. I would say test drive 2 identical trucks, one with ecoboost and one with the 5.0l and see which one you like better.

 

I went with the 5.0. 43k miles and not a single issue. It's almost time for a brake job because of my heavier tires. Runs good, tows good, gets decent mileage empty and while towing. All around my favorite vehicle I have had.

 

I choose the 5.0L for simplicity (It had quite a bit more money on the hood too) and it's a damn good workhorse. The EcoBoost looks good on paper and most people that have it seem to praise the performance, but there is all the buzz and issues surfacing around that motor right now.

I used to own a 2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 5.9 Cummins. While I have experience with a friends 2001 7.3 PSD, my '05 Cummins towed better, faster and more efficiently overall .Vs the 7.3 PSD. That said since I've downsized I swear my '11 F-150 tows a 4-6K lb boat or car on a trailer just as good, truthfully I don't miss my Cummins diesel or the expensive 12 Qt oil changes, fuel filters, sometimes getting bad fuel and expensive fuel.

Yes it was way more manly to drive and I loved the "Big Rig" sound with a straight pipe but my 5.0L F-150 is quicker at almost everything but towing heavier than 6K up hill. I also get better fuel economy on the highway running "empty" around 22 mpg's, my 5.9 Cummins would get 18-19 hwy.

 

My truck came with the 3.5L. I chose my truck for it's options not for it's engine as I don't tow. It could have had the 3.7L and I would have been happy.

After 27K trouble free miles, I'm getting better than advertised MPG's and mind numbing power. I'm very happy I ended up with this engine.

 

I bought my ecoboost because i tow every single weekend to the races. It does not disappoint. My winter MPG was low. About 16 highway. But my summer MPG has come up to 19-20. Im very happy with it and the power is great.

My race trailer is a 7500lb loaded 20' enclosed trailer. I have seen as low as 7.5 mpg towing into a nasty head wind. And i have seen as high as 11.5mpg. Any body that tells you that the 5.0 gets better MPG towing is full of horse crap. They are going to get the same mpg roughly.

My 99 5.4l 2v got 9-10 mpg best towing the same trailer. The 5.0 would be in the same range as both these trucks. Right around 10mpg give or take 1 mpg.

The ecoboost is a perfect truck motor with the tq it makes down low. Also its pretty much the quickest motor out there when all other things are equal. That never hurts.