The EcoBoost delivered a new era of economical, powerful engines for almost every Ford vehicle. However, it’s not without problems.
For many, the notion of a Mustang or F-150 Raptor powered by anything other than a big V8 used to be pure heresy. Imagine four- or six-cylinder power? Well, Ford did just that though, and the new EcoBoost series of turbocharged engines is now literally everywhere across the lineup.
Ford Ranger? Yes. Ford Explorer? Definitely. The Transit Connect work van? It’s there, too. It’s even been used in the Lincoln lineup in vehicles like the Aviator, Corsair, and more.
Ford made a massive investment in its new turbocharged engine series. The EcoBoost comes in three basic layouts, including inline three-cylinder, inline four-cylinder, and V6. All are dual overhead cam and turbocharged.
Let’s explore each engine type and examine potential problem areas that you should consider before purchasing a vehicle powered by an EcoBoost.
Is the 3.5 L EcoBoost a Good Engine?
Ford’s smallest EcoBoost comes in a series of sizes, including 1.0L (2012 to present), 1.1L (2017 to present), and 1.5L (2018 to present). You’ll generally find the diminutive three-cylinder in Ford’s smaller cars like the Focus, Fiesta, and EcoSport.
Ford’s smallest engines didn’t come without a few problems. Close to 45,000 of the three-cylinder 1.0L EcoBoost engines that were made between 2011 and 2013 were recalled. The issue was with a nylon coolant pipe that could fail at high temperatures.
Additionally, while this isn’t really an “EcoBoost” problem, the 2016 to 2018 Ford Focus models with the three-cylinder engine and the manual transmission can experience a clutch fracture, which can cause a transmission fluid leak. That fluid near a hot engine and ignition can increase the risk of a fire. Again, while not an engine issue, it’s definitely something to consider if you are shopping for a three-cylinder EcoBoost-powered Ford.
Inline Four-cylinder EcoBoost Overview
The four-cylinder EcoBoost is considerably more prevalent than the three-cylinder, finding a home in almost everything that Ford produces. The four-banger from Ford comes in 1.5L, 1.6L, 2.0L and 2.3L configurations.
The 1.6L EcoBoost has seen its way under a massive number of hoods, including the Focus, Fusion, and Escape, plus a variety of Volvo cars including the V40, V60, V70, S60, S80 and others.
The 1.5L engine is basically just a downsized version of the 1.6L, and was created in part to get around a Chinese engine tax that was based on displacement, but also as a fix to problems that arose with the slightly larger 1.6L EcoBoost. More on that below! It can be found in the usual suspects for a smaller engine, including the 2015 Focus and 2015 C-Max. Ford also sold it as an entry-level engine for the 2014 Fusion sedan and 2017 – 2019 Escape crossover as well.
Similarly, the first iteration of the 2.0L EcoBoost (used between 2010 – 2015) was used in most of those same vehicles, but also in Ford’s Taurus, Edge and Explorer, the Volvo XC60, Land Rover’s Range Rover Evoque, Freelander, and Discovery Sport, as well as the Lincoln MKC. The redesigned 2.0L debuted in 2015 and featured a new twin-scroll turbocharger. Finally, a high-performance 2.3L EcoBoost has been used in the Mustang, Focus RS, Ranger and even in the new Bronco!
Inline Four-cylinder EcoBoost Problems
Each four-cylinder EcoBoost has its share of reported problems. The 1.6L EcoBoost experienced a significant number of issues, both here in the United States and in Europe. It was prone to oil leaks because of irregularities in pressure as the oil made its way through the engine. There were problems with the oil overheating and catching on fire.
Additional issues with coolant leaking from the cylinders was a pervasive problem, and close to 230,000 vehicles were recalled across the 2013-2015 model years. It’s no surprise that Ford replaced the 1.6L EcoBoost with the 1.5L engine. Thus far, the 1.5L EcoBoost seems to have addressed a lot of the issues found in the 1.6L version.
Moving up to the 2.0L EcoBoost engine, there have been reports of exhaust manifold cracks, as well as turbocharger control valve failures. Each issue has the potential for engine power loss if not detected in time. Additionally, a class-action lawsuit was brought against Ford in 2020, focusing on most of the four-cylinder engines produced since 2010.
The allegation is that these EcoBoost engines have a critical defect that causes coolant to leak into the cylinders. This can lead to misfires, engine failure or corrosion. Problems also have shown up in the 2.0L EcoBoost engine because of low pressure in the fuel pump. Basically, the fuel filter could get clogged more easily than normal, negatively affecting performance.
The performance-focused 2.3L engine has reports of cylinder head gaskets failing, overheating engines, and coolant in the exhaust. The culprit is thought to be the use of an incorrect cylinder head gasket. Additionally, some owners have reported carbon buildup within the inlet valves, which can restrict airflow and also affect performance.
V6 EcoBoost Overview
Ford’s largest set of EcoBoost engines come in 2.7L, 3.0L, and 3.5L sizes, and are also quite common across the modern Ford and Lincoln lineup. The biggest engines power the biggest vehicles. The most popular is definitely the F-150, and Ford sells a lot of them. It was a big gamble putting a smaller turbocharged engine in their best-selling vehicle, but it’s been quite a success.
You’ll find both the 2.7L and the 3.5L EcoBoost engine in Ford’s full-size truck. The 2.7L also is found in the Ford Fusion Sport and the Ford Edge ST, as well as Lincoln’s Nautilus, MKX, and Continental.
The 2.7L engine was updated for 2018 and has found a home in the F-150 and the new Bronco. Between 2017 and 2020, Ford also sold a 3.0L EcoBoost for a variety of full-size and midsize Ford and Lincoln models.
All the way back in 2007, Ford began selling a version of the largest EcoBoost, the 3.5L, originally called the TwinForce. The first-generation 3.5L not only was found in the F-150, but also larger Ford SUVs like the Explorer, Flex, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator.
An updated version of the 3.5L EcoBoost was launched in 2017 in an unlikely place: under the rear glass of a Ford GT supercar. It was a huge risk, but ended up paying off with the GT being the literal poster child for the EcoBoost. Since then, Ford has powered a ton of performance vehicles with versions of the EcoBoost.
The newest 3.5L is a beast, naturally still appearing in the F-150 and larger Ford and Lincoln SUVs, but also in the latest version of the off-road-focused F-150 Raptor.
V6 EcoBoost Problems
The V6 EcoBoost engine series is not without their issues. The latest generation 2.7L EcoBoost has had a few blown head gasket issues, but overall seems to be a pretty solid engine. Similarly, the 3.5L EcoBoost has gotten pretty good reviews from a reliability perspective.
Some early reports of timing chain issues mostly seem to be attributed to a lack of routine maintenance. If the vehicle does not have regular oil changes, the timing chain can become misaligned.
Keep an eye out for carbon buildup around spark plugs; it typically is caused by fuel or exhaust manifold leaks, or excessive engine heat. The fix is pretty simple: a spark plug replacement. Excessive smoke around the exhaust could be due to a failure in a crankcase ventilation hose valve cover adapter.
Throughout the rest of the airflow system, there are reports of humidity and moisture condensation buildup inside the EcoBoost’s intercooler, which can result in decreased performance.
Also, some aftermarket intake cleaning products have been shown to actually impact airflow, so always use products approved for the EcoBoost.
Summary
Generally speaking, it turns out that the smaller the EcoBoost, the fewer things that can go wrong. In reality though, the newer the EcoBoost, the more reliable it is likely to be.
Each of the various engine options, from the smallest 1.0L, to the largest 3.5L, have multiple generations to work out the kinks. Do your homework and research when the engines were updated; it’s likely that Ford fixed some known problems.
As always, check for open recalls before purchasing, and if you are able, get a pre-purchase inspection done at a reputable shop.
Photos: Ford