nolagtime

Would I be happier with the 5.0L than the 3.5EB?

My 3.5EB and 3.73 ratio is not what I was sold on. Brutal economy.

I came out of a 5.9L cummins that got 23mpg empty highway miles, and 17mpg pulling an 8000lb trailer.

All the hype on the ecoboost, I factory ordered the one I'm driving, with the 6 passenger seating which I thought I had to have, and yes it does come in handy the odd time, can't find it in a new one unless I order it again. The seating is not the deal breaker... the economy has been. I have had 3 services done at the dealership, and the shop say unless it throws a code they can do nothing about the poor mileage. Its thrown a code in my mind - never better than 17mpg hiway (absolute granny driving trying to eek out every last ounce of economy I could), the lifetime average to date (never reset the trip B yet) shows 14.2mpg or 16.4L/100km, and while pulling that same 8000lb trailer which is very occassional (maybe 1-2x per month) the ecoboost averaged 6.5mpg or 36L/100km. That is not acceptable!

So I'm at a terrible time to get out of a new vehicle (6 months in), but have an interested buyer at a fair price I think. Paid $44000 plus the $5000 prepaid maintenance and extended warranty (never again), plus about $2000 in accessories. I have put 25000km on it - yes I drive a lot! And I can get $44000 out of it. $7000 for 6 months and 25000km, fair?

I like the look of the FX4 but they come only in 3.73 ratio. Bummer. I'm thinking I should be going to a 3.55 ratio. I can get a new 2011 FX4 5.0 spec'd the same as my Lariat (less the 6 passenger seating) for $44000...

This might just be a knee jerk reaction to do something to get better mileage. Will the 5.0 be any better? Or do I go a 3.5 EB with the 3.55 rear axle ratio?

surelly09

In my opinion you need to go back to the diesel. If you tow a 8000lb trailer pretty regularly I can assure you that you won't see a whole lot better gas mileage out of a 5.0. The 17mpg is about what i get out of my 5.0(i sit in nasty stop and go traffic every day) so you may or may not see an increase in mpg depending on what kind of traffic you experience and what speeds you travel at. After 65mph the 5.0 mileage fades fast.

chris_bryan_89

I loved the EB after some test drives, but ultimately decided on the 5.0 for its simplicity, and because of all the mixed responses from EB owners. I just didn't feel like taking a chance, and I gotta tell you I am happy with my decision. I have been super impressed with the fuel mileage, getting 19 hwy with cruise set at 65, and 15/16 city. Of course even the 5.0's have their share of problems (I have not had any issues yet), but I also feel in the long run the turbos could prove to be an issue.

Either way you will be happy with the 5.0 if you decide to go that route, and it will sound 10x's better.

mikegs1952

Well what ever makes you happy. You said you would be out $7000 + taxes- title- accessories (mods) etc on a new one. That would buy a whole lotta gas.

ol_blue

run back to a 5.9 as fast as you can haha

flynlow

Seems like you need a diesel. I don't think the 5.0 is going to give much advantage, if any.

shawnw

Make sure it's the RIGHT diesel. Don't run out and buy a "new" diesel or you'll be back to the F150 in NO time at all once you see how un-economical they are. All of the new ones from the Big Three are miserable on fuel compared to a gasser.

Also, try not to get caught up in the numbers. 23 vs 17mpg highway isn't so bad once you compare the cost difference in fuel. The lifetime average of both vehicles is far more important, and a better indicator of which one would cost less to drive.

Ford850

How long will it take you to recoup the $7k in fuel savings? If you go to a 5.0, I think you'll see similar mpg anyway. I have noticed a couple new possible resolutions from Ford on this forum in the past week that could fix some other issues and the MPG might be improved at the same time. If I were you I would follow some of those threads for a bit. Other than that, I don't think your MPG is too far out of line from what your window sticker shows.

bell4fan

You wont find a gas engine that gets good mileage towing that. New diesels arent going to be much better, and diesel is so much higher. The days of the 5.9 Cummins and 7.3 PSD are long gone.

You're losing $7k dollars, not gaining any mpg's, and losing power.....not sure how any of that seems appealing.

pappcam

You own a truck. Did you really think you'd be getting 20mpg in that thing? Did you do any research at all before you bought it or did you just listen to the salesman's pitch and take his word for it?

I have a 2011 5.0 screw 4x4 that I average about 17l/100km at best driving to work and around town. I get about 13-14l/100km for highway driving and about 25l/100km towing my #6000 trailer. I drive how I want to drive and I don't worry and try to be some sort of hypermiler like some of the people around here.

I'm fine with the mileage I get and I don't expect to get much more out of a vehicle that weighs almost #6000 and has the aerodynamics of a house.