Hi everybody I am new to this site and I am glad to be a part of it. My situation is that I cannot decide between the 5.0 or the Ecoboost. I would get either the F150 w/ 5.0, 4x4, 3.73 gears, Supercrew or the F150 w/ Ecoboost, 4x4, 3.55 gears, Supercrew. "My only concern" is the negative things i have heard gone wrong with the Eco.

Most of the time it will be my daily driver 50/50 city & highway driving.
I would go hunting with this truck along with using the truck to haul either a 5500lb. boat, 3 ATVs, or a 7000lb. travel trailer about 1 or 2 times a month depending on what i want to do that weekend.

Based on the info I have provided what would be the best F150 to get for the things i mentioned? Thx ahead for the input.

 

^^^

Welcome to FTE! Talk about dropping a grenade in an under ground bunker!

Either engine will pull the load you described.

Funny you mention all the issues you've heard with the EB engines. I just had my oil changed yesterday 2-18-13 and I asked the service writer and one of the dealer's truck techs about EB issues. Both men said they haven't seen many issues.

The internet can amplify anything. Good luck with your search sir.

 

I'd say for your uses I'd drive both and go with the one you like best. Either one would suit your needs.

That said I think you might search long and hard for a 5.0 with 3.73 gears.

 

i had 2 cars in for both the 1.6 ecoboost fire recall and a bambi run in at the same time.the wife was put in a 2012 f150 ecoboost and me a 2012 f150 5.0. the 5.0 got the very same mpg's as the eco and had the same perfomance levels.
as to problems i'm a now retired dealership wrench with still strong ties inside the dealer. all the wrenches same the same thing, we don't see the over blown issues talked about on the internet.
any new car or truck is a coin throw. one could never have a problem or there could be many, so my own personal advise is go out and test drive them both for your self, when you make up your mind and buy one, buy a factory ford extended warrenty with it and have the services done by a dealer only.
by using dealer services the service is entered in the national data base which makes getting service done easier should one have major problems down the line.

giving a personal example, i had a trans issue on my 05 f250, i was out of warrenty by 5k but had the problem entered in the service history anlong with all minor service history ,ford fixed the trans.

 

The eco has more hp and much more tq. Especially at lower RPM. The 5.0 has the old V8 rumble and sounds good. Both trucks are very quick, but the ecoboost is quicker.

Gas mileage is a wash. My 2012 FX4 screw 3.73 is getting 16-17 driving 5 miles to work in this cold weather. I believe in the summer it will jump to 18-19 no problem.

If you tow much weight, the ecoboost will do it much better. The 5.0 will do it no problem, heck i have towed with my old 4.6 and it moved plenty of weight down the interstate. But the eboost is so effortless.

Eboost tends to cost a little more initially because they are in higher demand as well when buying used. Ford also charges a premium of 1100 for the eboost new.

 

thx. i take it your truck is the Ecoboost?

 

I own the Ecoboost and love it. But both engines will serve you well. It comes down to personal preference. You can get a better deal on the 5.0 with rebates. The Ecoboosts is more popular so the rebates are not as high.

 

Our company has both and we love both. At WOT both are similar performance. At half throttle or less the EcoB is much snappier. The V-8 sounds great. We do a lot of highway driving with 2WD reg. cabs. Both average a little over 20 mpg. They have been rock solid. I don't know anyone who's had any issues. You can't go wrong with either engine. Pick one and enjoy it...

 

I'd think about your towing if your going to do at 2 times a month. Most diving and towing is done right at 2000 RPM. Look at the torque at that RPM and make your decision. I tow 2-3 times a year (8K) and ordered a max tow EB 2WD XLT CC with 6.5 bed. Ride is better than my 04 F250 with the same WB. Coming up on 1000 miles so I haven't towed yet......Good Luck

 

I don't think you can go wrong with either engine choice, but 420 lb. ft. of torque will tow easier than 380 at a higher rpm range. Everything else is a wash.

 

Took a 600 mile round trip today from central Missouri down through the Ozark hills/mountains to Jonesborough, Arkansas and back to pick up a truck my son bought on Ebay. Going down I just had my 18' flatbed car hauler that weighs in at about 2000 lbs. Got 18.1 mpg calculated with a heavy cross wind. Pulled all the way in 6th gear. On the way back with the Ranger loaded aboard I got 14.2 bucking a strong head wind. The trailer loaded was 5400 lbs. I locked out 6th gear and it towed in 5th even through the hills. It was awesome. There were a lot of slow/passing lanes on the hills for slower traffic that I thought I may need to use but never needed to with all the reserve power. It never got above 2500 rpm's even on the longest steepest grades. Just set the cruise at 66 and it chugged along at 1800 rpm's. Many folks were staring in disbelief as I blew by them up hill. I have an EcoBoost 2WD with 3.15 gears by the way. If it was set up with gears for towing I can't imagine what this thing could do. <!-- / message -->

 

I went through the same dilemma v8 ,diesel or Eco boost. So far I am very happy with the Eco boost. Finished a 5000km trip to Toronto.Avg 23 mpg just breaking it in.If you keep your foot out of it the return is outstanding. That being said I installed an bully dog intake, tuner and a mbrp 3.5 single exhaust. I have a hard time keeping my foot out of it now! cheers

 

IMHO, at 100k is where the determination will start to be made in regards to any gas vehicle with a turbo. Some people like turbos, some like blowers, some like normally aspirated. IMHO, with gas engines for street use/daily drivers, I just don't like any boost at all...too many variables to cause damage in the long run, fuel quality, road debries, etc....and very few of these last as long as a normally aspirated gas engine....Yes the tech is great but…..the 70’s & 80’s were demonstrative of the numerous issues including finding a "Tech" who actually understands & can diagnose the system without causing further damage....this is a challenge with the engines we currently have.
As with any new application, there are going to be real world challenges especially in the 1st three years. Although the Ecoboost has been used for many years in Lincoln applications, it continues to have (although small in quantity) complaints…one common one is sudden lack of power….and of course the Feds are starting an inquiry following the filing of a related lawsuit.
Placing this drivetrain in the F150 chassis has by appearance brought continuation of this potential issue and new ones as a result of the “different chassis” and use. While the 5.0 is by engineering specs “new”, it is for the most part a conventional platform based around proven technology….IMHO, I would wait 3 years to buy this also but if I had no choice but to buy right now……I would wager the reliability on the 5.0 any day compared to the much more complicated Ecoboost.