DWolfrom
Lena, IL
Full Member
Joined: 10/20/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
Shooting the breeze with a friend of mine this afternoon and his Ford dealer brought a 2012 Ford Eco-Boost by his place. He is not an RVer and only tows his boat. He currently owns a 2011 Ford with the 5.0/3.55 combination and averages 17+ mpg. He's concerned that since this truck is equipped with a 3.73 rear end, the fuel mileage will suffer. The EPA rating on the sticker shows 21 mpg highway. Is the 3.73 rear end how they're able to offer the max-tow package on the EB? Also, it seems Ford has redesigned the front valance area and moved the license plate bracket from the center to the driver's side. This leaves a gaping hole and IMO exposes the trans cooler to road debris and possible damage. He asked me to post here and get some 'real' opinions!
2011 Keystone Passport 2590BH
2008 Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71 Extended Cab
2012 Chevy Tahoe
Prodigy BC
Bulldog #4000 Tongue Jack
|
jarozi
Houston, TX
New Member
Joined: 03/03/2011
View Profile
Offline
|
Don't have the answer to all your questions but...
The license plate is offset to allow air to flow into the turbos inter-cooler more efficiently. That's the hulking radiator tilted forward just through that opening.
I have the max tow pkg (3.73, tow mirrors, brake controller, etc) on my 2011 Ecoboost and I get about 17-18 in mixed driving. At 65 on the freeway it will get 20-22, 24+ if you can manage 55 mph. That gear ratio and perhaps to a lesser degree those grande sized mirrors don't help the mileage.
I haven't towed with it yet, still deciding on a trailer, so I can't speak to that.
If I had it to do over again I would have waited for the 2012 and its higher payload rating (w/ HD package). But when I got the 2011 I didn't know that was a forthcoming option.
Hope some of that helps!
* This post was
edited 02/27/12 01:51pm by jarozi *
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
I've done a pretty good amount of towing with my 2011 Ecoboost and the 2012 is essentially the identical truck. You can get the max towing package with several different gear ratios but the HD PAYLOAD option (which includes the Max Towing Package( requires the 3.73 gear. I'm not doing as well as jarozi reports on mileage though. I get about 17 MPG around town but 20 is about as good as it gets on the highway. It has absolutely NO problem towing my 10,000 lb. travel weight under any conditions though. Towed over Trail Ridge (not the baddest pass in Colorado, but no slouch either) in fourth and fifth gear at between 1500 and 1800 RPM driving the posted speed limit. The HD Payload option will cost some fuel efficiency because it results in a slightly heavier truck, larger tires and wheels, stiffer suspension and yes, those huge towing mirrors.
Order the truck with a 3.55 gear and max tow and you'll probably do a bit better but the tow RATING will be reduced and payload also. I needed the towing power and the payload because my trailer has a fairly heavy tongue and I travel with a LOT of weight in the truck bed.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
|
APT
SE Michigan
Senior Member
Joined: 06/09/2010
View Profile
|
I had a 99 F-150 5.4L 3.73 axle. Then a 2003 5.4L 3.73 I just sold 2 months ago. I've been on the F-150 forums since something like 2001. There has never been a measurable difference in owners reported fuel economy between any available OEM axle ratio. The differences have been between driving style and conditions. The same seems to be happening with the EB.
I would always get the shortest axle ratio availbile. 15% more wheel torque - butt dyno measureable. But that does not mean 15% worse fuel economy and can be better under load (city/towing).
As mentioned, the front grill opening is huge for the large intercooler for the twin turbochagers. Best to leave that as open as possible.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
|
wolvereeny
SE Michigan
Full Member
Joined: 04/07/2011
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
I have the eco boost with supercrew cab and 157" in wheel base(6ft bed) it is pretty well loaded and I run a tonneau cover on the bed. I get 17-18 mpg at best. Worse on the freeway 70-75 mph. I took it back to the dealer to complain about mileage, and they checked it over and said my overall avg according to the computer was 17.1 and that was average for my truck. I read the very samll print on my window sticker and yep it said for my truck 17 mpg avg. I like the truck but am disappointed with the mileage.It has good power but I think the 5.0 would be jusat as good.
|
|
|
skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
Senior Member
Joined: 12/17/2003
View Profile
|
wolvereeny wrote:I have the eco boost with supercrew cab and 157" in wheel base(6ft bed) it is pretty well loaded and I run a tonneau cover on the bed. I get 17-18 mpg at best. Worse on the freeway 70-75 mph. I took it back to the dealer to complain about mileage, and they checked it over and said my overall avg according to the computer was 17.1 and that was average for my truck. I read the very samll print on my window sticker and yep it said for my truck 17 mpg avg. I like the truck but am disappointed with the mileage.It has good power but I think the 5.0 would be just as good.
That sounds about right from my experience. I can get MPG up around 20 on the highway by concentrating on getting mileage. Holding speed down to around 55 or 60 and staying out of it when accelerating. I've always been pretty heavy footed and love feeling the power kick in so I'm my own worst enemy as far as economy is concerned.
Where the EB has it FAR AND AWAY over the 5.0 is in low RPM power. The 5.0 would probably get as good a mileage but towing in the mountains...not so much. Altitude power loss along with the high RPM needed to develop it's power band as opposed to the very low RPM power of the EB would make a pretty good difference there.
|
shadows4
Kansas City, Mo
Senior Member
Joined: 04/15/2006
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
While I don't have one a good friend at work has the 5.0 with a 3.55 axle. According to him the mileage is very much speed related. 70-75 mph gets him around 14-15. 60-65mph gets 16-17. Hope that helps ya.
2003 4X4 F350,CC,SB,Lariat,7.3L diesel, 139,000 miles
2004 Coachmen 278 RKS Fifth-Wheel
Reese 15K slider hitch
|
Fordlover
Spring, Texas
Senior Member
Joined: 12/27/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
this is why the EPA has established tests to compare one vehicle to another, apples to apples. I can get 21 MPG in my Explorer, with a line of ticked off drivers behind me, but I typically get 15-16 on my commute, at 75-80mph.
02 Ford Explorer 4.6 V8 4x4, prodigy and equalizer
07 Crossroads Sunset Trail ST19CK
and no payments
|
DWolfrom
Lena, IL
Full Member
Joined: 10/20/2010
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Thanks for the replies so far. I'm passing them along as they come in.
|
goducks10
Keizer OR
Senior Member
Joined: 02/22/2010
View Profile
Offline
|
jarozi wrote:Don't have the answer to all your questions but...
The license plate is offset to allow air to flow into the turbos inter-cooler more efficiently. That's the hulking radiator tilted forward just through that opening.
I have the max tow pkg (3.73, tow mirrors, brake controller, etc) on my 2011 Ecoboost and I get about 17-18 in mixed driving. At 65 on the freeway it will get 20-22, 25+ if you can manage 55 mph. That gear ratio and perhaps to a lesser degree those grande sized mirrors don't help the mileage.
I haven't towed with it yet, still deciding on a trailer, so I can't speak to that.
If I had it to do over again I would have waited for the 2012 and its higher payload rating (w/ HD package). But when I got the 2011 I didn't know that was a forthcoming option.
Hope some of that helps!
I find it really hard to believe your getting 25+ mpg on the freeway at 55mph when most everyone else is getting 20+ @55-60mph. Very rarely are real world mpg's 2-3mpgs higher than the window sticker. Takes special conditions like a tail wind or drafting a semi. I read several F150 forums and no one getting that high of mpg. Especially with 3.73's.
|
|
|
