subject: EcoBoost Engine Helps Keep Ford in the Race [print this page] EcoBoost Engine Helps Keep Ford in the Race
The Ecoboost engine is Ford's attempt at staying competitive with the increasing power of competitor engines while also catering to the green crowd with better gas mileage. First introduced on the Taurus SHO, it is now an option on the Lincoln MKS.
It manages both power and fuel economy by combining turbocharging with direct fuel injection. The motor produces 355hp and 350 ft-lbs of torque from a 3.5l V6. This in itself is not remarkable feat on today's market. The remarkable part is its fuel efficiency: in the MKS, the EPA estimated 18/27 MPG with front-wheel drive, or 17/24 MPG when equipped with all-wheel drive. This is slightly better than the standard 3.7l engine, despite an additional 90 horsepower. A rear wheel drive BMW 550i, which is about the same size and makes the same power, manages only 15/22 mpg.
Direct injection also increases the reliability of the engine. The biggest problem with turbocharged engines in the past has been predetonation, in which the air fuel mixture inside the cylinder burns before it needs to, increasing engine wear. By being able to spray fuel directly into the combustion chamber, it can be used to cool the cylinder walls while precisely controlling how the air fuel mixture combusts. This technology also increases efficiency -- around 5-10% on non-turbocharged engines.
What surprised the motoring press on the engine's release was its flat torque curve. Turbocharged engines, as well as most high-output engines used in luxury cars, make most of their power at high RPM. The Ecoboost has power is available at any engine speed, making downshifts unnecessary in most conditions. This makes the engine seem more sedate than its competitors, as revs are kept low even in spirited driving.
