Ford F-150: 3.5 or 5.0?

[jackelope]

I just got rid of my V6 Flex fuel F150.  Beautiful truck, and 19/23 mpg, but it was having trouble pulling my new trailer. I just traded it in for a 2019 Ram Rebel, and got 20 mpg going 65, but only 15.3 when going the speed limit which was 80 in Idaho. With the weight you're pulling it should do great.

Was it an ecoboost F150 you got rid of?
The rebel is just a half ton too, correct?

[BULLBLASTER]

I’ve got 26k miles on a 17 with the 3.5. So far been a great truck took it to southern Idaho , south west Wyoming, and central Colorado hunting last fall and it did great. I average 20 mpg across the board.
At the last oil change I was informed that I have a leaking oil pan and they will replace it at the next oil change but it doesn’t drip on the floor.
Loads of power

Make sure they replace the oil pan. It’s a plastic one time use pan. If it comes off, it gets replaced.

Ya hey mentioned that it needs replaced and it would take 2-3 days. I said I don’t care just give me a loaner.   

[bassquatch]

I had a 2011 5.0 for about two years. Great Truck. Zero issues. Had it until about 80,000 miles. My only complaint was that it was the basic STX and the seat killed my back. And it was only an extra cab. Got about 15 mpg.

8 months ago I bought a 2015 3.5 ecoboost, lariat, long bed, 4 door. FX4, the whole ball of wax. Had 47,000 miles on it and it now has about 53, 000. I love this Truck. Lots of extra stuff I didn’t need, but is real nice. Heated/cooled seats along with steering wheel heat is nice. All which u can get in a 5.0 anyway.

After 8 months I’m at 15.4 mpg. Combination of mostly backroad, some city, some freeway. I put on a 2 inch level with a 33.2 tire. About an inch larger than stock.

This truck toes waaayyyy better than the 5.0 in my opinion. I mostly haul a 5x10 utility trailer with a quad and camping/hunting gear, which isn’t a ton of weight, but it hauls it much better than my 5.0 did. I don’t even know it’s back there with this truck. I feel that overall it has more power and is quicker also.

I don’t think u can go wrong either way. There’s a lot of YouTube comparisons. Off the line type videos. My buddy just put a cat back exhaust on his ecoboost and it sounds awesome.

Go test drive em’ and then buy the Eco! The newest ones have a 10 speed transmission in them also.






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Pretty much the exact set up I started looking at...until I stumbled across the 163" WB option    I don't haul 'people' around and the option of still having an 8' bed is worth more to me than having a huge backseat!  I also never did understand a sunroof in a pickup?  Too much potential flex to not eventually have problems.  I'm downsizing from an F350 V-10 Supercrew 8' bed so any of these whellbases will feel like a sportcar to me.  I may have to order?  Only Sound Ford in Renton has this package but only in an XLT and the interiors are hideous!

I am leaning towards the 3.5L Eco, a 3.73 rear end, the 163" wheelbase in a Lariat without sunroof...should be an easy find lol...  Since I could potentially own this truck for 15-20 years, due to the limited mileage they see now, I want it to be right!

[usmc74]

No sun roof for me.  My head burns, and they eventually leak.

[j_h_nimrod]

60k in 2 years on a 5.0 and averaged close to 20mpg. By the numbers the 3.5 EcoBoost slightly outs the 5.0 and I have heard great mpg on the 3.5, but for the extra cost not sure if it’s worth it. We tow a tall 7,000+ toy hauler trailer and get 9-10mpg over the passes.  I would like a bit more power and better towing ratio with the trailer over the passes, but it is only a half ton without a factory tow package.  I like the 5.0 but have not driven a 3.5 enough to say which I would like better.

Gotta say I love my sun roof in my older F150, it is much easier to look up at the mountains and hills while driving.  Solar glass so no UV to burn my head. Keeps the truck cooler when parked in the sun if you crack it and then the windows, creates a better draft and a cooler interior while sitting.

[b23]

The 3.5L is a bi-turbo. The fuel mileage will be all over the board based on how the truck is driven.  Drive it like a grandma, youll do better. Drive it like you stole it, mpg’s go in the tank. I.E. how the turbos spool up. They have more power and torque than the V8’s. In fact, the only way to get the F150 with the 13,200 pound tow rating is with the 3.5.

I don't have a F150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost but I have a new Explorer with this motor and if I set the cruise right at the speed limit and don't go over, it gets really good mileage, but the more you creep above that, the faster it falls.  I had a TRD supercharger put on my 13 Tacoma shortly after it was new and it's the same way.  If I drive it like a granny, it'll get 22-24 MPG but I generally set the cruise 6-8mph over and that drops it down to 18-19.

I'm very happy with the power of the 3.5 EcoBoost, in fact, I've been thinking about selling my Tacoma and getting a new F150 with that motor.

[BULLBLASTER]

The 3.5L is a bi-turbo. The fuel mileage will be all over the board based on how the truck is driven.  Drive it like a grandma, youll do better. Drive it like you stole it, mpg’s go in the tank. I.E. how the turbos spool up. They have more power and torque than the V8’s. In fact, the only way to get the F150 with the 13,200 pound tow rating is with the 3.5.

I don't have a F150 with the 3.5 EcoBoost but I have a new Explorer with this motor and if I set the cruise right at the speed limit and don't go over, it gets really good mileage, but the more you creep above that, the faster it falls.  I had a TRD supercharger put on my 13 Tacoma shortly after it was new and it's the same way.  If I drive it like a granny, it'll get 22-24 MPG but I generally set the cruise 6-8mph over and that drops it down to 18-19.

I'm very happy with the power of the 3.5 EcoBoost, in fact, I've been thinking about selling my Tacoma and getting a new F150 with that motor.

My trip to central Colorado last fall we averaged 17 for the entire trip. Cruise set to 85-90 most of the way and then a week of hunting driving and then 85-90 coming home. We were also loaded down both directions. Brought home an elk and 3 deer. Entire bed was full up to the top of the cab and we had coolers on a hitch rack.

[bassquatch]

"Eco"-"Boost" you can have one or the other but not both. 

Makes sense to me and it's inline with every motor vehicle I've ever owned 

[dontgetcrabs]

There is NO replacement for displacement.     5.0 all the way.   

[bassquatch]

If I'm going to do that then why not a 6.2 and another F250 

[dontgetcrabs]

If I'm going to do that then why not a 6.2 and another F250 

Well then you gotta go with the 6.7 Powerstroke.   

[bassquatch]

F-450 

Funny but true, that's where the search started, as we were contemplating an in bed camper.

[dontgetcrabs]

    

[jackelope]

There is NO replacement for displacement.     5.0 all the way.   

Not accurate in this case.

https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-ford-f-150-lariat-50l-v-8-4wd-vs-2016-ford-f-150-lariat-35l-ecoboost-4wd-comparison-test-2016-ford-f-150-50l-v-8-4x4-page-2

[dontgetcrabs]

There is NO replacement for displacement.     5.0 all the way.   

Not accurate in this case.

Boost the 5.0 and get back to me.