Ford Ecoboost 3-cyl Summer 2013

[user removed]

Frank, I think there is a lot of sense in using cast iron. My ancient tech 97 Ranger with a cast iron block and head does very well for mileage, with only two valves per cylinder.

In the ecoboost.

Exhaust manifold integral with cylinder head, impossible with aluminum. Significantly faster warm up times, less complexity and no potential manifold gasket failure.

Iron absorbs heat much more slowly than aluminum and iron blocks and heads have basically identical expansion characteristics, with much less stress on the head gasket.

Maybe in a future design they will go back 60+ years and eliminate the head gasket altogether.

The weight penalty, vs AL, is not as great with precision thin wall iron casting controlled by computers. The 3 cyl ecoboost engine block is about the same size as a sheet of typewriter paper.

regards
Mech

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Exhaust manifold integral with cylinder head, impossible with aluminum.
Mech

The 1.0L Ecoboost cylinder head is aluminum.


Integrating the exhaust manifold into an aluminum cylinder head is certainly not impossible. Its been done on many modern engines.

[user removed]

Funny I read somewhere that the head was cast iron. Thanks for the update.

regards
Mech

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Funny I read somewhere that the head was cast iron. Thanks for the update.

regards
Mech

This is a good shot of the intake side where you can see the contrast between the iron block and alloy head. I think the weirdest thing about this engine is the timing BELT which travels through the engine oil.


Exhaust side.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by tjts1

I think the weirdest thing about this engine is the timing BELT which travels through the engine oil.

I'll have to second that, it's really an odd setup.

[Frank Lee]

Honda has been running timing belts through the crankcase of small stationary engines for years.

LIFETIME TIMING BELT DESIGN
GC series, GS series
Honda’s GC and GS engines use the world’s first small engine internal timing belt, designed to last the lifetime of the engine.

Small engine timing belts are usually external and are subject to wear caused by dirt. Honda’s internal timing belt runs in oil, eliminating the need for conventional drive gears.

This design:

Improves lubrication,
Reduces the weight of the engine, and
Provides quieter operation.

http://engines.honda.com/why/technology

[tjts1]

Yeah, but thats got Honda reliability. When ford says "lifetime timing belt" its the lifetime of the belt which dictates the lifetime of the engine, not the other way around. It doesn't look like it was designed to ever be changed. We'll see how this plays out when these engines hit the 100k mile mark.

I do like the fact that the 1.0L Ecoboost is only available with a manual transmission in the US.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by tjts1

I do like the fact that the 1.0L Ecoboost is only available with a manual transmission in the US.

How is it geared? "Normal people" claim that automatics are more efficient nowadays.

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by Xist

How is it geared? "Normal people" claim that automatics are more efficient nowadays.

No clue. They didn't put a dual clutch on it because too much NVH. And yes, modern automatics are more efficient for normal drivers.

[justme1969]

The early answer will likely be wrong and under informed. it is sound logic to boost HP. because you dont have to use it. If you do have to use it, and dont have enough the result is a plymouth Arrow capable of good mileage in its day but driven like a 70s sports compact. It sucked, and sucked gas to boot because it was built to appease fuel constraints so thier full line mpg avg could score higher.
Ill take all the power ya have and use it intelligently, Again I point you to the Cadillac engines, and Big mercedes hybrid diesels. The shoe must fit I can wear something 2 sizes too big but cannot fit 1/2 sized too small.