To boost, or not to boost

[TonyR]

Hello all
For the good of the order, I thought I would share my current experience with my 2017 F150, Scab, 3.5EB, Fx4, Max Tow, which I use to tow a ‘16 Coachmen Apex Nano 191 RBS. The truck has been in the shop for two weeks, due to a “powertrain issue”. Evidently, one or both of the boosts are not boosting. They don’t know what is wrong with it/them and plan to take them both apart tomorrow. So far the dealership has involved the regional Ford engineer and the General Manager of the 5 Ford dealerships in our area is texting me tomorrow. We were planning to take our second trip towing our, new to us, trailer in two weeks. We just had a new mattress delivered an hour ago...oh well. The truck has @11,500 miles on it. I know some of you have similar trucks, so I though I would pass this along...

[ftroop82]

I had a 2013 3.5 EcoBoost had a valve stick open that controls the air flow to the turbo, had to replace the valve. Then everything was fine.

[ronheater70]

Originally Posted by TonyR

“powertrain issue”. Evidently, one or both of the boosts are not boosting.

I'm sorry but your terminology made my day, I'm smiling not because of your misfortune but your wording of it, thank you!

For what it's worth, both myself and My brother owned 2013 ecoboost f-150s..without a doubt was one of the best vehicles either of us owned. Never a problem. Hope it gets taken care of properly.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by ftroop82

I had a 2013 3.5 EcoBoost had a valve stick open that controls the air flow to the turbo, had to replace the valve. Then everything was fine.

I think they’ve gone beyond that point, thnx

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

I'm sorry but your terminology made my day, I'm smiling not because of your misfortune but your wording of it, thank you!

For what it's worth, both myself and My brother owned 2013 ecoboost f-150s..without a doubt was one of the best vehicles either of us owned. Never a problem. Hope it gets taken care of properly.

🤞😎...thnx, looks like the 2013 was the one to get

[ftroop82]

My 2013 F-150 was the best, I should have not gotten rid of the truck, but it had 115,000 miles on it. Got the 2016 have had little annoying issues here and there. I now think I have an issue with the Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by ftroop82

My 2013 F-150 was the best, I should have not gotten rid of the truck, but it had 115,000 miles on it. Got the 2016 have had little annoying issues here and there. I now think I have an issue with the Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS)

Now they are going to replace the whole turbo assembly...whatever that is...Lemon Law kicks in at 30 days...I’m sure they will try to replace whatever and get it running before they will give me a new truck...lol

[TonyR]

Now, they are giving me a rental...maybe I’ll ask for an F350...lol

[upflying]

I wonder if the longevity of turbochargers has anything to do with not letting the engine idle a bit before shutdown.
Aircraft turbo manuals require a 5 min cooldown before shutting off the engine.
The Cummins in my Ram requires a similar 1 to 5 min idle cool down period, especially after towing.

[67L48]

Ford manuals for diesel state a 5 minute cool down for the turbo. I didn't check, but I would expect a similar passage exists in the F-150 manual for the EB. Turbos get incredibly hot and need to cool down with the engine fans and such. If you drive hard and then shut off ... you're accelerating the wear/tear on that turbo/engine.

I'm not saying this is what happened to the OP. Just confirming what was said just above -- turbos need to cool down a bit and most manuals explicitly state this.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by 67L48

Ford manuals for diesel state a 5 minute cool down for the turbo. I didn't check, but I would expect a similar passage exists in the F-150 manual for the EB. Turbos get incredibly hot and need to cool down with the engine fans and such. If you drive hard and then shut off ... you're accelerating the wear/tear on that turbo/engine.

I'm not saying this is what happened to the OP. Just confirming what was said just above -- turbos need to cool down a bit and most manuals explicitly state this.

I’ll have to look into that...According to the GM they are replacing the turbo assembly today...supposed to be done by close of business

[Chuck_S]

No cool-down prescribed for the Ford EcoBoost engines. Turn the key Off. Done.

-- Chuck

[babock]

Even the cool down for airplane engines is debatable. The coolest the engine will be is during approach and landing. Actually warms up again slightly approaching the ramp.

My F-150 manual mentions nothing about cool down. The only time I may bother us if I am pulling up a mountain and immediately turn off the road. If I am just getting off the freeway and driving a few minutes to a gas station, plenty of time for a cooling off by the time the engine is turned off. My opinion is that with modern synthetic oils, it's much less of an issue.

[RACarvalho]

I don't know what cooling system Ford uses in their turbo but unless it has a separate electric cooling pump (assuming water cooled) which keeps running after the engine is shut down, it is a really bad idea tow heavy and shut down the engine without cooling it first.
The turbo would be super hot and get even hotter after the shutdown and the oil that lubricates it will "cook" ....

[upflying]

Originally Posted by Chuck_S

No cool-down prescribed for the Ford EcoBoost engines. Turn the key Off. Done.

-- Chuck

Even though the EB needs no cooldown, it might be wise to do so. Super hot parts, 5 digit rpm spinning objects and no oil pressure as the turbo spools down after engine shut off can't be good for bearings.

[Blackrock]

That's why us Ram Hemi drivers call them Ecoburst's.

Seriously though I have been told that by the time you pull off the road and find a parking place the engine and turbo have cooled down as much as they ever will.

[babock]

BTW..the F-150 turbos are both water and oil cooled.

[Dave Lyon]

Originally Posted by TonyR

Now, they are giving me a rental...maybe I’ll ask for an F350...lol

Don't do it! It'll be like sending a kid home with a puppy to try out
…...you'll wind up buying a HD if you try it.

[67L48]

Originally Posted by Blackrock

That's why us Ram Hemi drivers call them Ecoburst's.

Seriously though I have been told that by the time you pull off the road and find a parking place the engine and turbo have cooled down as much as they ever will.

Well, hopefully you instead call them Ecobursts.

The note above about them being water/oil cooled may be the difference. The diesels are air cooled. I don't know enough about engines to navigate the cooling effects and why one would warrant the warning and the other wouldn't.

I agree that in most cases when I'm towing/working the truck, I have some natural cool-down time built in. Particularly when I'm towing. By the time I check in, idle over to my campsite, back into my spot like a moron who's never backed a trailer before, and then unhitch ... it's been a lot longer than 5 minutes of cool down!

The danger and the times I've forgotten is when I pull off for fuel. It's easy for me to forget, pull into a fuel station with my trailer, and immediately turn off the truck. Not a great recipe.

[Summit1]

Originally Posted by ronheater70

I'm sorry but your terminology made my day, I'm smiling not because of your misfortune but your wording of it, thank you!



For what it's worth, both myself and My brother owned 2013 ecoboost f-150s..without a doubt was one of the best vehicles either of us owned. Never a problem. Hope it gets taken care of properly.

Don't you just love it when dealers minimize problems by referring to them as "issues"? [emoji1787]