Had a 2013 with the 5.0 and now a 2018 with the 3.5. Both are decent engines and get similar mileage, but I think my 5.0 actually got about 1mpg better on average; around 18 with it and 17 with the 3.5. Full disclaimer both trucks were leveled and running 33" BFG All-Terrains with an E load rating.

Initially I bought the 5.0 thinking simpler and more durable. When I traded it in I test drove a 3.5 and changed my mind. The 3.5 has so much more low end torque. The 5.0 makes power but you have to be in the upper rpm's to get it. That said with a cold air intake and exhaust like I had on my 5.0 it sounded so much better.

The thing with the Ecoboost motors; you can have eco or boost, not both. I have seen over 20mpg with my 3.5 before but that has been steady state cruising at 60mph or less. 75mph and it's down to 17.5. No direct experience with the 2.7 but one of the coaches at our club has one and wish he got either the 5.0 or the 3.5. He says unloaded it's great, but towing his small travel trailer the power and mileage really suffer.

This is probably one of the worst times ever to be trying to buy a new truck.

I had the 3.5 in my 2016 Expedition. Granted a bit heavier than the F150 but I don’t know how these folks got the mileage they did.
I was lucky to get 17 on the Highway then when I lifted it and added 33” tire it was 13 all day long.

I would be looking for a couple year old Tundra over an F150 and I am a Ford Guy.
I went from the 2016 Expedition to a 2014 Tundra.
I love the Tundra. Looked at the F150s as well but so glad I got the Tundra.

But sticking to the original question when I was looking at the F150s I was only looking at the 5.0s.
Though my buddy has the little Power Stroke F150 and loves it.
I have driven it a number of times and very smooth and quiet.
Not sure if that is still an option. He gets like 25 mpg.

I have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 liter eco boost. I get 17.5 mpg with 50-75% city driving. At 70 mph on the highway I get 24 mpg, at 80 mph I get a solid 21.5 on a trip from FL to NC. Regular unleaded.

Here's the dilemma as it pertains to you. I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, but don't put a lot of miles. I'll be at 36 months in 2 weeks on the expedition and have 25,000 miles. It's in the shop now for possible cam phasors.....it makes a slight (very slight) rattle noise on cold start up. But, if you read the expedition forum, you read of a dozen posts of people having them changed while still under warranty, some a couple of times, and out of warranty it's a $3k job. So, I'm on the fence of buying an extended warranty through Ford. If I had the engine choice and was keeping the vehicle a long time and given the choice I'd think hard about the 5.0 for simplicity. Although I think the ecoboost is a better fit of a motor, low rpm torque, fuel mileage, HP etc. A buddy of mine raves about the 2.7 in his F 150 but does no towing. He too gets 25-27 mpg and mixed driving.

I have had 3 F150s (just switched to a Nissan Titan a week ago). They have all had the 5.0 engine in them, and I have never had any engine problems with them. One truck I had 200,000 miles on it and the others I put about 100,000 miles on. Rust will kill your truck before the 5.0 dies.


I have also had 2 Ram trucks (a 1500 and a 2500) that I had trouble with both of them.

Try taking a look at the Nissan Titan. Check the reviews on it, and compare what you get for your money compared to the other full size trucks.

I’ve got a 2013 F150 FX4. That year only the 3.5 Ecoboost was available. Just recently, I started a thread on my decision to keep the truck, rather than trade. I like the truck—a lot. I put quite a bit of money into it in the last few weeks to ensure that it keeps on keepin’ on.

If you’re not going to be towing anything, I’d go with the 2.7 L Ecoboost engine. I really think you’ll be happy with it, and I think if, down the road, you decide to buy a boat or a reasonably sized camper, the 2.7 will handle it just fine.

I have a 2012 3.5 with 235,000 miles. I haven’t had any turbo problems.

What kind of truck guy are you?

Do you want to do a bunch of mods, exhaust, and lift for bigger wheels and tires? If that's you, the 5.0 is your best bet. Neither of the others will replicate that "look at me" tone.

Do you want a Biden-Buster? The 2.7 will not be beat for pure economy of scale and keeping that fuel gauge closer to the F than the E.

Do you do any towing or regular truck stuff? The 3.5 is hard to beat for the torque and horsepower - easily outpulls the 5.0, but doesn't have that sound that some owners love.

There's nothing wrong with being any of these guys - just decide which one you are and embrace it.

(2013 4x4 XLT Crew 3.5eb 137k, no issues here.)

Some of it comes down to power delivery as well.
The EB trucks have lots of low end grunt & don't have to be revved hard to use it.

Hindsight, I'd have sprung the extra for the 3.5
I enjoyed the baby 2.7, but only got about 9-11 mpg pulling the parachute, I mean cargo trailer.

If you are a power junkie and can live easily without an exhaust mod, get the 3.5. It has more complications but they pull hard because of them. Beware of older models without the “duplex” injection as pure direct injection may coke the valves. There are timing chain weakness issues as well, in the older generations. Not grenades but there are issues for some. Currently drive a 2020, 21,000 drama free miles. Has anyone mentioned they pull hard from the dig?

Coyote V-8, fairly equal power as the big boost, comes on in a completely different way, think 2 stroke. If you want that sweet exhaust note, this is the only choice. Select lower gears for better towing or anticipated tire upgrades. You have a 302 until 3000rpm’s then it becomes a Coyote. It would have kicked my ‘67 GT Mustangs ass all day everyday. Owned the 2016 was very happy, 97,000 very happy miles.

No personal experience, but the 2.7 is reputedly nearly as fast as both the above powerplants, albeit unladen by payload. A friend has one and pulls a 6500# trailer on 800 mile round trips a few times a year, he has no plans to replace it. He says it’ll do anything his 2000 5.4 did, except it does it all week on a half tank of gas.

For a plain old jump in it commute all week, grab some Home Depot stuff on weekends, take the Alumicraft to the lake a dozen times a year, type truck? Get the 2.7 and forget about 0-60 times and sweet exhaust note.

quote:

Originally posted by smithbc:
I Rust will kill your truck before the 5.0 dies.

I'm curious how rust will affect my 2018 since it has an all aluminum body. Maybe the frame?

quote:

Originally posted by henkelphoto:

quote:

Originally posted by smithbc:
I Rust will kill your truck before the 5.0 dies.

I'm curious how rust will affect my 2018 since it has an all aluminum body. Maybe the frame?

Ford is already having rust problems with the 2021 F150s.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
I have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 liter eco boost. I get 17.5 mpg with 50-75% city driving. At 70 mph on the highway I get 24 mpg, at 80 mph I get a solid 21.5 on a trip from FL to NC. Regular unleaded.

Here's the dilemma as it pertains to you. I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, but don't put a lot of miles. I'll be at 36 months in 2 weeks on the expedition and have 25,000 miles. It's in the shop now for possible cam phasors.....it makes a slight (very slight) rattle noise on cold start up. But, if you read the expedition forum, you read of a dozen posts of people having them changed while still under warranty, some a couple of times, and out of warranty it's a $3k job. So, I'm on the fence of buying an extended warranty through Ford. If I had the engine choice and was keeping the vehicle a long time and given the choice I'd think hard about the 5.0 for simplicity. Although I think the ecoboost is a better fit of a motor, low rpm torque, fuel mileage, HP etc. A buddy of mine raves about the 2.7 in his F 150 but does no towing. He too gets 25-27 mpg and mixed driving.

If you don't mind me asking, is the road mileage you're getting on the Expedition based on the computer or are you calculating it the old fashioned way?

I ask because the most I've ever gotten on a long trip is 19 and that's with a max of 70mph and treating the gas pedal like an eggshell! If the 18 is that much better I'll have a bit more motivation to swap my 08.

I use to have a 1990 Mustang GT that I bought brand new. Had the 5.0 H.O. with a 5-speed. In the seven years I owned it, never returned for a problem.

I also bought brand new a 2004 GMC Sierra extended cab Z71. Had the 5.3 engine. Had it in the shop once for the automatic 4-wheel drive in eight years of ownership.

Had a 1989 Chevrolet Silverado Sport Side with a 5.7 engine. In the 15 years of ownership, never in the shop.

If it was me, I would go with the 5.0 engine. If there was any other choices, go with a bigger engine if you can sacrifice the MPG.

The 5.3 liter engine was ok, but you could tell the difference compared to the 5.7 liter, especially in a 4-wheel drive.

Good luck on your decision.

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:
is this another 9mm vs .45ACP type of discussion?

You kinda blew my mind here. All will get the job done. Like I said I don’t tow so I may have to give the 2.7 a serious look. I constantly watch my fuel economy in my Ram it never breaks 13 mpg city.

The 2.7 in my 2019 F150 has run great for the 32000 miles I have put on it. The 10 speed transmission bumps a little in the low gears 3 to 4 on mine. Normally a V8 guy but the way this tubo 6 runs I don't notice a lack of power AT ALL.

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:

I constantly watch my fuel economy in my Ram it never breaks 13 mpg city.

Hemi? Or V-6?

I had a 2012 V-8 and now drive a 2016 V-8. Both have been problem free.

In 2016, I thought I wanted a 3.5 because it was faster. The salesman, who also sold me an F350 in 1994, said to get the V-8, because it is more reliable.

I do tow heavy loads. But unlike almost everybody else, I don't feel like drag racing when I am towing. I can easily keep up with traffic though.

On the highway, driving 55 MPH, I get about 23 MPG empty.

I've planted the seed at possibly getting back into an F150, a 4wd 2011 SCrew with the 3.5EB & the long bed (6' iirc).

Wife's onboard, just need to convince my mom to sell it to us

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by gpbst3:

I constantly watch my fuel economy in my Ram it never breaks 13 mpg city.

Hemi? Or V-6?

Hemi

quote:

Originally posted by RogB:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:
I have a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5 liter eco boost. I get 17.5 mpg with 50-75% city driving. At 70 mph on the highway I get 24 mpg, at 80 mph I get a solid 21.5 on a trip from FL to NC. Regular unleaded.

Here's the dilemma as it pertains to you. I tend to keep my vehicles a long time, but don't put a lot of miles. I'll be at 36 months in 2 weeks on the expedition and have 25,000 miles. It's in the shop now for possible cam phasors.....it makes a slight (very slight) rattle noise on cold start up. But, if you read the expedition forum, you read of a dozen posts of people having them changed while still under warranty, some a couple of times, and out of warranty it's a $3k job. So, I'm on the fence of buying an extended warranty through Ford. If I had the engine choice and was keeping the vehicle a long time and given the choice I'd think hard about the 5.0 for simplicity. Although I think the ecoboost is a better fit of a motor, low rpm torque, fuel mileage, HP etc. A buddy of mine raves about the 2.7 in his F 150 but does no towing. He too gets 25-27 mpg and mixed driving.

If you don't mind me asking, is the road mileage you're getting on the Expedition based on the computer or are you calculating it the old fashioned way?

I ask because the most I've ever gotten on a long trip is 19 and that's with a max of 70mph and treating the gas pedal like an eggshell! If the 18 is that much better I'll have a bit more motivation to swap my 08.

I had an '08 since new (as well as a '00, '03, and '05) and at about 60k miles it ran a little rougher at idle (just sounded different) and was a little more sluggish......at around 100k the cam phasors went bad, so bad it wouldn't stay running.....at about 50k it lost 2 mpg......spark plugs at 95k miles made it run smooth again and wish I did them sooner, did restore the 2 mpg mileage. I traded it in with 103k miles. But on the highway I never got nearly the mileage I do with the 2018 (also bought new), 20 mpg was best under 70 mph and above 70mph it got 18.x mpg at best, city would get 13-15 depending on winter or summer, South FL (hot out got 13)

Yes, mileage was calculated the old fashioned way from mileage and gallons pumped which is very close to the computer reading. I just did a trip to NC and back from FL all flat roads. The FL leg I did 80 mph and cruise control for an entire tank. Further North I did 70 mph for a tank as the roads I was on speed limit was 60 mph. The 2018 has the aluminum body, 10 speed transmission and 3.5 eco boost all help mileage and it has A LOT more power than the 2008 and gets 16-17.5 city. Also I leave the auto start/stop BS off always.