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Looking for some insight


ScubaDive

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In the market for a new/er truck. currently have a 2008 ranger with 260,000km and I need about $2600 in transmission work done + we are expecting are first child, so need something with more room. Looking at F150 and came to one engine I know nothing about or even heard of :
3.5L Cyclone V6 Petrol TI VCT

Any idea's, any insight, any real world info????
This was in a 2016 Ford F-150 4X4 6 Speed Automatic with 38,000Km on her.

I need something reliable and not problem-matic so I am trying to stay away from any eco-boost and find something Naturally Aspirated.
 


85_Ranger4x4

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It is a good engine, it has been around awhile and has been constantly improved.

Ford does not recommend towing with a NA 3.5 in a F-150 though.

I also like simple, if I was to buy an F-150 I would go Coyote. Sounds better too :icon_thumby:

(although some like the EB better because it is nearly silent)
 

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If you want something simple that you can work on yourself do not get a 3.5.

On the whole they are not terrible, although an NA 3.5 in an F150 will be a gutless wonder. The 3.5 does suffer from one single idiotic design flaw that makes me thing long and hard about ever owning one. The water pump is inside the timing cover and driven by the chains.

In a RWD setup that isn't too bad, but in a FWD configuration it makes replacing the water pump an engine-out job.
 

ScubaDive

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very good and useful info, thank you.
So in terms of recommendation any shout outs.
-Looking for something that will tow (16ft pontoon boat, 2670lb that is boat and trailer)
-Again Naturally Aspirated
-minimum bells and whistles
-gas mileage is a concern but not a huge deal (more on that later)
-Post 2015 would lean on 2016
-Crew cab for space

The wife drives all of 10min to work, I drive 45min (about 50km on way) to work, Right now I am 12hour shifts so on days I am home she can take the car and minimize the fuel but 12 shifts will not last for ever, its hard on me.

What options are out there and what should I be looking for.

Again any insight is helpful..
 

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If you want all that look for one with a 5.0.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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ScubaDive

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Ford 5.0L Modular V-8 ("Coyote") 5.0L V-8 Engine

would there be a reasonable second choice? I just did a fast search on auto trader around the area and they seem to be hard to come by, I will keep looking but just wondering. Is this the only Naturally Aspirated engine ford has for the F150??

would there maybe be a recommendation for a truck outside the ford family, as much as I dislike typing that. *I may go through up now!!!
 
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85_Ranger4x4

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Everybody has NA V8's, 5.0's are out there though.

Dodge would probably be my #2 pick though. Until the new style coming out I think they have the best looking trucks, I like the Rambox thing and I like that they are not super tall. One of my gripes with Ford is how tall they are, it is hard to get things in and out of the bed, more work for shorter people to get in and out of.
 
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ScubaDive

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Everybody has NA V8's, 5.0's are out there though.

Dodge would probably be my #2 pick though. Until the new style coming out I think they have the best looking trucks, I like the Rambox thing and I like that they are not super tall. One of my gripes with Ford is how tall they are, it is hard to get things in and out of the bed, more work for shorter people to get in and out of.

Thanks 85_Ranger, appreciate the feed back. I was kind of mean a 2nd choice for a F150 engine pick.... Personally I have been told from a few people to stay way from Dodge, I would lean on GMC before Dodge but not to say dodge is off the list.
 

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Ford 5.0L Modular V-8 ("Coyote") 5.0L V-8 Engine

would there be a reasonable second choice?
You already rejected the other choice. The 2015+ F-150 has 4 engine choices.

The 5.0, the turbo 3.5, the NA 3.5, and the turbo 2.7.

You said you don't want a turbo engine, so there go both of the ecoboosts, not that the 2.7 is anything to brag about. The NA 3.5 doesn't have the tow rating to do what you said you want to do. That leaves the 5.0. Unless you find and spend the extra for a Raptor with the 6.2.

The only other option you have for other engines is to go back a few years to the 14 and down and when you could still get the 4.6 and 5.4.


Personally, I'd just get the ecoboost 3.5. It is a good engine and doesn't have all these issues that most people think they are going to have from having a turbo engine, nor does it add any extra degrees of complexity vs a NA engine of the same vintage. Keep in mind these engines have been in service for 8 years already and aside from roll-out issues they have not been failing left and right like people seem to think they should.
 

85_Ranger4x4

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Thanks 85_Ranger, appreciate the feed back. I was kind of mean a 2nd choice for a F150 engine pick.... Personally I have been told from a few people to stay way from Dodge, I would lean on GMC before Dodge but not to say dodge is off the list.
I don't know a lot about them but I do like the aforementioned features over Ford/GM.

I can't stand the look of the GM's at all. Maybe if I could get the camo they had in the one commercial that made it look like a Ford... :icon_idea:

The only other option you have for other engines is to go back a few years to the 14 and down and when you could still get the 4.6 and 5.4.
I would avoid the 3v 5.4 like the plague.
 

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ScubaDive

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85_Ranger4x4

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Where does Ford not recommend towing with the n/a 3.5? I'm seeing ratings from 5,000 to 7,600 pounds here:
https://www.ford.com/resources/ford/general/pdf/towingguides/16RV&TT_Ford_F150_r1_Oct2.pdf
They had a thing go out to dealers regarding the powertrain warranty if the tow rating had been exceeded. It had to do with if the truck had signs of something other than the factory 4 pin connector and/or a trailer brake controller.

It was actually the 3.5's predecessor, the 3.7.

I am finding nothing online to back me up, my brother (who is a Sr Master tech) told me about it. I see all over the interwebs that it can tow almost as much as my friggin 5.4 so just retract that statement. :icon_confused:
 

ScubaDive

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Thanks all the info, people
I have been on the hunt for the 5.0L V8 even though the wife seems to think its to much truck for what we need, but basically pulling the pontoon boat 2 times a year we'll need the extra HP.
Is there any years I should be staying away from for the 5.0L or anything that I may need to know to look for if buying something used?
Are any years prone to something more then others or issues with 4x4??

Again guys thanks for all the info... I dislike car shopping its a huge cost and seem to be a roll of the dice when it comes to lemons. More research I can do the better I feel with the purchase
 

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