EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

[wgoodhoofd]

Ford is releasing/has released a V6 EcoBoost for the Flex that looks promising.

Do you think a 4 cylinder EcoBoost would have the same power and towing characteristics to tow a 3500# trailer? If this goes into something like the Escape, where you can tow a boat on the weekend and still get solid gas mileage during the week, that'd be dynamite.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

as the owner of a fairly high horsepower (roughly 300 HP) turbocharged 4 cylinder, I can offer a little advice.

Your towing mileage SERIOUSLY sucks! I'll get low to mid 20's for normal interstate driving. When pulling my 1600 pound jet boat which is maybe 2000 pounds max ready to go, I'll get 10-12 mpg. Turbocharged is nice, but you have to have enough rpm's to get into boost. My car is vastly happier towing at 75 than it is at 65, just because of how the gearing works out. (I have to wind it out higher than I like in 4th at 65, and 5th is too low. 75 gets has enough rpm to get the engine where it is happy in 5th.) Turbocharged engines run lower compression ratios, so they end up making less horsepower when not into positive pressure.

Also, expect to replace turbo's if you are holding it in high boost for long periods. I don't know what the ecoboost engines run, I'm running 18 psi which is considered fairly high for a gasoline engine. I have a towing ECU map that limits it to wastegate pressure (9 psi or so), so that saves the turbo and helps the wallet out a little bit also.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Generally, turbo equipped cars in the U.S. have much lower towing capacity than normally aspirated engines or are not even recommended for towing because the engine would be under high boost pressure for extended periods of time. This does not apply to trucks as the engines and turbos are designed for severe service. Research this carefully and don't just take the sales persons word. Most of them have never towed anything and will tell you anything they think you want to hear.

 

[180shabah]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Skip the "boost" get a truck (or SUV). My father has a 4wd f-150 w/ the 5.4 and gets 20mpg empty. Much more comfortable tow vehicle than any car based turbo anything.

 

[windsors03cobra]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Too bad America could not get a good little diesel in a good car bodycan, that new Yota wagon looks nice and with a quality Japanese diesel could probably be very economical.
Alas we get gas hybrid garbage here from Yota, thanks Algore.

And please no off brand diesels with mediocre reliability and longevity ratings.
I wish Ford would have brought Eurotrash diesel's here instead of EcoBoost.
If EcoBoost goes badly for Ford they will be right next to GM and Chrysler in the dead US automotive companies list, Chrysler probably will not make it another year and GM is only in business thanks to the government shoveling them money.
Same for the all new Ford truck diesel engine, hopes its right and not a 350 diesel or Variable Venturi Carb.

 

[JB]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

No way can an Escape safely tow 3500lb, regardless of engine.

 

[cribber]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Per the Ford website a 2010 Escape can tow a max of 3500# with their installed Class II Trailer Towing Package. I really think you're pushing the limit if you go with this setup but if anything happens you should be covered since you're within the specified towing limitation.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

No way can an Escape safely tow 3500lb, regardless of engine.

Tend to be in agreement with this.
Too much behind too little !!

 

[NHGuy]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Remember max tow ratings are for an empty tow vehicle with a 150 lb driver and a tank of gas. Every pound above that in the tow vehicle lowers your tow capacity by the same amount. Plus an Escape has a really short wheelbase which can be a problem when towing.
It really can tow maybe 2000 or 2500 lbs as long as the tongue weight doesn't put the tow vehicle over its Gross Vehicle or Gross Axle Weight Rating.
To learn more read up on GCWR, Gross Combined Weight Rating.

I do however like the Ecoboost concept. I see it as a big company way of committing to turbocharging without using the term. It will keep conservative types from feeling like they've been sold a performance engine. Ford is positioning their Ecoboost engines as efficient, which they are. Volvo and Saab have been quietly using dinky motors on boost for decades. Ford used to own Volvo (do they still?).
There are no really new ideas. There are just ideas.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Ford has stated that 90% of their fleet will be ecoboost by 2013. (no mention if this is 90% of vehicle models or 90% of vehicles sold) Either way, you can bet that a fair number of the trucks will also be ecoboost. That said, I'm fairly sure they have figured out how to save the turbo for towing applications. (lower boost mode/wastegate spring pressure only, running the timing on the edge to keep EGT's down, etc...)

American manufacturers have long lagged behind in horsepower/liter, hopefully this is an attempt to catch up.

 

[TerryMSU]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

No way can an Escape safely tow 3500lb, regardless of engine.

Consumer Reports does not agree with you. They have test results with a 2009 V-6 pulling a 3500 pound trailer and say "yes" with the V-6. MSN lists it with a 3500 pound towing as long as you have the V-6. Apparently Ford disagrees with you. As long as the trailer has good brakes, I think the vehicle can handle it SAFELY. You might have a point if you say the vehicle can't do it reliably or long term, but that is a different question.

TerryMSU

 

[JB]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Disagreeing with me doesn't make them correct. It simply means they disagree. I stand by my "safely" qualification.

 

[pmat1]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Ecoboost looks like a good engine... but you wont catch me driving one, the idea of electronic throttle control scares me

 

[H20Rat]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Ecoboost looks like a good engine... but you wont catch me driving one, the idea of electronic throttle control scares me

won't be too many more years before that is all there is available. I know quite a few full size truck models are using it now also.

Personally I've had far more problems related to cable throttles than drive by wire. Cables can jump off or get hung up, especially when you have two cables, one for throttle, one for cruise.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

won't be too many more years before that is all there is available. I know quite a few full size truck models are using it now also.

You will be surprised at how many Big Riggs that are on the highways that are remote throttle control or drive by wire technology. If you are concerned about this technology, you should be frieghtened everytime you get around a semi truck...

 

[pmat1]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Personally I've had far more problems related to cable throttles than drive by wire. Cables can jump off or get hung up, especially when you have two cables, one for throttle, one for cruise.

i still perfer the idea of a mechanical, direct connection. another scary thought.. drive by wire brakes and transmissions.

 

[Charlie in TX]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

i still perfer the idea of a mechanical, direct connection. another scary thought.. drive by wire brakes and transmissions.

GM started using throttle by wire in '03 on trucks. All hybrids use brake by wire for regen braking. The future is here my friend, you should be very scared.

 

[180shabah]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

What is so scary about electronic throttle control?, Been around for years on vehicles, even longer in aircraft. It is more reliable than a mechanical throttle with IAC.

 

[mrdancer]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

I'd love to have more "drive-by-wire" available on outboards - think of the possibilities of easily having multiple helm positions (indoor/outdoor), or even doing basic operations via remote - great for fishing, trolling, etc.!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: EcoBoost 4 cylinder potential?

Wow -- if you are afraid of a car or truck with "fly by wire" technology, you had better never set foot on an airplane. There are no direct connections to anything on an Airbus. Short wheel base and trailer towing do not go well together. One might argue that look at a semi tractor vs its trailer length. But that is not a valid arguement since the fifth wheel is ahead of the axle and presents a very different dynamic. While an Escape may be able to tow the advertized weight, handling that weight in an evasive action would be a real handful.