Ecoboost F-150 Confirmed !
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
Turbo or not, the knock sensor will keep the timing under control to prevent detonation. Premium may be recommended, and it will run better and get better mileage on it, but using regular won't damage it.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 3
From: Linn, MO
Pig9r, I will disagree on both points. First, I will bet that premium fuel is required, not requiring it on a turbo'd engine is just a hole in a piston waiting to happen. So you buy 30 gallons of premium which is normally about $0.20 more expensive than regular unleaded, you just spend 6 bucks more. (basically 2 gallons of gas). If the regular engine gets 20mpg hwy and the EB v6 gets even 22mpg you have more than broken even on the 2 gallons of gas you bought.
Second, the compression ratio has little to do with how long the engine lasts since it's usually not much more than a 1-point difference. Say an NA engine is at 9.5:1, the Turbo isn't likely to be below 8.5:1, not a real difference maker. The thing that KILLS engines is heat, and turbos produce A LOT of it. That combined with much higher compression ratios while under boost, will definitely wear faster on the rotating assemblies than the NA engine will.
Second, the compression ratio has little to do with how long the engine lasts since it's usually not much more than a 1-point difference. Say an NA engine is at 9.5:1, the Turbo isn't likely to be below 8.5:1, not a real difference maker. The thing that KILLS engines is heat, and turbos produce A LOT of it. That combined with much higher compression ratios while under boost, will definitely wear faster on the rotating assemblies than the NA engine will.
The engines do produce more power on premium, but it is not required.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
From: Home of Crown Royal
As rumors have it now, the 5.0L will be the standard engine with the EB being a "premium" offering as well as the 6.2L in some models.
The added price of the EB over the 5.0L was rumored to be about $700 or the about the same price as opting for the 5.4L over the 4.6L.
The added price of the EB over the 5.0L was rumored to be about $700 or the about the same price as opting for the 5.4L over the 4.6L.
But I think the $700 was Fords "cost", not retail.
With the 6.2L being @ $3,000 premium over 5.4L. I'd expect it to go like this:
Base: 3.5 or 3.7L V6
Upgade/Base in some: 5.0L 365/375
Upgrade: 3.5L EB + $1,500 400/410
Upgrade in some: 6.2L $3,000 400/+400
The rwd EB at SEMA has 400/400. I recently quoted Ford rep sying EB in F150 could have more than 400 ft/lbs tq. Hard to believe they'd achieve that AND get best in class MPG. But the fine print... best n class mpg vs Gm 5.3L or the GM 6.2l or "unstopable" Turd 5.7? (for example)
(re 6.2L #: Will F150 6.2L have Raptor or SD Cam? It will have efan of Raptor and 150s rated diff than SD so hard to say what exact #s will be)
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: MO
The current versions of the 3.5 EB are making peak torque by about 1500 rpm. Not sure where you got the idea that it has to be revved to make power. And the turbos aren't an "addition" to this engine. It was built for boost from the ground up.
Only time will tell but it's a safe bet that Ford did their homework.
Only time will tell but it's a safe bet that Ford did their homework.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,230
Likes: 21
From: Broken Arrow, OK
The EB engines DO NOT require premium fuel in the Taurus/Flex/MKT/MKS and will NOT require premium in the trucks. It's just not Ford's way of doing things. They use direct injection to avoid the need for premium.
The engines do produce more power on premium, but it is not required.
The engines do produce more power on premium, but it is not required.
Who knows though, maybe the direct injection allows the use of lower octane fuel even with the turbos. Edit: I just saw where you mentioned this, FordMan.
Second thought though: If/When people start modding/upping the boost on these engines, I gaurantee you'll want to move up to premium.
Last edited by SoonerTruck; Apr 15, 2010 at 04:21 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
From: Home of Crown Royal
What the heck does your '91 Taurus have to do with the EB? Its 2010!!!!!!!!!! My 82 turbo Stang didn't have EFI either but that doesn't mean the EB is carbed too.
Things change. The EB #s are based on reg fuel.
Things change. The EB #s are based on reg fuel.
Last edited by Power Kid; Apr 15, 2010 at 04:54 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 43,535
Likes: 817
From: Joplin MO
That's only partially correct. Most high octane fuels have more additives than low octane fuels but just the octane has nothing to do with carbon buildup. I also disagree with all the people around here that say that running high octane in an engine designed and tuned for low octane will have problems. That just isn't so either. The knock sensor will actually allow more timing advance, and it will run better and get better gas mileage. Will you actually notice the difference? Maybe, maybe not. I certainly can tell the difference when I put 93 in my truck, but I can't justify the extra expense to do it very often.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,828
Likes: 0
From: Home of Crown Royal
What we NEED is for Ford to line up three identical '11 F150 SCrews. One with EB, one with 5.0L, one with 6.2L. Line em up and go: - empty, - with a loaded trailer, - and one empty 500 mile interstate run for MPG. After we see that, we can pick which we prefer, and none of this other stuff would matter... AMEN.
(oh and include a 2010 with a 5.4L so we know how relative the #s are.)
(oh and include a 2010 with a 5.4L so we know how relative the #s are.)
Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Fayetteville, AR
I have never had a problem running high in a low spec vehicle, but have been give quite a few problems running low in a high spec with some of my 90s and early 2000 vehicles. Carbon buildup, pre detonation, decreased power etc... How about everyone just do what the manual says to do when it comes out 
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 3
From: Linn, MO
What we NEED is for Ford to line up three identical '11 F150 SCrews. One with EB, one with 5.0L, one with 6.2L. Line em up and go: - empty, - with a loaded trailer, - and one empty 500 mile interstate run for MPG. After we see that, we can pick which we prefer, and none of this other stuff would matter... AMEN.
(oh and include a 2010 with a 5.4L so we know how relative the #s are.)
(oh and include a 2010 with a 5.4L so we know how relative the #s are.)
Mike Levine, are you listening???