Ford has rolled out countless engines over the decades. There are plenty of awesome ones in the mix, like the iconic Boss 429 V8, while others are absolutely forgettable. And there’s at least one that you should definitely avoid the next time you start the car-buying journey.
What Ford engine should you go all out in avoiding?
According to #savagescotty, the EcoBoost engine is the one to avoid when buying your next Ford. Between its potential for premature wear and poor gas mileage when driven hard, this engine will certainly leave you wishing for an alternative.
Interested in learning more? You’re in luck because mechanic Scotty Kilmer is here to explain just why the EcoBoost engine is worth avoiding. Here’s what you need to know.
Top 4 Problems with the Ford EcoBoost
As Kilmer points out, the EcoBoost engine features a turbocharger, gasoline direct injection, and variable valve timing. With that combo, it can improve your gas mileage while keeping emissions well within the normal range. Although that might look great on paper, here are four areas where the build goes wrong.
Bad Gas Mileage When Driven Hard
Between its gasoline direct injection and turbocharger, the EcoBoost should produce gobs of power on demand. Despite that, most people drive it hard and fast in hopes of enjoying every last bit of power, even Scotty has admitted to it.
Unfortunately, in doing that, gas mileage plummets, leaving you worse off than you were without all those bells and whistles. So, unless you are willing to take it easy and keep RPMs low, you’re better off driving a non-turbocharged engine if you want great fuel efficiency.
Premature Wear and Failure
Variable valve timing helps better control the speed at which the valves open and close. While idling or at cruising speeds, the timing uses a lower profile, which improves gas mileage. As you accelerate, the profile increases to allow the valves to stay open longer and produce more power.
Unlike more adept systems, Ford uses chains and gears to make these changes, which are prone to breakage through the years. In fact, Kilmer points out that these chains are known to go bad before hitting 80,000 miles, making them a huge liability.
Making the problem worse is the direct injection and turbo that greatly increase pressure in the system. The high pressure levels then put more stress on internal parts, which increases the risk of premature failure.
Massive Carbon Buildup in the Head
With gasoline direct injection, the fuel injectors on the EcoBoost spray gas right into the cylinders. While this improves fuel efficiency and performance, Kilmer says it has one major issue.
Without fuel going through the head, carbon deposits build up on the intake valves and other nearby surfaces. Then, they cannot open and close properly. Over time, this results in poor engine performance and high repair bills for walnut blasting and parts replacement.
Innovation = Lots of Problems
A lot of innovation went into building the Ford EcoBoost engines — and according to Scotty, that means teething problems. The turbocharger, direct fuel injection, and variable valve timing, for example, are just three of the many innovative systems to come together on this build. And who knows how well they will work together over the years.
Ford does keep their ear to the ground and rolls out updates as problems arise. In fact, as of 2019, they’ve released at least nine software updates to remedy minor to major issues. Their updates have addressed the vacuum, ignition timing, and much more.
Want the Ultimate in Reliability? Skip the EcoBoost by Ford
With this info in mind, you can skip buying a Ford with the dreadful EcoBoost engine. Instead, Scotty says to think about getting one of their proven V8 powerplants.
But that’s not all you can do to get the most car for your money. It’s also wise to check each car’s Vehicle History to see what problems lurk in their past, including serious collisions.
