Big Six

Like KEVININCHICAGO, I also have the heaviest configuration you can get with the 3.5 na motor (see my sig.). I will admit that it is not eb fast off of the line, but it has more than enough power to move the truck if you are willing to push the go pedal a little (the 3.73 gears certainly help). Put it in sport mode, and it has a lot more pep from a dead stop. And, once underway, it has no problems passing slower vehicles. I have towed relatively heavy loads with it and had no problems. The motor, so far, has performed flawlessly. I have seen fuel mileage range from 19.9 on a tankful to 22.0 prior to my last fill-up (that was a reading with 1/4 tank left). I'm not going to get into a bragging contest on MPG, I just know that 19-22 MPG in this pig is fine for me. As others have said, it is personal preference. All of these trucks are great trucks. And, I don't think Ford would put an engine in one of their trucks that would not work for that application. Competition is stiff, and I'm not sure Ford is ready to go to the back of the line just yet. But, in my opinion, if you do not have the "need for speed", and if you are not in need of hearing the V8 sound or the spooling of the turbos, this motor is a simple, efficient, and capable option to consider.

Napalm

I have that engine in my Ford Explorer and honestly I wouldn't want to run it in much heavier a vehicle. It has to work pretty hard on occasion.

issues - well they do have a few here and there - like anything mass produced. There are people that have faulty cam phasers, or leaking water pumps. but over all it's a good engine and runs pretty well - but again I wouldn't want one in something bigger than the explorer.

Biggest thing - check out the fuel MPG ratings between that F150 and moving to the 2.7L ecoboost. which is turning out to be a fairly solid engine too. Yes you pay a bit more on the front end but in the projected 5 year ownership cycle I plotted I was getting paid back in under 2 year just on fuel savings.

after that - it's just a faster running brick on the highway

George Cantabene

I own three vehicles with the 3.5 NA engine. Two 2014 Taurus Sedans & a 2015 F150 4x4 SCREW. The F150 has the 3.73 gears. I bought it off the lot. I am very pleased with the performance of the truck. I do not consider it to be under powered for my needs. Doesn't spin the tires at a stop light. When I'm passing a semi on a two lane road it goes from 55 to 70 in the length of the rig being passed. That motor does like to rev. I pull a small trailer with an electric golf cart & I don't know its there. My combined actual mileage is just over 19.5 MPG. I have gotten 25+ with a light foot at 55 in the summer. Display showed my fuel range to be 799 miles on a recent fill up. (love that 36 gallon tank!)

If I were using the truck for heavy duty towing or if I had constant heavy loads in the bed. I would consider one of the Ecos or the 5.0. For my needs however. the 3.5 NA suits me just fine.

KEVININCHICAGO

As of today, 93,000 miles on my 3.5na. Not a single problem, engine light, shudder, misfire, nothing... Been very reliable with mileage anywhere from 13 with hard use on ethanol to 23 running premium on level ground under 70mph. It will get up and go if you are not afraid to let it rev up. Smooth and quiet. Run only 5-30 Ford full synthetic on 5000 mile intervals. Over 3100 hours on the timer. Put fox shocks on it, a Sno-way snowplow, and a little bigger tire 275-70-17 BFG and it still works fine. With over 1000 lbs of tools and generators I carry to be able to fix any breakdowns on my fleet of trucks for my business available at all times in the back, this engine does not have an easy life. Added a leaf to the rear to accommodate the extra weight and a sway bar to tame the corners when I push it. It plows snow surprisingly well and haven't had to 4-low it yet in the deep stuff. The super 8.8 has survived so far and will do it's first drain and fill at 100k, along with plugs. At 100k will change the water pump and alternator just because I prefer to do them before failure on my schedule. I run vehicles to multiple hundred thousand miles. My 06 F-150 5.4 has 325k on it and one of my E350 cube trucks 5.4 also just rolled 500k last week. My plan is to do 300k plus on this one and then give it to my daughter to use in bad weather. As of now it still looks brand new and drives like the day I purchased it, just handles better now with the mods. Why the 3.5na? I don't have anything to prove to anybody. It will do anything the other engines will do, just will take a bit longer. Mine will still be running when the others are gone. The 5.0 or ecoboost would have been nice, but in reality here in Chicago I just sit in traffic at least 3 hours a day at 40mph.