2.3 EcoBoost The details you should Know

For longevity purposes, get an oil catch can so all the gunk oil is captured instead of sitting on the bottom

Great video.

2.3L is what I have on order--primarily for the manual transmission. My father is a retired Ford engineer, so I learned quite a bit from him, but he retired in '08 just before the EcoBoost era... so this turbo thing is uncharted waters for me. This and the 1.5L EcoBoost in my wife's 3-month old Escape will be my first two gasoline vehicles with factory turbos on them, so dealing with turbos and collection of timing chains will be a new experience for me.

Is the variable rate oil pump on the 2.7L a fuel economy thing? And is it mechanical or computer-driven? Trying to think of why you'd want a variable oil pump. Seems like if it stopped "varying" as intended you could have a very bad day.

Speed Devil

For longevity purposes, get an oil catch can so all the gunk oil is captured instead of sitting on the bottom

I agree the only thing I have to find out is does Ford allow it during the warranty.?

RagnarKon

Great video.

2.3L is what I have on order--primarily for the manual transmission. My father is a retired Ford engineer, so I learned quite a bit from him, but he retired in '08 just before the EcoBoost era... so this turbo thing is uncharted waters for me. This and the 1.5L EcoBoost in my wife's 3-month old Escape will be my first two gasoline vehicles with factory turbos on them, so dealing with turbos and timing chains will be a new experience for me.

Is the variable rate oil pump on the 2.7L a fuel economy thing? And is it mechanical or computer-driven? Trying to think of why you'd want a variable oil pump. Seems like if it stopped "varying" as intended you could have a very bad day.

It is to reduce parasitic losses. Or friction in the engine. The idea is it pumps less oil when less all is needed that’s cutting down on the friction that is created from excess oil around the pistons bearings etc.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the fact that it’s controlled electronically and if something in that controller malfunctions it could spell a bad day for the cam phasers and main bearings first and then rod bearings and cams next.

However after saying that, it is a great concept and it seems to be working well so far. I like the ingenuity that Ford puts into their engines. some think variable capacity pumps will become more of a standard in the future

Speed Devil

For longevity purposes, get an oil catch can so all the gunk oil is captured instead of sitting on the bottom

Sitting on the bottom of what?
That gunk would have ended up getting sucked into the intake and burned.
The reason people put in a catch-can is to prevent that oil from coking on the backs of the intake valves. But Ford says it’s not necessary, and I suspect they are right.

Bronco wild Outdoors

It is to reduce parasitic losses. Or friction in the engine. The idea is it pumps less oil when less all is needed that’s cutting down on the friction that is created from excess oil around the pistons bearings etc.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the fact that it’s controlled electronically and if something in that controller malfunctions it could spell a bad day for the cam phasers and main bearings first and then rod bearings and cams next.

However after saying that, it is a great concept and it seems to be working well so far. I like the ingenuity that Ford puts into their engines. some think variable capacity pumps will become more of a standard in the future

Huh, interesting. I mean I guess if it works, then great.

Anyhow... I'm excited about the 2.3L. Much more excited about the 2.3L than the 1.5L 3-cyl in my wife's Escape. Wasn't at all the engine I wanted for her Escape but in the current market it's difficult to get exactly what you want.

My only real hesitation about the 2.3L is the direct injection issue with keeping the intake manifold/valves clean, and the unknown of the chains. I assume over time those chains will stretch and they'll need to be replaced. And the intake values... I guess just be good about oil changes and air filter changes? Not sure what to do about that long term.

Bronco wild Outdoors

I agree the only thing I have to find out is does Ford allow it during the warranty.?

dont see why they wouldnt? Its not adding power.

*Age old advance is to ask the dealership, pose it as a hypothetical and see how they respond. My dealer back in the day was like if you tune your mustang, just uninstall the tune, remind us and you’re fine. Had to pay out of pocket when the intercooler was too close to the AC Condenser line , causing it to blow. They just rigmaroled it to all work, but never was like “You’re voided, now gtfo!!!”

3Dogs

Sitting on the bottom of what?
That gunk would have ended up getting sucked into the intake and burned.
The reason people put in a catch-can is to prevent that oil from coking on the backs of the intake valves. But Ford says it’s not necessary, and I suspect they are right.

Its a good insurance policy anyway, post 2 was 2k miles

RagnarKon

Bronco wild Outdoors

It is to reduce parasitic losses. Or friction in the engine. The idea is it pumps less oil when less all is needed that’s cutting down on the friction that is created from excess oil around the pistons bearings etc.
The only thing I don’t like about it is the fact that it’s controlled electronically and if something in that controller malfunctions it could spell a bad day for the cam phasers and main bearings first and then rod bearings and cams next.

However after saying that, it is a great concept and it seems to be working well so far. I like the ingenuity that Ford puts into their engines. some think variable capacity pumps will become more of a standard in the future

Huh, interesting. I mean I guess if it works, then great.

Anyhow... I'm excited about the 2.3L. Much more excited about the 2.3L than the 1.5L 3-cyl in my wife's Escape. Wasn't at all the engine I wanted for her Escape but in the current market it's difficult to get exactly what you want.

My only real hesitation about the 2.3L is the direct injection issue with keeping the intake manifold/valves clean, and the unknown of the chains. I assume over time those chains will stretch and they'll need to be replaced. And the intake values... I guess just be good about oil changes and air filter changes? Not sure what to do about that long term.

Yes and the timing chain has tensioners that keep the chain tight so the cam stay in time, by the time the tensioner bottoms out it should have quite a few miles on it and ready for a chain replacement

RagnarKon

Huh, interesting. I mean I guess if it works, then great.

Anyhow... I'm excited about the 2.3L. Much more excited about the 2.3L than the 1.5L 3-cyl in my wife's Escape. Wasn't at all the engine I wanted for her Escape but in the current market it's difficult to get exactly what you want.

My only real hesitation about the 2.3L is the direct injection issue with keeping the intake manifold/valves clean, and the unknown of the chains. I assume over time those chains will stretch and they'll need to be replaced. And the intake values... I guess just be good about oil changes and air filter changes? Not sure what to do about that long term.

Oil Catch Can, I talk about my experience with one

Speed Devil

Oil Catch Can, I talk about my experience with one

It's on the list once the warranty ends. I mean... realistically if I did need warranty service I could probably just remove the oil separator and reinstall factory hoses, but to @Bronco wild Outdoors point, don't want to give them any excuse not to uphold the warranty.

If there was a Ford Performance oil separator I would install it right away, but as far as I know they only make one for the Mustang.

EDIT: I just looked where the PCV valve connection was on the 2.3L and it's kind of a pain to get to, so yeah, probably waiting for warranty to end.

RagnarKon

It's on the list once the warranty ends. I mean... realistically if I did need warranty service I could probably just remove the oil separator and reinstall factory hoses, but to @Bronco wild Outdoors point, don't want to give them any excuse not to uphold the warranty.

If there was a Ford Performance oil separator I would install it right away, but as far as I know they only make one for the Mustang.

EDIT: I just looked where the PCV valve connection was on the 2.3L and it's kind of a pain to get to, so yeah, probably waiting for warranty to end.

Or you can ask how they’d hypothetically feel about such a mod, as every dealership is different. Its not like asking will getcha voided now.

if you said you’re gonna get a custom tune to go along with your cam upgrade, be different. This is just for longevity and preventive maintenance, its along the lines of a KN Filter and Catback.

Remember, this is a Bronco, not a Defender, they’re expecting you to mod this on some level. Real question is what crosses said line