5.0 or 3.5?

[blksn8k]

I debated between the F-150 Tremor and the Ranger Raptor. I went with the Tremor because of the availability of the 5.0L. Well, that and the fact that with the F-150 I could tow my 18 ft box trailer and with an actual car in it. I also plan to add a supercharger.

 

[BlackonBlack]

I e got a 5.0L and it’s got plenty of power. Sounds great. I drove both and I was surprised how much I liked the ecoboost but still went with the 5.0L. You will get better gas mileage with the ecoboost but I don’t buy a truck for good gas mileage.

 

[James Dean]

I went with a 3.5 I don't tow either. My 2013 FX4 had a 3.5 that I bought new and never had a problem with it so I went with another.

 

[DRJ]

3.5 is great, and has great potential. 5.0 is great, and has greater potential. That’s why I went with the Coyote.

 

[taxgod4u]

I out grew the need to have a loud look-at-me truck and enjoy the 3.5 sleeper mode. Loud does not always equal fast, but it does attract cops.

 

[pittman]

3.5 is great, and has great potential. 5.0 is great, and has greater potential. That’s why I went with the Coyote.

Albeit at a higher price.

 

[DRJ]

Albeit at a higher price.

True. Albeit, worth it in my opinion. If you truly enjoy high performance. Like I do.

I had the 3.5 in my 2018 F-150 screw before this truck. I loved it. But did not love the cold/sometimes luke warm start up rattle.

 

[DEEPDOWN]

True. Albeit, worth it in my opinion. If you truly enjoy high performance. Like I do.

I had the 3.5 in my 2018 F-150 screw before this truck. I loved it. But did not love the cold/sometimes luke warm start up rattle.

Do not experience that in my 22 Tremor

 

[pittman]

True. Albeit, worth it in my opinion. If you truly enjoy high performance. Like I do.

I had the 3.5 in my 2018 F-150 screw before this truck. I loved it. But did not love the cold/sometimes luke warm start up rattle.

I hear ya - if I went with the 5.0L I'd be supercharging it for sure!

 

[DRJ]

Do not experience that in my 22 Tremor

That’s good. I’m pretty sure the MY2021+ have a new cam phaser design. Which I had my 2018 3.5 replaced with under warranty. But traded it soon after for my tremor. I didn’t want to see if it would last. Lol. On top of that the Ford tech left a huge oil mess under that truck. They did look at it, and “cleaned” it up. But I was not happy about that.

 

[James Dean]

That’s good. I’m pretty sure the MY2021+ have a new cam phaser design. Which I had my 2018 3.5 replaced with under warranty. But traded it soon after for my tremor. I didn’t want to see if it would last. Lol. On top of that the Ford tech left a huge oil mess under that truck. They did look at it, and “cleaned” it up. But I was not happy about that.

I must have been very lucky with my 2013 3.5. Never a problem. I heard a lot of bad stories about the Cam phaser problem in the early 3.5's

 

[Tremblor]

Reading these comments, It seems to me that it all comes down to exhaust sound. The 2 options are very similar otherwise. If you're like me, who always has music playing, can't hear the exhaust or never pays attention to what other people's trucks/cars exhaust sound like, then I would go with the cheaper option.

 

[King Luis]

for me it came down to what is going to give me less trouble down the road when the truck is old. seeing how ford will warranty a 700hp supercharged stock motor means they are overbuilt. for their 400hp rating. gives me confidence that they will last and have a easy life. also the twin turbo setup with all the additional sensors, plumbing of air and oil just means of something to go wrong later on. the sound of the v8, the fact that the fuel economy isn't that bad and it can run 87 octane just shows it's a great choice. if i was hauling and using it as a work truck or selling it in a few years, then i'd just go the 3.5.

 

[CAMDENN]

This is a fallacy.

Please explain.

 

[CAMDENN]

There's actually more moving parts in the 5.0 and it has cylinder deactivation.

I had a 2018 3.5. My buddy had the 5.0. 3.5 is more powerful and the 5.0 just sounds good. I was going to buy a 5.0 but found a 3.5 2023 exactly how I'd build it (minus the V8) for a good deal so I bought it. 400hp/500ft lbs of torque is a rocket ship when you get onto it. It does seem to take a few moments to despool when you left off the gas after tapping full boost, say merging into traffic or passing someone but man is it fun to have diesel levels of low end torque, V8 power up top, and it's just quiet and does it's job when driving around town. I'd say you can't go wrong with either pick.

Two more pistons and connecting rods plus the valve train.
Cylinder deactivation is electronic not mechanical.

I’m pretty sure that the EB has more parts when you include everything related to the turbos and sensors.

 

[CAMDENN]

I e got a 5.0L and it’s got plenty of power. Sounds great. I drove both and I was surprised how much I liked the ecoboost but still went with the 5.0L. You will get better gas mileage with the ecoboost but I don’t buy a truck for good gas mileage.

As the saying goes with the EB.
You can have Economy or Boost but you definitely can’t have both at the same time.

 

[Rich in Texas]

I have the 5.0 with the Whipple. I had a tuned 3.5 in an FX4 before. There is no comparison

 

[JM150]

Nice thing with the 5.0 is that it’s flex fuel, and will extract more power on the factory tune from ethanol content of up to E40, or near 110 octane. Most dyno’s show the stock truck version of the 5.0 is throwing down 420 HP/430 Lb Ft on E-85, so if you want a “tune” it’s as easy as filling up with E-85 and not voiding any warranty. Livernois and 5-Star both stated on their stock baselines with no tune the 5.0 put down more than its 410 lb ft crank rating at the wheels. That means it’s making a whole lot more at the crankshaft.

 

[b-real]

Gotta love debate threads.

@Steve5472, whenever a question on preference gets asked (doesnt matter the topic, forum, place, etc.) everyone will always tell you why their choice is the only correct one (see any oil thread). In most cases and this one, either choice will be fine. Weigh the slight pros/cons of the 5.0 v 3.5 (in this case sound v power) and decide accordingly.

But at this point all we really want to know is what choice you made

 

[Steve5472]

Thanks for all the insight everyone I really appreciate it! I ended up getting the 5.0