3.5 eco boost 2017 transit variety

I dont know what a Quigly is, but I'd personally pass on the 3.5 Ecoboost. Is a naturally aspirated engine even an option on the van your looking for? Most of the turbos leak coolant thru their housings at 100k miles. Timing chain and camshaft "phaser" issues are VERY common. Cat converters fail at a good clip too, so that matters if your in a state with emission inspections. The truck above blew its internal turbo oil seals at 90k, only 5 years old. The folks who buy F150's, and trade out of them every 4-5 years LOVE the turbo motors, but I'm the guy who keeps a car forever, so I'd go the non-turbo route.

The last Ford truck I owned was a 1993, I've been a auto tech for 21 years. The pic was my customers vehicle, I dont know all the Ford model year changes, but they have had extensive updates over the years. 

I bought a ‘19:Transit at the onset of the COVID debacle…I was advised to get the std 3.7 V6 (a 2020 hold over that I got for a song and still have w/180K miles on it). 

As of late…say…post 2020/2021, the 3.5 Eco gets thumbs up from the Ford folks I work with.

If dependability is an issue, I’d get a later model with Ford’s OEM AWD system…and I AM NOT talking about a Transit Trial. I mean a regular T150-350 in a config that works for you that’s AWD. Between Bilstein, Fox and King…there a plenty of suspension options for lift/wheel travel. 

Spurdo, 

Quigley is an aftermarket company that converts/adds 4x4 option to vehicles that did not have it as a factory option! (They likely do other conversions as well but the 4x4 conversion is what I have actual experience with!) 

I am STILL driving my E350 that I bought new in 2006 and a guy I used to ride with bought the same van in 2008 & had the Quigley 4x4 option added and while it was robust & reliable addition, it destroyed the V-10’s already questionable fuel economy! When we would travel to MX races & events he would be lucky to get 6 mpg…yes SIX! He eventually sold that E350 and bought another 2008 but without the 4x4 option! 🤪

It is ALWAYS great to hear from guys like you that can offer valuable insight just like this when we Vi-tards need an expert opinion on something like this! 😎 👍❗️

I believe in 17 the 3.5 had cam phaser issues, I would stay away.  it's about a $5K repair.  You could ask of they have been replaced and if so make sure the dealer put the new design cam phaser in.  3.5s are typicall prett good engines if the oil is changed every 3,500-5k miles.  I got a 15 f150 and wife has a 2020 expedition,  both with 3.5s.  As with anything, maintenance matters.

I have a 13 F150 with the 3.5 and 119K miles.  Typical things I've had to have repaired/replaced are throttle body twice and vacuum pump once.  Cam phazers are a problem on the 17 and possibly 18 models.  My phazers make a  noise from time to time, but I have had mechanics tell me when they make that noise, to change the oil.  I've gone from changing oil when the light comes on to about every 4 to 5 K miles.  The truck is still in good condition and I can't afford a new one, so I will keep it and repair it when necessary.

As far as I know, the eco boost uses a rubber timing belt.

That doesn't make sense at all come on ford

I’ve had two 3.5 Ecoboost F-150s, one 2016 with 108k miles, a 2019 with 78K miles, and nary a problem out of either. You couldn’t give me a 2.7 Ecoboost.

Just sold my 2020 f150 3.5. loved it. Best towing half ton ive ever had. However, due to the stories, i wouldn't own one without a warranty. I didn't sell because i was scared, i sold to buy my wife an explorer and me a transit. First time not owning a nice truck and day 1 has been weird. I do plan to buy a transit with the 3.7 to hopefully avoid any issues on the road. I may buy a Ziegler ford warranty if available for whatever transit i buy tho. In process of buying same warranty for my wife's explorer. Great deals. TG, wanna ship your transit east and start over? Lol

“Kevlar Reinforced Gates Belt” originally developed for SVT/Ford Performance race racing engines…and I’ve never seen it on a production 3.5…

On the production engines I’m pretty sure it’s a chain.

There are plenty of YouTube vids on replacements/servicing that show the chain. 

It's 100% chains only in production engines. Earlier engines have a single long chain driving both sets of cams, later engines have two chains, one per cylinder bank. Unsurprisingly the earlier engines suffer more from chain stretch than later models. The naturally aspirated 3.7/3.5/3.3/whatever-TF-displacement-they're-at-now is the same thing.

I really wouldn't be any more afraid of buying an Ecoboost than any other engine nowadays. Use good oil and filters and change them on the regular, don't jump in and rip cold, and use the turbo shutdown timer, FFS. Anything you buy used is a crapshoot but your average Quigley/overlander type purchaser is probably pedantic as hell about everything versus a tradesman or delivery guy who beats the shit out of everything and worries about keeping things clean for long enough to get off the lot. We still see them roll in with like 300K on the clock that way. And roll out after being patched together enough to run for another 200K 

One other thing to pay attention to on Transits of either engine variety are the cats, believe it or not. Lots of people leave them idling all freaking day and they're expensive as hell to replace, even straight piping them is like a grand. Again, Quigley guy will have taken care of that, Joe the Plumber has been driving the last three years with the CEL burnt out from overuse related to HEGO sensors and the fuel line purge valve.