Just picked up a 2017 F150 with the NA 3.5.

Interested in the evolution/history of this current design.

I've read that it is evolved from the earlier Duratec family but also that it is a new stand alone design.

Anyone know which is accurate?

 

Not much love for none turbo 3.5's here. Try a good search as I don't guess you'll get much conversation here lol. Mind if I ask what your model is? Regular) extended or super crew and trim? I've tempted to go for the 3.3L with the 2018's.

 

Hey thanks for the bump!

Yeah I tried a search but like you said, not a lot of buzz on this motor

Truck is a 17 XL with the Sport and Towing package, Supercab. Absolutely love the options, everything I need/want with nothing I don't.

Couldn't be happier with the 3.5 N/A, plenty of power, great mileage and the simplicity of not having a turbo and associated components.

Very satisfied overall, hope the truck lasts a long time, just curious about the engine architecture/history/evolution.

 

I hear ya as I'd like to know a little myself. Mind me asking what gearing you've got?

 

I believe the tow package kicks it to 3.73 but would have to double check to be positive, working out of town for a couple days will look when I get back.

 

You are correct, and even less love for the 2018 3.3. Anywhere. I bought my 2018 3.3 in Oct 2017. It is a regular cab with 6.5 bed, 2WD 3.55 gear.. So far as I know they only come with the 6 speed trans. I have over 11,000 miles on mine. Ford says it should tow 7700 pounds. I have pulled 2300 pounds at 65 mph about 80 miles and it did fine. I have read somewhere that the 3.3 is a reworked 3.5. I don't remember where I read that so not sure of truth. The truck is very good on fuel. I use apps and have logged every gallon of gas. Currently the life of truck mpg on app says 21.03, truck says 22.4. Best tank on app 23.81, worst tank on app 16.04, 271 miles about 80 with 2300 pound trailer. The truck preforms better on 91 oct, by that I mean on certain hills with strong head wind on 87 it will kick down to 5 gear, same hill same wind on 91 it will not kick down. Whenever I change from 91 to 87 I have always ran at least four tanks.
I have ran 91 since late January. Set the cruse at 70 and the truck tacs about 1800. The 3.3 will rap but one does not have to. In normal trans mode the truck will take me to 80 mph each shift at about 2200 rpm before it reaches the end of the on ramp. I am very happy with this truck.
BTW DevilDog I was USMC 75-79.

 

Semper Fi, Teufel! Looking around dealer lots and seeing how these trucks are discounted seems to help explain the lack of love for the 3.3L. Can usually get a 2.7 for the same price. I like the idea of having the 3.3 in my future setup but I think rebates will dictate.

 

Still looking for info...

 

There is a ton of info on Ford Authority about the 3 engines in the family
One thing I like about the early 3.5 and 3.3 is 12 to 1 compression
Proud of Ford for that
(the 3.7 has 10.5 to 1)
I am not sure but I would go with the duratec family is a new design
Not the old 2.8, 2.9 and 4.0 German ford design from the 70's till 2000's
Demise due to worn out tooling like the 302?
That's what the engineers told us
The tooling was worn out and everything indexed off cylinder one for the 302
Apparently that made machining the rest of the block inaccurate
We could pick this up on SBDS running a cylinder balance test et al.