I'm going to trade in my 1998 F150 (4.6 V8) very soon because I'm having tranny issues and it's too rusty invest in a tranny. I have two trucks in mind. 2104 with the 5.0 and a 2015 with the 3.6 EB. I read there were some cam chain issues with the early 3.6. Have they fixed those or should I stay away from the 2015 3.6?


Thanks
Skeeter

 

There is no 3.6 Ecoboost. The 2015 has a 2.7 or a 3.5. If you are happy with the power in your 98, you will be more than happy with the power of a 5.0.

 

I went from a 2003 4.6 to a 2014 5.0


Couldn't be happier!

 

Go for the EB.. I went from a 5.4 3 Valve to my 3.5 EB.. Love it! 54,300 miles and nothing major yet and don't plan on anything major happening. Its a strong runner.

The TSB from the timing chain rattle goes to the early 15 models, I haven't heard of many of the later years affected. Mostly 11 and 12s.

Go drive a 5.slow ooops i meant 5.0 then turn around and drive the 3.5 and see what you like the best.

 

Sorry for the typo GLC, I meant 3.5 EB. I'm an old man, 5.slow is probably fast enough - hahaha. I've had my share older F100's and F150's with the 300ci 6 cyl. I'm looking for bullet proof, not fast. The 4.6 in my 98 has been a great motor. The tranny is going and the body is shot so that's why I'm looking. Thanks for the input guys - very much appreciated.

 

If you do a lot of heavy towing, you might want the 3.5EB but if you just tow occasionally, the 5.0 should be adequate. I am on my second truck with the 5.0 and I love it.

 

Heck - if your 4.6 in a 98 has enough power and you were OK with the inline 300 in the older trucks, you would probably be happy with the base 3.5 (2015)/3.7 (2014) non-EB. I wouldn't get it in a 4wd crew cab though, and it's not that great for towing much. It's not a torque motor, you gotta wind it up to make it go.

 

If your looking at '15's look at a 2.7. Most owners are reporting it is more than adequate up to light towing.

 

The 2.7 Ecoboost is a little beast. It towed over 7000# up the Ike Gauntlet maintaining the speed limit all the way.

 

Thanks again for all the input guys. I ended up buying a slightly used 2014 F150 with 3600 miles last night, still has the new truck smell. It's the stripped down XL single cab long bed. I like the stripped down work trucks. They're getting hard to find. Everyone wants the 4X4 crew cab luxury truck... oh they're pretty but give me rubber floor mats and an 8 foot box and I'm good. My 2014 has the 5.0, plenty of git and go for this old man. There are some awesome deals on left over 2015's, but I saved a bunch buying this low mileage 2014. Let someone else pay the depreciation on the new one. You see, I'm not only old and slow, I'm cheap too. That's why I hang onto trucks so long. I'll post pictures when I get a chance to take some. Its funny, I didn't realize just how beat my old 98 was until I drove this one.

 

Hope the truck is a good one and you enjoy it for a long time.

 

My Dad had a 09 STX reg cab, short bed and the 3.7 V6 and that was a pretty cool little truck.. He put a basic canopy topper on it and used it to haul his golf clubs in Arizona!

He got tired of the manual windows, locks and no frills interior, so he traded it for a 14 Escape with the little Ecoboost 4 banger in it... Loves it and still hauls his golf clubs with it..

Mitch

 

09 didn't have the 3.7, the standard engine was the 4.6 2 valve V8. The 3.7 didn't come till 2011.

 

It was just a little V6.. Maybe not the 3.7, but a little V6..

I only looked under the hood one time and it was no V8, that's for sure..

Edit.. I can't find that an 09 had a V6 either searching around, but I would swear it was a V6 and an 09.....

Edit 2... Maybe it was an 08 and the 4.2 then.... Dad said it was an "09", but who knows... I just know it was a V6 so that's what it had to be (08)..

Mitch

 

I went from a '98 4.6L with cat back exhaust and cold air intake to a '06 5.4L with cat back, cold air intake, Evolution programmer and had the transmission built specially for hauling. I traded the '06 on a '14 3.5 Ecoboost and there is absolutely no comparison at all. Best truck I have ever owned and I have had 7 F-100 or F-150's over the years.