Purchasing a New Gasser Truck

[RASwift]

I pulled a 9500# fifth wheel into CO for many years with a 2500 6.0 gasser. The brakes were great and I never had too much trouble going over the hills. Have you considered one of these. Here in the south you can find a lot of GMC gassers. Mine had the 4 speed transmission. I hear the later transmissions were better towing.

[t.simpson]

I just moved out of a 2011 Max tow ecoboost. I won't get into the "will it or wont it" tow debate. I loved my truck and it served us and towed our 30 ft Salem TT well.

My advice is around high mileage ecoboosts. The EB motor typically needs the timing chains replaced around 100K miles. The cost at a dealership is about $3000. Be aware of this when shopping. Also the turbos will start to "chirp" when the waste gates start to fail. You will hear this on acceleration, it sounds a little like a bird chirping. Turbos and waste gates are sold as a unit and can be another $3000. I am not trying to scare you away from an EB, just make you a better shopper!

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by t.simpson

I just moved out of a 2011 Max tow ecoboost. I won't get into the "will it or wont it" tow debate. I loved my truck and it served us and towed our 30 ft Salem TT well.

My advice is around high mileage ecoboosts. The EB motor typically needs the timing chains replaced around 100K miles. The cost at a dealership is about $3000. Be aware of this when shopping. Also the turbos will start to "chirp" when the waste gates start to fail. You will hear this on acceleration, it sounds a little like a bird chirping. Turbos and waste gates are sold as a unit and can be another $3000. I am not trying to scare you away from an EB, just make you a better shopper!

Timing chains were an issue with the early ones. Don't remember when they resolved it, but I do know I researched that when I had my 2013 and it had been addressed. My parents have a 2011 that's got just shy of 190K it with no timing chain issues, though. Turbos are a little over $600 each- this is for Ford OEM new turbos.

[RACarvalho]

Originally Posted by dustman_stx

Timing chains were an issue with the early ones. Don't remember when they resolved it, but I do know I researched that when I had my 2013 and it had been addressed. My parents have a 2011 that's got just shy of 190K it with no timing chain issues, though. Turbos are a little over $600 each- this is for Ford OEM new turbos.

It depends on how you drive your truck.
Currently Ford is working on a series of things on these engines (Eco and Coyote), rattle noise, tick noise, knock noise, oil consumption, etc.
You may have none, you may have all of them or something in between.
No manufacturer can test the engine in all possible working cycles so they have a standard one that should cover most uses but certainly will leave others out...
The power density that those engines have used to be only for racing and getting that on mass production for common, long term use is a huge learning curve. Way easier to hit the nail on a big displacement push rod engine but those new ones, too many things going on at the same time.
I remember when BMW came up with DI engines and had to change engine heads at 30K miles... there is a price to be paid to be ahead of the game on technology...

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by RACarvalho

It depends on how you drive your truck.
Currently Ford is working on a series of things on these engines (Eco and Coyote), rattle noise, tick noise, knock noise, oil consumption, etc.
You may have none, you may have all of them or something in between.
No manufacturer can test the engine in all possible working cycles so they have a standard one that should cover most uses but certainly will leave others out...
The power density that those engines have used to be only for racing and getting that on mass production for common, long term use is a huge learning curve. Way easier to hit the nail on a big displacement push rod engine but those new ones, too many things going on at the same time.
I remember when BMW came up with DI engines and had to change engine heads at 30K miles... there is a price to be paid to be ahead of the game on technology...

I agree. But I also don't want to still be driving a 350-400 cubic inch V8 that gets 8MPG and produces 150HP. As far as the power density, keep in mind that the 3.5L EB produces less torque per CI than any of the big 3 diesels. Granted, they're designed differently, but they're also expected to operate at a much higher duty cycle. With the number of 3.5L EB engines that have been produced, I'd say they've been big time winners overall. And it seems Ford is listening and improving the design to make them even better (hence the addition of port injection to resolve carbon buildup issues).

[debit]

I am feeling good about my older Ram 2500 diesel 4x4, 6 speed manual truck.

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FR Surveyor 251rks