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It was recently announced that the refreshed 2015 Lincoln Navigator would come with a retuned version of the twin turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost V6 with 380 horsepower and 460lb-ft of torque – numbers which quickly led me to believe that the 2015 Ford F150 with that same EcoBoost V6 would see the same bump in power from the 365hp and 420lb-ft of torque offered for the 2014 F150. That added power would almost certainly give the 2015 F150 a huge advantage in towing, hauling and some power metrics so it seemed like a done deal.
Well, now that Ford has announced the power numbers for the 2015 F150 pickup, I am shocked to see that the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 still packs “only” 365hp and 420lb-ft of torque. On the other hand, the 5.0L V8 that played second fiddle to the EcoBoost V6 in the F150 over the past few years has received a big jump in power that makes it one of the most capable engines in the half ton truck segment.
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The Premium 2015 Ford F150 Engines
We found out the numbers on the new 3.5L base model V6 and the new 2.7L EcoBoost for the 2015 Ford F150 a few weeks back, but there was no mention of the premium 3.5L EcoBoost and 5.0L V8. With the demise of the 6.2L V8 and the rapid growth in the popularity of the EcoBoost V6 engines, I had expected that the Motor Company would beef up the twin turbo 3.5L V6 to match (if not exceed) the output of the same engine in the new Lincoln SUV. After all, the F150 V6 engines are pummeling the V8s in terms of sales so it would only make sense to see Ford beef up the ultra-popular twin turbo V6. The current 3.5L EcoBoost in the 2014 is very impressive – bumping up the output to 380hp and 460lb-ft of torque would undoubtedly make the lighter 2015 F150 a beast. However, the company has opted to stick with the same 365hp and 420lb-ft of torque from the current EcoBoost V6. Fortunately, the 2015 F150 with the 3.5L EcoBoost still boasts the highest towing capacity in the segment with a new number of 12,200lbs.
2015 Ford F150 Galleries:
A closer look at the trimlines of the 2015 Ford F150
The 2015 Ford F150 at the 2014 NAIAS
Instead of beefing up the EcoBoost, Ford engineers focused their attention on the 5.0L V8 for the 2015 F150 and the result is quite impressive. Where the current (2014 and earlier) F150 with the 5.0L v8 offers just 350hp and 380lb-ft of torque, the 2015 5.0L V8 packs 385 horsepower and 387lb-ft of torque. This extra power comes from a new intake manifold design, a new camshaft setup and new exhaust manifolds, which also allows the 2015 F150 equipped with the 5.0L V8 to boast the highest payload capacity in the half ton truck segment by a massive margin. The 5.0L won’t tow quite as much as the 3.5L EcoBoost, but the new V8 will haul the weight of a Corvette ZR1 in the bed. The 5.0L is also capable of towing 11,100lbs.
In the 2014 Ford F150, the EcoBoost V6 was better in every way and that played a big part in the V6 engines outselling the V8 engines. Even though the 6.2L V8 is gone, the revised 5.0L V8 could help level out the take rate of the larger engines thanks to the newfound advantage in horsepower and payload.
The Entry Level Engines
For those who haven’t read anything about the new engines for the 2015 Ford F150, the base model engine is a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 delivering 283 horsepower and 255lb-ft of torque while the first step up is a new twin turbocharged 2.7L EcoBoost with 325 horsepower and 375lb-ft of torque. The base model engine offers a maximum towing capacity of 7,600lbs, which is higher than any other entry level V6 in the segment and the new 2.7L EcoBoost V6 will tow 8,500lbs.
The 2015 Ford F150 will begin hitting dealerships around the country later this year with varying availability of these four engines across the five trimlines. Expect to see a great many new F150s at the dealership with either the 2.7 or 3.5L EcoBoost engine and fewer with the 5.0L V8. I would expect that the base model 3.5L V6 will be the hardest to find based on the ordering trends of most dealerships.
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Comments
From what most people are
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From what most people are saying the 3.5L EB does make the same power as the Navigator. The Navigator is rated on Premium fuel and the F150 is rated on 87, so 93 in the F150 should match the Navigator. I am curious if the new 385hp 5.0 on premium fuel makes the same extra 15 hp that the old 360hp version supposedly made. That would put the 5.0 on 93 octane at 400hp and 400tq. I want the 5.0 in a Super Crew 6.5' bed HD payload package XL with FX4, 3.73 Eloc, 101A, Tow, Fogs, spray in, side steps, vinyl interior, rubber floor, 400w inverter, TBC, back up camera, aluminum HD 18" wheels with LT275/65 18 AT tries. Painted that nice new brown color called Caribou. I am holding out for the 10 speed trans and wondering if that 3.2L PSD will make it way over from Transit though I still would probably rather have the 5.0. I had it in an '11 SCSB XL 4x4 3.55 and it performed very well in the heavier truck. I just got rid of a 2013 F250 CCLB XL 6.2 4x4 3.73 because it was too harsh riding and I figured a new 2015 HD payload could meet my needs and be better on fuel with a better ride. Now the 2016 Super Duty is going to be aluminum...tempting but, I think I'll be good with the F150 HD payload.
It's an irritatingly long
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In reply to From what most people are by Lee Henderson (not verified)
It's an irritatingly long-standing myth that the octane rating has anything to do with horsepower. Simply put it effects the stability of fuel at various compression ratios until combustion occurs. The fuel itself has EXACTLY the same energy in it. If Ford is indicating use of premium fuel its simply because the compression ratio is high enough to warrant it to prevent engine knocking. If the compression ratios are increased that's one way that additional power can be generated but its not the fuel.
I disagree, it can be the
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In reply to It's an irritatingly long by Eric Thiede (not verified)
I disagree, it can be the fuel that allows the engine to make the extra power. If the knock sensors are pulling timing on 87 octane, and 93 prevents that, its fuel. On an engine that operates flawlessly on 87, you are correct in stating that the fuel will not increase performance.
If your going to act
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In reply to It's an irritatingly long by Eric Thiede (not verified)
If your going to act exasperated, at least know what you are saying.
The newer ford engines run adaptive timing and fueling. They make more torque and horsepower with premium fuel. They are rated differently based on the fuel provided to the engine.
Variable timing, boost, and
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In reply to It's an irritatingly long by Eric Thiede (not verified)
Variable timing, boost, and fueling can extract more power from higher octane fuel. The engines will back timing off until it's comfortable with the knock (or lack of). If there isn't any knock, timing remains advanced. There are dyno proven gains between 87 91 93 octane fuel in a stock ecoboost.
Ecoboost motors increase
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In reply to It's an irritatingly long by Eric Thiede (not verified)
Ecoboost motors increase boost with higher octane fuel, thereby producing more power. Its quite noticeable, and written in the manual.
That would be true ,but your
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In reply to It's an irritatingly long by Eric Thiede (not verified)
That would be true ,but your forgetting about the cam timming that bleads compression on low octane and increase s it on high octane fuel .therefore higher octane is more hp!
If Trevor's contention is
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If Trevor's contention is accurate, I would be curious how adaptive he's suggesting the Eco is? Can you continue to get more aggressive engine performance well beyond 93, simply because the engine adjusts for it?
If it benefits from premium its because 87 must be inadequate for maximum efficiency, not because the fuel contains more energy. If someone has the physics article that describes how I'm wrong and that 93 octane gas inherently has more energy I'd love to read it. I'm suggesting that if the Nav recommends premium then that is a product of changes to how the engine runs relative to previous Ecos, not just fuel.
And if that change in engine performance is as dynamic as Trevor suggests than will the engine detune itself also to compensate for lets say 84 octane?
They didn't bump up the 3.5
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They didn't bump up the 3.5 this year because it's 700 lbs lighter which would technically still be more Powerful because lighter truck, so a 2011-14s were 365 Hp 420 lbs TQ means that u take 700 lbs out and it'll be faster, they tune the stock trucks to the average daily driver. If you want more power that's hidden in the ecoboost engine, then do a performance or towing Tune and you'll see a vast difference.
In my 2014 EC you can
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In reply to They didn't bump up the 3.5 by Chris (not verified)
In my 2014 EC you can definitely tell a difference in 87 to 93 Octane. Especially with the SCT tuner set to 93. It improved my fuel mileage as well as performance. It went from mid 90's in the quarter to 105MPH so it make a major difference. Also I took a 6800 mile trip to Ca and Washington, mountains and all and average 23.7MPG. On pretty much level roads I was getting 26MPG all at 65MPH. So there is or can be a distinct difference in performance.
I would expect that Ford
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I would expect that Ford would tune the Ecoboost for peak efficiency and power at 93 octane and engineer in a backoff range to 87. It could be tuned higher than 93 possibly in case someone wishes to add some higher octane fuel to their tank. Conversely it may back off further if bad gas is used. I would expect there to be a reasonable range of efficiency engineered in from about 85 thru 95 octane and beyond that no change in tuning aside from malfunctions.
This is a fact and I want to
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This is a fact and I want to set the record straight. Fords manager of there performance department of corporate stated this or something in the vicinity-the only fuel that makes a difference is the E-85 flex fuel for the V-8 5.0 and he stated that it ups the horsepower 15-20 notches which would put the current V-8 over 400 hp...Im going to tell you for a complete fact and Id gladly debate it with any of you-I had a 2014 fx4 with the old 5.0 v8 and I loved it I thought it was a good engine then I drove a new 2015 v-8 and and I traded my 14 in on a 15 the next week. Hey call me fickle but it is what it is..my best friend has a 2013 fx4 with and ecoboost and its a very fast engine but its different it has a totally different feel to it...it was faster than the 14 v8, especially off the jump and from zero to 60...im telling you now this new 2015 5.0 V-8 is the fastest stock truck engine iv ever drove stock 0-60, sound, power. whatever the hell you want to call it and you put it in sport mode and it changes the gearing up and its mid range power to accelerate onto the highway kills anything the ecoboost, hemi, chevy ecodeisel, whatever...now I have not driven a 2015 ford with the ecoboost and the 700 pound lighter frame I am only going to speak on what I MYSELF have driven...the E-85 power upgrade is very noticeable however my gas mileage went from like 15.3 around town down to about 11.4 mpg so its a huge difference in gas...again im speaking on experience...you guys can look up the ford managers comments about E-85 octane because their right on the internet..type in" E-85 hp upgrade" and the article will come up...if you want more links about it then email me...I have read ZERO credible evidence that 93 octane ups the hp of an ecoboost..their is no evidence that backs that up...thank you for your time
Do we need to dig up dyno
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In reply to This is a fact and I want to by Mike (not verified)
Do we need to dig up dyno numbers for you? Initial baseline testing (by tuners) on the ecoboost noted differences in power bases on octane, timing was recorded as well (this should make sense). And yes, the 5.0 and 3.5 make different power. Like, because they're completely different configurations.
This is a fact and I want to
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This is a fact and I want to set the record straight. Fords manager of there performance department of corporate stated this or something in the vicinity-the only fuel that makes a difference is the E-85 flex fuel for the V-8 5.0 and he stated that it ups the horsepower 15-20 notches which would put the current V-8 over 400 hp...Im going to tell you for a complete fact and Id gladly debate it with any of you-I had a 2014 fx4 with the old 5.0 v8 and I loved it I thought it was a good engine then I drove a new 2015 v-8 and and I traded my 14 in on a 15 the next week. Hey call me fickle but it is what it is..my best friend has a 2013 fx4 with and ecoboost and its a very fast engine but its different it has a totally different feel to it...it was faster than the 14 v8, especially off the jump and from zero to 60...im telling you now this new 2015 5.0 V-8 is the fastest stock truck engine iv ever drove stock 0-60, sound, power. whatever the hell you want to call it and you put it in sport mode and it changes the gearing up and its mid range power to accelerate onto the highway kills anything the ecoboost, hemi, chevy ecodeisel, whatever...now I have not driven a 2015 ford with the ecoboost and the 700 pound lighter frame I am only going to speak on what I MYSELF have driven...the E-85 power upgrade is very noticeable however my gas mileage went from like 15.3 around town down to about 11.4 mpg so its a huge difference in gas...again im speaking on experience...you guys can look up the ford managers comments about E-85 octane because their right on the internet..type in" E-85 hp upgrade" and the article will come up...if you want more links about it then email me...I have read ZERO credible evidence that 93 octane ups the hp of an ecoboost..their is no evidence that backs that up...thank you for your time
Can I order a regular cab,
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Can I order a regular cab, short bed, XL trim with a 5.0? I must control costs as my daughter (and my money) are still at the local university. Regards, JT
Yes you can. Wish you were
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Yes you can. Wish you were close to Blackshear Ga and I would set you up to drive one. My BIL is a salesman for the local dealership and would get one for you just as you liked. I love my 5.0 and it still gets pretty good fuel mileage. I presently have a SCT programmer and it did improve performance a little and helps when towing my boats.
Informative article but why
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Informative article but why did it take you forever to get around to what the specs were on the 5.0? That was the point of the article and what I was looking for but you just kept talking about the eco boost. It was frustrating to read a lead into the 5.0 specs and then you just dump it to continue talking about the eco boost that I had to leave a comment. Damn.
Really interesting post!
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Really interesting post!