re: 2017 Ford F-150: 2.7 Ecoboost or 5.0 V8

I had a 14 fx4 with the 3.5 ecoboost with a leveling kit and 35s. I got 8-10 pulling 22’ bay boat and avg 14-16. Stock it got 18-20 hwy and that’s at 55.

I traded it in for a 17 xlt 5.0 and I’m very happy with my decision. It pulls better and gets better gas mileage. 12 pulling boat and 18 avg city and hwy. I feel a lot better about it not leaving me on the side of the road with engine issues the ecoboost are known to have. If you tow a lot get the 5.0, if you city drive get the 2.7

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What size bayboat? It sounds like that will be your deciding factor

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20'

I'm on my second 5.0. First was a 12 lariat 2wd. I now have a 17 lariat 4x4 believe it or not the 4x4 gets better mileage due to aluminum body. I've pulled a 18' boat and my old bronco around and the 5.0 has never bogged down. The braking is the only thing you have to compensate for when towing. I considered the 3.5 this go round but I'm happy by my 5.0. I'd like to see what the mileage will be with the new 10 speed. I've had the 6 speed with both trucks.

I've owned four 5.0, including the boss302. No problems. The engine needs the 3.73 gears because it makes it's power at higher revs. This is important especially if you want to turn 1 or 2 inch taller tires.

Eco has had its growing pains, I can't speak for that motor first hand.

2.7 EB guy here. It is a completely different animal than the 3.5 EB. It is a great motor but the real homerun is the transmission gearing and rear end ratio options. This is why you see some youtube videos stating the 2.7 EB as being the fastest F150.

Towing with 2.7 EB: it tows moderate loads fine. When it needs power, it gets down with torque. However you need to know how turbos work. Engine load is direct relation to injector impedence. They get thirsty quick. But to my light towing, its worth it.

I avg 21mpg daily driving where I avg 16mpg in same driving with GM 5.3 w/ AFM (4 cyl mode). Towing 17ft dual axle steel trailer loaded I get 10mpg. It takes a different throttle foot to get decent mpg while towing. If you have ever rented a moving van with "mpg guage" you know what I mean. Its essentially a vacuum/boost gauge... again direct relation to injector impedence.

I recommend anyone to test drive a 2.7 EB

What, do they bolt the two pieces together or something? That is one of the dumbest engine designs I've heard of in a long time

I was thinking more along the lines of hundreds of thousands of cycles of thermal expansion and contraction at different rates. It's bound to cause problems. Why not make the whole thing out of CGI instead of just the crankcase out of aluminum?

It's basically creating a solution for no problem, and that solution could be an eventual failure point

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I'm curious why you think it's dumb? I thought it was pretty telling. I always talk to mechanics about any product before I buy. Do you think it was staged?

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I'd rather hear what a random group of engineers think about the matter than a group of backwoods oil change jockeys.

Based on discussions I’ve had with others, the V-8 gets about the same or even slightly better mileage than my eco boost. Based on my own experience, though not apples to apples, I expect that is accurate. My 5.4 v-8 in my 01 lariat (2 wd) got about 19, my 2012 FX4 gets about 17.5. Both highway miles. Clearly the FX4 is heavier but people I’ve spoken with tell me they get 18-19 with the v-8 in FX4 in my year range.