2018 Ford 2.7 EcoBoost Problems

Photo of 2018 Ford Ecoboost engine, unmounted

The backbone of Ford’s massive lineup is the Ecoboost engine family. These engines utilize turbocharging in applications ranging from diminutive 3 cylinder economy sedans to the Ford GT Supercar. Right in the center of the lineup is the 2.7-liter V-6, which has been dubbed “The Nano”, is now on its second generation. For reference, this engine has only been in Ford vehicles since 2015 and can be found in the following vehicles: 

Vehicles with the 2018 2.6L Ford Ecoboost:

  • Ford Edge
  • Ford F-150
  • Ford Fusion
  • Lincoln Continental
  • Lincoln MKX
  • Lincoln Nautilus

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The most common problems with 2018 Ford Ecoboost 2.7L engines: 

  • Leaking Oil Pan. Cost to fix: $400
  • Blue Smoke After Cold Start. Cost to fix: $250
  • Stalling While Towing. Cost to fix: $150

Most common problem: Leaking Oil Pan

Problem:

Like other Ford engines, the oil pan on the vehicles equipped with the 2.7 liter Ecoboost engine can spring a leak from a poor seal. The issue comes from joining two different materials (plastic and metal in this case) and the materials used to join them together. Ford issued a Technical Service Bulletin for this issue and you can read about it here. 

Cost to fix:

If you have to pay for this issue out of pocket, you can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $450 for the repair. Since this issue happens in 2018 vehicles there’s a good chance that you’ll be under a factory warranty if freshly purchased. Down the road, however, the issue could present itself. 

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We cover the most common problems with the 2.7L Ford Ecoboost engine commonly used in F-150s, how to spot them, costs to fix, and more.

Blue Smoke After Cold Start

Problem:

Some vehicles equipped with the 2.7 Ecoboost motor encounter an issue with blue smoke exiting the exhaust pipe of the vehicle after a “cold soak”. The cold soak refers to a vehicle that’s been allowed to cool to the point of equaling the ambient temperature outside of the vehicle. Ford states that this issue comes from an oil leak in the turbocharger housing due to a faulty oil supply hose. Ford’s TSB has plenty of information on the issue. 

Cost to fix:

Parts are about $50 and takes a mechanic 1.2 hour to complete, so you can assume that the repair will come in around $250 all in if you have to pay out of pocket. 

Stalling While Towing

Problem:

Some owners of vehicles utilizing the 2.7 Ecoboost to tow are encountering a troubling phenomenon where the engine stalls while towing a heavy load. According to the TSB, the issue boils down to faulty programming on the vehicle’s PCM module which causes the engine to feed in less fuel and less power under towing conditions. 

Cost to fix:

Reprogramming is a fairly easy fix. Ford lists the repair timing as a scant .3 hours, so assume somewhere between $100 and $150 for this basic repair.   

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Avoiding 2018 Ford 2.7 Ecoboost Problems

Although this engine is relatively rock-solid, there’s no reason to put your guard down when purchasing any of the Ford family of vehicles listed that uses this engine. You’ll want to run it through a full test drive and visual inspection to look for things like oil leaks or weeping power steering fluid. Make sure to really push the motor while test driving to ensure that there are no issues with stumbling or hesitations. 

Once you’ve completed your analysis, you’ll want to take the crucial step of bringing your car down to a mechanic for a full overview. For a few hundred dollars, a local, certified mechanic will perform a visual inspection, diagnostic inspection (via the vehicle’s ECU), and perform a full road test. Your mechanic can cross-reference things like recalls and TSB’s to ensure that the vehicle you’re about to purchase has all applicable work already completed. 

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