Regarding this issue, it seems that it only happens during very specific driving conditions. For me it happened on a drive from Toronto to Ottawa (approx. 450 km) and after driving for 2 hours in drizzle and fog (and about 10 degrees Celsius), I accelerated from 110 km/h up to 130 km/h to pass a slower moving car and the shuddering/heavy vibrating occurred. It kept happening while I accelerated and I lost power, so I let off on the accelerator pedal until the shuddering stopped and kept driving slower for a few seconds and then slowly accelerated and there was no shuddering. During the shuddering the "Check Engine" light flashed on and off and it stayed on until I pulled off a few minutes later at a rest stop and then it was off the next time I started the truck (about 15 minutes later).

The second time it happened was the next day and the weather conditions were the same - damp/wet and cold - and this time it happened as I was pulling out of a rest stop back on to the highway (after driving for 2 hours and about 15 minutes at the rest stop). When the truck got up to about 80 km/h during a hard acceleration, the shuddering occurred again, I let off the accelerator, dropped my speed down to 60 km/h for a few seconds ("Check Engine" light flashing again) and then slowly accelerated and the shuddering stopped and didn't happen again even after trying to repeat it.

It might be that the issue only occurs in some EcoBoost-equipped trucks AND/OR only during very specific weather and driving conditions and that is why it is not happening to everyone. The senior mechanic you talked to should check out Ford's Technical Service Bulletin 13-3-3. There is a good explanation of the issue and the prescribed repair procedure. Basically replacing the catalytic converter/assembly on the driver's side. I had the repair completed 2 weeks ago and haven't been able to repeat the shuddering because the weather has been too warm. I'll try in the Fall when it cools down more.

So the issue is not crap. Check other posts in this Forum and you will find pages of guys complaining about exactly the same issue with their EcoBoosts.

 

Yea it must be specific weather conditions,but I drove in all kinds of wet/dry/cold/hot air ,why isnt it happening to all ecoboost engines? strange.

 

My shudder issue occurred in very similar conditions to what everyone here is describing. Long drive through drizzle and rain with cool temps. Mine happened driving in 48-52 degree weather in constant drizzle.

However, after my local Ford house did the TSB my second encounter with similar conditions were met with 0 ill effect. Drove from Des Moines IA to Albert Lea MN two weeks ago in substantial rainfall with temps in the low 60's. No water ingestion.

As far as fuel economy on my trip to Minnesota. I put 2600 miles on my F150 for the entire trip and averaged 20.6 mpg. Pretty danged awesome considering I spent two days motoring all over Minneapolis/St. Paul.

 

Just purchased new 2013 EB, 6" lift, 35" tires and through the first 1000 miles I've gotten no better than 12.5 mpg (that was all interstate @ 70 mph). Is that comparable to others with same setup?

 

I suspect you are fairly close with your setup. I also recommed you recalibrate if you have not. You need to go by hand figures instead of the dash read out also.

 

The lil engines take about 10 miles to warm up. They only reach good mileage after that. If U stop and go forget it. If U run 55/65 mph on 2 lane blacktops U will find max fuel mileages after 100 miles. Short trips, forget good mileages.

 

New owner of a 2013 Flame Blue FX4 with 3.55 rear. Has leveling kit and Nitto 295/60/20s on stock wheels. Truck has about 500 miles so far. City driving yields ~13.5mpg. The few times I've had it on the highway and reset the lie-o-meter its say 9.8mpg! This is still on the first tank of gas from the dealer. I know its 87 and probably a 10% ethanol content. Dealer says "It will get better". It's not going to get THAT much better with just more miles. I figured with the level kit and larger tires I should at least see 16-17 on the highway. I'm in Southern Louisiana, so the only hills are speed bumps and overpasses. My lifted RAM with Hemi and 35's did 15 hwy!

 

If you haven't had your speedometer recalibrated for your larger tires than your lie-ometer really is lying to you. This is my last 10,107 miles of mixed driving and I run 295/60/20 Trail Grapplers.

 

I doubt that the recalc was done but, I have a SCT and 5 star tunes due in next week. I run the exact same tire but, I doubt that small of a change in diameter will account for THAT much of a decrease.

 

If U have tow/haul engage it. It will give best performance of the transmission and motor. U should see an immediate change of around 1 mph over 50 miles. If it was registering 17 mpg it will go to 18 mph with the smooth driving of cruise. I have witnessed it many times on Interstate / Expressway speeds. Short trips are just gas guzzlers with engine warm up time needed but sustained speeds, non stop is different with the lil engines.

 

On the highway use the cruise control if you want good mileage. In these trucks you can't out do the PCM. If you use the skinny pedal to control your speed you will be in an out of boost constantly. That will kill your mileage in a hurry. On cruise the truck seems to keep things dialed back since it knows it only needs a little bit more power.

I've tried this theory several times on my drive home from work. Light traffic on cruise I have hit 25 MPG. Same route, same speed about the same traffic I can do 19ish with my foot.

 

I just got my 2013' SCrew FX4 4X4 6 1/2' bed Eco with 3:55's and 20's about 3 weeks ago. Before I even took the truck home I swapped the tires out with Toyo Open Country A/T II 275/65-20's which are 2" taller than the factory 20" Pirelli's.

I have about 800 miles on the truck so far that's a mix probably 60% highway and 40% city/country driving. Most of the driving style has been fuel mileage conscious. So far my average mileage on the computer is 17.0

According to the different tire sizes from stock to the Toyo's I have on my speedometer is about 6% slow. I hand calculated my first tank of fuel and added 5% to the mileage for the tire difference. Funny thing is it matched the factory average at 17. Now that was only one tank I calculated (haven't needed to fill up the second time yet). I'll check after the next fill up to see if it's consistent.

I'm a Ford salesman and have ben for 26 years. I hear a tremendous amount of variation in fuel mileage reports from my customers. Anyone that's driven an ecoboost for even a short period of time realizes that driving style and speed can have huge affects on the fuel mileage with this motor. The other thing that seems to have a big affect is tire/wheel/gear ratio combinations.

I went with the Toyo tire after doing tons of research (most of it here). Some of the deciding factors for me were tire weight compared to stock and that the tire was the same width as the factory tire but 2" taller. I wanted the taller tire for looks but didn't want to kill my mileage.

I've both read and heard many reports that fuel mileage tends to improve slightly around 5,000 miles. I'm not sure if that's a break in period of the motor or if that's the point where everyone gets over the novelty of the Ecoboost performance and quits standing on the throttle as hard.

Here's my setup:

 

My 2012 is averaging 17.4 over 47531 miles to date. I use an app to track the economy, and drive 90% highway. Mostly interstate, and I set my cruise at 70-75mph.

-Andy

 

Tow/haul will not help with fuel economy. It keeps you in the lower gears longer as well as hold off shift points until higher rpms, thus you will use more fuel not less.
Tow/haul is designed for towing not economy

 

While U R generally correct. not so under many conditions. Driving an MT truck in windy conditions, which I constantly am under is one of them. Even putting it in 5Th will give better gas mileage then staying in 6th. As 5th will deliver 19 mpg on 2 lane blacktops under 65 mph I have seen regularly. To rule out t/h simply because U believe it only good for pulling is incorrect. It is Fords best programming for the truck under more than ideal conditions. Simply try it for say 1000 miles continuously on the highway and see. I have personally witnessed a 1 mpg gain this way in less than ideal conditions. Wind, rain, lower temps below 60 degrees etc. In mho it is generally what U buy when U get a tune from a tune store. Direct injection shuts off when U coast or downshift going down hills or braking. As for upshifts it will upshift if U let off slightly on the accelerator when going thru the gears. If U constantly ask for power U will decrease mpg. My 11 ta 12 is a flex fuel and I search for E85 near $.50 cents below 87 octane where I more then break even on cost vs. mph of the 2. It loves E85 and T/H especially under 100 degree conditions which are frequent here along with the strong southerly winds. I have to run directly into this wind for +7000's of miles a year. I wouldn't use these combinations if it wasn't good for me. My truck includes a tool box and warn winch system adding 700 lbs. to its weight. If adding 2 adults and 2 grandchilds + the dog and assorted goodies it is under t/h conditions most of the time too.