Problems with specific engines
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
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?
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?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 360
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
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.
* 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.
FTE Community Team
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 10,781
Likes: 1,512
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. 
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
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?
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?
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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Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,019
Likes: 6
From: Fountain Valley
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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Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
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.
* 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.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Owner
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 21,437
Likes: 76
From: Gilbert, PA
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?
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?
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,650
Likes: 243
From: GA
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?
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?
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
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.
Super Moderator
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 40,042
Likes: 1,523
From: Maine, Virginia
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.
