F150 - 2.7L vs 3.5L vs 5.0L

[Grassland]

You couldn't keep the good parts of the tune and adjust it to run on 87 octane? What tune is it?

I could switch back to the 87 I guess.
See if I notice the 10 peak HP loss or a dip in the lower end power band.
I don't know if Ford's Sport Mode is enough to compensate for their ridiculous terrible shift and throttle mapping in the new trucks.
I've read a lot into the mods and tuning the 3.7 mustang guys do and premium and an aggressive tune make a measurable difference on those cars. Probably less so on my 5600#+ truck, and premium is $149.9/L or more now and it wasn't that high when I put the tune on

 

[Riversdad]

That's low......my early 2004 (305/555) 3500 on 37s was high 18s

2005 trucks had an inefficient piston bowl, odd nozzle holes, and poor injection event cycle

I agree with you. Everyone told me how good it would do but I never did better than 15.5 and averaged 12 over it's life.

 

[Grassland]

If it makes you feel better my 3.7 can't breach 20 MPG US on BFG 34x10.5 KO2s and I'm shy 50+ HP and at least 100 lb-ft of torque.

 

[jadmt]

A guy I work with has the F250 with the 7.3L, on 35s

Says 8-10 mpg is normal.......no thx

my neighbor has a new 250 lariat with the 7.3 and 4.30 gears and he gets about 50% better than that. I did a 400 mile round trip with him to pick up a topper and driving the speed limit in Montana round trip missoula to greatfalls and hand figured 14.6mpg which matched his computer exactly.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

I'm still waiting for a chance to tow my 5000# trailer in the mountains with my 3.7 NA and "34s" (but really they are 33) and if it does the job, an XLT 301a 3.3 or 2.7 are lead replacement trucks if/when truck prices come down. A 2.7 PP truck for higher payload and heavier axle aren't needed, but if the price is right and one optioned correctly comes up, maybe.
A new custom multi leaf pack is probably better than Ford's heavier single spring, and I'd be changing shocks anyway.

If I routinely needed the power of the 3.5/5.0 and their payload packages, then I'd sooner take a 6.2 gasser 250.

I will give the 2.7 credit for being a towing machine. I came from a 6.7 powerstroke and the 2.7 tows 5k surprisingly well.

 

[rruff]

If it makes you feel better my 3.7 can't breach 20 MPG US on BFG 34x10.5 KO2s and I'm shy 50+ HP and at least 100 lb-ft of torque.

On Fuelly the 3.7 averages a little under 17 mpg, and the 3.3 a little under 20, so a big difference.

 

[Grassland]

On Fuelly the 3.7 averages a little under 17 mpg, and the 3.3 a little under 20, so a big difference.

The truck is mostly towing hence the particularly bad mileage, but even when it had 32" tires it was in fleet and had 800# of stuff plus ladders on the roof rack, and was towing a 5x10 trailer.
So few people fill out details on Fuelly it's tough to know how many 3.7 and 3.3 are in fleet trucks being worked, vs being used as a commuter.

 

[D45]

Just to compare, 2018 Ram 1500 (8 speed auto)

5.7L V8 Gas
395 hp @ 5600 rpm
410 lb-ft @ 3950 rpm

Power seems pretty comparable to the 5.0L

More and more the 5.3L in my 2016 seems to be out gunned:

355 horsepower @ 5,600 rpm
383 lb-ft of torque @ 4,100 rpm

 

[Grassland]

Does your 5.3 have the 8 speed or the 6?

 

[D45]

Does your 5.3 have the 8 speed or the 6?

8 speed

 

[TGK]

I've owned a 2017 F150 Crew 4x4 with 5.5 bed 3.5L EB, FX4 pkg, Max Tow for 4.5 years now and am at about 40K on the odometer. When towing a loaded 23ft tandem axle trailer with a GVW of 5,200 lbs + wife, dog & gear in the truck I can get very close to max payload of 1,761 lbs. MPG can range from 12 - 15+ depending on terrain, 2 lane vs freeway, etc. Not towing and with a passenger or two I've realized up 22mpg on the freeway and 19- 20 on two lane as long as I'm not climbing a lot of grades. In urban traffic I see 14 - 16 mpg. I live in a rather hilly part of my city with some steep streets. If I was on the flatter terrain of the metro area it would be better. So far at least, the truck has performed pretty flawlessly, although I have seen some variation in mpg on trips which may be due to the quality and octane of gas I've used while on road trips as others have alluded to on this thread. This truck out performs the '99 F250 4x4 5.4L V8 I had for years in all aspects including towing & mpg. It handles the trailer easily even when in the mountains. The only thing the F250 did better was in the payload department. The camper and gear I carried would have easilyly exceeded the payload of the newer F150.

 

[D45]

I've owned a 2017 F150 Crew 4x4 with 5.5 bed 3.5L EB, FX4 pkg, Max Tow for 4.5 years now and am at about 40K on the odometer. When towing a loaded 23ft tandem axle trailer with a GVW of 5,200 lbs + wife, dog & gear in the truck I can get very close to max payload of 1,761 lbs. MPG can range from 12 - 15+ depending on terrain

What gears?

 

[TGK]

My 2017 with the Max Trailer Tow Pkg dictated 3:55 with the electronic-locking rear axle (I still have the original catalogue showing all the details). If one gets the Heavy Duty Payload Pkg, it comes with the 3:73. However, if wanting a CrewCab, the 6.75 bed is the only option. I also know that for 2021, the Hvy Duty Payload Pkg blocks one from getting select other options. I found this out when pricing out F150 Hvy Duty Payload units earlier this year.

 

[TGK]

in reality i would not get an F150 at this point in my life unless it was a Raptor, which would be foolish for me at this stage in my life ...Now I know when my neighbor gets his new F250 with 7.3 and 4.30 gears I will probably be beside myself with envy.

So, I'm curious what your neighbor with the 7.3 F250 is getting?

 

[TGK]

Here's a pic of my setup with the silver bullet on the rear. My 2017 XLT 3.5L has Max tow, FX4 & Sport Pkg. The latter got you bucket seats with console and floor shifter in 2017. I believe one has to bump up to the Lariat in today's world to get the Sport Pkg with floor shifter (I hate when they do that). Sport Pkg also may not be available with the Hvy Duty Payload Pkg. I took the FX4 decals off. The trailer is a 1971 with a rebuilt interior from a previous owner. Over the years, I upgraded a few things including 5 years ago complete new axles, brakes and shocks. The latter made a huge improvement, giving me 1" of more lift on the trailer and way fewer screws on the floor. Needless to say, I don't drag this combo very far off pavement. After 30 miles down washboard the 1st summer I had it and finding the range/oven hanging out over the floor, I decided to keep it under 10 miles and slow, less I beat the hell out of the old girl. We used to tow it with a '99 F250 with a FWC Grandby, which was for the backroads. However, we sold that truck/camper combo the year before the Covid hit. Wished I hadn't. We are still feeling a need to scratch that itch and are exploring options. With pandemic demand and pricing today, there is no wheeling and dealing on price compared to 2017 when great deals could be had with factory orders. Add in the lead-time factor and it's sobering. In some instances, used are going for the price of new. We haven't figured it out yet. Don't want to go back to a FWC though. Regardless, we are grateful for what we have. Photo at Dead Horse Point State Park Utah.