Matrix311

A friend of mine is kind of in the market for a tow vehicle to haul is '92 jeep yj around. We found one locally here in Arizona for sale listed at $13,700. It's a 2011 Lariat Ecoboost 4x4 with 217,000 miles. What is the reliability factory of these engines at that mileage? How many others are running theirs with over 200k miles and still using it as a work truck to haul stuff or tow heavy loads? Would this be more of a headache or would it be better for him to find a rig with less mileage and pony up the extra dollars?

Any feedback on the reliability of the ecoboost at over 215,000 miles is appreciated!

tanked_darren

At that point I'd be worried about a transmission failure. The ecoboost should be good up until 500,000 miles...

MikeyZ

Not reliable.

Turbosss

ggallant1

I'd be worried about other components such as transmission and suspension after that many miles. Turbos can be replaced if they wear out, but remember that diesel engines use turbos and last several hundred thousand miles.

The price is way too high, IMO. If I was even going to consider a vehicle with that many miles (I wouldnt), I'd be under 10k.

redmist

LOL

Kenferg1

Yeah, those suckers at Cummins, Cat, GM, John Deere. All idiots trusting turbos for 1/2 a million miles. Can't trust new technology!

TuxBlackFX4

I agree with the others. I'd be more worried about the other stuff nickel and diming you to death.

fseries54303

I bought my 2011 XLT 3.7L back in February with 187,000 miles. Paid $9,000.

Mattwrotethis

I bought a 1999 GMC with 199,000 miles for a beater four years ago.

Best beater ever, though the transmission did break (sunshell, common 4l60e failure point) at 205,000 miles, it never did leave me stranded, and I traded it in last year for what I paid for it in the first place with 250,000 miles on it. I traded it in because at about 240,000 it started nickel-and-diming me badly enough that it was basically a car payment per month in parts (I turn my own wrenches) just to keep it on the road. It wasn't the powertrain or the electronics, it was all suspension, steering, and chassis. I could have pushed through and kept replacing things as they wore out, but when I was done I'd have a truck with a bunch of new suspension parts that still had a quarter of a million miles on the rest of the truck, you hit a point of diminishing returns with a daily driver, and in most cases, somewhere around 200k is it. If I'd had somewhere to park that truck though, It'd still be my work truck, and I wouldn't even have my F150 that replaced the p.o.s. that I traded the GMC in on.

CreepinDeth

When I was at the Chicago auto show both years the new EcoBoost came out, I asked the Ford reps about the timing chain that's allegedly "Lifetime" and they told me maybe 250,000 miles. But really....no one knows. They will stretch and eventually fail. Nothing can last forever right ??

With that being said, Ford engineers ALSO rated the EcoBoost turbo's up to 150,000 miles. Yes, there are OTHER turbo's out there on different engines (Diesels) that last longer but from what I gather, they don't spin as high of an RPM either.

So if you're @ 217,000 miles you're already way over that. Those turbos are about $750 each x2 plus labor if you can't do it yourself. I was privvy to a guy's EcoBoost bill whose engine blew both turbo's at 27,000 miles and it was a $4500 give or take repair bill if he had to pay it.....but didn't since it was under warranty.

So all of these things you need to be concerned with.....plus the number of sensors that probably WILL be going bad soon. Count the sensors on that engine and price them all out......plus the ignition coils, etc it's not cheap. As others have mentioned, the transmission you have ZERO CLUE if it's been flushed, or how long til a rebuild will be necessary. Lastly as others have mentioned, the Suspension replacement costs....

I'm just giving you serious things to be aware of, and calculate the risk VS gain factor here. Would I spend $13,700 on an EcoBoost truck with 217,000 miles ??? No chance in hell would I do that. I'd opt for a much simpler truck with the costs of repairs being ALOT less. GM trucks are simple, and I can rebuild their transmissions.....they're easy.

I'm sure I'll be able to do a Ford's also but I don't know what specialty tools I'd need yet. I'm new to Ford.....