2.7 vs 3.5 Ecoboost I Own Both!
01-22-2016, 05:19 PM
#141
Gregsfc - Thanks so much for posting! My comments below:
Same here... 1.4 mpg difference, but every now and then 1.6 mpg is my mileage difference between the screen mpg and calculated mpg using odometer reading.
VERY INTERESTING! I have not tested odometer accuracy with stock tires on 18" stock rims. I need to remember that next time I take a long road trip with highway mileage markers.
This would offset/negate the mpg calculated vs. screen difference I see.
Again, knowing that you are getting at best 25.5mpg with regular cab and lightest/least option variant makes me feel better. I suspect your EPA sticker says 26 hwy.... so you getting at best 0.5 mpg under EPA is analogous to my heavier SCREW with 4WD, 3.55 & 302A (e.g., nerf steps and hard tonneau, etc.) getting under EPA highway mpg.
Thanks again!
I've got nearly the lightest, combined with the highest-geared version of the 2.7-liter possible in an F150XL with a reg. cab, 2wd, 3.31 and short bed with only a very light soft-top tonneau, and only the 101A package and chrome bumpers (would prefer black chrome).
Two errors. One in one direction, the other in the other...
(1) My trip computer grossly underestimates gallons consumed, but this underestimation is not consistent, so the mpg calculated by the computer cannot give me reliable information whatsoever, and it's interesting that the owners' manual states not to use it for estimating mpg. So I don't use the vehicle-generated calculations except for the trip miles, which is also not quite accurate but pretty close...See number 2 error. I recorded the first four tanks "gallons used" and compared them against the pump reading to the exact same level full from the same pump. It was all over the place. The error was from 1.4-1.9 gallon difference, which of course made the mpg number figured by the computer wayyy optimistic!
Two errors. One in one direction, the other in the other...
(1) My trip computer grossly underestimates gallons consumed, but this underestimation is not consistent, so the mpg calculated by the computer cannot give me reliable information whatsoever, and it's interesting that the owners' manual states not to use it for estimating mpg. So I don't use the vehicle-generated calculations except for the trip miles, which is also not quite accurate but pretty close...See number 2 error. I recorded the first four tanks "gallons used" and compared them against the pump reading to the exact same level full from the same pump. It was all over the place. The error was from 1.4-1.9 gallon difference, which of course made the mpg number figured by the computer wayyy optimistic!
Same here... 1.4 mpg difference, but every now and then 1.6 mpg is my mileage difference between the screen mpg and calculated mpg using odometer reading.
This would offset/negate the mpg calculated vs. screen difference I see.
.... With regards to the highway rating, I agree with the quote above. It cannot be met by me except by either driving below 65 mph or by recording only one-way direction with a tailwind, which is not real-world mpg; unless one plans to never return to the place from which one has come from. I have made several trips, in both directions, and even in warm weather, on a calm day, I cannot achieve more than 25.5 and that's at only 65 mph with speed control.
Thanks again!
01-23-2016, 02:50 AM
#142
Most certainly towing is the hardest on the truck. 1/4 mile runs are very brief, and the truck only has to pull it's own weight. Adding 2 1/2 tons doubles the effort( actually it take much more than double due to the exponential effect of friction) to get going and keeps the effort higher even under lighter throttle. The reason is it more impactful is the load creates friction and heat in all the critical components for a significantly longer time. Heat is the primary cause of transmission failure, Heat from braking will degrade brake components faster and suspension loading will impact lifespan of those components.
That said, the modern truck is so overbuilt that in either case, they shrug off such events. We work with a lot of hot-shot hauling companies. they routinely haul max payloads, across every climate and elevation in the US, the trucks just keep on going both gas and diesel. Heck my cousin does that, then races the truck on weekends and its still going strong with 130K Total breakages? Shocks and u-joints after 100K
The problems arise in either case when the truck gets modified. add a tune...the engine can stress other items harder than they were designed to handle, add larger tires and the torque loads skyrocket for the drive-train.
That said, the modern truck is so overbuilt that in either case, they shrug off such events. We work with a lot of hot-shot hauling companies. they routinely haul max payloads, across every climate and elevation in the US, the trucks just keep on going both gas and diesel. Heck my cousin does that, then races the truck on weekends and its still going strong with 130K Total breakages? Shocks and u-joints after 100K
The problems arise in either case when the truck gets modified. add a tune...the engine can stress other items harder than they were designed to handle, add larger tires and the torque loads skyrocket for the drive-train.
11-08-2016, 09:48 PM
#143
Senior Member
Mad Max would drive a 2.7
Thanks, fwayne.
For a different, subjective, real-world perspective, I've been driving some in Atlanta over the past 4 weeks in an XLT SuperCab with a 2.7. Four weekends, three of them making multiple trips to haul furniture and possessions moving my son home from a college apartment. The last carrying a canoe.
Driving on I-75 and I-285 in Atlanta is terrifying. People have no respect for their own lives, and even less for the lives of others. We had perhaps 6 or 8 near-death experiences. Mad Max in real life.
The truck barely noticed the loads. Twice I had to brake hard (front wheels skidded even with ABS) and stopped with no problem. Once required a complete stop from 65 mph followed by immediate acceleration back to 65 mph or be clobbered from behind.
Piece of cake. On one 80-mile leg today I had to floor it three times from 65 mph to escape maniacs, so there were some 85+ mph miles. The computer kept registering increasing mileage, averaging 24.3 for the trip.
Interestingly, the truck makes me want to drive like an old man and respect the speed limits. I do that almost everywhere. But there are some places and some times where it's just too risky. That's when the 2.7 shines.
My house sits at about 930' above sea level, and hills are everywhere. I've found that sport mode or tow/haul mode yields better mpg than regular mode because the truck labors too much in the hills when the engine rpms are low.
I've logged a total of 5,200+ miles since new, and the average mpg (calculated manually) sits right at 20. On a scale of 1 to 10, the fun factor is 10+. The comfort factor is almost a 10.
For a different, subjective, real-world perspective, I've been driving some in Atlanta over the past 4 weeks in an XLT SuperCab with a 2.7. Four weekends, three of them making multiple trips to haul furniture and possessions moving my son home from a college apartment. The last carrying a canoe.
Driving on I-75 and I-285 in Atlanta is terrifying. People have no respect for their own lives, and even less for the lives of others. We had perhaps 6 or 8 near-death experiences. Mad Max in real life.
The truck barely noticed the loads. Twice I had to brake hard (front wheels skidded even with ABS) and stopped with no problem. Once required a complete stop from 65 mph followed by immediate acceleration back to 65 mph or be clobbered from behind.
Piece of cake. On one 80-mile leg today I had to floor it three times from 65 mph to escape maniacs, so there were some 85+ mph miles. The computer kept registering increasing mileage, averaging 24.3 for the trip.Interestingly, the truck makes me want to drive like an old man and respect the speed limits. I do that almost everywhere. But there are some places and some times where it's just too risky. That's when the 2.7 shines.
My house sits at about 930' above sea level, and hills are everywhere. I've found that sport mode or tow/haul mode yields better mpg than regular mode because the truck labors too much in the hills when the engine rpms are low.
I've logged a total of 5,200+ miles since new, and the average mpg (calculated manually) sits right at 20. On a scale of 1 to 10, the fun factor is 10+. The comfort factor is almost a 10.
11-10-2016, 12:35 PM
#144
Super Ford Man
Thread Starter
Just made my new personal single tank mileage record in my 2.7. I fueled up in Midlothian Tx, drive to Glen Rose, TX to meet my buddy, then backtracked and continued all the way to the city limits of Baton Rouge, LA (1-20 to Shreveport, then US 49) I pushed a whopping 554 miles on my standard tank. It took 22.3 gallons of fuel for 24.8 MPG. However From Dallas TX to past Alexandria I kept cruise on 75-78 mph I have no tonneau cover or other mods. This truck now has 22,000 miles on the ODO. I couldn't be happier with this truck. Even though it is a base XLT SCREW, it felt comfortable all the way. Also I almost never deactivate the start-stop feature. Thus far not a single issue.
I haven't had the Wife's King Ranch on that long of a trip yet. But I still don't like its mileage on the 3.5. I have trouble getting more than 20 mpg at 55 MPH. at 75 its an abysmal 16-17 Its no better than my neighbors 5.0 v8. It has much more torque and the fun factor is still there but My previous 2011 ecoboost regularly held over 22 mpg at same speeds. That said we fight over who gets to drive the KR because this is the nicest rig every made by Ford. I'll soon be tuning it and hopefully it changes the mileage and slightly sluggish feel at light throttle. My 2.7 "feels" like a rocket comparatively until you really jump into it. Then they are pretty even.
I haven't had the Wife's King Ranch on that long of a trip yet. But I still don't like its mileage on the 3.5. I have trouble getting more than 20 mpg at 55 MPH. at 75 its an abysmal 16-17 Its no better than my neighbors 5.0 v8. It has much more torque and the fun factor is still there but My previous 2011 ecoboost regularly held over 22 mpg at same speeds. That said we fight over who gets to drive the KR because this is the nicest rig every made by Ford. I'll soon be tuning it and hopefully it changes the mileage and slightly sluggish feel at light throttle. My 2.7 "feels" like a rocket comparatively until you really jump into it. Then they are pretty even.
11-10-2016, 12:47 PM
#145
Senior Member
I enjoy the low end torque of the 2.7. Pulls so nicely at 1500 - 2000 RPMs. Have only driven a 3.5 once but it felt more like our Flex, needs to rev a little.
05-11-2017, 09:14 PM
#148
Senior Member
OK, great post OP. What I haven't seen posted anywhere is at what speed is the fuel cut? I wouldn't be surprised if these trucks would hit 130 mph if there is no fuel cut.
10:1 compression and 20 lb boost is a lot of boost. Not to mention reports of 30 lbs. How is Ford managing this without high octane fuel? Seems there would need to be some serious pull back on ignition timing. M1911
10:1 compression and 20 lb boost is a lot of boost. Not to mention reports of 30 lbs. How is Ford managing this without high octane fuel? Seems there would need to be some serious pull back on ignition timing. M1911
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Ohsix (05-12-2017)
05-12-2017, 10:29 AM
#150
Senior Member
Almost 27,000 miles on the truck at this point. Not many problems except for four broken windshields....some just break sitting there. The cloth fabric is wearing where I get in and out just like in my previous truck which actually had a big hole in. I probably need to find a drivers side seat cover. Tires about 1/2 worn out. Brakes still shake free. Lifetime fuel avg 19 something. Recently got 27.3 mpg on a 100 miles interstate drive at 70 mph. I originally had a tire balance problem. The dealer put new tires on...still a vibration. Firestone balanced them....same. Then I had Firestone balance them with a road force machine. That cured the shake. Heading out later today on a 700 mile trip....very comfortable vehicle to travel in. I use it in my landscaping business every day so at present it needs a good cleaning.....inside and out. 1917