Despite being built Ford tough, the 6.2-liter V8 is not without flaw. There are a few things to consider when looking to buy a vehicle that has one of the Blue Oval’s popular engines.
Key Points
- The Ford F-series has been the best-selling pickup truck in the U.S. for over four consecutive decades, including the F-150 half-ton, F-250, F-350, and heavier Super Duty models.
- F-series trucks are synonymous with reliability and ruggedness no matter the variant. Ford even cemented these ideals with its iconic “Built Ford Tough” slogan.
- Consumers should feel confident buying a Ford equipped with any engine they offer, including the Ford 6.2-liter V8. However, nothing is entirely without flaw.
- The Ford 6.2-liter V8 is also known as the Boss engine–not to be confused with pushrod engines found in classic Mustangs like the Boss 302 or Boss 429.
- Though engineers initially claimed the 6.2 -liter was an experimental racing engine, it became available in various 2010 model year F-series trucks.
Ford 6.2-liter Boss V8 Engine Specs are on Par with 5.0-liter Coyote V8
The Ford 6.2-liter Boss V8 engine has a similar platform to Ford Modular engines like the 4.6-liter V8 and the 5.0-liter Coyote V8. It is a Single Overhead Camshaft (SOHC) engine, meaning that each cylinder head has the camshaft on top of the valve train. They are driven by a timing chain linked to the crankshaft to control valve timing. Like the Coyote 5.0-liter V8, it has variable valve timing and the ability to run on E85 unaltered.
The engine block is made of cast iron, and the cylinder heads are cast from aluminum. Unlike the Coyote 5.0, the Ford 6.2 Boss engine uses standard multi-port electronic fuel injection instead of direct injection. It has a compression ratio of 9.8 to one and has varying power outputs depending on what vehicle it is in.
While most Super Duty trucks do not get EPA fuel economy ratings, the 6.2-equipped 2013 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor manages a rating of 12 mpg city and 16 mpg highway for a combined rating of 13 mpg. Which, considering the large-displacement V8, isn’t all that bad. It’s safe to assume the larger Super Duty trucks get a bit less.
An interesting feature that the Ford 6.2 Boss V8 has is two spark plugs per cylinder for a total of 16. This is an effort to maximize gasoline combustion within the engine to increase fuel efficiency and reduce emissions output. However, the spark plugs themselves are one of the key issues to keep in mind when shopping for a Ford 6.2 powered vehicle.
Vehicles Equipped with Boss Ford 6.2 Include F-150 SVT Raptor with 411 Horsepower
Perhaps the most well-known use of the Ford 6.2-liter V8 is in the legendary Ford F-150 SVT Raptor for model years 2010 through 2014. The Raptor is an off-road racing-inspired variant of the Ford F-150 that shares many parts with the SVT Raptor R, a desert-racing truck used in races like the Baja 1,000. In the Raptor, the Ford 6.2 has a power output of 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque.
Another special edition F-150 available with the Ford 6.2 was the Ford F-150 Harley Davidson Edition, model years 2010 through 2012. Like the Raptor, the power output of these trucks is 411 horsepower and 434 lb.-ft. of torque.
The 6.2-liter Boss V8 was also found in various Ford F-series trucks with the same 411 horsepower output throughout model years 2011 to 2014.
Finally, a slightly detuned variant of the Ford 6.2 Boss V8 is found under the hoods of Ford F-series Super Duty trucks from the model year 2011. It is still available for 2021 Super Duty trucks. The power output of these engines is 385 horsepower and either 405 or 435 lb.-ft. of torque, depending on the year. It is offered as an alternative to the 6.7-liter Powerstroke turbo-diesel V8 and the 7.3-liter Godzilla V8.
If you are in the market for a truck within these model years, purchasing one with the 6.2-liter V8 is likely to satisfy your needs, whether it be a fun off-road vehicle in the form of the Raptor or use as a work or towing vehicle in a Super Duty truck. However, there are a few issues to keep in mind.
Ford 6.2 Spark Plug Replacement Issues are Unique to its 16 Plugs, could Require Removing Wheels
One of the most prominent issues with the Ford 6.2 Boss V8 is replacing its spark plugs. It is generally recommended that spark plugs on any engine get changed within the span of 30,000 to 50,000 miles. However, while it takes an hour or less to change spark plugs on most engines, replacing them on the 6.2-liter V8 is a bit more of an ordeal. This is because there are 16 spark plugs on this engine, one upper and one lower per cylinder. Many owners of Super Duty trucks equipped with the 6.2 find that removing the front wheels and splash guards from the wheel wells is required to access the spark plugs closest to the firewall.
Additionally, Ford’s instructions for replacing spark plugs on these engines stress that the engine is neither hot nor cold when the procedure takes place. Instead, they recommend the engine be warm to the touch. Otherwise, replacing the spark plugs runs the risk of damaging the threads inside the engine that the spark plugs are held in with.
Damaging the threads can result in a costly procedure that could involve major engine deconstruction to re-tap the threads. Something like this could cost thousands for a mechanic to do.
It is recommended you have an experienced mechanic replace your spark plugs on a Ford 6.2, as it can be a daunting task for an inexperienced owner and can take up to five hours to complete. Unless you are a mechanic, the safest bet is to budget for a professional to replace your spark plugs as needed. It could save you a lot of money and headache.
Low on Reported Issues, a Ford 6.2-equipped Truck is a Safe and Dependable Buy
With the amount of stress-testing and engineering that goes into modern engines, it’s no surprise to see a relatively short list of issues on an engine this new. In fact, there are plenty of instances of the Ford 6.2-liter Boss V8 safely reaching the 200,000-mile mark and pushing on without any major issues.
Ultimately, a Ford 6.2-equipped vehicle is a safe and dependable buy, available for prices ranging from the $10,000 mark onward. The 6.2 offers an alternative to the often costly maintenance of a diesel engine. Furthermore, it doesn’t sacrifice a whole lot in terms of fuel economy relative to the Power Stroke variant, thanks to modern engine efficiency.
Photos: Ford