Do you hear the term EcoBoost a lot? Maybe you’ve heard it in a Ford commercial or have seen it pop up when car shopping. Does it give your car a special boost? Is it some impressive technology? In a way yes to both questions. Ford has been utilizing their EcoBoost engines for a number of years now and have experienced great success. But seriously, what is it? What does it do?
What is it?
EcoBoost is the term that is allotted for Ford’s V6 turbocharged engines. These turbocharged engines have been highly successful since they first appeared nearly ten years ago. They are offered in a number of vehicles throughout Ford’s lineup including commercial vehicles. Ford has been able to harness power with a turbo configuration without robbing gas mileage. In addition to a turbo, the engine is utilizes direct fuel injection. With the use of direct injection, the fuel injection process is simplified, allowing for higher efficiency.
F-150 EcoBoost
One of the most popular vehicles equipped with this is the Ford F-150.
The beauty of this technology is that it offers slightly better fuel economy than V8 engine options yet still delivers enough power to tow your camper. You may surprised with the power of the EcoBoost engine and what it is capable of doing. The Ford F-150 equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost is able to tow up to 8,100 pounds and for a V6 engine that’s a feat worthy of a hat tip. With the V6, the F-150 is capable of 18 city/23 highway miles per gallon, compared to the 5.0 V8 getting 15 city/21 highway miles per gallon.
Across the Lineup
In addition to the F-150 the Eco option is available with the Expedition, Mustang, Edge, Flex, and even commercial vans. If you have something that works why not utilize it for multiple applications. With an engine that gets decent gas mileage and some extra power with a turbo it is a no brainer to spread it across the lineup.
Second Gen
There is a second generation of the EcoBoost engine mainly found in larger applications such as the F-150 and commercial vehicles. Engine size has jumped up a bit to a 3.5L generating 365 HP, 40 more horsepower than the 2.7L. Torque largely increases to 420 ft lbs. Although there is an increase in horsepower and torque, MPG numbers remain relatively the same. 17 city/23 highway are pretty impressive numbers for something with that much power. With increased horsepower, comes increased payload and tow capacity. New ratings increase for payload increase from 2,250 lbs to 3,180 lbs and towing increases from 8,500 lbs to 12,200 lbs.
Want to see more? Head on over to our Ford Website for inventory and pricing!