Engine Question - Flex fuel or gasoline. Please Help!
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2021
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Engine Question - Flex fuel or gasoline. Please Help!
All, I'm hoping I can get some opinions and/or suggestions. I know it all comes down to personal preference, but wanted to gather your thoughts.
I'm interested in purchasing a used 2020 Lariat 5.0 V8 (3.55 Electronic Lock). It has everything I'm looking for (and my wife of course). It has the sun roof, leather seats, heated seats, etc.
My current truck (2005 F-150 Lariat) is a 5.4L V8. The biggest question I have in the back of my mind is the engine size. From what I've read and heard, the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 is the better engine for towing due to the low-end torque. I tow a 4,000 lb aluminum fishing boat. I have never driven the 3.5L Ecoboost V6, but have experience with the V8.
So my question is, is it that much of a difference to not consider buying this truck since it has the V8 or should I keep looking and see if I can find the same truck, but get the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 engine. I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were. I want to make sure I make the right decision and wanted to see if the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 is that much better of an engine for towing/hauling. If it's not a huge drastic difference, I will purchase the truck with the V8.
Thank you in advance for any insight!
I'm interested in purchasing a used 2020 Lariat 5.0 V8 (3.55 Electronic Lock). It has everything I'm looking for (and my wife of course). It has the sun roof, leather seats, heated seats, etc.
My current truck (2005 F-150 Lariat) is a 5.4L V8. The biggest question I have in the back of my mind is the engine size. From what I've read and heard, the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 is the better engine for towing due to the low-end torque. I tow a 4,000 lb aluminum fishing boat. I have never driven the 3.5L Ecoboost V6, but have experience with the V8.
So my question is, is it that much of a difference to not consider buying this truck since it has the V8 or should I keep looking and see if I can find the same truck, but get the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 engine. I wanted to see what everyone's thoughts were. I want to make sure I make the right decision and wanted to see if the 3.5L Ecoboost V6 is that much better of an engine for towing/hauling. If it's not a huge drastic difference, I will purchase the truck with the V8.
Thank you in advance for any insight!
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Joined: May 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
If you like the truck with the 5.0, it will tow 4k lbs with ease. If you are still unsure, ask the dealer if you can tow your boat there and try each engine for a short test drive.
The 5.0 will likely make your 5.4 feel anemic in comparison. The 3.5 will tow it with even less effort.
The 5.0 will likely make your 5.4 feel anemic in comparison. The 3.5 will tow it with even less effort.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2021
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Flex Fuel or Gasoline
Is there a big difference between the Flex Fuel F-150 or Gasoline F-150? I'm interested in a 2020 Lariat, but noticed it's a Flex Fuel. I've never had a Flex Fuel truck before and was wondering if I should stay away and stick with Gasoline or it's not a big deal?
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Lead Driver
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From: Sportsman's Paradise
More power, less economy on ethanol but cheaper at the pump.
Read the owners manual for details on what you should do if you choose to run E85 exclusively if you buy it.
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Joined: May 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
Flex fuel can use Gasoline from pure gas to 85% ethanol (E85). The computer adjusts the ignition and timing automatically based on what the oxygen sensor readings are. Just a heads up, fuel mileage will be terrible with E85, as ethanol has less energy than gasoline.
My ‘06 F150 had a 5.4 flex fuel. I’d get about 10 MPG when I used E85. I run it every once in a while as a cheap fuel system cleaner. The smell of alcohol burning in the exhaust was interesting too.
My ‘06 F150 had a 5.4 flex fuel. I’d get about 10 MPG when I used E85. I run it every once in a while as a cheap fuel system cleaner. The smell of alcohol burning in the exhaust was interesting too.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2007
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I moved from an 07 5.4 to a 18 with the 5.0 ten speed. You will not be disappointed. Our camper is 6500lbs and it pulls it just fine. Also, as others have mentioned, our truck is flex fuel so it can use e85 or regular pump gas. We have only ever used regular pump gas with no problem.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
I'll add in a story of some friends of ours who own a 5.0 F150. They went on a camp trip with us and rented a TT, sort of a try before you buy thing, as they were pretty set on buying a TT. Until they towed the TT to and from the rental place to camp. They were not prepared for how much the engine reved pulling the trailer up modest hills. The truck was not struggling and the trailer was well within the weight capacity of their truck - they felt the engine was "screaming" (I doubt it). My wife gave our friend/wife a ride in our truck, not connected to their towing experience, just a ride to the store to get supplies. The friend kept saying over and over how effortlessly our truck moved out and how much power it had.
That's something to understand before you buy - flexfuel or not, the 3.5EB is one torquey motor with lots of grunt down low. The 5.0 is built to rev and will be happy to do that all day long, just be prepared for that. Our friends have kept their truck and completely dropped plans for a TT, unfortunately, no matter how much I tried to convince them they were not harming the truck in any way...
That's something to understand before you buy - flexfuel or not, the 3.5EB is one torquey motor with lots of grunt down low. The 5.0 is built to rev and will be happy to do that all day long, just be prepared for that. Our friends have kept their truck and completely dropped plans for a TT, unfortunately, no matter how much I tried to convince them they were not harming the truck in any way...
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Joined: May 2005
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From: San Antonio, TX
Good point. A 5.0 will easilly run 4k RPMs and is designed to do so. My V10 liked to pull grades at 3500-4000 RPMs when it got steep. Didn’t phase it one bit.
The big factor in the 5.0 vs the 3.5 EB is towing where there are sharp elevation increases, out west and in the high Appalachians. Once over 4-5000 ft, the 3.5 will still feel strong while the 5.0, or any naturally asperated engine, starts to fall off. My wife’s Navigator at 11,300 ft was easilly cruising at the speed limit while passing every wheezing vehicle in the right lane trying to make the climb. We weren’t pulling a trailer at the time, but it would have done fine.
The big factor in the 5.0 vs the 3.5 EB is towing where there are sharp elevation increases, out west and in the high Appalachians. Once over 4-5000 ft, the 3.5 will still feel strong while the 5.0, or any naturally asperated engine, starts to fall off. My wife’s Navigator at 11,300 ft was easilly cruising at the speed limit while passing every wheezing vehicle in the right lane trying to make the climb. We weren’t pulling a trailer at the time, but it would have done fine.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Foothills, CA
And that is another excellent point! OP is going fishing - gotta' get over some high passes or going to a high elevation lake? A pressurized intake will make up for the lack of oxygen... We went on a camp trip this summer to a lake at 7300' going over 8800' ridges - I was dying to take the EB, but the diesel won out with its 8' bed - we had hard shell kayaks + the horse trailer to take along...