F150 - 2.7L vs 3.5L vs 5.0L

Explorerinil

Observer
Use forscan to disable start stop or just press the button on the dash everytime you use the truck
In my wife's WK2 the first thing I do when I start it is press disable start stop
My work truck (17 f150 police responder) was at the dealer getting some repairs done and the tech asked how I liked the auto stop start on a police vehicle. I told him it was very annoying and has caused me issues. He said he can disable it with a “jumper wire”, I had him do it, it took him 10 minutes and he didn’t charge anything. Every time I start the truck I get a message that says, auto stop disabled. It’s been 30 k and no issues.
 
My pick is the 5.0L because there isn't the added weight or complexity of the turbos

Plus you can throw on a hidden winch if you dont add on an aftermarket bumper
 

plainjaneFJC

Deplorable
My pick is the 5.0L because there isn't the added weight or complexity of the turbos

Plus you can throw on a hidden winch if you dont add on an aftermarket bumper
I know of a 2017 5.0 that had a catastrophic failure before 100k, and it was well maintained, never towed with
 

nitro_rat

Lunchbox Lockers
I'd stick to something older with a pre-10 speed transmission. The transmission never knows what gear it needs to be in. It knows what gear it WANTS to be in - 10th! If you're cruising at low speed (say 35-45 mph) and you want to accelerate, you have to wait a second while the transmission does an awkward 7x downshift before the truck starts to accelerate. Annoying in a 5.0, probably worse in a turbo version. Who knows maybe that time lets the turbos spool so there's no lag? Just a big hit like the secondaries after the bog on a poorly tuned quadrajet? The 6 speed transmissions are annoying enough as it is. I guess I'm just a 4 speed auto kinda guy...
 

phsycle

Adventurer
I'd stick to something older with a pre-10 speed transmission. The transmission never knows what gear it needs to be in. It knows what gear it WANTS to be in - 10th! If you're cruising at low speed (say 35-45 mph) and you want to accelerate, you have to wait a second while the transmission does an awkward 7x downshift before the truck starts to accelerate. Annoying in a 5.0, probably worse in a turbo version. Who knows maybe that time lets the turbos spool so there's no lag? Just a big hit like the secondaries after the bog on a poorly tuned quadrajet? The 6 speed transmissions are annoying enough as it is. I guess I'm just a 4 speed auto kinda guy...

I actually like the 10sp better than the old 6sp. I’ve never noticed it hunting for gears. I don’t even notice it shifting. It’s buttery smooth. Unlike like my ‘17 Tacoma!!
 

ricoisme26

Active member
Based off of recent posts I think a lot would have to do with driving style. I have 2012 5.0 with 6 speed. I don't mind the transmission but would probably like the 10 speed, I'm always trying to be in 6th gear on any back road or highway, only want to use the lower gears when needed, I'm not racing anybody and if I need to pass time to downshift doesn't make a difference, I'm not shooting gaps between cars on the freeway.

I do appreciate the closer gear spacing and not having the big jumps in RPMs that old 4 speeds had. I'd be hard pressed to go back to a 4 speed for daily driving duties, would prefer to move up to the 10 speed. Building a race car is another topic though.
 

jbaucom

Well-known member
I've never had any issues with the shifting in my 10 speed. Downshifting is nearly instantaneous when passing, and if I want maximum responsiveness, I put it in "Sport" mode. I appreciate that the transmission wants to be in the highest gear possible when cruising, and that it has plenty of gears to choose from. My 5.0 Ford gets better fuel economy than my 4.3 GMC with the 6 speed ever did.
 

ITTOG

Well-known member
The only problem I have ever had with my 10 speed is when it shifts from 3 to 4 it will sometimes fall on its face. Other than that it works great. It definitely doesn't hunt for gears.
 

nitro_rat

Lunchbox Lockers
Maybe I had a lemon but it was a rental that had less than 5k on it when I got it. I was in it for about 3 months for work last year...
 

jadmt

ignore button user
I asked my buddy who is a tech at a large Ford dealership what f150 was most reliable..he said none of them. He said he bought this working on them. he said the four wheel drive systems is what he has worked on most. No joke he drives a Ferrari.
B740B4E8-9478-4A29-B3B6-3CD047256887.jpeg
 

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