k-stater88

So i had my 5.4 screw on the highway yesterday...and surprisingly there was no wind. So I think to myself, hey this will be a good day to really see how it does on it's own, so I set the cruise at 70 mph and take off on a 200 mile trip on a flatter than a pancake highway.

The biggest thing that had me erked was the tranny..that poor truck shifts in and out of 6th so damn often, i'm afraid I'll shell the tranny out by 50,000 miles. It's clear this 5.4 was not meant to be on a 6 speed tranny, so I'm asking if anybody made the swap and thought it was worth it? Was there any increase in mpg? my lifetime average of granny style driving is 14.1 with 80% of my 31,000 miles highway.

My truck being paid off pays for a lot of gas, but the tranny thing i really can't live with. I rarely tow, i'm looking for something that's just going to run better. I've tried all types of tunes, air pressures, air filters. Oh, the dealer says it's normal and that the 5.4 is just "an old turd".

Manuellabour247

I haven't had the 5.4, but my lifetime mpg over 8500+miles is around 16.5/16.6. That's taking it to the track and driving it like I stole it. The only bad thing about switching is the truck payment you don't have right now. My highway mileage is somewhere around the 18 mark even with winter gas. It's gone up past 18mpg since the summer blends have come out. I don't know about the eco, haven't driven one for any extended period of time, just test drives.

HunterSmitty

If you don't like to downshift, then the EB is the way to go. With both the 5.0L and EB, you might see 1-2MPG better than your 2010. I wouldn't bank on that though.

Tothemax

Have you checked to see if there is a transmission update?

k-stater88

Thanks. From all the research I've read, i'm not banking on any mpg gains...and even if there is, it's not going to be any more than 1 mpg, so for me it's purely drive-ability. I'm just not sure it's worth trading just for the transmission....maybe it is.

Matt_RTR_FX4

Most of my driving is stop and go and I avg around 16-16.5 with my 5.0. I am really impressed with the truck when I do get out on the interstate though. I took a 45 mile trip on the interstate yesterday, and snapped this picture about 25 miles into the trip. I ran into heavy traffic, so this pic was taken as I was coming to a stop. I had cruise set on about 70, and it was bouncing back and forth between 19.8-21 mpg depending on terrain. I'm very pleased with the 5.0's low end torque. The truck pulls hard at lower rpm's, and It will hold 6th gear with no problem at all. Even at lower speeds going uphill.

Adobe2X

If the downshifting thing is what is getting to you, then the EcoBoost is the ONLY way to go. You will not believe the grades it can pull and yet stay in 6th....at least with the 3.73 gear set, the rpm's on the highway are right at the beginning of the flat torque curve for the EB, and it just hums away and pulls, staying in 6th.
There were lots of grades at highway speed where my old 5.4 was even down to 4th gear, screaming at high rpm (hated that noise!) --- and our EB is just quietly humming along in 6th at the same speed now....love it for that!

Matt_RTR_FX4

I would like to test drive an Eco to compare to my 5.0. I haven't towed anything yet, but for truck only it does well. I drive in M mode a lot so I force truck into 6th gear. I'm shocked at how well it will hold it, and love the deep rumble cruising at slower speeds in higher gears. Sounds like if I am pleased with 5.0, then I really would be impressed by Eco (except for sound).

TexasEd

It takes all kinds, but I love how quiet my eco-boost truck is. I do not long for the drone of exhaust in my truck. Now my '69 Mustang is another thing all together.

ANamer

I would definitely recommend driving both an eco and 5.0. I have a 5.0, 3.55 gears and I love it. I get 16-17 around town hand calculated, and I will say the motor doesn't like to be babied. When I first got it, I made it shift before 2k thinking it will get better mileage only to learn it runs better being pushed a little harder. Highway I can do around 21 consistently at 60-65 and 18 at 75-80. I live next to Route 18 which has grades but no extremely steep ones, and it stays in 6th with cruise control. I thinkI force it out of 6th most of the time trying to pass all the drivers doing 50 or less on a 65mph highway.

So try them both, I love my 5.0 and for the light weight I tow (around 4000lbs) it works great and the mileage is better than I expected originally.