Looking for some insight, based on previous issues with the EB Engine problems that Ford still denies. Wondering if it's an engine issue or possibly related to fuel.
I have a 2019 Platinum LWB 150, with 4WD, and the 3.5 EB. Today, the CEL came on. Took it to AutoZone and did an OBD check. Comes up as O2 sensor, which could include the MAF sensor. I was under the impression this was supposed to have been fixed by now. The only other aspect that might come into play is that I was running about 3/4 of a tank of E85 as a performance and mileage experiment, since it's running about $.50 less per gallon here in GA. I haven't run E85 in the past, due to the poor performance issues reported by others. My previous 150 was a 2011 with the 5.0 and never had a problem, other than its dislike of K&N oil bath air filters.

I would hope that the CEL was not caused by the E85. I haven't found any TSBs regarding E85 use causing the problem. Is there anyone out there that has encountered this? No stumbling or hesitation yet, but I'm going to run it into the speakership tomorrow and see what they come up with. Of course, it's out of warranty, so Murphy is alive and well. Thanks in advance for insight, guys.

 

Simple question first: Is your F150 truly a Flex Fuel vehicle? As I understand it not all Eco's were E85 capable. Second question: What CEL code is it showing?

 

It is a Flex Fuel. As to the code itself, I can't tell you. The guy who pulled the code said it came up as an O2 sensor issue. His supervisor did said that the way the code came up, it could be either the regular O2 sensor or the MAF sensor. I will go back to them in the morning and ask for the actual code. The truck only had 39,950 miles on it, 39,960 as of this evening. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but the truck is a Canada build initially.

Aren't all the North America market Fords Flex Fuel units? I wasn't aware there was a different specification between Canada and USA trucks.

 

Your 3.5L EcoBoost does not have a MAF (Mass Air Flow) sensor. It utilizes a MAPT (Manifold Absolute Pressure and Temperature) sensor instead and utilizes Speed Density strategy for controlling the EFI.

Hard to give you any good advice without knowing the exact DTC(s) that caused the CEL.

Edit- Just went outside in the snow to check my truck. It says "E0-E10" on the filler nozzle.

 

Where do I find a full e85 compatible 3.5eb!?

 

I'm confused also, the 2019 Owner's Manual says: "Note: Use of any fuel for which the vehicle was not designed can impair the emission control system, cause loss of vehicle performance, and cause damage to the engine which may not be covered by the vehicle Warranty.
Do not use:

• Diesel fuel.
• Fuels containing kerosene or paraffin.
• Fuel containing more than 15% ethanol or E85 fuel.
• Fuels containing methanol.
• Fuels containing metallic-based additives, including manganese-based compounds.
• Fuels containing the octane booster additive, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT).
• Leaded fuel, using leaded fuel is prohibited by law.

 

So it looks like wrong fuel used. Go fill the tank with non ethanol gas to mitigate further issues as much as possible. And chalk it up as a lesson learned

 

Nowhere!

 

2019 Owner Manual, page 191 bottom left column, last line.
The engine will accept UP TO E85.
I run E85 in my 2018 5 L without any issue but less fuel mileage, as expected. There are no makings or stickers anywhere on my vehicle.
The factory info, various places, are at odds with each other and need to be rewritten to make this clear.
This is why the Manual has two or more re-writes when bringing up on mfger website for manuals. Everything is not always correct. The technical writers don't always understand or catch everything.
A VIN expansion for the vehicle will also indicate FF capable as it does for my 2018 5L.
Further, the Ford Doc. OBDII Over View for gas engines, the section on Flex Fuel also tells you all are all FF capable.
The vehicles do not have a Specific Sensor for Flex Fuel in the fuel line but an advanced Ox Air/Fuel Ratio front sensor for each bank that detects the extra Oxygen content in the Exhaust gas due to the higher Eth content. They are wide band sensors.
The signal back to the PCM causes a set of calculations that comes up with an "inferred" value and shifts the Long Term Fuel tables richer to reflect the extra E in the fuel that takes place over time. Very clever, those software engineers are.!
E Fueling change is not instantaneous.
It takes some drive time for all these calculations to complete [and stabilize] once the fuel change is made. This is also described in the OBDII Doc. section on FF.
I have looked at my LTFT and see the shift to about 12% rich that proves what happens.
I am in the process of coming back to E15 88 and check of the fuel tables will come back toward Zero where they were before the trial started.
Sorry, but these things are not as simple as most think. There is more to it than what you see being "commonly said".
Good luck.

 

He has the 3.5 EcoBoost. My 3.5 EcoBoost is not a FlexFuel vehicle.