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Problems with specific engines

  #1  
Old 02-15-2019, 11:03 AM
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Problems with specific engines

Are they any problems with any specific engine.

I am trying to help a friend out buy a new used F150 for his wife.
They currently have a 03 5.4 Supercrew with 250k on it. it has been GREAT to them
One set of plugs( maintenance/ not blowing out) tires, brakes, oil changes. NOHING ELSE.
She drives it like a car. it has had their sons 90cc 4wheeler in the bed like twice and nothing else.
I am thinking the 3.3 would be just fine for her. They seem to have the best prices

Like the 5.4 had cam phaser issues, But what about these "newer engines?

3.3?
2.7 EB?
3.5 EB?
5.0?
 
  #2  
Old 02-15-2019, 12:22 PM
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I think both EB engines and the 5.0 Coyote all have cam phasers. There were issues with the early version phasers on the 3.5L EcoBoost (prior to April 2015), but it was not a pervasive issue. I've not heard any phaser issues for either the 2.7L EcoBoost or the 5.0L Coyote. I have no idea about the 3.3L*, as it is a pretty new engine. In fact, it is the newest of the bunch.

* Just looked it up, and does have cam phasers. It is listed as a "TI-VCT V6". TI-VCT = Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing.

So if variable cam timing scares you, you may have issues with any of these engines. OTOH, Ford seems to have a lot of confidence in them, since it looks like they may not make any engines without variable cam timing.
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 12:20 AM
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I'd recommend the 2.7EB for that. It's going to be hard to find a 3.3 with a decent trim package, and the 2.7EB will do what she does with ease and will (likely) cost less than a 3.5EB . If she lives at altitude then definitely an EB. If she is looking for that traditional V8 rumble then the decision has already been made.
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 12:24 AM
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. . . and the 3.3 comes with the 6-speed automatic, not the 10-speed.
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 04:44 AM
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Originally Posted by CathedralCub
. . . and the 3.3 comes with the 6-speed automatic, not the 10-speed.
That's why I wouldn't want the 3.3
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 05:56 AM
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If she went to a 2.7L truck and drives it like a car, she could reasonably experience a 15%-20% increase in her MPG's over the 5.4L.
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 09:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad
Are they any problems with any specific engine.

I am trying to help a friend out buy a new used F150 for his wife.
They currently have a 03 5.4 Supercrew with 250k on it. it has been GREAT to them
One set of plugs( maintenance/ not blowing out) tires, brakes, oil changes. NOHING ELSE.
She drives it like a car. it has had their sons 90cc 4wheeler in the bed like twice and nothing else.
I am thinking the 3.3 would be just fine for her. They seem to have the best prices

Like the 5.4 had cam phaser issues, But what about these "newer engines?

3.3?
2.7 EB?
3.5 EB?
5.0?
Every engine, regardless of the brand has some kind of teething issues in the beginning of it’s life but over time, the engine is improved or updated with better parts and engineering.

With that being said and excluding the diesel engine because I’m not sure of it, all of the engines that are available for the current generation F150 use cam phasers and the issues with the phasers in the older modular engines have been eliminated but, there will always be exceptions because no engine is perfect.

Any of the current engines will be fine and yes, the 3.3 is the base engine in the F150 so they will always be priced better than an F150 with another engine.

The 3.3 and the 5.0 are solid NA engines and the TT 2.7 is very, very popular. This is where your search should start and end because there’s really no need to jump up to the TT 3.5 unless one really wants or need the towing power.

Have a great day.
 
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Old 02-16-2019, 05:15 PM
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3.3's are in single cab long bed "gardners" XL's around me. I've never seen one in an XLT Extended or Super Crew... 5.0's are ordered and never on the lot. Over in the fleet sales I found a 250 6.2 Plain Jane once but I'm not in farm/oil country.
 
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Old 02-17-2019, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by CathedralCub
. . . and the 3.3 comes with the 6-speed automatic, not the 10-speed.
IMHO this is the biggest reason not to buy one. The engine itself would be a great choice, but transmissions matter, and I think the 10 speed is worth an engine upgrade.

Originally Posted by GlueGuy
I think both EB engines and the 5.0 Coyote all have cam phasers. There were issues with the early version phasers on the 3.5L EcoBoost (prior to April 2015), but it was not a pervasive issue. I've not heard any phaser issues for either the 2.7L EcoBoost or the 5.0L Coyote. I have no idea about the 3.3L*, as it is a pretty new engine. In fact, it is the newest of the bunch.

* Just looked it up, and does have cam phasers. It is listed as a "TI-VCT V6". TI-VCT = Twin Independent Variable Cam Timing.

So if variable cam timing scares you, you may have issues with any of these engines. OTOH, Ford seems to have a lot of confidence in them, since it looks like they may not make any engines without variable cam timing.
I'm not aware of any gasoline engine in production for a modern vehicle does not have cam phasers, they have been common for a really long time. My 2006 Prius has one, as does every engine in Ford's engine lineup for the United States. I can't speak to the foreign markets. This isn't a bad thing, though...the system used in the 5.4L 3V engines was the only one I have ever heard of to experience common issues. The 3.5L EcoBoost doesn't seem to be experiencing them anywhere near as frequently as the old 5.4.
 
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Old 02-17-2019, 05:46 PM
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Maybe I should have said it in the original post. Looking at 16-18s

We found a dealer with 12-15 enterprise rentals with under 20k on them carrying from 28k-33k
All XLT crewcab 4wd

Is the 6 speed a bad trans? I realizes the lesser engine would benefit from more gears, but is the 6 speed problematic?
 
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Old 02-17-2019, 07:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Diesel_Brad
Maybe I should have said it in the original post. Looking at 16-18s

We found a dealer with 12-15 enterprise rentals with under 20k on them carrying from 28k-33k
All XLT crewcab 4wd

Is the 6 speed a bad trans? I realizes the lesser engine would benefit from more gears, but is the 6 speed problematic?
2016 F150 Lariat owner here and yes, I have the 6 speed and it`s just fine. No problems at all and it`s a proven transmission.
 
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Old 02-17-2019, 08:19 PM
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the 6.2 was an option for at least one year correct? are they going to bring it back to compete against the chevy 6.2?
 
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Old 02-17-2019, 08:48 PM
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The six speed transmission used in the F150 is a licensed reproduction of a ZF design this been in use since 2003. It is known for being extremely reliable, and the later versions shift quite well. There is nothing wrong with this transmission, and it was the only option available in the F150 from 2009-2016 for all engines. The 10-speed should be better, but wasn't available until 2017 for the 3.5l EB and most 2018-2019 trucks.
 
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Old 02-18-2019, 05:37 AM
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Originally Posted by Tom
The six speed transmission used in the F150 is a licensed reproduction of a ZF design this been in use since 2003. It is known for being extremely reliable, and the later versions shift quite well. There is nothing wrong with this transmission, and it was the only option available in the F150 from 2009-2016 for all engines. The 10-speed should be better, but wasn't available until 2017 for the 3.5l EB and most 2018-2019 trucks.
Not to nitpik but, the old 4.6L 2V still used the 4 speed until it's demise from the F-150 line up at the end of the 2010 model year.
 
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Old 02-18-2019, 06:17 AM
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I thought the 5.4s and 4.6s got the six speed in their last year.
 

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