Cpl. Punishment

I'm wondering what you guys know about the reliability of the 5.0L V8 vs. the "standard" (i.e. not HO) 3.5L V6 Ecoboost. I'm shopping for my first truck and it will be my daily as well as occasionally towing a travel trailer or hauling gear. While power/capability and fuel economy are important to me (enough that the Tundra isn't really a viable option), I would say getting something reliable is also a top priority. I'm still trying to learn about Ford (my dad has only ever owned GMs and imports and never a pickup of any kind) so would be interested in any info you guys can share. Which engine would you say is more reliable based on everything you know? Thanks.

rngtrtl

honestly, your going to get a near perfect 50/50 split on this one. Each one has their own pros and cons. The 5.0 makes plenty of power and torque, decent gas mileage (I get 18ish cruising up and down the interstate), and is less complex which is why I like it. Plus the sound is classic v8. They are both very good motors, basically, just get which one you want, you'll not be disappointed either way.

nhammer

My advice is to drive both and get the one you want. On this forum you will get a few pissed off people who have trouble with one or the other that will tell you that one, the other, or both suck. The fact is, both are great motors and the majority of them will be very reliable. Buy the one that best suits your needs.

I went with the 2.7 because I use my truck basically like a 2 row SUV with a bed to throw wet, dirty sports gear in.

The 5.0L is a great motor and many mechanics would tell you to pick this engine because it is much simpler than a motor with twin turbos.

The 3.5L is unmatched in performance (IMO) and there are several one owner examples with more than 200,000 miles. I think either would be a great choice.

lawndart

Both the latest 5.0 and 3.5 are going to be a step down from the Tundra on this. There are plenty of threads on this site that will get you the answers you need.

TW3NTY2

My decision was easy... I like the V8 rumble too much to convert to the Eco 6...

KP Texan

Between the 3.5EB and 5.0, reliability seems close enough that you should drive both and get which one you like the best. Reliability figures indicate that neither will be as reliable as the Tundra, but it's 10 year old technology at this point. Not to mention the Tundra's awful IIHS offset crash test ratings which recently came out...

djfllmn

iTrader: (1)

i wouldn't overlook the 2.7 either

FDHog

A step down from what? Have you read the Tundra forums?
I've had 4 F150's with the 5.0L. This latest version is not my favorite, but I still prefer it over the eco boost.
I tow about 7500-8000# boat/trailer combo with no issue. (3:55 gears)
Don't know what the life expectancy of the plasma lined cylinders is, but better than an internal water pump on the 3.5L.
Stay away from GM. They come with 3:23 or 3:42 rear ends. They say that the 10 spd trans makes up for it, but it's the same trans as the F150.
This is just my opinion. You're gonna get a lot of them.

Truck22

Before you buy a 5.0, please research engine rattle. I been battling with it on my 2018 5.0. There are tons of 5.0's experiencing this.. and ford is saying it's "normal"... please do your research before you buy one so you don't end up with a 50k+ truck that sounds like **** like mine.

Durling91

See id have more confidence in a internal water pump than arc lined cylinder liners. They have been doing water pumps for a lot longer than cylinder liners