My EcoBoost Timing Chain Experience
12-06-2017, 11:27 AM
#22
Senior Member
As far as chain wear, specific types of oil can help with the sheering that occurs in a timing chain, thereby reducing wear. The first gen 3.5 eco has a long timing chain that snakes its way up both banks of the engine. Even a small amount of stretch on each link translates to quite a bit of overall lengthening. Oils higher in PAO (class 4 synthetics) or Esters (class 5 synthetics) are more sheer stable and could reduce wear in the chain. Unfortunately, those same oil types have recently been shown to be somewhat worse in LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) that can be an issue in direct injection and turbo direct injection engines, as compared to class II and III oils.
I personally see why the semi-synthetic oil spec'd by Ford works well controlling valve coking and LSPI in the 3.5 eco, but leaving the timing chain with less-than-stellar wear protection. There are always tradeoffs.
People love to point out that the engineers at Ford must know what's best for their products so following the specification and oil change interval as per the minder must be the best route. Those engineers definitely do know, but they don't get to make the decision in isolation. Marketing (lowest overall cost of ownership equations), sourcing (lowest supply costs to the factory), accounting and regulatory (EPA, maybe NHTSA, etc.) all have their hands in the how often and what type/viscosity of oil is specified for your truck. It's a compromise. I chose to use slightly different oil than specified based on my own research, expectations and requirements.
I personally see why the semi-synthetic oil spec'd by Ford works well controlling valve coking and LSPI in the 3.5 eco, but leaving the timing chain with less-than-stellar wear protection. There are always tradeoffs.
People love to point out that the engineers at Ford must know what's best for their products so following the specification and oil change interval as per the minder must be the best route. Those engineers definitely do know, but they don't get to make the decision in isolation. Marketing (lowest overall cost of ownership equations), sourcing (lowest supply costs to the factory), accounting and regulatory (EPA, maybe NHTSA, etc.) all have their hands in the how often and what type/viscosity of oil is specified for your truck. It's a compromise. I chose to use slightly different oil than specified based on my own research, expectations and requirements.
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STingray1300 (12-06-2017)
12-06-2017, 11:33 AM
#23
King Hater
As far as chain wear, specific types of oil can help with the sheering that occurs in a timing chain, thereby reducing wear. The first gen 3.5 eco has a long timing chain that snakes its way up both banks of the engine. Even a small amount of stretch on each link translates to quite a bit of overall lengthening. Oils higher in PAO (class 4 synthetics) or Esters (class 5 synthetics) are more sheer stable and could reduce wear in the chain. Unfortunately, those same oil types have recently been shown to be somewhat worse in LSPI (low speed pre-ignition) that can be an issue in direct injection and turbo direct injection engines, as compared to class II and III oils.
I personally see why the semi-synthetic oil spec'd by Ford works well controlling valve coking and LSPI in the 3.5 eco, but leaving the timing chain with less-than-stellar wear protection. There are always tradeoffs.
People love to point out that the engineers at Ford must know what's best for their products so following the specification and oil change interval as per the minder must be the best route. Those engineers definitely do know, but they don't get to make the decision in isolation. Marketing (lowest overall cost of ownership equations), sourcing (lowest supply costs to the factory), accounting and regulatory (EPA, maybe NHTSA, etc.) all have their hands in the how often and what type/viscosity of oil is specified for your truck. It's a compromise. I chose to use slightly different oil than specified based on my own research, expectations and requirements.
I personally see why the semi-synthetic oil spec'd by Ford works well controlling valve coking and LSPI in the 3.5 eco, but leaving the timing chain with less-than-stellar wear protection. There are always tradeoffs.
People love to point out that the engineers at Ford must know what's best for their products so following the specification and oil change interval as per the minder must be the best route. Those engineers definitely do know, but they don't get to make the decision in isolation. Marketing (lowest overall cost of ownership equations), sourcing (lowest supply costs to the factory), accounting and regulatory (EPA, maybe NHTSA, etc.) all have their hands in the how often and what type/viscosity of oil is specified for your truck. It's a compromise. I chose to use slightly different oil than specified based on my own research, expectations and requirements.
12-06-2017, 11:56 AM
#24
As far as chain wear, specific types of oil can help with the sheering that occurs in a timing chain, thereby reducing wear. The first gen 3.5 eco has a long timing chain that snakes its way up both banks of the engine. Even a small amount of stretch on each link translates to quite a bit of overall lengthening.
The 4.6L, 5.4L, Non-EB 3.5L, 5.0L Coyote and the 6.2L all have similar length timing chains.
12-06-2017, 12:47 PM
#25
They don't use a cam driven fuel pump maybe? Also, I have heard DI Turbo gas engines put more stress on the engine oil than a standard N/A port injected engine does.
12-06-2017, 01:36 PM
#26
Senior Member
It doesn't mean it will happen. I bought my truck at 60k miles and my truck was subjected to worse conditions that most. Looking back, I somewhat regret it. I am almost at 100k and knock on wood it is running great. I have stuck to the 5k oil intervals since day one.
12-06-2017, 02:22 PM
#28
Senior Member
No they don't. The 2.7eco, 5.0L, and 6.2l use dual timing chains like the gen2 3.5eco. Not sure about the others.
12-06-2017, 02:34 PM
#29
King Hater
12-06-2017, 03:08 PM
#30