Ready to get new Silverado - but stuck between a 6.2L and an Ecoboost

[NoMoreGM4Me]

Ford spark plugs blowing out is a common problem with Triton engines in Ford F150 pick up trucks, Mustangs, Crown Victorias, Vans, Expeditions and motor homes made before 2004. A video showing spark repair inserts being installed can be viewed on the Calvan specialty tool description page, read on for more information. Ford 4.6, 5.4 and 6.8 modular engines are prone to spark plugs being blown out of the cylinders due to the aluminum threads failing. When the threads are about to come loose there is often a slight ticking noise, like a small "exhaust manifold leak" would sound. When the spark plug threads fail, it can eject the spark plug and break the ignition coil on the "coil over spark plug" design. Although rare, it is possible an engine compartment fire can start due to the raw fuel escaping the engine cylinder and the broken coil dangling, providing the spark. The cause of failure of the spark plug threads can be debated; poor design, over-torqueing, under-tightening can allow the spark plug to vibrate and wear threads while held in by the coil, until the the threads deteriorate and fail. Ford does not recommend repairing the threads, only replacing the cylinder head. The expense involved unless the vehicle is still under an aftermarket warranty can run into the thousands of dollars.

 

 

Looked at a calendar lately?

 

Want me to Google "Silverado problems" and post the pages of links?

[RyanbabZ71]

Really? Quit arguing, let it go

 

 

Ryan

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[music]

OP: Does that camper weigh in at 5000 lbs loaded and ready to roll? If so, that should be an easy pull for a 5.3, and the Ford 5.0 should be a bit better with higher torque/hp. I'm towing closer to 7000 lbs with truck in sig, and the 6-spd should be a bit better for towing. I don't win any races, but I've only seen the kind of trouble you mention when crossing TX in constant 30 to 40 mph head/cross winds. I had to slow to 50 to hold 3rd, but... believe me... 50 was fast enough in those winds!

 

Regardless, you need to go with what fits you best. I recently test drove an EB crew F150, and had mixed feelings about it. If I were buying soon, I'd have to test drive one a few more times... but mostly because the seating is more roomy for a family. I much prefer the look/ride/handling and build of the GM twins, and would probably lean towards another 5.3 or just jump straight to a 2500HD if I were towing more often.

 

Edit: There's no doubt that either the 6.2 or EB would pull your camper better than a 5.3... but I just wanted to point out that you may have an "underperforming" 5.3 on your hands, if it's running that hard w/ 5000 lbs in tow. You may want to try out a newer 5.3 and see how it feels in comparison, since you'll definitely have better daily mpg (at least as good as the EB or 5.0).

[NoMoreGM4Me]

OP: Posts like that one ^^^ are what you need to pay attention to and ignore the biased BS posts.

 

Very good post Music!

[Daryl LBZ]

Get the F150 with the 5.0L. It will give you the best FE overall (towing and unloaded) and it will pull 5K lbs with ease. If you HAVE to have more, get the 6.2L in the F150.

 

 

 

 

Yea, good luck going that route if you enjoy paying through the nose for a Platinum, Harley or Lariat just to be able to get 6.2L

[ZmanZ71]

My uncle owns 2 brand new eco boosts in his fleet. He is getting 17mpg highway with them not towing which I feel is unacceptable since I can do that in my 5.3 for much less money. Towing would just be aweful milage i'd say. I test drove the EB and did not like the way it ran. Yes it's pretty quick when you put it to the floor, however I don't drive trucks with the peddle to the floor on a regular basis, and I feel you need V8 torque to pull a trailer adequately. My dad has a 10 f150 still with the 5.4 and 6 speed, and the tranny shifts very funny, but the rear cab room is awesome! I am not brand loyal in the slightest bit and have owned every brand of domestic full size trucks up to my current 2011 chevy. If I were to buy a new truck tomorrow, it would be a close match between the 6.2 chevy and 5.0 ford. I'd say ford for the cab and gas milage, chevy for the nicest all around truck with tons of power and a much smoother ride. I know this doesn't help a ton, but forget the eco boost if you tow. I love my 5.3 CC silvy, but i will always welcome more power.

[Daryl LBZ]

If for some reason you decided against the GM Trucks I would definitely go with Fords 5.0 instead of the Eco-Boost. Neither one looks like it would be fun to do a simple oil change on let alone anything else, but hey it's all about what YOU want.

 

 

 

 

[latreille89]

If for some reason you decided against the GM Trucks I would definitely go with Fords 5.0 instead of the Eco-Boost. Neither one looks like it would be fun to do a simple oil change on let alone anything else, but hey it's all about what YOU want.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eco looks like something out of a Honda. But that 5.0 looks mean.

[11Silvy]

The heads on the 5.0 are sick.

[Daryl LBZ]

Yea I would take the 5.0 over the EB any day.

[stap9965]

Get whichever one you like the most. I would just suggest, like others have on here, to do some reading on other forums and what not to see what others think of ones they already bought. I think either way you go you're going to be happy.

[MikeNH]

What a completely biased, BS post.

 

 

Irony...

 

 

To stay on topic, asking guys on a GM site about GM vs. Ford will never get honest results, just the same as asking on a Ford site.

[ChrisNJ]

I've been towing with a 6.2 6sp in a denali with an '07 and now an '11. I tow 6Klbs and it's a brick front. I tow in the PA-NY-NJ hills, some can be big climbs, but most are rolling hills. I used to tow with an 8.1L (but 9Klbs then), so I have a good comparison.

The 6.2 6sp is a great combination for towing. Personally, I would never buy a 5.3 or similiar unless I was only towing 1-2 times a year. I tow 10+ times a year.

For mpg, I don't care. I consider it 'pay to play'. But, for you, while towing I can get 10mpg if I take it easy, 65mph, letting it slow a little up hills. but usually I am in a hurry and want 75mph, and she gets 7-8, and even 6 if it's all hills and I keep it at 75 up the hills, which the 6.2 enjoys doing.

Best of luck.

I am old, and am of the opinion the more displacement is always better, and why I have a 6.2, because gm was the first to build one for me. And I had 8.1's before that untill they were discontinued. If a 7L or bigger comes out, I will buy that. But it has to be in a half-ton, for my old bones.

And here's some mpg opinion. Your spending $40K on a truck, I don't think a couple mpg means much to make it do what you want it to do, even at $5/gal.

[ChevyTech77]

Bang for the buck, the 6.2l NHT GM truck is hard to beat for regular light to medium towing and all around use. I can totally agree that the Ford's CC interior lays waste to the GM's cramped and horrible lint magnet seat covers but all around that's about the only real thing that I see where Ford has the upper hand.

 

The EB while a good idea and an engine that makes all kinds of usable truck torque will always be "in the turbos" while towing and it will eat your mileage alive. While I only have light weight towing experiance with my '11 6.2 Non-NHT Silverado (3000ish lbs) I can say that as long as I don't drive like a maniac, it will still pull down decent mileage pulling that load (11.5-12.5 mpg). Mind you, this "load" that I am talking about is also a not so streamlined brick of a enclosed snowmobile trailer as well so that doesn't make

for great mileage, no matter what plus, that's in the small rolling hills of Northern Michigan, in the winter, trans in 5th gear. Therefore, I'd expect to see similar mileage pulling a near 5,000 lb load in the summer.

 

As for the 5.0l vs the 5.3? Sure on paper the 5.0l has the 5.3 covered and I'm sure it will get comperable fuel mileage as the 5.3. Considering the low count of past and current issues with GM LS based V-8 engines PLUS the better factory powertrain warranty, the desicion there is still tough as well.I see the 6.2l Ford engine as nearly non-existant considering that I can only get one if I want to buy one of their top of the line trucks and that's not going to happen so, ixnay that idea.

 

Anyway, I am happy as can be with my non-NHT 6.2l Silverado. It runs like a scalded dog, pulls extremely well, gets fair fuel mileage and brings a smile to my face everytime I drive it on the expressway or from stoplight to stoplight. The rest is your money, your decision.

[EX-F150 owner]

Haven't the new fords been having trouble with tranny's?

 

I just recently picked up a 6.2 and she's been putting a on my face with the power over the 1100 miles I got on her

 

This is the reason I am no longer in a Ford. Out of the two F150's I've had BOTH had transmission issues. After replacing the tranny in my 2005with only 66K miles on it I had a sour taste in my mouth.

 

 

No question, the 6.2L is the much better truck. That EcoBoost will kill your wallet towing that trailor. Their owners complain of terrible, almost unbelievable gas mileage while towing....Should not be a hard decision for you to make.

 

 

What a completely biased, BS post. No the EB won't get much, if any, better FE while towing than the 6.2L, but it will get much better while not towing.

 

 

Would you expect anything less form a GM forum???

 

 

 

 

I have 2010 6.2L with the NHT package and all I can say is coming from a couple Ford's this is the far better option. I have no problem towing my 25" boat. or anything else I throw at it. The gas mileage between this 6.2L and the 5.4L Ford I had are about the same. I am getting 13-14 in town and 16.5 on the HWY.

 

 

 

To those that posted about the spark plug issues in the F150's, Ford did finally fix this issue back in 2008. You gotta give them credit where credit is do... this only took two redesigns and 12 years to figure out