Most auto fans know about Ford's attempts to showcase the power and durability of its EcoBoost engine by submitting the new 2011 Ford F-150 to various torture tests. In a crowning move, the company will tear down the engine at the upcoming North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit to show everyone that it's still in good shape after some 257,000 kilometres, which amounts to 10 years of rugged use or a distance equal to six times around the earth and three quarters of the way to the moon.
Specifically, the truck hauled 55 tons of lumber, ran at full throttle for 24 straight hours towing 11,300 pounds, beat the competition's larger engines in an uphill towing challenge and completed the 1,707-km long SCORE Tecate Baja 1000 in the desert of Mexico.
Following these intense tests, the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine was removed from the F-150 and shipped to Dearborn, MI to assess the ''damage'.' Remarkably, Ford claims that the engine was still able to produce 420 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm and 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel – the same numbers promised to new F-150 buyers. Cylinder compression (a measure of how efficiently the engine makes power) and leakdown (measures pressure lost due to worn piston rings or defects in the valvetrain) both were still in specification, with no signs of oil or fluid leak.
''Customers will be able to see for themselves how the components fared during a regime of tests that, when taken together, are far more extreme than even the harshest-use customer could dish out,'' said Jim Mazuchowski, V6 engines programs manager. ''This EcoBoost truck engine received no special treatment, and now we’re going to see how it did.''
Admittedly, that's one creative idea by Ford to promote the attributes that really matter to truck owners, namely power, reliability and durability. The company took a huge risk, but in this bold marketing coup, the gamble will likely pay off big.
Go to http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/experiencef150 to see firsthand how the EcoBoost truck engine performed in each of the torture tests.
Specifically, the truck hauled 55 tons of lumber, ran at full throttle for 24 straight hours towing 11,300 pounds, beat the competition's larger engines in an uphill towing challenge and completed the 1,707-km long SCORE Tecate Baja 1000 in the desert of Mexico.
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| Photo: Ford |
Following these intense tests, the 3.5-litre EcoBoost engine was removed from the F-150 and shipped to Dearborn, MI to assess the ''damage'.' Remarkably, Ford claims that the engine was still able to produce 420 lb-ft of torque at 2,500 rpm and 365 horsepower at 5,000 rpm on regular fuel – the same numbers promised to new F-150 buyers. Cylinder compression (a measure of how efficiently the engine makes power) and leakdown (measures pressure lost due to worn piston rings or defects in the valvetrain) both were still in specification, with no signs of oil or fluid leak.
''Customers will be able to see for themselves how the components fared during a regime of tests that, when taken together, are far more extreme than even the harshest-use customer could dish out,'' said Jim Mazuchowski, V6 engines programs manager. ''This EcoBoost truck engine received no special treatment, and now we’re going to see how it did.''
Admittedly, that's one creative idea by Ford to promote the attributes that really matter to truck owners, namely power, reliability and durability. The company took a huge risk, but in this bold marketing coup, the gamble will likely pay off big.
Go to http://www.ford.com/trucks/f150/experiencef150 to see firsthand how the EcoBoost truck engine performed in each of the torture tests.