Ford Ecoboost Engine – Working, Famous Types, Problems, and Future

EcoBoost denotes Ford’s series of turbocharged, direct-injection petrol motors planned to furnish more horsepower and torque while also providing greater fuel economy. This powerhouse propels a broad assortment of cars, pickups, and SUVs. The Ford EcoBoost engine line spans three, four, and six-cylinder implementations, both in a straight line and V designs, with ranges running from 1.0 to 3.5 liters.

The Ford EcoBoost engine family had its inaugural appearance in 2010. Even though little turbocharged motors with direct injection are currently extremely ubiquitous in all categories, Ford was a pioneer at the time. The Blue Oval fabricates its different units at diverse locations around the world.

During stricter environmental regulations, turbo engines hold significant value for car manufacturers. In the past, forced induction was primarily associated with diesel engines and high-performance automobiles. However, today it facilitates smaller engine displacement in every vehicle category, reducing emissions.

What is the Functioning Principle of Ford EcoBoost Engines?

EcoBoost engines yield impressive power and efficiency statistics owing to their turbocharging and direct injection technologies. Turbocharging enables the engine to receive more air than it otherwise would, enhancing power output without increasing engine size. Direct injection eliminates the intake manifold segment of the fuel injection activity, thus boosting fuel efficiency.

EcoBoost powerplants employ three mechanisms to provide motorists with an optimal driving experience. Utilizing direct infusion and variable camshaft timing enables the engine to achieve maximum fuel economy. Incorporating a turbocharger imparts proficient acceleration and horsepower to the motor.

Turbocharging

Forced-induction devices vary in design between turbochargers and superchargers, but both supply a power boost to the engine. A greater volume of air is pressurized into the cylinders by harnessing exhaust gases to drive a turbine, resulting in greater power output, particularly in the middle of the RPM spectrum. It enables rapid acceleration when required. Nevertheless, while operating at low RPM, the engine experiences negligible or nonexistent forced induction. At that point, the engine doesn’t require more power and can operate efficiently.

Direct Injection

Direct injection is a primary fuel injection style employed in the present era. Another typical procedure lies in port injection. Port injection showers fuel into the intake ports, blending with air before accessing the cylinders. On the contrary, direct injection releases fuel straight into the combustion chamber, causing a more effective combustion process, thus economizing fuel. Nonetheless, direct injection has a drawback in that it could create carbon deposits.

Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT)

Ford truly innovated with adaptable camshaft timing. By altering the camshaft’s operation at any given moment, the engine can be enhanced for varying circumstances. The cylinders’ intake and exhaust valves open or close to adjust the volume of air entering or exiting. Regulating the timing in this manner enables greater torque when necessary and decreases fuel consumption during lighter loads. In essence, it provides more power or increased efficiency based on driver demand and other factors. The outcome is akin to variable valve timing (VVT), albeit achieved through a distinct method. Ford dubs their adaptable cam timing system Ti-VCT.

Famous Types of Ford EcoBoost Engine

The Ford EcoBoost engine is the ultimate powerplant for your vehicle. Find out how it works and what are some common problems associated with it.

Ford 1.0L EcoBoost Fox Engine

The Fox is a 1.0 liter supercharged three-piston motor that propels small cars and multi-purpose vehicles, commonly called CUVs. Boasting a Dual Overhead Cam (DOHC) layout in a linear setting, the Ford Fox started performing its duties in 2012.

This Ford Ecoboost engine obtained noteworthy advancements in 2017. Although thermodynamically comparable to its precursor, it was wholly reorganized to incorporate a new cylinder deactivation mechanism for improved productivity. A double-mass flywheel and a vibration-alleviating clutch plate were likewise fitted to subdue motor sway when operating on two cylinders.

Presented in two distinct varieties with varied power ratings, the Ford 1.0L EcoBoost Fox motor was twice granted the International Engine of the Year award. It pumps life in the following cars:

• Ford Fiesta
• Ford Focus (European market)
• Ford EcoSport

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost Dragon Engine

This Dragon powerplant is a progression of the Ford Fox blueprint that became a Ford EcoBoost engine line member in 2014. Comparable to its siblings, the Ford 1.5 Ecoboost engine employs cylinder deactivation mechanics for top-notch effectiveness, as well as a fully aluminum architecture featuring an integrated exhaust manifold and low-resistance adjustable turbochargers. Furthermore, the powerplant unites both port fuel infusion and direct fuel infusion, yet again, for the objective of efficiency. The Dragon propels the ensuing automobiles:

• Ford Escape
• Ford Fiesta ST
• Ford Focus

Ford 1.5L EcoBoost I4 Engine

Unrelated to the EcoBoost Dragon design, it is a reduced edition of the Ford 1.6L EcoBoost I4 motor that joined the clan in 2014. Alongside the Ford EcoBoost 2.0L and Ford EcoBoost 2.3L, the EcoBoost I4 powertrains were crafted to supersede small-sized, naturally-aspirated V6 motors, providing corresponding power output but exhibiting significantly higher fuel economy.

The 1.5L’s reduced size is due to regulations for Chinese automobile taxes, which levy lower taxes on vehicles with engine capacities of 1.5L or less. While the majority of its parts are the same as the bigger 1.6L engine, the 1.5L EcoBoost has a unique technology, including an integrated exhaust manifold and a computer-operated water pump clutch. It drives the succeeding cars:

• Ford C-Max
• Ford Escape
• Ford Focus
• Ford Fusion
• Ford Mondeo

Ford Ecoboost Engine Problems

The Ford 1.5 Ecoboost encounters issues with the turbocharger and fuel injector that tends to obstruct coolant discharges and excessive warming. Nonetheless, the motor ought to be satisfactory as long as you vigilantly oversee its state and remain proactive in servicing.

Ford 2.7L EcoBoost Nano Engine

The Nano is a 2.7-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 motor that propels midsize and full-size automobiles, pickups, and SUVs. Boasting a double overhead cam (DOHC) blueprint in a V shape, it has been an element of the Ford EcoBoost engine lineup since 2015.

The Nano made its debut in 2015 F-150, initiating a new age of turbocharged motors at Ford. It also validated that a forced induction motor could drive a low-duty pickup while assisting Ford in satisfying its fuel efficiency and pollution discharge requisites.

During 2018, the motor underwent multiple modifications, including integrating port fuel injection, introducing a lighter camshaft to reduce weight, and implementing a more robust dual-chain camshaft drive mechanism. The powerplant also obtained a novel electrically actuated wastegate to better manage turbocharger pressure, an extreme-pressure exhaust gas recirculation method, and a variable-capacity oil pump to adjust oil flow and lower parasitic losses more efficiently.

The Nano propels the subsequent automobiles:

• Ford Edge
• Ford F-150
• Ford Fusion
• Lincoln Continental
• Lincoln MKX
• Lincoln Nautilus

Ford 3.0L EcoBoost Engine

In 2016, the Blue Oval introduced a V-shaped motor with twin turbochargers and a dual overhead cam (DOHC) system. The design heavily drew upon the EcoBoost 2.7L Nano but with alterations such as an increased cylinder bore of 85.3 mm from 83 mm. Moreover, the engine’s piston stroke was lengthened by 3.0 mm, resulting in a total stroke length of 86 mm. Ford also swapped out Nano’s compressed graphite iron block configuration with a cast aluminum build.

This motor initially experienced existence in the 2017 Lincoln Continental. Although it used to be restricted to Lincoln’s brand, the EcoBoost 3.0L motor gradually surfaced in Ford cars, like the Ford Explorer. It powers the following automobiles:

• Ford Explorer
• Lincoln Aviator
• Lincoln Continental
• Lincoln MKZ

Ford 3.5L EcoBoost Engine

This powerplant initially came to fruition in the 2010 Lincoln MKS and draws significantly from the Ford Duratec 35 V6. When employed for pickup truck purposes, such as the Ford F150 3.5 EcoBoost, the powerplant employs a duo of BorgWarner K03 turbochargers that can rotate up to 17,000 rpm while concurrently producing as much as 15 psi of boost.

For instance, horizontal implementations, such as in the Ford Taurus, employ a set of Garrett GT1549L turbochargers instead, yielding a topmost enhancement of 11 pounds per square inch. This adaptability renders the Ford 3.5L EcoBoost the most adaptable powerplant in the Ford array, granting it the ability to propel an extensive assortment of automotive varieties.

In the year 2015, this motor underwent a crucial overhaul through substantial mechanical modifications. Amid these changes included port gasoline infusion and electrically activated pressure-relieving valves for the turbochargers. The turbines were also redesigned, with reduced-weight wheels for heightened promptness and sharper blade angles to increase by 2.5 psi.

The mechanism’s camshaft propulsion structure equally altered from a solitary principal chain to a tougher dual-string configuration, with distinct strings steering each cylinder group. The compression proportion similarly advanced from 10.0:1 to 10.5:1 (Ford Raptor’s 3.5L EcoBoost High Output lingered at 10.0:1), while the engine’s variable camshaft (VCT) blueprint underwent modifications to enhance resilience. The Ford 3.5L EcoBoost motor propels the following automobiles:

• Ford Explorer
• Ford Expedition
• Ford Flex
• Ford F-150
• Ford GT
• Ford Police Interceptor Utility
• Ford Police Interceptor Sedan
• Ford Taurus
• Ford Transit
• Lincoln MKS
• Lincoln MKT
• Lincoln Navigator

Ford 3.5 Ecoboost problems

Although it stands as the largest Ford Ecoboost engine, some owners have conveyed the subsequent complications, notably regarding the initial 3.5 Ecoboost iteration.

• Intercooler Condensation. Expenditure for rectification: $500
• Timing Chain Wear. Expenditure for rectification: $2000
• Ignition Issues. Expenditure for rectification: $241-$284.
• Carbon Buildup. Expenditure for rectification: $400-600

Which Ford Models Have EcoBoost Engine?

All American Ford vehicles, barring the Transit Connect van and the wholly electric Mustang Mach-E, provide a choice of an EcoBoost motor. The equivalent is factual for Ford models worldwide, extending from Europe to India to the Philippines.

The chart underneath enumerates every distinct EcoBoost powerplant Ford has implemented internationally. Each one has sample models and an approximation of the average power output.

Ford EcoBoost Engines

Note: The range of power generation covers Lincoln automobiles. Nevertheless, it excludes low-volume cars from firms like Zenos or Dallara.

The Prospects of EcoBoost Motors

EcoBoost engines presently play a pivotal role at Ford. It remains incredibly accurate with the more rigorous European Stage 5 standards approved in 2016. They will not vanish anytime soon and will unquestionably discover usage in additional hybrid configurations in the future. The 2021 F-150 offer a PowerBoost hybrid choice, a relative of the EcoBoost family. As Ford transitions towards more electric vehicles, the technology supplied by the EcoBoost engines will become less significant. Although they shall be utilized in hybrid and PHEV models, the EcoBoost title might not be implemented in all-electric vehicles. A new production of the EcoBoost motor shall also be accessible with the upcoming S650 iteration of the Mustang.

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