The 3.3 has been out for years, yet despite all other engines having a special area for them it seems, only the 3.3 doesn't.
Do they just never break down, so don't need a place?

With the way its been going for me, I could in another few years have more company vehicles with the 3.3 than anything else. These little engines are so good, make almost 300 hp, which was V8 territory not all that long ago, seem bulletproof, and good on gas. My F150s with the 3.3 are rated to tow over 8k lbs, haul a good amount of weight in their 8' box, and are a staff favorite as well. They are so loved, that employees regularly over load them, instead of taking an F350 or F550, even when several are parked all around the F150s. They would rather drive them, I've asked many times why. With 10 more on order, it has become a real favorite. This was on my mind today, because I asked the wife to take a company pickup, and go get everything for me, on the list I handed her. She walked past a whole bunch of 350s and 550s, then jumped into an F150 reg cab, long box, with 3.3 under the hood. As she was about to drive off, I stopped her, asked why not take a F350 or Ram 3500. She said "why on earth would I do that, when these ride and handle so much better. Easier to get in and out of, quieter, and just overall so much better to drive". I said well the items are going to weigh a lot, just wondering why not a 1 ton is all. Wife " because I hate the one tons, and love these trucks", and off she went. A few hours later she pulled in, must have been at least 2k lbs in the box, and it wasn't squatting down excessively, and she said "still drives great". I myself do anything to avoid the one tons when I am going to run errands and pick up stuff around town. If the half tons, be it the Fords or Rams, are all gone, which happens frequently, instead of taking a one ton, i go all the way up to my house, and take my personal Ram 1500 instead. Yet despite there being a lot of people driving around in a 3.3 powered truck, no 3.3 thread, just struck me as odd is all.

 

 

Really don't pay much attention to the ones we have in the fleet. So in essence it must be a good thing overall. The 6 speed was the big hold back in those trucks, at least now the 10 speed is standard.

 

They really do work great coupled to the 10 speed. Took one last week on an 860 km round trip, and didn't even need to stop for gas, wasn't babying it either. Drove 430 kms empty, and then back with a large crate in the box.

 

I bought a new 2020 XLT with the 3.3 back in October. I was looking for a reliable non-turbo motor that would last 15-20 years (coming from my 2003 F250 v10) like my last truck. So far I am pleased with the 3.3/6sp combo. I'm not doing a lot of trailering, but it does pull my 18ft center console (3500 lbs) well on the short commute to the ramp here. Just my .02 cents.

 

Glad to hear that you are happy with it. When I was a kid those big V8 engines in trucks made 160 hp to 210 hp, these sweet little V6s make 290 hp. I was running around in one just earlier today, they really are a great engine. Calm and quiet as well, run perfectly, easy on gas, and we never have to do more than regular maintenance to them. Many of my employees have come to like them so much, they bought them as personal vehicles. Picked up my boat from the shop today, and towed it home, that 7k lbs on the hitch didn't bother it at all, even the 14% hill it had to climb going up Columbia street, I was actually in the fast lane keeping up with traffic, and passing the slower cars.

 

Apples to oranges--but, a few years ago we rented a Charger with the V6, 292 HP I think. 4 people and a lot of junk, Seattle to Los Angeles the long way. That thing would hit 90 quick and easy, and was pushing 31 mpg on the lie-o-meter on the freeway sections. And it fit through 3 redwood trees!

So the new V6 motors like the 3.3 and a 10 speed would have been seen as "impossible" back when a 460 wheezed out 230 HP. It's a miracle!

 

I daily a 2.7 XL 2wd longbed. Rather that than my platinum f250.

Had a 2015 3.5NA 2wd as well as a delivery truck. Drove it once about 30 miles on a mild evening at 60-65mph on the freeway and the lie-o-meter said 27mpg. Was probably the only time I drove it but its definitely a solid set up.

 

The base engines usually are forgotten over the years unless they really make a name for themselves like the 4.9L I6 did back in its day, the 4.2L V6 used in the 10th and 11th gen trucks is a good example of a base engine get lost in time. I haven't driven a 3.3L but what little I have heard about them only seems to be good and that says enough for me. I'm sure they are fine engines and serve their purpose well.

 

Sent one of my personal assistants on an errand today, far away. Told her to take an F150 with the 3.3 in it. She called me to say she made it safely, and didn't even burn through a tank of gas. Tomorrow morning will hook onto the trailer, and tow it back, box filled as well. Her question for me, was why don't more people buy a regular cab, long box with 3.3?

 

This is exactly it. Modern engines are fantastic, and the requirement for a bunch of torque isn’t nearly as significant with modern transmissions. The old four-speeds of yore didn’t have nearly the torque multiplication in first gear, so a big engine with lots of torque was needed to start a heavy trailer uphill. But modern transmissions have enough gearing to make a Briggs & Stratton get a load moving. I used to tow my boat with a 3.6 L Chrysler Pacifica. That thing with its nine-speed transmission would tow circles around my 5.4 L Expedition. It wanted to spin the front wheels at lower speeds, but the Expy lacks the power to even try.

I think the biggest factor working against the 3.3 L engine in the F150 is pricing. The 2.7 L is a relatively inexpensive upgrade, and the added torque makes it a lot more fun to drive. The vastly simpler 3.3 L would cost a lot less to maintain if you keep it long past the warranty period, but the majority of new truck buyers sell before that point. So a small upcharge that increases power and resale value is an easy win for the average consumer.

 

The 2.7 is WAAAAYYYYY more fun than the base V6s. I can confirm that!!!!