Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Engine Problems & Reliability!
August 12, 2023Are you interested in purchasing a Ford with the 2.7 EcoBoost engine and want to learn more about the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems?
If this is the case, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover on this topic.
Doing your own research is always a good idea, you just don’t want to purchase an unreliable engine that will be a pain to deal with. This purchase will not only drain your wallet but also your nerves. You need a properly working vehicle and not a truck that spends more time at the shop rather than working.
So, what are we going to cover for today? First, we are going to learn the basic specs of the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine and learn more about the numbers this engine is pushing. Then, we are going to cover the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems and learn more about what troubles this engine.
Lastly, we are going to learn more about the overall reliability of this engine and answer some frequently asked questions. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the topic.
Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Specifications
In 2015 Ford released the 2.7 V6 engine, this engine is a part of the EcoBoost family of engines by Ford. For those who don’t know, the EcoBoost is a new turbocharged family of engines that is produced by Ford. These are modern engines that include the latest technologies when it comes to internal combustion engines.
What is important to note about the 2.7L engine is that this engine is also known under the nickname Nano and is produced at the Lima Engine Plant in Ohio.
Nevertheless, the 2.7L features a V6 layout and incorporates a compacted graphite iron block. More specifically in the upper cylinder section of the block. While the lower section is made from aluminum.
This makes this engine very lightweight and also extremely durable. And not only that, this engine is also very efficient. There is a direct injection system and turbocharging, which are two technologies that allow this engine to squeeze every atom from the gas that you put in.
Also, it is worth noting that there are two generations of this engine. The second generation was introduced in 2018 and this engine features a lot of upgrades. More specifically, dual fuel injection combines direct and port injection, as well as a new EGR valve.
There are other small improvements that increase efficiency and allow this engine to produce more power. It has about 25 lb-ft of torque compared to the previous engine.
But what about the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems? More on the problems, we will cover in a bit, let’s first learn the full specs of the 2.7 EcoBoost.
- Engine Configuration: V6
- Displacement: 2.7L
- Cylinder Bore: 83 mm
- Piston Stroke: 83 mm
- Block Material: Compacted Graphite Iron + Aluminum On The Bottom End
- Head Material: Aluminum
- Head Design: DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
- Fuel Injection: Direct Injection, since 2018, direct + port injection
- Variable Valve Timing: Yes
- Turbocharger: Yes
- Compression: 10.3:1
- Horsepower: 315 – 325 Horsepower
- Torque: 375 – 415 lb-ft (508 – 563 N-m )
Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Applications
Now that we covered the specs before we dive into the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems, we can cover the applications of this 2.7 engine and see what models include the 2.7.
Generation 1 – 2015 – 2017
- 2015 – 2017 Ford F-150
- 2019 – Ford Edge ST
- 2017 – 2019 Ford Fusion Sport
- 2016 – 2018 Lincoln MKX
- 2017 – 2020 Lincoln Continental
- 2019 – Lincoln Nautilus
Generation 2 – 2018 – Present
- 2018 – Present Ford F-150
- 2021 – Present Ford Bronco
- 2024 – Present Ford Ranger
Common Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Engine Problems
Now let’s list the common Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems.
- Spark Plug & Coil Failure
- Carbon Deposits
- Can Drop A Valve
- Turbocharger Failures
- Injector Failure
- Oil Consumption
- Oil Leaks
- Coolant Leaks
We listed the common Ford 2.7 engine problems, now let’s move on and further elaborate on them in detail. Why do we need to?
Well, you need to learn more about the circumstances when and how these problems occur in order to learn how to detect them and sort them out and possibly avoid them if you want to buy a used vehicle. So, without further ado, let’s dive into the problems and elaborate in detail.
1. Spark Plug & Coil Failure
The first problem on our list is the problem with the spark plugs and coils. These ignition components tend to fail more often on these engines. But why is this the case?
Well, this is the case because this engine is using direct injection. Direct injection is much more demanding when it comes to the ignition components and it can drain the lifespan of both spark plugs and coils.
And also, these coils tend to fail in many Ford engines, they simply do not last for a very long time and have to be replaced.
Common symptoms associated with spark plugs and coils include check engine light, engine misfires, rough engine idle, poor performance, and poor fuel economy.
Luckily replacing these components is not that difficult and can be done rather quickly.
Now let’s move on to the next Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems.
2. Carbon Deposits
Carbon deposits are also very common in these 2.7 Ford engines. So, what are carbon deposits, and why do they appear?
Carbon deposits are black deposits that appear on the intake ports of the engine. For those who don’t know, the intake ports are the ports where the intake valves are located.
These ports are then filled with carbon deposits, especially around the valve stems. These carbon deposits stick to the stems and basically prevent the valves from functioning properly.
The solution to this problem is to clean the valves with a method known as walnut blasting. There are also some chemical methods that also remove carbon.
But considering the fact that this carbon is very tough, it is a nightmare to remove without any of these proven methods that work.
What is good though, is that engines produced since 2018 implement direct + port injection. This means that the port injection washes out the carbon deposits on the intake port and the intake ports are nice and clean.
On these engines, you don’t have to do walnut blasting or some other methods for carbon cleaning.
3. Can Drop A Valve
Another very serious problem with the Ford 2.7 engine is the situation where this engine can drop a valve.
There are a couple of reports on the Ford Bronco that their engine has dropped a valve into the cylinder and catastrophic engine damage occurred.
Why is this happening we really don’t know, possibly the valve retainer has failed and the valve simply fell off into the cylinder. Or according to some people, the valves were not properly heat treated and they failed prematurely.
What is interesting though is that this problem happened only in the Bronco from 2021 and 2022.
And luckily, this problem is covered by the warranty. All of the owners who experienced this problem got their engines replaced by Ford.
Now let’s continue with the next Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems.
4. Turbocharger Failures
Turbocharger failures were also noted on this engine. So, what is a turbo, and what does it do?
A turbocharger is a special turbine that adds a boost to the engine and helps the 2.7 to create power.
So, this component has a lifespan that is much shorter than the lifespan of the engine. These turbochargers can fail relatively low, sometimes even below 100,000 miles.
This is why it is needed for you to inspect the engine that you want to buy really well and make sure that the turbo is making power.
Other symptoms of a bad turbo include oil leaks from the turbo, whistling noises, and low boost or no boost.
What is good though is that there are a ton of turbo shops that rebuild these turbines for a good price. You can also get a new one if yours has failed. A new unit is around $1,650.
There are also some aftermarket turbos that allow you to tune your engine and produce serious power. Those are one of the benefits of this engine, it is heavily supported by the aftermarket and is a really good engine for enthusiasts.
5. Injector Failure
Fuel injectors can also fail on these engines and cause problems. And we are not talking here about the port injectors.
Port injection is far less prone to failure compared to direct injection. These injectors that are used for the direct injection system are far more sensitive to bad fuel.
On top of that, they are also prone to failure at some point. Especially after 100,000 miles. This problem is by design. Direct injection is much more demanding and strains these components a lot more.
So, whenever they fail, you will have to replace them with new ones.
Also, there was an issue with the fuel injectors where the owners got a check engine light and different misfire codes. This problem affected 2018 models.
There is a service bulletin issued by the NHTSA on this problem and more about this you can check in the following link.
6. Oil Consumption
Oil consumption was also noted on some of the 2.7 engines. But not on all engines. There was also a service bulletin for this problem as well.
The bulletin says that models between 2015 and 2017 are the ones that were affected. These are built between 1 April 1, 2016, and 1 January 2017.
On these engines, there can be issues with check engine light, rough idle, white or blue smoke, and most importantly, oil consumption.
Reportedly if the engine has this issue, it has to be replaced. For more information about this problem, you can check out this post where the bulletin is shared.
Now let’s continue with the next Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems.
7. Oil Leaks
Oil leaks are also common on the first generation of the 2.7 EcoBoost engine. This is the case because these older engines are using plastic oil pans.
They tend to leak a lot of oil from the RTV seal, so what Ford did was replace these oil pans with updated ones that are more durable.
8. Coolant Leaks
Coolant leaks are also common on these engines. They tend to leak externally and internally.
Internally, they can leak from the head gasket and externally they can leak from a lot of different places. Specifically the coolant hoses, radiator, and water pump.
This is why it is often recommended that you inspect the cooling system for possible leaks before you buy.
Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Reliability
We discussed the common Ford 2.7 EcoBoost problems, now let’s take a look at the reliability of this engine. Is this engine reliable or not?
Well, older first-generation engines tend to be more unreliable than new engines. These engines were produced between 2015 and 2017.
They tend to leak oil, have problems with carbon buildup, and have overall poor reliability.
That’s why we advise that you go for an engine that is produced starting from 2018 onward, the newer the better. Especially if you can get an engine with a warranty. This way you will have some sort of security.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered quite a lot when it comes to the 2.7 EcoBoost engine. First, we learned more about the specs of the 2.7L engine and learned the applications where you can find this engine.
In the second part, we focused on the Ford 2.7 EcoBoost engine problems and discussed them in detail. Lastly, we gave this engine a reliability score. So, is this engine any good?
Yes, this engine is pretty good, especially engines that are made after 2018, we advise that you go for a second-generation engine to avoid some of the problems with the previous engine.
FAQ
What Are The Common Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Engine Problems?
Common problems with this engine include oil leaks coming from the oil pan on early Gen 1 engines, also carbon deposits on Gen 1 engines, there are also problems with coolant loss, spark plug and coil failure, and oil consumption in some engines.
Is This 2.7 EcoBoost Engine Reliable?
Yes, this engine is pretty reliable. But we would advise that you go for the newest and most low mileage engine that you can get. Especially an engine that has a warranty, this way, you will be pretty safe from different problems that can arise.
