Whether you’re an existing owner or in the market for a used pickup, it’s always going to be a difficult decision of mileage vs reliability. When it comes to the F150, it’s rated as one of the safer options in this segment. The F150 has made a good name for itself and is commonly known for its power, safety, and reliability. So, what sort of mileage and service can you expect from the F150 range?
The maximum reliable mileage you can get from an F150 2.7 EcoBoost is around 200k to 230k miles. A factory standard 3.5 EcoBoost engine can safely deliver in excess of 250 000 miles (402 000 km) If the vehicle has been well looked after with regularly scheduled maintenance and no major modifications.
As you well know, any used truck can prove reliable, provided it’s been well looked after and not abused and mistreated for several years. With that being said, let’s look at some of the items you should take particular note of when considering a high mileage F150.
Ford F150 2.7 Ecoboost Life Expectancy and Max Miles & Reliability
When shopping for a used vehicle, make sure you look at the obvious items first, such as:
- Has the vehicle been used extensively off-road
- Check for accident damage and any bodywork
- Has the truck been stolen and recovered.
- Look out for cheap and nasty suspension upgrades or incorrectly installed suspension components.
These are some obvious items to inspect for first.
Next check for any water, fuel, or oil leaks. You want to ensure there’s no rust so take the time to check underneath the truck and have a good look around for frame rot and rust under the body.
Most turbo pickups tend to use a bit more oil than a NA truck, so when you test drive it, ensure the engine is cold started and look out for puffs of black, blue, or white smoke on startup as well under load when shifting through the gears.
There are no tricks or anything special to look out for on the F150, just make sure you inspect all the usual items thoroughly. If you’re not mechanically-minded, take a knowledgeable friend or trustworthy mechanic along when you do your inspections.
The 2.7 Ecoboost engine has only been around a few short years, since 2015 with a second-generation being released in 2018. Since its release, the engine has been incorporated into many platforms of Ford and Lincoln models.
The 2.7 is a more high-tech, sophisticated, and fuel-efficient engine than its predecessors. The idea was to develop a smaller displacement engine that was greener and more efficient while delivering similar power to that of the NA V6 and V8’s. So do your homework thoroughly and know exactly what to expect when purchasing a used F150.
Ford F150 3.5 Life Expectancy and Max Miles & Maintenance
Certain people will tell you that It’s not highly recommended to purchase a used 3.5 EcoBoost with more than 125 000 miles (200 000 km) on the clock. However, it also depends on how much you are willing to pay and how much risk you are prepared to take, since buying a used vehicle is always a bit of a gamble. So, the asking price of the truck should be directly proportioned to the overall, condition and mileage.
So what is the general life expectancy on a 3.5 EcoBoost? Let’s find out!
3.5 EcoBoost Life Expectancy
We all know that the hard use and abuse of most engines reduce longevity and reliability fast. Also, major engine modifications, tunes, and cheap suspension upgrades… or should I say downgrades, combined with oversized tires and heavy off-road accessories, all decrease engine longevity since it needs to work a lot harder to haul the extra weight around even when unladed.
Even when you use the recommended oils and stick to the regular service intervals, won’t make up for abuse if it was sustained regularly for extended periods. However, if you look after your EcoBoost and treat it with respect, there is no reason why it shouldn’t reach 250 000 miles (400 000 km)
Now since the EcoBoost is a direct injection and forced induction, it is strongly recommended to change the engine oil at strict intervals and stick to the service schedule religiously. Make sure you use good synthetic oil that will help keep carbon build-up down to a minimum.
3.5 EcoBoost Reliability
The EcoBoost was a major engineering and technological step for Ford. It is “built Ford tough”, and is a sophisticated engine design that offers plenty of oomph to pull a load and run silky smooth on the highway. It was a 6-cylinder that could perform like an 8-cylinder while using a lot less fuel. It’s a very well-put-together engine and fairly low on maintenance.
This direct fuel injection with dual overhead cams offers 365 HP & 420 TQ (Raptor’s 3.5L – 450 HP & 510 TQ). The beauty of it all is that the engine maintains 90% peak torque from only 1,700 RPM all the way to 5,000 RPM
Now that’s pretty decent if you ask me! Perfect for hauling heavy loads or towing.
The only cause for concern with the 3.5 EcoBoost engine is with the direct injection. Direct fuel injection can cause excess carbon to build up on the valves which can harm engine performance. In 2018 Ford reviewed the design of both the 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engine. Upgrades included a high-pressure direct, low-pressure port hybrid fuel injection system which was designed to keep the valves clean and not allow excess carbon to build up.
Should I Buy an F150 with 200k Miles
Like all Ford products, the EcoBoost is designed to last a long time. Both the 2.7 and the 3.5 engines are reported to reach well over 200 000 miles with only regular services and routine maintenance. There’s no way to guarantee any specific amount of miles on the EcoBoost, however, many owners have made light modifications without any long-term reliability side effects.
Modifications include upgrades like:
- Upgraded intakes
- Exhaust upgrades
- Engine tunes
How Many Miles Is a Ford F-150 Good For
There are many F150 owners with EcoBoosts reaching well over 300 000 miles without any major repair work. Owners claim the only repairs were a couple of throttle bodies that went belly up which was caused by the plastic gear that wore out. Other items include a transmission select sensor that failed. Oxygen sensors can also start playing up resulting in bad readings which will negatively affect your fuel consumption.
Other than that many happy owners have reached 300 000 miles of problem-free EcoBoost smiles. Obviously, regular changing of the plugs and the scheduled oil changes keep the EcoBoost happy and reliable. Owners of these high milers recommend oil changes every 6-7k miles to keep the engine happy and healthy. Transmission oil and all fluids obviously also need to be changed around 150 000 miles.
Below is a link of an owner whose 2011 EcoBoost reached 200 000 miles – have a look!
Resources
Conclusion
The worst thing you can do to your EcoBoost engine is keeping it at high RPM for extended periods of time. This is because the peak stresses of the engine are when the piston is changing direction at the top and bottom of the stroke. The higher the engine RPM is spinning, the more force is applied to the internals like the crank, rods, and pistons during the deceleration and acceleration process. The force of the explosion actually counteracts the tension created by the piston being pulled down by the crank so the net force is less.
The EcoBoost has the advantage of having a lot of low down torque meaning it spends most of its life at relatively low RPMs, thus extending longevity.