Ever wonder why the schools neutered all of those “work with your hands programs?”
NFR F150 & Ecoboost
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Non-fishing related
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
The high school I graduated from has an AG program, starts in 9th grade, that's got a waiting list. Some of which comes from the 2 other school districts in the area. They're currently enlarging that part of the school facilities.
The vocational school the other students can attend if interested (they do a split attendance format, 2 weeks home, 2 weeks @tech until senior year) has reduced the number of courses such as auto body, diesel tech, automotive tech, etc. to the point they're almost non existent. What's replaced them is soft arts stuff like cosmetology, dental assistant, and few others. Strangely they got completely rid of their computer sciences and drafting and design courses.
The vocational school the other students can attend if interested (they do a split attendance format, 2 weeks home, 2 weeks @tech until senior year) has reduced the number of courses such as auto body, diesel tech, automotive tech, etc. to the point they're almost non existent. What's replaced them is soft arts stuff like cosmetology, dental assistant, and few others. Strangely they got completely rid of their computer sciences and drafting and design courses.
I did quite a bit of research before buying my used 2013 FX4 SuperCrew V8. I was looking at something low miles from years 2012 to 2018. I started my research in November 2019 when my 2000 F150 4.6L had a coolant plug fail at 199k miles. I really like the low chug of the 3.5L Eco turbo. I liked the gas mileage figures. At that point I knew I might be needing to drive it to the office, which was 38 miles round trip.
I didn't have any immediate towing needs so wasn't too worried about that. The 3.5 Eco is a better tow vehicle for sure.
All the research I found was that the 5.0L Coyote V8 was definitely less maintenance. No major fails like the Eco was having. Both have well known coolant leak issues, but most of those can be upgraded before they break or repaired fairly easily. Even DIY.
The V8 also had worse gas mileage, but not much worse than any other V8 full size truck.
I REALLY wanted the 3.5L Eco for all of it's awesome qualities, but the practical realist in me won out.
I've been really happy with the V8 so far. It's definitely fast enough for pulling out onto my stupid busy road and it's very predictable. It's a high revving V8 so a bit different from some, but also sort of fun. And it sounds great without being obnoxious. No whine and no backfires. Sounds like a V8.
Just a note about Fords, regardless of which motor you have. And regardless of F150, 250 or 350. They all friggin leak! My 2000 leaked at the back cab brake light. I fixed that myself. My 2013 only leaks at the front passenger side pillar if the gutter gets blocked by tree debris and it rains really hard. Common issue. If you have water coming in through your hand hold on the pillar, check the gutter up by the corner of the windshield. In fact, just an inch or 2 below the top of the windshield.
My cousin has a 2002 F250 Powerstroke and it leaked in that exact spot. Water ran down into the main fuse box. He was in Portland when he got a call from his neighbor in Maple Valley. "Dude, your truck is running." The damn thing had started by itself right there in his driveway!
A friend had to go unplug the alternator and pull the battery cables to kill it. A local "diesel specialist" couldn't figure it out. He might be a Powerstroke genius, but evidently had never heard of the leak issue. The internet is LOADED with the Ford pillar leak issue. Guess the guy doesn't know Google is free. He's not taking the truck there again.
His buddy that does windshields found the leak. Of course, after he paid the diesel shop a bunch of $$ for nothing.
Good luck with the repair!
I didn't have any immediate towing needs so wasn't too worried about that. The 3.5 Eco is a better tow vehicle for sure.
All the research I found was that the 5.0L Coyote V8 was definitely less maintenance. No major fails like the Eco was having. Both have well known coolant leak issues, but most of those can be upgraded before they break or repaired fairly easily. Even DIY.
The V8 also had worse gas mileage, but not much worse than any other V8 full size truck.
I REALLY wanted the 3.5L Eco for all of it's awesome qualities, but the practical realist in me won out.
I've been really happy with the V8 so far. It's definitely fast enough for pulling out onto my stupid busy road and it's very predictable. It's a high revving V8 so a bit different from some, but also sort of fun. And it sounds great without being obnoxious. No whine and no backfires. Sounds like a V8.
Just a note about Fords, regardless of which motor you have. And regardless of F150, 250 or 350. They all friggin leak! My 2000 leaked at the back cab brake light. I fixed that myself. My 2013 only leaks at the front passenger side pillar if the gutter gets blocked by tree debris and it rains really hard. Common issue. If you have water coming in through your hand hold on the pillar, check the gutter up by the corner of the windshield. In fact, just an inch or 2 below the top of the windshield.
My cousin has a 2002 F250 Powerstroke and it leaked in that exact spot. Water ran down into the main fuse box. He was in Portland when he got a call from his neighbor in Maple Valley. "Dude, your truck is running." The damn thing had started by itself right there in his driveway!
A friend had to go unplug the alternator and pull the battery cables to kill it. A local "diesel specialist" couldn't figure it out. He might be a Powerstroke genius, but evidently had never heard of the leak issue. The internet is LOADED with the Ford pillar leak issue. Guess the guy doesn't know Google is free. He's not taking the truck there again.
His buddy that does windshields found the leak. Of course, after he paid the diesel shop a bunch of $$ for nothing.
Good luck with the repair!
fatbillybob
Steelhead
Well this could get too political but we have "elite over production" We are making too many college grads and many can't find job when they leave school so Mom and Dad let the kid live in the basement. This one kid I know just got a masters in some kind of marketing and BA graphic design. Sounds like art director on steroids with lots of business. She is highly educated and can't find a job and the entry level is between 50-$60k a year for a masters! The guy putting in my HVAC or fixing my plumbing is well into 6 figures. A wealthy barely got out of high school guy I know owns 40 single family residences and purchased by his truck that sprays plastic liner for ponds and roofs. AI aren't taking those jobs away either!
JimTravers¤£a!!Travers
Steelhead
150'll get it done. Decent sized '50 will always CUT IT. Always get it done. Baby ah. Had a 150 out back the shop. One day had the whole '50 line in the lot!!! They were all DECENT SIZED 50'S. Never see guys regretting get into A 50.
JimTravers¤£a!!Travers
Steelhead
Id only go the e boost if its a decent HORSEPOWER ADD ON.
Add the twin turbos and GO!
Graduated from an inner city vocational tech high school, did more to prepare me for going forward in life than the suburban high school I had gone through my first two years of high school
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
I got mixed results. The skills from masonry class I only used like 3 times. The mechanical and architectural drafting layout skills I've used a lot. The general education from normal high school? Meh..
Aside from learned shop skills, being in an inner city HS where white, blacks, and various browns were about in equal numbers both taught me how to get along with disparate groups and how to step up when I couldn't.
my best educational move was joining the army at 18. just when nam was winding waaaay down. white kid from pdx went into the army system.... met all the people. still remember the guys tattooing them selves in the barracks... anway - i learned what i didnt want to do. went in to get the gi bill for college - and that was still good for me. coulda picked a better college, coulda picked a better degree, but it worked out.
Dustin Chromers
Legend
Rock solid ride and craftsmanship. That sounds like a 7.3 rig.
Dustin Chromers
Legend
My school was segregated.
The thread was boosted! In an eco way...
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
Do we get tax credits back from the state for that ?
JayB
Life of the Party
Word. No better case in point than Toyota's catastrophic transition from the absolutely bombproof 5.7L naturally aspirated V8 to the current twin-turbo V6. It's been such a cluster that guys with low-mileage '21s (last production year) have been able to sell them for ~80-90%+ of what they paid for them.
Carvana periodically sends me unsolicited offers to buy my 2017 Tundra (SR5 OffRoad 4X4) for 75% of purchase price; they aren’t taking account low miles (51k), ARE shell, BedRug, seats covered since new, service records. I’m pretty sure I could get 80% if I wanted to sell but it’s mine until I quit driving trucks.
Dustin Chromers
Legend
It's basic engine physics and economics. A boosted motor is subject to higher manifold pressures. To further get performance we up the compression as well. We then use aluminum and other materials for weight savings and econress to some degree. After that we have a motor with high performance, short lifespan, and likely to consume a few parts especially if not maintained regularly and thoroughly. Oh, and that maintainable nature of the old motors by garage guys? No longer. You don't even get a dipstick for the oil or trans fluid. It's a mystery as to what's up in there. You have no clue on oil level, quality, color, viscosity in the hand at all. You have to go to the dealership or qualified mechanic. But hey at least you're eco while you haul your boat half way across the state to chase a bite report right?
The modern auto is built around recurring revenue. Not quality. If I were a rich man I would be stockpiling older highly reliable rigs in a heated area and teaching kids how to work on them so they were maintained and driven. Then I would have my doomsday army and fleet of artillery at the ready. Probably even build a killdozer or two. I would be like a benevolent shop teacher version of a Bond Villain.
The chase for mpg = electronically bloated trucks made with lightweight limited life materials.
The average truck these days contains between 1,000 and 3,000 computer chips.
I follow 'TheRoyaltyAutoService' on Instagram. He had a post yesterday on how it took three hand held diagnostic scanners to find the sine wave problem with an electronic valve actuator that was plaguing a motor.
My first truck was a 60' stepside half ton with a six and three on the tree. Could wrench on it with my feet inside the engine compartment. It got 16 mpg. After swapping the six for a 283 and a four speed it got 16 mpg.
My Tahoe LTZ with it's overstuffed engine compartment, cylinder de-activation and a couple thousand computer chips averages = 16 mpg.
The average truck these days contains between 1,000 and 3,000 computer chips.
I follow 'TheRoyaltyAutoService' on Instagram. He had a post yesterday on how it took three hand held diagnostic scanners to find the sine wave problem with an electronic valve actuator that was plaguing a motor.
My first truck was a 60' stepside half ton with a six and three on the tree. Could wrench on it with my feet inside the engine compartment. It got 16 mpg. After swapping the six for a 283 and a four speed it got 16 mpg.
My Tahoe LTZ with it's overstuffed engine compartment, cylinder de-activation and a couple thousand computer chips averages = 16 mpg.