He hasn’t bought it yet, since he hasn’t decided on the engine. Either the 2.7 or the 3.5 turbo. It’ll be a daily driver and sometime tow a 4000 # travel trailer. Pretty much the same options, other than the engine. Either engine will do what he needs. So…which engine would you ford guys suggest for reliability?

5.0 V8.

That’s what I suggested, but he said it had that auto cylinder deactivation. I’d assume that if it did have that, it could be defeated. He was talking at such high speed about the 2.7, I could hardly get a word in edgewise. I suggested he also consider the 3.5 turbo.

Says he can get $15k off the list price, which isn’t surprising. My only concern would be the long term reliability of those engines. I know nothing about those engines, but some of the forum guys do. So, comments are welcomed. I’ll pass them along, but figure he’ll make his own mind up.

I don’t think the Fords do the cylinder deactivation, but if so it could be deactivated. My opinion is always go big, the 3.5 would be a better choice over the 2.7. No replacement for displacement.

The cylinder deactivation has been around plenty long enough to have the bugs worked out. Each of the brands have high mileage engines running around now. The two engines mentioned are a non-starter.

5.0 would be first option for me. Had a 2.7 and it did anything I needed it to including pulling a similar size trailer. The 3.5 is probably the worst fuel economy of the 3 but most power. I’m sure they have worked most of the kinks out by now but they had their fair share of problems early on. I sold mine with the 2.7 just under 100k and no issues whatsoever other than normal maintenance. Did have to have an update on the auto on/off switch that would randomly kill it going down the road.

3.5. I just bought my wife her second one. She drove her first one for 11 years with no issues. I like it.

Thanks for the feedback, but the truck thing might be a non-issue. He hadn’t mentioned this to his wife, and from what she just told my wife, there ain’t gonna be no new truck. Don’t need no stinking truck. She apparently yelled at him so loud, he may now be deaf.

That'll learn him...

I guess we know who wears the pants in that household.

That's a good wife. New trucks are freaking overrated and overpriced. Put that saved 80 month car note into your mortgage principal every month instead. Then when 15 years fly by and you have a paid off house you'll still never want a new truck cuz you just love living like no one else!

Tell the SIL to grow a pair! It'll be good for his marriage. Lol. That said, if he does get a new truck, I wouldn't be scared of the 2.7. I've got 147,000 on mine without a single hiccup. (Knock on wood) I did get the 2.7 with the towing package that came with the lower gears. It actually tows better than my old 5.4.

I just sold a 2014 F150 to another member on this forum with the 3.5 Ecoboost. It had 248K miles on it when I sold it. I did nothing but replace both O2 sensors, a coil, and changed the oil per the owner's manual.

I haven't bought a truck in a while, but I thought these small engines were for Honda cars. Is it a mini truck like Toyota?

As little as he's going to stress it, if he gets permission, the 2.7 would be more than enough for him. With his use, I'd take the V8, but the little 6 is a go'er and likely has the lowest price of any of them.

The bugs have been worked out, but the damage to the engine caused by the deactivation isn't worth the risk. I have the 5.3 chevy and was recommended to remove the cylinder deactivation. After doing this, mpg only went down about 1/2 mpg and the engine feels and sounds alot smoother.

Talk to mechanics; wow, they don’t like that deactivation thing, even Chevy. Also, watch for that excessive oil thing in the 5.0.

Sounds like he’s pretty whipped.

Good for her. Buying something to keep up with Jonses is a fools game.

Explorers are sexy too

Starting to sound like Green Socks and Crocs kind of guy.

You can deactivate the selective cylinder on the chevy for about $200. I did this at the recommendation of my mechanics. only lost about 1/2 mpg and engine runs so much smoother