I'm still window shopping modern Ford Broncos. What are the hive's thoughts on engine choice?
Per Wikipedia:
The standard engine is a 2.3-liter turbocharged EcoBoost inline-four that makes 300 hp and 325 lb⋅ft of torque. A 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged EcoBoost V6 is optional; the larger variant makes 330 hp and 415 lb⋅ft of torque
I've read a lot of stuff saying that Ford 2.7L is the best engine that Ford currently builds, and there's been a lot of guys on here with favorable experiences
The 2.3T feels pretty underwhelming in our Bronco rental. Seems like the extra 100 ft-lbs would make the truck more tolerable.
In reply to AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) :
The 2.3 Ecoboost was completely underwhelming in the Mustang that I sampled until I went all "berk you Jobu, I do this myself" and manually shifted the automatic a couple RPM higher.
I don't know what's in the water at Ford powertrain where they want to use ten gears to keep the engine under 1500 no matter what you ask of it, but it's really not helping for a good experience.
Oddly enough, it seemed a much better experience in the longitudinal Explorer when letting the trans shift for itself.
AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:The 2.3T feels pretty underwhelming in our Bronco rental. Seems like the extra 100 ft-lbs would make the truck more tolerable.
Friend of mine has a 4 door Bronco with the 2.3T, and I agree, the power is 'adequate'.
In reply to NickD :
The 7.3 gasser is the best motor ford makes right now.
grover said:In reply to NickD :
The 7.3 gasser is the best motor ford makes right now.
That's because its just a scaled-up LS motor. Seriously, there are so many design cues that are literally "LS but bigger", and performance cam/lifter kits for the 7.3L even use LS lifters because the diameter, height and oiling grooves are all the same
My MIL has the Explorer with the 2.3T. When I drove it a couple summers ago I was so close to telling her to bring it to the dealer it shifted that poorly. Underwhelming indeed. Her previous Explorer with the N/A V6 drove better.
In reply to NickD :
I cannot comment knowledgeably on that, but it does make me wonder why GM didn’t do something similar rather than the 6.2 drama- given that was a crank metallurgy issue.
Puddy46 said:AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:The 2.3T feels pretty underwhelming in our Bronco rental. Seems like the extra 100 ft-lbs would make the truck more tolerable.
Friend of mine has a 4 door Bronco with the 2.3T, and I agree, the power is 'adequate'.
So the 2.7TT is the way to go!
I don't have much experience with the 2.3. My current DD (besides my E90) is a Fusion Sport, which has the 2.7. It's the second time I've had a Sport and I absolutely love the engine. Very little lag, great torque and pulls hard right up to nearly redline. I had my first one tuned and it went from 325hp and 380tq to about 400hp and 500tq. It was an absolute beast!!
I had a 2.7tt in my last work truck. It might be my favorite engine ever. I liked it way better than the 3.5tt I have in my current truck. The 2.7 is so eager to please. Torque where I want it revs when I want them. It's just so good! That truck is still around at my work with around 125k and not a single problem. Still pulls like day 1 and puts a smile on my face whenever I mash the go pedal.
I'd like to point out that it's a weird timeline when the bigger full-size truck engine is still only a 2.7L I4.
brandonsmash said:I'd like to point out that it's a weird timeline when the bigger full-size truck engine is still only a 2.7L I4.
That is the GM 2.7. The FoMoCo 2.7 is a V-6.
I've read up on the 2.7L and it seems like quite a good engine, strong enough, powerful enough, and efficient enough for most jobs. Something else to consider since you're looking at the Bronco is Ford Racing sells a factory backed tune that really wakes up the 2.3L, and as I just found they offer some extra power for the 2.7L as well.
2.3L I4 Stock: 300 hp, 325 lb-ft
2.3L I4 Ford Racing: 330 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 385 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
2.7L V6 Stock: 330 hp and 415 lb
2.7L V6 Ford Racing: 355 hp @ 5,500 rpm, 433 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm
In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :
I stand corrected, though it's still astonishing that the "big" engine is, well, 2.7 liters.
grover said:The 7.3 gasser is the best motor ford makes right now.
I think you spelled 6.7 powerstroke wrong. :)
The 2.3 sounds way better than the 2.7.
I still am disgusted by the sound of fords turbo-6 engines. Awful. Sour and wheezy at idle, and wet farts in a tin bucket at speed. Even the hotter raptor and GT variants sound like a dogs ass.
I remember there being some early teething issues with the 2.7 Broncos that the 4cyl seemed to avoid. Cam Phasers? Bad Valves? I don't remember details.
Seems like most of the Bronco people on the internet are now happy with their 2.7s, but there aren't a ton with high miles yet. It's pretty easy to be happy with an engine that has 25k miles on it.
grover said:In reply to NickD :
The 7.3 gasser is the best motor ford makes right now.
Aside from the lifter camshaft issue that took them out in single digit thousands of miles. Sure yeah it’s great. I’m just being silly. It’s a great engine but those teething issues were berkeleying wild.
karplus2 said:I had a 2.7tt in my last work truck. It might be my favorite engine ever. I liked it way better than the 3.5tt I have in my current truck. The 2.7 is so eager to please. Torque where I want it revs when I want them. It's just so good! That truck is still around at my work with around 125k and not a single problem. Still pulls like day 1 and puts a smile on my face whenever I mash the go pedal.
I have. A 2..7 and I generally agree with you. . The 3.5 seems “lazy” compared to the 2.7. The 2.7 will run out of steam higher up the rev range. But man she goes. Towed 7klbs travel trailer all over the black hills and up to our campground at 5kft elevation. Not bad for a low spec highway gear truck.
once my kids leave the house I’ll get a ranger with the 2.7, lift it a little and explore some light offirad. Go camping, fishing and mountain biking. https://minnesotaadventuretrails.com
brandonsmash said:In reply to secretariata (Forum Supporter) :
I stand corrected, though it's still astonishing that the "big" engine is, well, 2.7 liters.
Wild time we live in man. But think about this. The last versions of the 460 in the f250 had 245ish hp and just about 400ft lb of torque. This little mouse engine destroys that old lump.
Fueled by Caffeine said:karplus2 said:I had a 2.7tt in my last work truck. It might be my favorite engine ever. I liked it way better than the 3.5tt I have in my current truck. The 2.7 is so eager to please. Torque where I want it revs when I want them. It's just so good! That truck is still around at my work with around 125k and not a single problem. Still pulls like day 1 and puts a smile on my face whenever I mash the go pedal.
I have. A 2..7 and I generally agree with you. . The 3.5 seems “lazy” compared to the 2.7. The 2.7 will run out of steam higher up the rev range. But man she goes. Towed 7klbs travel trailer all over the black hills and up to our campground at 5kft elevation. Not bad for a low spec highway gear truck.
once my kids leave the house I’ll get a ranger with the 2.7, lift it a little and explore some light offirad. Go camping, fishing and mountain biking. https://minnesotaadventuretrails.com
Funny you mention the Ranger. The thread started by @Loweguy5 (Lightning out, Ranger in) has me thinking about those too.
Puddy46 said:AngryCorvair (Forum Supporter) said:The 2.3T feels pretty underwhelming in our Bronco rental. Seems like the extra 100 ft-lbs would make the truck more tolerable.
Friend of mine has a 4 door Bronco with the 2.3T, and I agree, the power is 'adequate'.
If it really feels that underwhelming, it's possible that the pair is similar to the 1.5/2.0 pair in the Escape- which the smaller engine is adequate. But in our experience, the 2.0l got considerably better real world gas mileage- particularly on the highway. So I'd lean to the 2.7, too.
NickD said:grover said:In reply to NickD :
The 7.3 gasser is the best motor ford makes right now.
That's because its just a scaled-up LS motor. Seriously, there are so many design cues that are literally "LS but bigger", and performance cam/lifter kits for the 7.3L even use LS lifters because the diameter, height and oiling grooves are all the same
Harley-Davidson's Milwaukee 8 engines use those same Delphi lifters.
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