7.3 vs ecoboost
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2013
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7.3 vs ecoboost
I have a friend that thinks his ecoboost will "spank" the 7.3. after reassuring him that they never put the ecoboost in school buses, ambulances, any super duty truck he still doesn't get it. Very closed minded, seems to think because the eco can win a drag race that its the more powerful out of the two. pretty sure it would wear out and get horrible mileage.
any other ideas why they don't put the ecoboost in heavy duty trucks?
any other ideas why they don't put the ecoboost in heavy duty trucks?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,266
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From: Las Cruces New Mexico
I wouldnt say spank, but an ecoboost will hold its own against a 7.3 towing, from my own experience, I say this because ive driven both unloaded and loaded up to 10k and the power seemed about the same.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,266
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From: Las Cruces New Mexico
With todays technology gassers are going further than its ancestors, most of our fleet are well over 250k, and these trucks get worked bad, most with heavy steel flatbeds plus tools and materials. We have a 99 f350 6.8 eclb dually with steel flatbed with 380k on it with the original drivetrain minus the tc and it still going strong burns a quart of oil every 2500miles but considering the abuse it has and still goes thru I say its not bad for a gasser, time will tell if th EB will make it over the 300k as of know its going to hit 100k with absolutely 0 problems.
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Braham MN
Longevity is a factor of HP/CID. Any high HP, small cubic inch engine will die much sooner then a large cubic inch engine of the same HP....
That said, I would buy an EcoBoost but never think of towing with it. It's more of a fun run around town truck to me.
That said, I would buy an EcoBoost but never think of towing with it. It's more of a fun run around town truck to me.
Senior User
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 145
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From: Orlando, FL
The performance on the ecoboosts is VERY impressive, however the reliability can be put under large scrutiny and will arguably never see the type of longevity these 7.3's have lived to provide. The 7.3 is a brute of an engine and the 90's ones idled along at 225hp.
Power = heat. the smaller the engine, the more stress it endures.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,505
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From: Livoina,La
My little brother has one with the 3.5 with 180k on it. It's towed a 8500lb travel trailer with all his tool a gear weekly around the country since 2013. Has had ver bee problems. Now he has a 16 2.7 with under 30k that they have put a engine in already.
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Laughing Gas
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I've owned all of them from the 6.9 to the 6.0L. The biggest issue I had with the 7.3L, besides the low stock power output was the transmission. Even after I swapped in 4.10 gearing, it still struggled towing. Even with custom tunes, 5" exhaust and a larger turbo, it just didn't have the power to tow even moderate loads. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it's great, but when hitched to 10k and I cannot achieve 50 MPH on flat ground with OD off and accelerator to the floor and showing 22 psi of boost, something wasn't right. It was indeed the transmission's problem. It was so poorly geared.
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: evansville in
I have a 15' t-350 Ecoboost I drive at work. I will say the bugger runs!! I don't know about towing with it but my van is loaded down with tools,parts,supplies fairly heavy. We will see how long it lasts as it has 35000 miles.
I would pull it around like a rag doll with my 7.3 tho. I have no doubt about that if my trans lasts that long anyway lol.
Stock to stock I hate to say in a drag race...7.3 looses
I would pull it around like a rag doll with my 7.3 tho. I have no doubt about that if my trans lasts that long anyway lol.
Stock to stock I hate to say in a drag race...7.3 looses
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,111
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From: Yreka, CA
I have a 15' t-350 Ecoboost I drive at work. I will say the bugger runs!! I don't know about towing with it but my van is loaded down with tools,parts,supplies fairly heavy. We will see how long it lasts as it has 35000 miles.
I would pull it around like a rag doll with my 7.3 tho. I have no doubt about that if my trans lasts that long anyway lol.
Stock to stock I hate to say in a drag race...7.3 looses
I would pull it around like a rag doll with my 7.3 tho. I have no doubt about that if my trans lasts that long anyway lol.
Stock to stock I hate to say in a drag race...7.3 looses
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2015
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And a bit of FM (friken magic). I have an Explorer with the EcoBoost. It has more pep in its step than the ole 7.3 ever thought about, even with the 26' travel trailer (about 6200#) behind it. Not really all that surprising though. 350 ft/lbs of torque (18 % decrease from PS) and 365 HP (62% increase over PS). And thats in an Explorer that runs a different turbo than the F series. It has 420 ft/lbs at 2500 Rpm. Plus 2 extra gears and 3000 extra RPM on the tach. The little bit the EcoBoost lacks in torque, it just grabs a gear and sings on up the tach. Ford says my SRW 350 is good for 9900 # towing. The F150 with EB and "max tow" is like 12200# Fact is the EB is a pulling little motor. Now 500,000 miles on an EB.. nope..lol.
