Scotty. I have recently purchased a 2012 Ford F-150 Platinum Suprecrew 4x4 with a 3.5 ecoboost engine. I know you said stay away from the ecoboost, but the truck only has 63,000 miles on it. Do you have any suggestions for making it last as long as possible? Thank you.
That’s the 1st generation of that motor. Since it’s a GDI motor Put a oil catch can on it and change the oil and filter on time every time . DO NOT skip spark plug change intervals I believe those also had timing chain issues as well.
I want to add be careful to follow Fords recommended fluid change intervals. Over 150k for a transmission fluid change? Diff fluid for life of truck? Yeah no. With my F150 I stick to about the average for everything. Oil @ 4K, transmission fluid @ 60-80k, diff fluid 30k brake fluid every 3 yrs and coolant every 5 yrs.
I would steer clear of it. That motor is being worked and stressed hard moving a heavy truck like that around.
Follow maintenance intervals in owners manual, take care of it, don't drive it hard, and pray because don't engines generally have problems as they age.
The problem with any relatively small displacement engine is that if you drive them slow, the clog up and goes bad. If you drive them fast, they burn up. The idea of putting a turbo on a little engine to make more horsepower is highly debatable. I would never own one. Just an opinion.
