The Car Care Nut (Auto Mechanic) Reviews the F-150

[randc42460]

The harping on the cost seemed a bit excessive to me. The vast majority of people buying top trim vehicles like this aren't as price conscious as the people who are buying XLTs. Testing an XLT or similar trim would have been more interesting and would have probably rated much higher. But I know test fleets are unlikely to be stocked with mid-range trims.

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[Snakebitten]

The harping on the cost seemed a bit excessive to me. The vast majority of people buying top trim vehicles like this aren't as price conscious as the people who are buying XLTs. Testing an XLT or similar trim would have been more interesting and would have probably rated much higher. But I know test fleets are unlikely to be stocked with mid-range trims.

I have 3.5 years of fully dolled up (Platinum/KingRanch) Powerboost experience.
And we have just short of 4 years with an XL Fleet Powerboost at work.

All 3 trucks have been exemplary.

Amazing since they are the most unreliable pickup truck in America, as well as being unbelievably complex. ?

OK ok..... I will admit that a 2021-2024 F150 Powerboost is in fact laden with technology and considerably more complex than my 2012 XLT 3.7 normally aspirated truck.

 

[Gros Ventre]

I was asked my thoughts on the video review. Won't go into the interior things. Only the structural stuff. He goes after the stretch belt. Mine, a 21, has two of them but the 24s were redesigned a bit and no longer need the second one. I see nothing wrong with serpentine belts. They run fine, last a long time, and drain to the bilge (Navy humor... ). He goes after the fiber undercarriage cover. I agree. I paid for one and after many miles... it just disappeared. Must be somewhere in the ditch... If I pay for an undercarriage cover/skid plate, I expect a metal one. The change over from the BISG (Belt Integrated Starter Generator) to using the electric motor to start is good idea. That is how the 2006 Escape Hybrid works. Retaining the normal type engine flywheel starter is a good idea. He emphasizes that it is a "work truck" as if that's a downer. Got it, isn't that what most buy it for?

 

[Deleted member 11970]

One thing I did notice on the truck while he was reviewing it was all the surface rust on the rear axle. Wtf is up with that?? Hopefully my truck isn’t like that when it comes in!!

 

[Snakebitten]

One thing I did notice on the truck while he was reviewing it was all the surface rust on the rear axle. Wtf is up with that?? Hopefully my truck isn’t like that when it comes in!!

I wouldn't look then, if I was you. ??

It's not pretty

 

[Gros Ventre]

One thing I did notice on the truck while he was reviewing it was all the surface rust on the rear axle. Wtf is up with that?? Hopefully my truck isn’t like that when it comes in!!

Ford doesn't paint those. The amount of rust is trivial to the strength of the axle unless you're thinking of a 50 year lifetime for your truck.

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

One thing I did notice on the truck while he was reviewing it was all the surface rust on the rear axle. Wtf is up with that?? Hopefully my truck isn’t like that when it comes in!!

One afternoon with some fluidfilm or another undercoating of your choice and voila! No more rust......for a couple years.

 

[HammaMan]

One afternoon with some fluidfilm or another undercoating of your choice and voila! No more rust......for a couple years.

A coating of oil doesn't make the rust already present, vanish

 

[Jmitchelltfo]

A coating of oil doesn't make the rust already present, vanish

POR-15 or some other similar product maybe?

 

[wayfarer556]

Do you know why the auto industry hates EVs? It takes less man hours to assemble so less potential labor for the UAW and there's a tiny fraction of the service department revenue to be had. The PB has additional parts to its part count, but those parts are more reliable than the other parts on the vehicle, and the more reliable parts offset wear and tear on the parts that are less reliable.

What that translates to in terms of future reliability, well we're currently running that experiment and there's nothing out of the ordinary to report, especially seeing as how PB owners are way over-represented on the forums, and outside of ford's early software issues that hit a few trucks during startup, there's nothing of note to report.

Could not agree more. I think the biggest concern with this truck is the transmission (I had mine replaced at 5000 miles). That said, the hybrid/electric components of the truck really do reduce wear and tear. My brakes at 65,000 miles are no where near needing maintenance. Lots of starts and stops during city driving are handled by the electric system as much as the ICE. I wonder how much less wear (and in particular wear that's hard on the engine) happens because the electric system is helping. I rented a 5.0 F-150 a year ago and realized then how much low end torque the hybrid system really provides, it really catapults the truck around in low speeds with much less effort spent on the ICE compared to the 5.0. I plan to run this truck until it has major issues, but so far so good.

 

[EricR]

A coating of oil doesn't make the rust already present, vanish

Execpt, It actually does help considerably.

IME, mant a beat and uncared for tool (and various other metal objects) has been revitalized with a light and caring application of oil!

Vanish? Yeah probably not. I will give you that.

Significant improvement Absolutely!

 

[FaaWrenchBndr]

It certainly will be easier than the injectors on my old 6.7. These are also better than some transverse mounted V engines that require pulling the intake or the ones tucked in with the exhaust manifold. I'm just getting older so contortion isn't my friend. I will manage as it isn't something I will be doing that often.

I understand. I’m no spring chicken either. After 55 shit just falls apart…….

 

[SonarChief]

I wouldn't look then, if I was you. ??

It's not pretty

It’s a rare thing for me to disagree with Snakebitten….but here is mine on the lot before I had it fluid-filmed…seems pretty pretty to me!

 

[Samson16]

But I know test fleets are unlikely to be stocked with mid-range trims

I suppose it’s somewhat necessary in order to test higher options, but providing an opinion regarding fully reclining seats is less valuable than judging a nice Lariat to most of us.

 

[cjm83]

This was a pretty great review of the truck. I appreciate his obvious knowledge. I will say that as a guy who just recently ordered a Platinum PB, some of his opinions are concerning. Im trying to take them with a grain of salt and not read toooo much into them and just chalk up his critiques to being hypercritical due to the cost of the truck... I'd love to hear some real life practical opinions on a few of the matters from folks that have owned and driven this truck for a large enough sample size.

When it comes to a gen14 platinum PB, could current owners weigh in on the following?

1.) The seats. Are they uncomfortable? Does that upper back support make the seat better or worse to sit in? During long trips do the seats become less comfortable? Is that platinum badge on the seat really an issue like he mentioned?

2.) I'd love to hear from some folks that have "older" PB trucks. How are they performing a handful of years in? How are the ones performing that have an extra amount of miles on them, like over 100K?

3.) Is the quality of the ride really not great in regards to noise and smoothness? I dont expect it to ride like a Denali... But still have some expectations that a 157" wheel base is going to pretty damn comfortable when compared to most vehicles on the road.

4.) What was that battery noise he was trying to point out?

5.) When the truck switches between hybrid/gas operations during driving, is that really noticeable or is it pretty seamless?


Thanks!

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