How does it act in the mountains? (not towing)

[Yason84]

I haven’t owned a N/A truck for 15 years and been spoiled by my 3.5 Ecoboost and my 6.6 Duramax before it. My first truck was a single cab 5.3 with a 4-speed auto and no cruise control, so my experience in the mountains with a N/A V8 truck is limited. How does the 5.0L act while driving 70+ on the interstate in the mountains? Does it still have good passing power? Is it constantly having to down shift when climbing a hill? I’m asking cuz the only other vehicle I've driven in the Appalachians besides my 3.5 F150, is my in-law’s Chrysler town and country, and with 4 adults and about 2-300 lbs of crap in the back, that thing is a dog with that 3.6 N/A V6… trying to pass or even keep up with traffic is an absolute chore! My truck would laugh at those hills but it’s also 12 years old and needs a lot of maintenance.

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[bgalakazam]

People in Europe drive in the mountains with < 2L I4's no issues. You don't need 400hp to drive at 70mph or pass. I had no issue with my 5.0 in the Alps and windy mountain roads in Germany or the autobahn no limit. Also that 3.6 is a capable engine, if you call that slow I don't know what your expectations are.

 

[KingDavid]

People in Europe drive in the mountains with < 2L I4's no issues. You don't need 400hp to drive at 70mph or pass. I had no issue with my 5.0 in the Alps and windy mountain roads in Germany or the autobahn no limit. Also that 3.6 is a capable engine, if you call that slow I don't know what your expectations are.

Are those 4cyl engines turbocharged? He's talking about the power loss n/a vehicles go through when driving in high elevations. The air is thinner. Turbos don't struggle in that scenario.

 

[wz00r2]

The 5.0 is outstanding on the highway. Absolutely no issues in the Appalachian "mountains".

 

[Samson16]

@Yason84 If you’re looking for something that outperforms your 3.5 in the mountains you’re F-150 choice is limited to the PowerBoost. The current 5.0 is one of the finest examples of an NA V8 engine made.

 

[JExpedition07]

Assuming 3% power loss per 1,000 ft in elevation like a mile above sea level (Colorado) the 5.0 will lose 15% power and be making about 340 horsepower on regular 91 octane. On E-85 it will make 360 horsepower at that elevation. Your EcoBoost loses about 1% per 1,000 ft, so at that elevation it will be making 345 horsepower. With the 10R80 and weight advantage I’d think the newer 5.0 will outperform your first gen EcoBoost handily even at that elevation. I’d test drive one if I were you before I made any decisions.

My cousins grandpa has the same powertrain setup as you in his 2015 Platinum 13th gen truck (Gen 1 3.5L EcoBoost/6R80). At the end of the day my 14th gen 5.0L V8/10R80 is both a lot faster and quite a bit more fuel efficient than that older EcoBoost packaging, especially here in Buffalo NY near sea level. Trucks have come a long way in the last decade.

 

[Samson16]

I have no idea what hp the OP’s truck makes, but new for new the 5.0 at 5000’ has 40hp less than the 3.5

 

[Samson16]

Trucks have come a long way in the last decade.

No question.

 

[Yason84]

@Yason84 If you’re looking for something that outperforms your 3.5 in the mountains you’re F-150 choice is limited to the PowerBoost. The current 5.0 is one of the finest examples of an NA V8 engine made.

No I’m looking for something thats not an absolute dog. Even if the vehicle performs slightly less than my current 3.5 Ecoboost , it’s still light years ahead of a V6 minivan with about 1100lbs of payload in it.

 

[ks54703]

Funny Ford can have a transmission with many modes as in Normal, Eco, Slippery/Wet, Tow/ Haul, Sport but still no Mountain mode.

Would do a 5.0 with 3.73 gearing no matter what the terrain is.
Present truck is the 2.7EB with the 2.7EB payload package which includes 3.73 gearing. After going back to 3.73 gearing in a truck after being sold and told the new transmissions will fix it and having had enough of that smoke being blow up my rear the 3.73 gearing is now mandatory for any engine.

Also had a 21 302a XLT PB and it also came with 3.73 gearing

 

[Yason84]

People in Europe drive in the mountains with < 2L I4's no issues. You don't need 400hp to drive at 70mph or pass. I had no issue with my 5.0 in the Alps and windy mountain roads in Germany or the autobahn no limit. Also that 3.6 is a capable engine, if you call that slow I don't know what your expectations are.

When the 3.6 Pentastar engine is screaming at wide open throttle and going no where when trying to pass a left-lane camper that keeps speeding up/slowing down and running out of road before having to let off due to an 18-wheeler on the right going 40, it’s not a capable engine. I have no confidence in that minivan when trying to pass with 1100 lbs of payload in it. Not to mention the constant shifting up and down at even the slightest of inclines. My 12 year old Ecoboost has no issues with that on the other hand, I’m just asking if the 5.0 performs as well if not better than my current truck. Heck, I’d take “slightly worse” as long as it can still get out of its own way.

 

[Yason84]

My 2023 5.0 will smoke your 2012. But be aware they have different driving characteristics.

You won't be putting up grades in 10th gear like you do now.

The coyote was built to rev and builds more and more power as it does. It has a 7,000 rpm redline fit a reason. The 3.5 was not. Its a tourqey engine that falls off at high rpms.

They're just different. "Better" is subjective.

I'm also quite convinced the 5.0 is purposefully underrated.

My 2012 is a 6-speed lol. Plus with 3.73s, it doesn’t even know it’s on a hill to begin with when 90% of its torque comes on at 2000 rpm. It may fall off at high rpm but it doesn’t need to rev that high to begin with. It just pulls like a diesel. Hell, it pulled 4000 lbs up the Davis Dam highway in Arizona (7% grade) without ever shifting out of 6th.

I want to switch to a 5.0 because I’ve come to conclude that the 5.0 is more fuel efficient at higher speeds (75+) than the 3.5. As long as it doesn’t give me any drama when passing or keeping up while in the hills, I’m happy. The minivan on the other hand…. Taking forever to go from 60-70.

 

[JExpedition07]

The current 3.5 EB will also provide solid economy #’s, the 5.0 & 3.5 are very close on fuel economy. If you are used to that power-band (given your elevation) you may want to try another 3.5 EB. Will the 5.0 be an improvement over a gen 1 EB? Yes. Will a current EB be an improvement too? Yes.

 

[Samson16]

The 5.0 powerband comes on significantly higher than the 3.5, so yes it'll be in a lower gear than he's used to, but that's the way they are designed to run.

That is such a beautiful way to describe a lack of low end torque.?

 

[JExpedition07]

Actually quite the contrary the 5.0 has great torque for an N/A V8 of any class, it punches more in the class of a 6+ Liter V8 on torque. The GM 6.0 Liter V8 makes 373 lb ft @4,400 rpm, the Ford 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 makes 410 lb ft @4,250 rpm. That’s right, the 5.0 makes 40 lb ft more torque and at a lower rpm than the 6.0 pushrod V8.

Same narrative against my dads 2016 6.2L V8 in his Super Duty, 405 lb ft @4,500 rpm….5.0 beats that with 410 lb ft @4,250 rpm too.

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