2.3 vs. 2.7 vs. 3.0 engines after 100K miles (wear & tear assessment via teardowns)

[UncleBrad]

I didn’t watch. Was the 2.3 from a 7MT Bronco or an auto? It wouldn’t surprise me to see a 2.3 with 7MT fair worse than a 2.7 given a sample size of one each, because a manual can be driven shitty and that will obviously have an impact on the engine.

>> because a manual can be driven shitty

And automatics can't? Some tasks can be easier on the engine with the manual, like the awesome crawl gear. Manual transmissions don't need coolers, don't have the parasitic loss, etc. I think you're referring to the driver: not the manual transmission...

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[VirginiaHeritage]

>> because a manual can be driven shitty

I think you're referring to the driver: not the manual transmission...

That’s explicitly what I’m talking about. The auto provides at least some measure of intervention against mechanical stress from bad shifting habits. Prolonged over-revving or lugging are generally less likely with an automatic. Without those guardrails, a (bad) manual driver can potentially stress the engine out more.

 

[Gene Dios]

Should be reporting that video / channel. I'd be annoyed if they were stealing my footage and work for this

 

[JoHo]

I didn't watch it but I assume all 3 will go great in most cases until a rubber belt somewhere has had enough hot oil, which won't happen with a 2.3.

 

[SHANUT]

Not sure this video was posted here and also not sure of what the general consensus is on this guy. He claims to have worked on Fords for a long time.

Overall summary, they tear down these engines after 100K miles, the 3.0L after 70K because they couldn't find one with 100K. The goal was to see which had the less wear and tear.

The one discrepancy that I found was when he was touching on the intake valve carbon buildup, he said that all three had direct injection, but failed to mention that the 2.7L has both port and direct injection.

Yes, we know that then newer 2.3L has both as well, but these was 100K mile engines and the 2.3L was the previous version.

Again, I don't know how credible this guy is but thought I'd share.









Spoiler alert.
All did OK, but the 2.7L fared the best from a wear and tear perspective.

We use F150s for work and we have all of the engines in them and they run flawlessly for hundreds of thousands of miles when broken in gently, maintained early and often, and not beat on. My current F150 has 170,000 miles on it and we haven’t done a thing to it except regular maintenance. It’s still even has the original brake pads. None of them use oil either. We also have several vehicles with the 2.3 and the 3.0 and they haven’t given us any issues either.

 

[LSW]

Too bad the video is AI slop, it’s a good idea for a video. Unfortunately engine teardowns for comparitive analysis are very time consuming and expensive to do scientifically, so I doubt it’ll ever happen, and if it did it would probably be by Ford who would not share the results publicly.

 

[Techun]

That’s explicitly what I’m talking about. The auto provides at least some measure of intervention against mechanical stress from bad shifting habits. Prolonged over-revving or lugging are generally less likely with an automatic. Without those guardrails, a (bad) manual driver can potentially stress the engine out more.

My auto loves to lug the crap out of my 2.7. No problem sustaining 6+ psi at 1.4k rpm up an eternal hill.

 

[LSW]

Also, check out this intake valve build up on a 34,000 mile 3.0 EcoBoost. He was even using shell premium gas and a catch can. If anyone has a similar inspection for a gen two 2.7L with the dual port and direct injection post it up. Gen 2 started with the 2018 MY as far as I know. I’ve heard the Gen two 2.7 still gunks up intake valves but it takes more like 100,000 miles to get bad.




Some Valvoline Restore & Protect Oil formulators have also claimed that it can help with these deposits, FWIW.

 

[MEDISN]

My auto loves to lug the crap out of my 2.7. No problem sustaining 6+ psi at 1.4k rpm up an eternal hill.

Yes indeed the 2.7 will not downshift at 70mph up a canyon hill. Boost will be at 12 pounds and it just hums right along in 10th gear

 

[ducksface]

Yes indeed the 2.7 will not downshift at 70mph up a canyon hill. Boost will be at 12 pounds and it just hums right along in 10th gear

I have a manual downshift button.
Am I misunderstanding something?

 

[MEDISN]

I have a manual downshift button.
Am I misunderstanding something?

Sure you can tap shift or mash the go peddle to force a downshift but it rarely needs to. It will accelerate uphill in 10th on the interstate by virtue of boost and more boost. It’s not a complaint, just an observation of what the engineers chose to employ.

EDIT: I should add that I have the Ford Performance Tune which changes (improves) shift points and behavior.

 

[Techun]

I have a manual downshift button.
Am I misunderstanding something?

It's a complaint for me. I do tap the button, but I'm annoyed that I have to.

 

[DALOLA]

It's a complaint for me. I do tap the button, but I'm annoyed that I have to.

And even more annoying is that it's temporary...

 

[Pbethel]

The 2.7 in those models had an internal the water pump (behind the timing chain cover). The issue with that was when the water pump started leaking there would be no visible indication that it was leaking and due to it being internal, the coolant would contaminate the oil and result in engine damage. The design was changed in later versions (in the Bronco and F150) and now has an external water pump.

EDIT: I'm mistaken. The internal water pump was on the 3.0 and 3.5 EB engines, not the 2.7. The early (2015-2017) 2.7s had issues with the timing chain tensioner that would loosen and rattle. Also had head gasket failures.

The 3.5 only had the internal pump on transverse mounted engines used in FWD platforms. All proper RWD platforms, the 3.5 pump was external.
This myth is commonly brought up in the Transit Forum as a reason to avoid the Ecoboost engine.

 

[Bdisco]

When the reviewer failed to mention the 2.7 was both port and direct injection I just stopped.

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