3.5 Ecoboost V6 Engine Problems And Reliability

3.5 EcoBoost Engine is a gasoline engine that offers direct-injected with the turbocharged engine. It provides an equivalent power and torque to a natural aspirated. This engine is also known as 3.5L V6.

This engine started to become Ford’s top seller since it first launched in 2009. It was a creation of a reliable alternative to a displacement V8 engine that became a large one as in the V8 coyote engine.

This 3.5 EcoBoost Engine offers less fuel consumption and less harmful substances of emissions to the air. It was Ford F-150 as the popular platform of this engine.

3.5 EcoBoost Engine Most Common Problems And Reliability

1. The first problem of 3.5 EcoBoost that may be found is about the timing chain. It is sensitive to the oil condition. The suggestion to overcome this sensitivity is not to pass the recommendation of the oil change intervals that is per 9,000 miles or 15,000 km.
2. The oil that is worn-out inside the engine can damage its timing chain and its tensioner. It also can damage the guides. But the second generation of this engine has a more reliable timing chain.
3. The carbon buildup on the backside of the intake valves and the walls of the intake ports may be the common problem by users of direct full injection engine. It is because of the lack of a natural cleaning process in the intake, which may cause restricted airflow, and the increased in fuel consumption.
4. This carbon buildup also delivers the engine into loss of power. The second generation of 3.5 EcoBoost Engine carries an additional port injection that can handle this problem.
5. The technology of EcoBoost that is carried by 3.5 EcoBoost Engine delivers this engine into a choice of EcoBoost enthusiasts. This engine equipped with six cylinders with similar bore and stroke dimensions of the 3.5L Duratec engine.
6. The block of this engine is aluminum with an open-deck design that offers high strength steel sleeves. The forged steel I-beam that connects the rods applied in this engine.
7. The forges steel crankshaft with 6-bolt main bearing caps complete the construction of 3.5L EcoBoost Engine. The efficient combustion is designed by high-strength aluminum and CNC machined pistons that reduces the piston top shape and friction coating on the piston skirt into lower condition.
8. To keep the cylinder block is firm and cool, the oil jets spraying on the underside of the pistons is done. The oil pan that is the underliner of the oil also made of aluminum.

3.5 EcoBoost Engine Specs

The heads of a cylinder of this engine made of aluminum which equipped with four valves per cylinder.

Pent-roof combustion chambers, two overhead camshafts, and spark plugs that are located centrally complete this engine.

Below the intake valves, Ford places the GDI fuel injectors, which are directly in the center of the pipes.

The intake size is 37 mm while the exhaust is 31 mm. Direct-Acting Mechanical Bucket (DAMB) which is considered as the solid buckets are polished in 3.5 EcoBoost Engine’s valvetrain. A single primary chain drives the camshafts.

The camshaft intake from the driver’s side has an additional lobe which drives the high pressure fuel pump from the direct fuel injection system.

This pumping can deliver the pressure of the fuel up to 2150 psi. Thanks to Ford for applying Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT).

A turbocharger performs an excellent engine. It uses twin parallel mounted Borg Warner K03 turbochargers for Garrett GT15 for other applications and the version of Ford Truck.

These turbochargers installed in the cast iron low internal volume exhaust manifolds that bring high strength. The exhaust gases go via fast cat converters which is to keep the low emissions.

The specifications that are made of plastic are charge pipes, intake manifold, and stock intercooler end tanks. The modern components of electronic are also carried by this engine, such as Coil on Plug (COP).

Bosch engine computer unite which is the advanced one, knock sensors with high accuracy, electronic ignition system, IAT sensors, MAP sensors, wideband 02 sensors, and many more.

3.5 EcoBoost Oil Capacity

The engine oil capacity is 5.9L with an oil filter. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. This engine can deliver 350 to550 lb-ft at 2,250 to 5,900 rpm. It generates 320 to 647 horsepower at 5,000 to 6,250 rpm.

3.5 EcoBoost Engine Reviews

The 3.5 EcoBoost Engine was launched in 2009 and Ford revised it into the newest version in 2017. The more powerful version of this engine was applied to the 2017 F-150, 2018 Navigator, and 2018 Expedition.

The second generation of this EcoBoost Engine brought customers a few changes. The most noticeable is the additional multi-port fuel injection.

Its operation is combined with direct injection. It covers a fuel output need that is increased from its previous version.

Besides, it also avoids a carbon buildup on the intake valves, which can keep the engine on the same level performance during a long mileage.

Its Borg Warner turbocharger is equipped with a turbine wheel. That is made of MAR-M-247 alloy, which is actuated. The wastegate reduce more turbocharger lag electrically.

It also contains two primary chain system with the double gear arrangement of cam chain drive sprocket on the crankshaft.

3.5 Ecoboost Life Expectancy

Although there are few problems follow this 3.5 EcoBoost Engine, this EcoBoost family member proved. That it has excellent longevity if it is maintained on schedule and the recommended oil is used.

The trouble of mileage will exist after 200,000 miles of use of this engine.

Conclusions

The new chains are considered more durable. It is also less prone to stretch because of the thickness of the side plates that are increased.

This second generation of 3.5 EcoBoost Engine carries cylinder heads with a roller-finger follower valvetrain, and its camshafts are light and hollow.

The changes in the second generation are to reduce the friction, furthermore, its mechanical losses. What changes this generation is the ratio of compression that is from 10.0:1 into 10.5: 1.

So, it depends on you to decide which is the best for your needs.