F150 EcoBoost ?

[i8sand]

Looking for real life input on these trucks. I am looking to get a 2018 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost. I would only be doing light towing with the truck. 

What is the trailer assist for ? 

According to owners manual online, it says they recommend using 87-93 octane depending on elevation ? So at 1000'  87 would be fine ? Thinking of gas prices right now !

Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[zilla68]

@MGMFRP has a nice 2 door short bed for sale on here, he will prob be able to answer your questions

 

[Cookie]

I had an 2013 F150 with 3.5 V6 Ecoboost.  I liked it a lot, I am looking for another one right now.

I towed my boat and enclosed with it as well.  Boat was around 5,000lbs, towed it to Powell and back a few times, zero issues.  I also have towed my 24" box trailer loaded with buggy and two bikes, full of fuel and water as well.  Power is no issues, brake controller works well as well.  Tongue weight was the only concern.  If I was going to tow the box trailer a lot with it, I would add airbags to it.  It gets really squishy in the rear (I know some people like that ).

I only put 87 octane in it, mileage is mediocre as well, I think I got around 15 empty around town.

I bought it with 15,000 miles on it, sold to my son and now it has 110,000 miles on it, zero issues.

 

[Kraut_n_Rice]

Looking for real life input on these trucks. I am looking to get a 2018 F150 with the 3.5 ecoboost. I would only be doing light towing with the truck. 

What is the trailer assist for ? 

According to owners manual online, it says they recommend using 87-93 octane depending on elevation ? So at 1000'  87 would be fine ? Thinking of gas prices right now !

Thanks in advance for any input.

I'm thinking it would be opposite.  At lower elevation it will build more boost.  Thus, needing/wanting more octane.

 

[i8sand]

I had an 2013 F150 with 3.5 V6 Ecoboost.  I liked it a lot, I am looking for another one right now.

I towed my boat and enclosed with it as well.  Boat was around 5,000lbs, towed it to Powell and back a few times, zero issues.  I also have towed my 24" box trailer loaded with buggy and two bikes, full of fuel and water as well.  Power is no issues, brake controller works well as well.  Tongue weight was the only concern.  If I was going to tow the box trailer a lot with it, I would add airbags to it.  It gets really squishy in the rear (I know some people like that ).

I only put 87 octane in it, mileage is mediocre as well, I think I got around 15 empty around town.

I bought it with 15,000 miles on it, sold to my son and now it has 110,000 miles on it, zero issues.

Thanks, it has the 2" level kit on front, 1 " in the rear and air bags. It also has a boat load of aftermarket engine stuff, tuner, CAI, Exhaust. Claiming 500hp ?

It also has the 10 speed transmission which I am not familiar with either. I am not a "Ford Guy" which is why I am looking for input. I am in negotiations right now and if he meets my price I want to be sure before I pull the trigger. 

 

[Pennywise]

I’ve had a few and really liked them all. Started with 2011 & put over 100k on it. Towed some heavy loads without any issues. The only one I had any issues in was 2020 Raptor.
I just picked up a 2021 with 5.0 and I really like the V8 sound but doesn’t have the bottom end of the ecoboost. I think my only hesitation would be buying a truck that was tuned. Other than that I think you’ll really happy with it. 

 

[Rockwood]

I'm thinking it would be opposite.  At lower elevation it will build more boost.  Thus, needing/wanting more octane.

Delta P is worse at elevation since it needs more exhaust flow to make the same target boost. Air is also hotter since the compressor is making up more of the pressure ratio. If the target is 14.7 psi, which is actually 29.4psi total (boost + 1 atmosphere), the turbo has to make up more and more of the compression since the goal is 29.4, but the Earf is only giving 12.0 or whatever. 

Ford owners manual derates the tow capacity by 2% per 1000’ of elevation due to cooling concerns. 

We just BTO’d a 2022 F-150 Supercrew 4x4 in Space White with the 3.5 EB and Max Tow package. Of all the 1/2 ton engines, that 3.5 is by far the most pleasant to drive/tow with. I definitely wouldn’t want to tow 10k with it all the time, but for what we need (flat bed with buggies or Jeep on it), more than enough. 

Oh yeah: 2018+ is dual injection (DI and Port), which solves the intake valve coking issue:

 

[Sand Shark]

I currently have a 2018 with 81,000 miles.   Mainly run 87 in the truck.  This is my 3rd F150 with the ecoboost 3.5 motor.  Love the motor and the power it delivers.   Towing is not problem other than your gas mileage goes way down.   I get 10-12mpg toying my SXS on a 18’ trailer. I am towing at 65mph.

10 speed transmission is really nice.  

Trailwr assist will help you back up a trailer.  Never set it up on my truck.  
 

It is a great truck for a daily driver.

My first Ecoboost I would tow my 24’ toy hauler no problem.