Why no 5.0 on new Expy’s?

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Matticus

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Children... if I wanted a dragster I wouldn’t buy a truck. I drive on streets not drag strips.

The 5.0 in the F150 remains available and is a far better platform than the 3.5 or 2.7 tt in its simplicity, reliability and maintenance.

Go on YouTube and search the video of Ford dealer mechanics being interviewed asked which design they would purchase. Almost all except for one voted for the 5.0.

When I first saw that video, it was very apparent that a number of those mechanics were absolutely clueless. Some of them claimed they wanted the v8 for "simplicity" (I think there is room for debate even with that claim) but some of them said they would choose the v8 in the F-150 over the EB "because of towing". I knew right then and there that they had NO idea what they were talking about and/or had never towed with either. Looking at the numbers on paper, what repeated tests have shown on channels like "The Fast Lane", and what my butt-dyno told me the multiple times I pulled a trailer with an EB, I don't know how you could come to that conclusion. The EB can happily putter along with 5000-6000lbs on the hitch and almost never need more than 2500 revs to do the job. The 5.0 is going to be regularly visiting the 3500+ territory
 

rjdelp7

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More to break, little to no fuel savings and the engine is almost $1000 more to produce. Ford is/was trying to kill off the Expedition and push buyers over to the high profit F150. GM supposedly is out selling Ford with full size SUVs and pickups. I blame the ecoboost. GM is selling what people want.
 

swrmerle

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I had a 2015 F150 Supercrew with the 5.0. I had a camper shell on the bed, and was always loaded with about 1,000 pounds of parts and tools that I carried around for work, so any weight difference should be negligible. I now have a 2015 Expedition EL, and don't have to carry any of the stuff around anymore. The 5.0 consistently averaged 18 MPG. The Ecoboost has been closer to 16.5 in the year that I have been driving it.

I don't have any complaints about either, but do prefer the sound of the V8.
 

Dice Roll

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I’d like to be able to drive them back to back and see what’s what. I know the eco boost without the 3.73s isn’t good. Most people say the 5.0 is better in the f150 because it has more useable grunt. The lack of turbos is a boon to future reliability. So I’d probably go with the 5.0 unless I lived at high elevation.
 

rjdelp7

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I’d like to be able to drive them back to back and see what’s what. I know the eco boost without the 3.73s isn’t good. Most people say the 5.0 is better in the f150 because it has more useable grunt. The lack of turbos is a boon to future reliability. So I’d probably go with the 5.0 unless I lived at high elevation.
Ford invested and borrowed $1B, to delvelop the EcoBoost. All they got was smaller engine, with similar V8 power. The fuel saving, marginal if any. They recently lost the the lead in truck sales. The V8 can be produced cheaper($1100) and would have a better resale. GM, Dodge and Toyota all use V8 power. The Expedition is marketed to ladies, in the mini van field. GM put a 4cyl in a 1500 and Ford a 4 banger in the Explorer, another stupid move.
 

shane_th_ee

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The 3.5L Ecoboost is simply the better choice for this application. The Expedition serves the small niche of people who need to carry a lot of people and tow something. The 3.5L ecoboost makes far more torque at lower RPMs. Go watch the TFL F-150 5.0l/3.5l towing comparison videos. The 5.0 is shockingly loud. Maybe that's ok in a pickup truck, but good luck trying to communicate with anyone in the 3rd row. And the 3.5L is lighter, which means more payload/more heavy options. So you can get that giant sunroof and the motorized seat backs to raise and lower the rear seats and you still end up with over a hundred more pounds of payload than the GM products.
 

Boostedbus

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If was never gonna tow with my Expedition then I would absolutely consider the 5.0 if it was available,just for the sound and crisp throttle response. But after owning one with the 3.5 EB (against my will at the time) and towing my classic car effortlessly in the mountains, it became a no-brainer for me. Sound is nice but brute pulling power at low rpm’s is what I prefer in a truck especially when towing. It opened my eyes. I no longer call it the little engine that could. I call it the little engine that definitely can.
 

Boostedbus

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The only problem I could see having towing with an EcoBoost is possibly forgetting you are actually towing something. Mine with the 3.73 gears has really been that effortless while towing. It truly amazes me.
 

Adieu

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Numbers

They only offer engine options on trucks with deep 6 digit sales figures
 

carymccarr

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Ford is/was trying to kill off the Expedition and push buyers over to the high profit F150.

If ford was trying to kill the expy wouldnt they just sit on it like they did for a decade instead of doing a massive redesign?

I have no idea why ford refuses to put a small block v8 in the expy but I find it hard to believe it’s because they want families to buy pickups instead? Full size SUV’s are some of the most profitable vehicles ford sells...


https://www.fool.com/amp/investing/2018/02/13/why-ford-is-rushing-to-build-more-big-suvs.aspx
 
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Cyclone

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They probably had it in a Union contract that the Cleveland Engine plant would make *** number of 3.5L EB engines per year. Ford then had to find a place to put them all. Some go to F-150s, some go to Explorers, and if they put nothing but 3.5L EBs in the Expedition that would take care of a good number of obligated engines.

I for one did not want a V-6 in my truck. I had always had Ford V-8 in all of my vehicles. (351C-4V, 289, 351W, 5.0L). So when I went looking for a Expedition, I had cut off my search list to 2014s and earlier. But the more I looked, the more the 2015 Models looked better to me. So I bit the bullet and got one.

Wow, those turbos really put some energy into that V-6. At like 365HP, this is the most powerful engine I have had. My only fear is high dollar repair costs. So I take care to use good oil, change regularly, use catch can, drive sensibly, tune ups, etc..).
 

Boostedbus

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I for one did not want a V-6 in my truck. I had always had Ford V-8 in all of my vehicles. (351C-4V, 289, 351W, 5.0L).
I bet you liked the power that old 4V Cleveland put out. I had 4V BOSS 351 Cleveland shoved in a 69 Fastback Back in the day. She was a solid lift screaming hellion. I’ve got the 390 GT FE in my Eliminator with a bunch of head work done (porting/polishing, multi-angle valve job, port matched with Performer RPM Intake) and that old Boss 351 would’ve given me a fit in a drag.
 

Boostedbus

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Wow, those turbos really put some energy into that V-6. At like 365HP, this is the most powerful engine I have had.
Yeah the 3.5 EB is assembled at the right engine plant. Even the BOSS 302 was technically considered a Cleveland because of the Cleveland cylinder heads. That plant is very familiar with producing bad ass engines.
 

Expedition Dave

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They need the V-6 to meet CAFE standards. They know if they offer V-8s, fewer would buy a V-6 and their corporate mileage would suffer. Perhaps with the relaxing of CAFE requirements by Trump yesterday we'll see an ability to offer more of what customers want.

THIS. And die hard pickup drivers can be more wary of the 3.5 as "new fangled technology." Same reason you won't see an IRS F150--it has to do with the marquee and monitoring of your buyers.

For instance, there are some people who will never own an SUV vs. a pickup (and vice-versa) b/c of the image they want to portray (some HOAs don't even allow pickups for that reason).

Given my druthers, I LOVE the 3.5 but will always *wonder* (whether real or perceived) about its future complexities out of warranty, or past 100K, etc. So if I wanted my Ex to be my forever vehicle, I would choose the 5.0. However, for life at elevation, turbos take less of an atmospheric hit.

YMMV
 

JasonH

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The Ecoboost is great for doing double duty as a family hauler and tow vehicle. I had to replace my minivan because I bought a travel trailer. But I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of Ford's engineering, as I'm hearing some intermittent evidence of timing chain stretch on startup in my 2017.

I have an extended warranty until 125k and am currently at 98k. I'll probably dump it within the next 24 months and upgrade to a 2019, again with an extended warranty. The disappointing thing is that Ford had issues with the timing chains on the 5.4 v8 as well. Rudiculous that the issue hasn't been solved.
 

Trainmaster

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It appears that most of the heavier cars are engineered for 150,000 trouble free miles and most attain that. What we've been seeing with these motors usually occurs at mileage exceeding this. I don't know if manufacturers really care much about durability past this mark.

The bummer isn't the stretched timing chain or worn guide, it's the ridiculously excessive amount of work needed to complete what's a very basic repair. I suppose they simply don't care what happens once the thing's well out of warranty.

If you want durability and ease of repairs, follow the fleets. Many truck fleets are self-maintained and that market just won't support a model that can't be easily serviced in-house. Hence the variety engine choices in the F-series pickups.
 

JExpedition07

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The Ecoboost is great for doing double duty as a family hauler and tow vehicle. I had to replace my minivan because I bought a travel trailer. But I'm beginning to wonder about the quality of Ford's engineering, as I'm hearing some intermittent evidence of timing chain stretch on startup in my 2017.

I have an extended warranty until 125k and am currently at 98k. I'll probably dump it within the next 24 months and upgrade to a 2019, again with an extended warranty. The disappointing thing is that Ford had issues with the timing chains on the 5.4 v8 as well. Rudiculous that the issue hasn't been solved.

No “timing chain” issues per say on the 5.4 Triton....just the plastic stuff around the chains that breaks and lets it flop around under the cover. The tensioner gaskets go and let the chain bust the guides up. The EcoBoost actually physically stretches the chain and then it flops around.
 
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