Engine Longevity Math
Senior almost
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 10
From: no where **** off land
I guess my question is this... In electronics there is no maintanace really .. just blow the dust off once in awhile.. Most things are rated as MTBF (mean time between failures). So if you use a computer and it has 50,000 hours of MTBF, if you leave it on 24/7 you get to MTBF sooner than one you run 8 hours and turn off everyday... I would venture to guess find the MTBF of a 5.4 motor, or 351M or any motor and find the MTBF for the new motors. I think you would get a better picture of cost per mile etc, if thats what your going for.. MPG, maintanance, wear on other components etc... Then come up with a cost, but also try not to pad one or the other use real numbers... On average the two numbers should have a real world actual average MPG... What do people with the new motors actually get and what do people with other motor actually get, say using at least 10 random samples... Oil change interval, MPG,,etc...
This will get you a better picture but no one knows how long the new motors will actually go...
Even use 100K as a sample some people have a warranty thats that long.. My opinion..
This will get you a better picture but no one knows how long the new motors will actually go...
Even use 100K as a sample some people have a warranty thats that long.. My opinion..
I Like Tires
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 250
From: Texas
Originally Posted by TurboSalsa
What additonal upkeep are you referring to? I wasn't aware Ford recommended anything special for the EB engines.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 289
Likes: 35
Turbo's are very picky! They aren't "Get up and go grab some milk real quick 1/2 a block away" vehicles. If you don't allow them to warm up and just start them up for a short time, crap in the exhaust will build up on them decreasing there life, and not allowing them to spool down before shutting them off will wear out the bearings faster I believe. Also they are DI vehicles and these may have a tendency to get clogged up and fail unlike normally pulling the fuel through the valve openings which hardly need maintenance like a DI system may. Thats just the tip of the iceberg on turbo maintenance.
I Like Tires
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 250
From: Texas
Originally Posted by TurboSalsa
I could see those being problems. Some fleet operators are running them now so I'd like to see how they hold up to stop and go driving, temperature extremes, long idling periods, etc. I know our fleet vehicles generally have a 100k lifespan before they start needing major overhauls.
5 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 7
From: Ganado, TX
You guys can worry about the most silly things!
Do you lie in bed at night worrying whether or not the light bulb in the refrigerator went off when you closed the door? LoL
I've got a 3-valve 5.4L in a F250 that gets used hard. The 6-speed manual transmission eeks out ever last ounce of power that engine has to offer. It goes to the engine's rev-limiter multiple times a month. It also gets lugged in 6th pulling a trailer for miles and miles at a time. This truck now has 50,000 miles on it with only oil changes. I'll probably change the fuel filter for the 1st time next month if I think about it. Other than oil changes every 5,000 miles and a new air filter a time or two, this engine has had -0- repairs.
On the other hand I also have a 3.5L EcoBoost F150 in my garage that gets driven daily. It already has 4,500 miles on it. It runs strong, very strong right up to the rev-limiter of nearly 6,000rpm. It gets good mileage and no check-engine problems yet. I might have to eat crow on this, but I have no doubt that this little twin turbo monster will be just as reliable as any other modern engine. I'm going to run it hard, enjoy the truck and its power, and change the oil every 5,000 miles.
In my circle of friends and family (which Facebook claims to be about 200 people- LoL) I know of none of them who have ever had to replace their vehicle's engine. And a lot of them change their oil and think about their vehicles a lot less than I do. Other vehicular failures often happen: transmissions- check, air conditioners- check, ball joints and steering- check and mate.
Some of you will remember not too many years ago, it was uncommon for an engine to go 150,000 or 200,000 miles. Back in the 70s or maybe in the early 80s even, if a truck had over a 100,000 miles on it, it was pretty well used up. It likely took a few changes of spark plugs, wires, distributors, batteries, thermostats, perhaps a carburetor kit and a water pump to get there. Now vehicles seem much more reliable by such standards. Even when I consider some of my late 90s trucks, I haven't changed out a water pump in years. Even normal wear items like brakes seem to hold up much better.
Stop worrying about your engine. LoL
The rest of your car or truck will break or wear out long before your engine catastrophically fails. A lot of people (not us car-people who read forums) will get rid of a vehicle long before it reaches 200,000 miles anyway. You are in the extreme minority if you care if your vehicle will go 200,000+ miles.
You may not even be able to afford the gasoline to take your F150 200,000 miles.
haha!
Do you lie in bed at night worrying whether or not the light bulb in the refrigerator went off when you closed the door? LoL
I've got a 3-valve 5.4L in a F250 that gets used hard. The 6-speed manual transmission eeks out ever last ounce of power that engine has to offer. It goes to the engine's rev-limiter multiple times a month. It also gets lugged in 6th pulling a trailer for miles and miles at a time. This truck now has 50,000 miles on it with only oil changes. I'll probably change the fuel filter for the 1st time next month if I think about it. Other than oil changes every 5,000 miles and a new air filter a time or two, this engine has had -0- repairs.
On the other hand I also have a 3.5L EcoBoost F150 in my garage that gets driven daily. It already has 4,500 miles on it. It runs strong, very strong right up to the rev-limiter of nearly 6,000rpm. It gets good mileage and no check-engine problems yet. I might have to eat crow on this, but I have no doubt that this little twin turbo monster will be just as reliable as any other modern engine. I'm going to run it hard, enjoy the truck and its power, and change the oil every 5,000 miles.
In my circle of friends and family (which Facebook claims to be about 200 people- LoL) I know of none of them who have ever had to replace their vehicle's engine. And a lot of them change their oil and think about their vehicles a lot less than I do. Other vehicular failures often happen: transmissions- check, air conditioners- check, ball joints and steering- check and mate.
Some of you will remember not too many years ago, it was uncommon for an engine to go 150,000 or 200,000 miles. Back in the 70s or maybe in the early 80s even, if a truck had over a 100,000 miles on it, it was pretty well used up. It likely took a few changes of spark plugs, wires, distributors, batteries, thermostats, perhaps a carburetor kit and a water pump to get there. Now vehicles seem much more reliable by such standards. Even when I consider some of my late 90s trucks, I haven't changed out a water pump in years. Even normal wear items like brakes seem to hold up much better.
Stop worrying about your engine. LoL
The rest of your car or truck will break or wear out long before your engine catastrophically fails. A lot of people (not us car-people who read forums) will get rid of a vehicle long before it reaches 200,000 miles anyway. You are in the extreme minority if you care if your vehicle will go 200,000+ miles.
You may not even be able to afford the gasoline to take your F150 200,000 miles.
haha!
I Like Tires
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 250
From: Texas
Originally Posted by ChrisH
You guys can worry about the most silly things!
Do you lie in bed at night worrying whether or not the light bulb in the refrigerator went off when you closed the door? LoL
I've got a 3-valve 5.4L in a F250 that gets used hard. The 6-speed manual transmission eeks out ever last ounce of power that engine has to offer. It goes to the engine's rev-limiter multiple times a month. It also gets lugged in 6th pulling a trailer for miles and miles at a time. This truck now has 50,000 miles on it with only oil changes. I'll probably change the fuel filter for the 1st time next month if I think about it. Other than oil changes every 5,000 miles and a new air filter a time or two, this engine has had -0- repairs.
On the other hand I also have a 3.5L EcoBoost F150 in my garage that gets driven daily. It already has 4,500 miles on it. It runs strong, very strong right up to the rev-limiter of nearly 6,000rpm. It gets good mileage and no check-engine problems yet. I might have to eat crow on this, but I have no doubt that this little twin turbo monster will be just as reliable as any other modern engine. I'm going to run it hard, enjoy the truck and its power, and change the oil every 5,000 miles.
In my circle of friends and family (which Facebook claims to be about 200 people- LoL) I know of none of them who have ever had to replace their vehicle's engine. And a lot of them change their oil and think about their vehicles a lot less than I do. Other vehicular failures often happen: transmissions- check, air conditioners- check, ball joints and steering- check and mate.
Some of you will remember not too many years ago, it was uncommon for an engine to go 150,000 or 200,000 miles. Back in the 70s or maybe in the early 80s even, if a truck had over a 100,000 miles on it, it was pretty well used up. It likely took a few changes of spark plugs, wires, distributors, batteries, thermostats, perhaps a carburetor kit and a water pump to get there. Now vehicles seem much more reliable by such standards. Even when I consider some of my late 90s trucks, I haven't changed out a water pump in years. Even normal wear items like brakes seem to hold up much better.
Stop worrying about your engine. LoL
The rest of your car or truck will break or wear out long before your engine catastrophically fails. A lot of people (not us car-people who read forums) will get rid of a vehicle long before it reaches 200,000 miles anyway. You are in the extreme minority if you care if your vehicle will go 200,000+ miles.
You may not even be able to afford the gasoline to take your F150 200,000 miles.
haha!
Do you lie in bed at night worrying whether or not the light bulb in the refrigerator went off when you closed the door? LoL
I've got a 3-valve 5.4L in a F250 that gets used hard. The 6-speed manual transmission eeks out ever last ounce of power that engine has to offer. It goes to the engine's rev-limiter multiple times a month. It also gets lugged in 6th pulling a trailer for miles and miles at a time. This truck now has 50,000 miles on it with only oil changes. I'll probably change the fuel filter for the 1st time next month if I think about it. Other than oil changes every 5,000 miles and a new air filter a time or two, this engine has had -0- repairs.
On the other hand I also have a 3.5L EcoBoost F150 in my garage that gets driven daily. It already has 4,500 miles on it. It runs strong, very strong right up to the rev-limiter of nearly 6,000rpm. It gets good mileage and no check-engine problems yet. I might have to eat crow on this, but I have no doubt that this little twin turbo monster will be just as reliable as any other modern engine. I'm going to run it hard, enjoy the truck and its power, and change the oil every 5,000 miles.
In my circle of friends and family (which Facebook claims to be about 200 people- LoL) I know of none of them who have ever had to replace their vehicle's engine. And a lot of them change their oil and think about their vehicles a lot less than I do. Other vehicular failures often happen: transmissions- check, air conditioners- check, ball joints and steering- check and mate.
Some of you will remember not too many years ago, it was uncommon for an engine to go 150,000 or 200,000 miles. Back in the 70s or maybe in the early 80s even, if a truck had over a 100,000 miles on it, it was pretty well used up. It likely took a few changes of spark plugs, wires, distributors, batteries, thermostats, perhaps a carburetor kit and a water pump to get there. Now vehicles seem much more reliable by such standards. Even when I consider some of my late 90s trucks, I haven't changed out a water pump in years. Even normal wear items like brakes seem to hold up much better.
Stop worrying about your engine. LoL
The rest of your car or truck will break or wear out long before your engine catastrophically fails. A lot of people (not us car-people who read forums) will get rid of a vehicle long before it reaches 200,000 miles anyway. You are in the extreme minority if you care if your vehicle will go 200,000+ miles.
You may not even be able to afford the gasoline to take your F150 200,000 miles.
haha!
thanks for the consideration though 
Senior Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 443
Likes: 15
While your right we are in the minority of we care about the engine getting over 200. Most people trade up to the new thing in 3-5 years which to me is ridiculous. I plan on keeping my truck until the wheels literally fall off, but thats me. So if your like me and some others these are things that you will need to consider if you want your vehicle to last that long. Having said that however most people like that generally just do it naturally like a routine so we don't generally lose sleep over these things thanks for the consideration though
thanks for the consideration though If your going to keep your current 5.4 until until the wheels fall off then you will know for sure weather or not the EB motors have held up or not. Ought to take 20 or 30 years.
I Like Tires
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,828
Likes: 250
From: Texas
Originally Posted by z06
If your going to keep your current 5.4 until until the wheels fall off then you will know for sure weather or not the EB motors have held up or not. Ought to take 20 or 30 years.
This year I managed 10k