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RE: First hand F150 hybrid experience anyone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXi55b3f7LU&t=90s
Terrible mpg's towing.
All of the towing tests that I have seen are designed in a way that avoids taking advantage of the hybrid capabilities but I believe that the way that I do most of my towing I would benefit. I was hoping to get some results from driving similar to mine.
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Groover
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06/09/22 01:02pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: thoughts on Ecoboost
Here is a great video on the EcoBoost.
The guy does a great job of talking about the good and the problems with this engine.
When this guy talks about this being a high performance engine he is a 100% correct. This engine needs to be thought of as pretty much a race engine. As mentioned, race engines need impeccable maintenance.
Another thing about this engine and engines like this. They don't have much duty cycle. That's why class 8 diesels have a big CID displacement in them. We can make big power with a little engine but when the weather turns hot and the mountains get steep you need that big mass to displace the heat the engine produces.
In short, if you are going to pound on this engine day in and day out up steep mountains in hot weather this engine is not for you IMHO.
If you are a weekend warrior and pull a trailer now and then in easy or moderate conditions this might be a great engine for you.
The 3.5 EcoBoost came out 11 years ago and there are a bunch of them on the road now but I rarely hear first hand complaints about its reliability. Timing chain stretch on 2014 and earlier seems to be a problem but I don't hear much about that anymore. I just had to have the timing chain replaced for the first time on a 2013 model with 144,000 miles on it and quite a few of those miles were pulling a loaded three horse trailer.
Unfortunately, the mechanic my daughter took it to for the timing chains turned out to be incompetent The truck still doesn't run right after 3 weeks of work. The guy even destroyed the running boards while he had the truck.
Yesterday he told us that it was in perfect running order and to take it home but it immediately started throwing a variety of error codes and the turbos don't work. We took it away from him and will take it somewhere else to try to get it straightened out. I am over 60 and that is by far the worst performance I have ever seen by a mechanic.
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Groover
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06/07/22 12:19pm |
Tow Vehicles
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First hand F150 hybrid experience anyone?
Surely someone in this group has purchased and towed with an F150 hybrid by now. If you are one of those people I would love to hear how you think that the hybrid impacts towing.
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Groover
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06/07/22 12:02pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: thoughts on Ecoboost
I have a 2019 Expedition MAX as a secondary tow vehicle for my 7000 pound boat.
Towed a very light 17’ fishing boat back from North Dakota a few weeks back. 75 mph with some wind and I was at 9 mpg. There really doesn’t seem to be a huge difference in MPG when towing regardless of weight.
That is what I have been telling people for a long time, weight only impacts fuel economy through rolling resistance and lost energy when braking. Rolling resistance is tiny compared with air drag at highway speeds. Braking losses due to increased weight are only important if you are using the brakes, which rarely happens on the highway. On most highways air drag is by far the dominant factor in the fuel economy equation. Fuel consumption rate in gallons/hr due to air drag goes up with the cube of your airspeed. That is basic physics.
Stop and go traffic is an entirely different story.
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Groover
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06/07/22 11:59am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: LT Tires
I had a Michelin LT235/85 R blow out with no warning in 1998. It was 7 years old at the time and I noticed that several others on the truck were developing blisters on the inner sidewalls. Looking at the tread and outsides the tires still appeared to be in great shape. I have wondered if engine heat made the insides of the tires run hotter and that lead to the blisters.
Around 2007 a friend convinced me that Kumho tires were good deals and I put them on several vehicles. I had two blowouts with LT 265/85 R tires on the pickup, and a tread separation on a LT225/75 R on a van. I had a very strange problem on a P series Kumho where the wire belting started coming out the side of the tire. I haven't run any more Kumho tires since then.
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Groover
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04/12/22 07:54am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Protection/Maintenance Packages
Any coatings that harden can have openings where not thoroughly applied or where damaged by road debris. Once those openings are there water can get in, get trapped and accelerate corrosion. Back when vinyl tops were popular I saw lots of rusted out roofs on cars. The same principals apply to the underside of cars as well.
Back in 1978 my father ordered a new Chrysler and paid extra to get it undercoated. After driving it home he looked under it and observed that it wasn't undercoated so he took it back to the dealer to get what he paid for. The service manager's response was "I thought that was standard equipment." To which my father responded "I have two complaints. First, I paid extra for a standard feature. Second, I still don't have it."
The responses that you get from dealers can be hilarious if you have the patience to put up with them.
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Groover
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04/12/22 07:38am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
Prices right now are heavily influenced by the supply vs demand issue. I recently read that 82% of new vehicle sales are priced over sticker in spite of factory price increases. In normal times I expect at least a 15% discount. Since Tesla sells at sticker price they go ahead and share the true price before you even leave home while the rest ambush you with it after you get to the dealership. If you prefer that go buy from those guys.
Even at the high prices and 60% output increase Tesla is still sold out for months to come. However, when they get caught up I expect to see some big reductions. That is called free market capitalism.
What is really going to get a lot of people screaming is the recent increase in the required average fuel economy just a few years out. I expect Tesla to be selling a bunch of carbon credits after that takes effect. I don't like it but that is the way our current management wants things to happen.
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Groover
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04/03/22 06:54am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
And some people believe everything they're told. :) An open mind is a wonderful thing, just don't have such an open mind your brains fall out. :)
I have to wonder how your brain would have handled ICE engines in their infancy, heavier than air aircraft, re-usable rockets or the development of electricity into a life essential. Developing new tech for commercial applications rarely goes as smoothly as the developer hopes. But then, if the developer wasn't optimistic he would just stick with the herd and keep relying on the tech that he was born with.
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Groover
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03/26/22 08:42am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
Just a reminder, trolls are every bit as obnoxious as fan boys. Especially when it is very obvious that they are going out of their way to annoy others about a subject that they really don't even have an interest in.
On a more related topic, there is an electric semi in production now. Nikola has started their production line.
Nikola is up and running
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Groover
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03/25/22 04:01pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
Meanwhile in Tennessee, GM has started building the Cadillac LYRIQ. In Detroit, GM continues to actually build the Hummer EV super Truck.
Nobody needs to just take drone pictures. The plant is done. Vehicles being delivered as announced.
No outrageous deposits for years. Just doing what they announced.
And on the vernal equinox, GM has shared more detail for the all electric Equinox. Real EVs, that will be built and sold as announced.So far everything out of GM has sold at low volume including the Volt and Bolt. I expect LYRIC and HUMMER to be similar.
GM still has not figured out an EV platform that actually sells at volume. Maybe the Equinox? Model Y already sells better than the ICE version. Good luck.
Tesla publicly stated goal is to make at least 1,500,000 vehicles in 2022, I expect it to be closer to 2 million. GM is to make 25,000 of the Lyric and to make 21,000 Hummers for a grand total of 46,000 EVs. I wish them success.
Tesla had a 30% profit margin in their products in 2021, It will be interesting to see what GM's margin is on their new products.
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Groover
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03/23/22 01:32pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Oil changes with synthetic
The bottom line is that oil will essentially last forever unless it gets contaminated or overheated. I sincerely doubt that he is overheating it. The main source of contamination is cold starts that allow more blowby of unburned fuel and exhaust gases which contain carbon and water. The problem is compounded if you don't get the engine hot enough to boil out the water. If the car sits in a garage without being driven the oil will last a very long time. Just watch the short trips and temperature cycling.
I have noticed that time spent on a dealer lot does not seem to count towards oil changes. At least that is what the dealer told me when I bought a truck that had been on the lot for 7 months.
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Groover
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03/22/22 08:02am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
I just saw an article about Home Depot adding 150 NEW distribution centers. I would bet that the vast majority of their runs could easily be made with battery powered trucks. Since chargers can be installed at both ends battery powered trucks could have less downtime than petroleum powered ones. I would like to know how many trucks Home Depot has making these runs but it sounds like they could put thousands of electric semi's to work.
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Groover
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03/21/22 08:21am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: US might have been wrong about Ethanol
Or maybe just a farm subsidy that created a lobby too big to stop.
The sooner more is transitioned to electric the better. ;)
One subsidy for another I guess.
EVs are mostly sold out right now without subsidies. The price of the Model Y has gone up $11,000 in the past year while the build cost has gone down so this is due solely to market demand vs supply. Even with the price increase the current lead time is 5 months. Why anybody thinks that EVs need subsidies is beyond me. Elon Mush has come out against subsidies too. I would love to get a rebate on mine but if I did I would chuckle at the stupidity of our government while I was cashing the check.
Two new factories are ramping up production of the Model Y right now and I have little doubt that when Tesla does catch up with demand they will reduce the price to spur demand rather than slow production.
Also, Tesla is rapidly expanding their charger base without government subsidies.
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Groover
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03/09/22 12:30pm |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: A "how to" for installing a brake control on Tesla Model Y
I bought my Model Y with the trailer tow hitch but my wife has forbidden me from using it so far. I will try to save this information in case she ever eases up on me.
My son's Model 3 pulls remarkably well. He has a utility trailer that runs in the slip stream of the car and I know that he has pulled over 3,000lbs with no issues and minimal effect on range. I love the way the Tesla all wheel drive works when pulling. Much smoother than the 4A setting on my F150.
Does the brake controller come on when using regen or does it wake for you to actually touch the brake pedal?
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Groover
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03/09/22 10:00am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: US might have been wrong about Ethanol
"Same with Farmers. Get up before dawn, work all day. Drive a $50,000 tractor, and of course, the corn then grows itself and farmers can give it away."
You haven't priced farm equipment lately. My "compact utility" tractor costs $50,000 and that doesn't include any implements. I have about $25,000 in implements and still have a long wish list. A tractor is only as good as the tools that it has to work with.
Real farm tractors start around $70,000 and can go way past $200,000. Combines even more. I see a used 3 year old Deere combine for $350,000 without implements. Figure another $200k for those. Those tools are just the basics. Lots of ancillary equipment needed beyond those.
Personally, I would love to see a lot of corn fields revert back to nature. That would probably be more beneficial for the environment than the ethanol ever has been.
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Groover
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03/09/22 09:48am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Tesla Semi truck unveil & test ride set for Oct 26th !
"If your groceries cost more blame your oil producers for creating fake news about oil shortage to justify raising fuel prices."
The price of oil going up is almost entirely due to politics. If you doubt that look at how much fuel costs in California vs the rest of the country and try to come up with a different explanation. However, we are not supposed to get political here so that is all that I am going to say on the subject.
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Groover
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02/26/22 09:14am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Drivetrain slipping?
I was delayed by weather and life in general but I finally got the plugs changed and took if for a test drive that included going up the same hills where it was acting up. That was running about 55mph in 3rd gear at max boost. Everything seems to be good.
I have watched the dash gage for transmission temperature before and never saw it increase from normal operating temperature. I suspect that may not be accurate but never got around to figuring out a better way to monitor it. I hope to work in dropping the transmission pan soon and replace the filter. If everything looks good I will stop with just cleaning it up and replacing that portion of the fluid.
Thanks for the help!
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Groover
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02/25/22 09:36am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: Drivetrain slipping?
I have checked for pending codes and found none then chalked the tires and found that they are not slipping. I was disappointed there as I am going to need new tires soon anyway.
The truck only has 55,000 miles on it but nearly half of that has been trailer towing so the plugs may well be nearing their end of life and the boots have seen a lot heat. I am going to follow the recommendations of new plugs and boots.
I am also going to check the transmission fluid. Even if it looks good I plan to change the filter and what is in the pan.
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Groover
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02/18/22 02:20pm |
Tow Vehicles
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Drivetrain slipping?
So yesterday I was headed out to a job pulling my equipment trailer which is pretty heavy and the route includes some hills with up to 7% grades. Going up one of those hills at medium RPM but near full boost the truck bumped like I had hit a small pot hole, but only once and I was going in a straight line so I should have hit with both tires if that was in fact the case. Then it bumped again and a few more times on the way out and the way home. It did this in both 3rd and 4th gears with RPMs ranging from 2500 to 3500rpm. The bump reminded me most of when the chain on my bicycle stretched out and would occasionally slip a tooth on the sprocket. No error messages so far so no clues there. This is a little premature to asking questions but I really don't want to run to failure and end up broken down with a heavy trailer on a 7% grade.
Has anyone had a problem like this before? What did you do to fix it?
My truck is a 2016 F150, 4WD, 3.5 Ecoboost with 6 speed transmission. It could the engine, transmission or transfer case, maybe even the rear axle.
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Groover
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02/17/22 11:11am |
Tow Vehicles
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RE: F150 w/ 3.5L POWERboost towing experiences?
I think that I have it figured out. You have to specify the 6 1/2ft bed, which I thought that I had this morning but apparently did not. When you do that the 3.73 axle ratio comes up with 4wd. Here is what my build looks like:
2022 Lariat PowerBoost with HDPP
2022 Ford towing guide:
2022 towing guide
If you look on page 13 you will find this wording:
"F-150 HEAVY-DUTY PAYLOAD PACKAGE
(OPTION CODE 627)
Increases GVWR to 7,850 lbs. on XL and XLT
LT275/65R18C OWL A/T tires
18" silver aluminum heavy-duty wheels
Upgraded springs
9.75" gear set with 3.73 electronic-locking
rear axle"
The towing guide for the hybrid is on page 22 and you can see that the 145" wheelbase (5.5ft bed) comes with 3.55 gears while the 157" wheelbase (6.5FT bed) come with 3.73 gears.
It is interesting that the info on page 13 only specifies the GVWR for XL and XLT models.
SUPERCREW®
Axle GCWR 4x2 4x4
Engine Ratio (lbs.) 145.4" WB 157.2" WB 145.4" WB 157.2" WB
3.5L Hybrid V61 3.55 16,700 11,000
16,800 11,100
18,4002 12,700 12,700
3.73 17,000 11,000 11,000
18,4002
12,400 12,400
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Groover
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02/04/22 02:53pm |
Tow Vehicles
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