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I get 10 mpg towing a 6000# cargo trailer with my 3.5 with 3.55 gears. I get 12mpg towing a 3500# trailer. I think the main difference between those engines is the 3.5 makes more top end and the 2.7 can be had with 3.73 gears. I'd opt for the 3.73 with the 2.7 where the 3.5 is fine with 3.55.
Everything I have seen, besides Fords own marketing, suggests the 2.7 is very close to the same power and torque as the 3.5. I've seen a few dynos showing them within 10 whp and like 15 wtq. I've also seen a back to back dyno showing it making more hp and torque than the 5.3 GM motor that's rated at 355hp/380tq. I honestly believe ford just neutered it via underrated power and towing numbers to differentiate it from the 3.5.
It tows perfectly to me. I have 11k miles on mine and about 3k of it is towing this boat. I took it on a 600 mile tow last month without a single issue and had plenty of power. I averaged 11.2 for the whole trip. Boat with 80 gallons of fuel, 2 adults and a child, luggage, 2 full coolers in the truck, two full 80 qt coolers on boat, fishing gear, etc. I estimated about 6500 lbs.
15 2.7 3.31 gears, stock Hankook dyna pro tires, factory TBC, 24,000 miles tows 7,000 lb. car hauler and 3,000 lb Jaco tt with ease. I have a "Towmax manifold pressure gauge and it shows around 3 to 5 psi boost at 60MPH on level ground. boost will climb to 18 PSI at WOT but seldom run it at more than 10PSI unless im on steep upgrade. I run tow haul mode and lock out 6th gear and it seldom down shifts. MPG while towing varies from 14 to 18 indicated and life time MPG is 25.2 indicated. I could not be happier.
Its hard to beat cubic inches in the long run,turbo's put more strain on pistons rods ect ,put 100k miles on both working the same and the lower cubic engine will show more wear imo I'm in for the long term reliability and hope none of us have problems lol
I just returned from a 300 mile fishing trip pulling my 3000 lb boat. I had the cruise set at 70mph most of the way. I got 14mpg. This is the same mileage as my old truck which was a 99 silverado with the 5.3 pulling the same boat on the same trip 3 months ago. Mine is 2.7 with 3.55 gears. The silverado had 3.73 gears.
Kinda weird that they have not been able to improve the towing mpg in 17 yrs.
07-24-2016, 09:04 PM
