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  1. #1
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    F150 3.5 EcoBoost towing

    I am looking at 2013-2015 F150’s with the 3.5 twin turbo EcoBoost.
    I tow a 2009 Ranger z520 dual axle. How does this engine tow? Looks like the towing capacity is the same as the diesel?

  2. Member
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    Oct 2016
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    #2
    Pulls really good. Has all the power you need to tow. Just don't look at the fuel economy lol

    Previously towed Phoenix 920, 20 phx, and ranger 520 with a 2013 3.5, 3.55 rear end
    Fish have fins, they swim

  3. BBC SPONSOR bassfish1's Avatar
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    #3
    It is a beast. High mileage engines may have a timing chain problem and turbos are always in question. I loved mine.

  4. Member
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    #4
    Quote Originally Posted by bassfish1 View Post
    It is a beast. High mileage engines may have a timing chain problem and turbos are always in question. I loved mine.
    Timing chain issues are more common when vehicles are not maintained properly (since almost everything runs on oil pressure). Turbo coolant leaks is about the biggest issues I know of with the gen 1 ecoboost
    Fish have fins, they swim

  5. Member
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    #5
    Tows great but I would get the V8.

  6. Member
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    Oct 2017
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    #6
    They’re a V-6 that’s doomed to fail and can’t possibly tow a bass boat any farther than a EV truck….
    Now that I beat everyone to it, they’re beast with or without a trailer behind them. Had one in my last two trucks and my next truck will be too. There’s been a couple common issues over generations but most have either been fixed by the next Gen or they have a resolution if the problem occurs. I can’t imagine how many of these motors are on the road and towing/going strong.
    2019 Ford F-150 Platinum (3.5EcoBoost/10spd)
    **Listed FOR SALE**2014 Ranger Z119C w/ Evinrude ETEC 225HO Running Croxton’s Razor 4XL 25P
    Helix 12 Mega G2N’s with Ultrex
    Think like a fish, no matter how weird it gets

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    #7
    So the 5.0 gets better towing mpg?

  8. Banned
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    Dec 2019
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    #8
    I'm on my 2nd F-150 3.5 Eco. Tows great but mileage suffers. I have over 15K miles of towing MPG history.

    75 mile daily commute round trip, mostly highway, 75MPH = 21MPG
    Towing Z18 fully loaded (gas, equip, 4 31M AGMs, PPs, etc...), twin axle trailer (~3100lbs)
    65MPH = 13.8MPG
    70MPH = 12.8MPG
    75MPH = 11.8MPG

  9. Member
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    #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Ranger@z20 View Post
    So the 5.0 gets better towing mpg?
    No, I’ve had both. The 5.0 and the 3.5 get about the same mpg towing. The 3.5 has a lot more useable torque down low and when you want it. I’ve also found the 3.5 gets better mpg empty and at highway speed then the 5.0.
    2019 Ford F-150 Platinum (3.5EcoBoost/10spd)
    **Listed FOR SALE**2014 Ranger Z119C w/ Evinrude ETEC 225HO Running Croxton’s Razor 4XL 25P
    Helix 12 Mega G2N’s with Ultrex
    Think like a fish, no matter how weird it gets

  10. Member
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    #10
    Your numbers are better than the 21 tundra I just got out of. Never saw better than 10mpg highway towing!!!

  11. Member Mizzou211's Avatar
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    #11
    I have a 2014 ECO. My results are VERY similar to what BarryFL describes. It tows VERY well...in fact better than any Ford V-8 I've had, other than a 351. Torque is very impressive. For context, I tow a Champion 196 single axle. For my next truck, I will either have another F150 3.5 or a new Tundra with the 3.5. That is how much I believe in the twin turbo V-6.

  12. Member
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    #12
    Quote Originally Posted by BarryFL View Post
    I'm on my 2nd F-150 3.5 Eco. Tows great but mileage suffers. I have over 15K miles of towing MPG history.

    75 mile daily commute round trip, mostly highway, 75MPH = 21MPG
    Towing Z18 fully loaded (gas, equip, 4 31M AGMs, PPs, etc...), twin axle trailer (~3100lbs)
    65MPH = 13.8MPG
    70MPH = 12.8MPG
    75MPH = 11.8MPG

    Your numbers seem pretty spot on to me with my 2021 F150 3.5ecoboost pulling a 520vx ranger. I like mine, came from a 6.2 in a GMC and dont regret it.

  13. Member Meadows's Avatar
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    Stuarts Draft, VA
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    #13
    I had a '13 F150 3.5 EcoBoost two trucks ago. Pulled a 19' and 21' Triton like a dream. I loved that truck.
    2022 Skeeter ZXR20
    Yamaha 250 SHO

  14. Member
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    May 2011
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    #14
    Absolute beast of an engine towing. The low end torque reminds me of a mini-diesel. My favorite engine I've had yet and DOES NOT hunt gears towing with 10spd. Tows circles around my previous 5.3 V8 Silverado.

    Mine is a 2017 Super Crew with the 3.5 with the 10spd 65K miles. I tow a 21' bass boat a lot.
    I've got a heavy foot and here's my numbers:
    Average combined towing: 11.5mpg
    Best towing (relatively flat ground, lead foot in check): 13.5mpg
    Worst towing (very hilly terrain, late to a tourney and heavy foot): 9mpg

    I also own a 24' Avalon Tritoon. When I tow that sail of a boat, numbers drop as expected:
    Non-Highway towing Tritoon: 10mpg
    Highway Towing Tritoon: 9mpg


    Non-towing
    City: 17.5 mpg
    Highway: 18.5 (speeds 75-85)
    Best Highway: 20.8 (kept it 75 and under on a long trip to FL)
    Last edited by dstep0; 12-08-2021 at 09:02 AM.
    Phoenix 721 - Yamaha SHO 250 - 8' Blades

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    #15
    Look at axle ratio but they tow very well

  16. Member
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    #16
    Quote Originally Posted by XingEyeballs View Post
    No, I’ve had both. The 5.0 and the 3.5 get about the same mpg towing. The 3.5 has a lot more useable torque down low and when you want it. I’ve also found the 3.5 gets better mpg empty and at highway speed then the 5.0.
    my 3.5 got 9-10mpg towing at 75mph
    my 5.0 gets 12-13mpg towing at 75mph

    Same boat used for both those numbers. And I get the same MPG when empty. But the 3.5 had much more get up and go
    Fish have fins, they swim

  17. Member
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    Jun 2014
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    East Tennessee
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    #17
    The 3.5 tows a lot better than the 5.0. I have the 5.0 and my dad has the 3.5 and Id rather pull with his any day. Plus, his 3.5 will eat my 5.0's lunch
    2020 Phoenix 920
    Merc 4banger
    East TN

  18. Member dwtaylor's Avatar
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    Oct 2015
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    Oshkosh, Wisconsin
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    #18
    My 2015 tows great for my 18.5" triton on a single axle trailer (not much to tow honestly).

    Obviously whenever you get the turbos to spool your mpgs will suffer. Towing, accelerating quickly, and higher speed driving contribute to this so driving style plays a big factor especially on ecoboosts.

    I consistently see 23 mpg highway when driving 65 mph highways long trips (65 mph speed limit roads). That average drops to around 18.8 to 19.5 depending on time of year when going 77-78 mph without a tow load.

    Towing is a wildcard. On 55 mph highways on longerish trips I can see 18 mpg if I drive the speed limit and try to prevent the turbos spooling on acceleration. Normal towing I would say 13 mpg overall. Throw a cross or headwind in while towing Id be lucky to see 10.

  19. Member
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    #19
    Every truck has pretty bad fuel mileage when towing anything with high wind resistance or pulling heavier weight. It just takes a certain amount of energy to do the job. Some are a little better than others but no matter how well it tows it takes close to a certain amount. My old Z71 gets average of 16 combined town/highway. Boat or tractor behind it 11-12 . My son has a Tundra and it gets about the same pulling but does a better job at it. Mine has 4:10 and his has 4:30 gearing. Mine will get a little better on the highway but pulls like I could use a push going up grades. Even diesel loose mileage. If all I did was pull I would have to own a diesel but I do think for boat pulling the 3.5 t-2 is a good compromise. A member of the family is selling his 3.5 4x4 because it is starting to have lots of small things going wrong. Don’t know why as it only has 260,000 miles.

  20. Banned
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    Jun 2016
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    Albuquerque, new mexico
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    #20
    HATE MY 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pay it off at end of month, its been nothing but problems. Have 120k mi on it. I'm on borrowed time with the lemon I drive every day. Hoping the truck market cools off soon, but I cannot wait to get out of mine. Wish I had gone the 5.0 route from the very beginning. Bought mine in 2017 with 30k mi, thought it was a dream truck until about 90k mi. Did all the maintenance, oil change every 5k mi, changed spark plugs about every 30-40k mi, air filters always clean.

    Mine has been through 3 throttle bodies, had to chase a misfire for a couple months where some days truck ran fine and then would start in limp mode and idle like shit (changed spark plugs and coils multiple times, no idea how it hasn't done it again but I aint touching them again), there is always a couple misfires when starting and reading on other forums, they depict this as normal for this generation ecoboost, you can watch on the OBD reader when driving random misfires but not enough to put the truck in limp mode. It is a touchy motor for sure.

    If it were me, I would run! The new generations are far better. My buddy just got a 2021 and its night and day difference from the motor I have vs what his is doing. I may have just got a lemon, as many speak highly of these motors, but I wont ever trust one again. As soon as this truck needs spark plugs or coils again, I am trading it in so fast.

    The baby dmax looks VERY appealing and I like the tow rating for 2022 models, but would really like to get into a 6.7 cummins. I know it is overkill for a boat but dragging the travel trailer up a mountain pass is sure nice in a 2500 size truck. What they want for trucks these days is a second mortgage, just hoping it cools off before this one costs me a ton more money.

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