Age old debate 5.0 or eco boost f150

So in December I’ll be looking to buy a new truck, going for the f150 platinum 4x4.

Now for a while I’ve wanted the eco boost as this will be my daily driver and I have a 100 mile round trip commute in mixed open highways and rush hour traffic highways.

As I’ve been looking locally to gauge pricing I’ve noticed some more competitive deals on trucks with the 5.0. I know that ford updated it and I’m wondering how mpg in the real world is since it’s coupled with the 10 speed.

I don’t tow a ton, here or there a car but mostly my John deer 2 series tractor so around 5k lbs maybe a bit more with trailer. Mostly I do Home Depot runs or run trash and yard waste to the dump.

I’m curious for those that have purchased them specially with the 10 speed trans how they feel either motor compares and which way they went when purchasing. Also I’m wondering what the real world mpg is like for either motor. The goal is to buy one that will not only be efficient but get me to 200k miles with good up keep.

Before I drove a 3.5EB F150, I would've said 5.0 all day, every day. After I drove one, I'd say EB all day.

I've got a 2018 3.5EB with the 10-speed. I absolutely love it, and it's probably the fastest vehicle I've ever owned outside my '03 Cobra. And that's without a tune. Unless you're completely hung up on the sound of a 5.0, I'd strongly recommend an EB.

Wit regards to mileage, I'm seeing about 17 or 18 in town, and closer to 20 on the highway, if I drive it light. That's according to the factory computer, which tends to be about 1mpg optimistic. If I hammer down, it gets.....less....mpg. Keep in mind, though, that's a 3.5. I've heard the 2.7s are noticeably better with regards to mileage.

Honestly, if you keep it stock, go EB. If you plan to modify it, Coyote.

My company truck is the new 3.3L V6 with the crew cab and I love it. Way quicker than my Suburban, more comfortable, and quieter.

Keeping it for 200k I would think the ecoboost might have more repair expense over time just due to possibly replacing a turbo or something but honestly don't have any insight into what kinda mileage people are getting out of them. Ive have my 3.5 since 2012 and a little over 90k miles. Ive done spark plugs once. I have what I think is bearing noise from something in the engine bay, not sure if a pulley or fan and thats it.

BigPoppa said:

Honestly, if you keeping it stock, go EB. If you plan to modify it, Coyote.

My company truck is the new 3.3L V6 with the crew cab and I love it. Way quicker than my Suburban, more comfortable, and quieter.

Click to expand...

Pretty much my sentiments. I’d tvs a 5.0 in a heartbeat if I wanted a modded truck to play with. However if I were going to leave it alone, occasionally use the truck to haul, tow equipment like our kabota and John Deere’s, then I’d just get the ecoboost and leave it alone.

I’m not hung up on sound, and I say now I have no plans to mod but if I had a 5.0 the temptation to toss a tvs on it would be real lol.

Just looking for reliablility and comfort to drive daily as far as I plan for now.

Also is everyone liking the 10 speed so far? From what I’ve seen it takes a bit of driving for the computer to get the shifts down smooth but then it seems to be getting good reviews.

Not a 2018 but just bought a low mile 2015 FX4 with the 5.0 I love it, I average 17-18 mpg. When I was looking I wanted either the 3.5 Ecoboost or 5.0. I’ve read a lot of negatives with the early 2.7 but I think 2018 and up you would be fine with it.

@13COBRA

@03cobra#694

@Deceptive

@TK1299

@Zemedici

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Had my 2.7 Lariat for a little over 2 months now, and love it. Getting 22 mpg all city. Little shit has some ass too.

BlksvtCobra01 said:

Not a 2018 but just bought a low mile 2015 FX4 with the 5.0 I love it, I average 17-18 mpg. When I was looking I wanted either the 3.5 Ecoboost or 5.0. I’ve read a lot of negatives with the early 2.7 but I think 2018 and up you would be fine with it.

@13COBRA

@03cobra#694

@Deceptive


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

I’ve driven the 2.7 and it’s a fun truck but if I go ecoboost I’ll want the larger motor.

I’m curious to see how much of at all the 10 speed helps with the fuel mileage of the newer 5.0. 17-18 isn’t hateful but I’d like to land in the 20 mpg area with as much as I drive. Ecoboost May in my case just be worth the extra money. From what I see looking online it’s about a 1k or so different.

Fuel mileage in the EcoBoost compared to the 5.0L all depends on how you drive it, and the altitude you drive it at.

Youll run into a lot of people that say the EB gets trash mileage, my dad owns a 2014 and is on that EB gets bad mileage bandwagon, tries to tell me theres no way itll do better yet every time I drive it I get far better than he does. They are great motors

13COBRA said:

Fuel mileage in the EcoBoost compared to the 5.0L all depends on how you drive it, and the altitude you drive it at.

Click to expand...

I won’t be driving it like I’m babying it, when not in congested traffic on the highway I cruise at 75-80 mph. My weekend driving I’m not worried about as it accounts for so little, I maybe drive a couple miles total a weekend thanks to where we live being close to all our needs.

The work commute just blows haha

blk02edge said:

Youll run into a lot of people that say the EB gets trash mileage, my dad owns a 2014 and is on that EB gets bad mileage bandwagon, tries to tell me theres no way itll do better yet every time I drive it I get far better than he does. They are great motors

Click to expand...

My father has a 14 platinum long bed and gets on average 17mpg which isn’t bad I feel given that it’s an older ecoboost. I happen to think both motors are great.

It’s a good time to be truck shopping when I have such stellar options. I’m sure I’d be happy with either so before I head in for test drives I just like to get others opinions as I’m sure many before me have been in this same debate.

I just bought an '18 Lariat with the 3.5 EB and love it. So far I am averaging 16-17mpg with mostly around town driving.

I had a 2011 FX4 3.5 EB F150 and LOVED it. Ive also owned 2 Coyote Mustangs.

My opinion is the 3.5 EB is the perfect truck engine. Low end grunt and torque.

The difference towing 5k lbs with the EB and the 5.0 will be astounding. The 5.0 will be wheezing and staying above 4000 rpm to tow a hill while the EB will do it effortlessly like a mini diesel engine.

My EB F150 towed a 10k toyhauler with ease, bone stock untuned. It was a great truck.

Now... if you truly plan to supercharge the 5.0.... then my opinion sways to the 5.0.

In N/A form, the 5.0 just doesn't have the torque it needs for truck duty IMO.

gimmie11s said:

I had a 2011 FX4 3.5 EB F150 and LOVED it. Ive also owned 2 Coyote Mustangs.

My opinion is the 3.5 EB is the perfect truck engine. Low end grunt and torque.

The difference towing 5k lbs with the EB and the 5.0 will be astounding. The 5.0 will be wheezing and staying above 4000 rpm to tow a hill while the EB will do it effortlessly like a mini diesel engine.

My EB F150 towed a 10k toyhauler with ease, bone stock untuned. It was a great truck.

Now... if you truly plan to supercharge the 5.0.... then my opinion sways to the 5.0.

In N/A form, the 5.0 just doesn't have the torque it needs for truck duty IMO.

Click to expand...

As much as I’d love a blown 5.0 I just can’t see myself doing that. Plus that would murder mpgs lol

I have a 15 3.5 ecoboost so a little worse on MPGs if anything. But I got just under 19 city and around 22 highway (74-79 mph).

This is all based on the dash computer but I've calibrated it so its usually within .1 of my hand calculated MPGs.

My94GT said:

I’ve driven the 2.7 and it’s a fun truck but if I go ecoboost I’ll want the larger motor.

I’m curious to see how much of at all the 10 speed helps with the fuel mileage of the newer 5.0. 17-18 isn’t hateful but I’d like to land in the 20 mpg area with as much as I drive. Ecoboost May in my case just be worth the extra money. From what I see looking online it’s about a 1k or so different.

Click to expand...

From what I’ve read the 10spd and direct injection help in the 2018’s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Either is good to go

Best mod I did to my 5.0 was stop tech slotted rotors and pads

Towing my bassboat all over killed the stock brakes in 20k...had the stop techs for 40k now and they look damn near new...10k f those miles with a boat in tow

Ultimately I’ll have to test drive and see the pricing between the two. The SC on a 5.0 seems so tempting, that would be a fun truck for sure. Sure is pricy though, and then bye bye warranty.