From Dyno to Baja, Ford Seeks to Prove its New EcoBoost V-6 is Durable

[Jake Y.]

Oh I doubt it. And I doubt Ford would release that sort of info anyway.

But that's why they're doing this. Its clear Ford understands that "development" miles does not equal real life miles. This truck should be really interesting to follow during the race.

Amen, i hope that you didnt take my previous comment as skepticism, just discussion. I think it will be interesting to see what happens, and i applaud ford for having the wherewithal to attempt it.

 

[BigJ]

You bet Jake. We agree totally!

 

[MagicMtnDan]

The EcoBoost V6 (3.5L) is rated at 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque, with 90 percent of that torque available from 1700 – 5000 rpm.

Simple calculation of the EcoBoost V6 3.5L putting out 365HP and 420lb-ft of torque means this motor is pumping out 104HP and 120lb-ft of torque per liter! Any motor making over 100HP per liter is pretty impressive and to use one in a truck is very impressive.

If Ford was to make an EcoBoost V8 that is "only" 5.4L, using the above HP and TQ per liter numbers (which may not be achievable as the engines are scaled up), it calculates to 560 HP and 648lb-ft of Torque! And a 6.2L EcoBoost calculates to 644HP and 744lb-ft of torque.

What this EcoBoost motor and these numbers tell me is that the EcoBoost could be the next non-diesel truck motor for Ford. And with the kind of numbers a V8 EcoBoost could be capable of, such an engine could be used in the F-250, F-350 and the 450, 550 and 650 trucks too.

Usable power and much better economy is a very good thing for Ford and this motor looks to be the way forward. Seems to me that Ford's use of the EcoBoost in the F-150 is the test bed for these larger truck applications.

 

[frogslinger]

I gotta put a proviso on that 100HP per litre thing... I only apply that to NA motors... of course that tells you how much engines have improved: the standard used to be 1 hp per ci... or 61Hp per liter...

That said you get a diminishing returns as you increase displacement... you would get wicked HP and TQ out of an ecoboost 5.4 but production cost would go through the roof, and the point of ecoboost is to get v8 power with v6 gas mileage... with an ecoboost small block you end up with big block power with small block gas mileage... not really what the OEs are looking for... besides you wold have to lots of expensive upgrades to the drivetrain to get acceptable overengineering into the system.

 

[Xjrguy]

I gotta put a proviso on that 100HP per litre thing... I only apply that to NA motors... of course that tells you how much engines have improved: the standard used to be 1 hp per ci... or 61Hp per liter...

That said you get a diminishing returns as you increase displacement... you would get wicked HP and TQ out of an ecoboost 5.4 but production cost would go through the roof, and the point of ecoboost is to get v8 power with v6 gas mileage... with an ecoboost small block you end up with big block power with small block gas mileage... not really what the OEs are looking for... besides you wold have to lots of expensive upgrades to the drivetrain to get acceptable overengineering into the system.

Agreed. There are a lot of forced induction engines that meet or eclipse that "standard" and in today's market it's no big deal.

Hell, Honda gets 247 horsepower out of a naturally aspirated 2L FOUR CYLINDER!!

Volvo has had a pretty kick ass and bulletproof I-5 that has been single Turbocharged for the past 12 years that has produced over 100HP/liter.

While the Ecoboost appears to have impressive specs and hopefully just as impressive durability, it's power numbers aren't revolutionary.

 

[MagicMtnDan]

Agreed. There are a lot of forced induction engines that meet or eclipse that "standard" and in today's market it's no big deal.

Hell, Honda gets 247 horsepower out of a naturally aspirated 2L FOUR CYLINDER!!

Volvo has had a pretty kick ass and bulletproof I-5 that has been single Turbocharged for the past 12 years that has produced over 100HP/liter.

While the Ecoboost appears to have impressive specs and hopefully just as impressive durability, it's power numbers aren't revolutionary.

Those are CARS and this is a TRUCK motor - that's what makes it "revolutionary" and that's what makes it interesting.

I still think an EcoBoost V8 is a possiblility for the larger trucks.