Explore the Engines of the 13th-Gen F-150 (2015-2020)

There are a lot of different moving parts to keep track of as you’re shopping for a used truck, especially when you start exploring all of the options available to you. Once you narrow things down, finding the right vehicle can become easier, but it’s important to still consider everything offered to you. For example, let’s say you’re interested in a pre-owned 13th-generation Ford F-150 for sale in Dallas, which limits you to those trucks from model year 2015 through 2020. That’s a pretty narrow selection, and yet there are numerous engines to consider across such a relatively short time, even going from one model year to the next in some cases. So today, we’re going to help you figure out which years you should focus on by breaking down the engines you can find across the four most important model years of the 13th generation.

The 2015 Ford F-150 and Its Engines

With the launch of its 13th generation and the 2015 model year, Ford delivers four fantastic engines to start with. These set the baseline for everything that comes after throughout this generation, so there’s no better place to begin. If you’re interested in an F-150 from 2015 or 2016, then you’ll find it with one of these four engines, which all come paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. However, there are big differences in performance and capabilities between them, so pay careful attention to which one is in any used F-150 you’re interested in for driving around Dallas and taking care of business.

The standard engine for the 2015 F-150 is a 3.5L Ti-VCT V6 that builds upon what came before it and sets an impressive baseline for the other three options. This engine provides 282 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque, which isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s certainly enough to get you where you need to go each day; you can find models with 1,910 lbs of payload rating and 7,600 lbs of towing capacity with this engine. And with an estimated 18 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway for fuel economy, you can go a pretty long time between stops for gas.

If you want enhanced performance, then look for the available 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine, which is all-new for the 2015 F-150. One of two EcoBoost engines available, this beauty boosts your driving experience with 325 hp and 375 lb-ft of torque. This is an impressive upgrade over the standard engine, with up to 2,250 lbs of maximum payload and 8,500 lbs of max towing available, though you should always look at the specs on any particular truck you’re interested in. This engine feels fantastic in the F-150 and results in a truck that you’ll love driving.

For the highest horsepower and payload capabilities with a 2015 Ford F-150, you should look for the available 5.0L Ti-VCT V8 engine. This beast provides 385 hp and 387 lb-ft of torque, giving you plenty of muscle for getting around Dallas each day. When properly equipped, you can get a truck with this engine that’s rated for 3,300 lbs of maximum payload or up to 11,100 lbs of max towing capacity. That’s some serious muscle and a great choice if you’re looking to get a lot of work done with your truck.

Finally, if max towing is your top priority, then you owe it to yourself to look for a used F-150 featuring the available 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged V6 engine that delivers 365 hp and a massive 420 lb-ft of torque. With this beauty, the F-150 can handle up to 3,270 lbs of max payload or up to 12,200 lbs of maximum towing. You can see this is just a barely lower payload in exchange for a good increase in towing compared to the 5.0L V8 engine, making this an amazing overall choice for robust capabilities that you can get the most from for a long time.

Updates for the 2017 Ford F-150

Although the big updates for the F-150’s engines come with the 2018 model year, there are a couple of things worth noting about the 2017 models. For starters, the 2017 F-150 introduces a redesigned, second-generation version of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 engine. Offering you much more than a slight update, this engine delivers 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. You can see that’s a small boost to horsepower, along with a massive increase in torque, which was already incredibly impressive. This is paired with an all-new 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission to create a truck that’s remarkably fun to drive.

Speaking of fun trucks, the 2017 F-150 also sees the return of the Raptor trim level with its focus on off-road engineering and high-performance capabilities. This comes with a High-Output (HO) version of the second-generation 3.5L EcoBoost engine tuned to deliver 450 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. This HO version of the engine is also paired with the 10-speed automatic, plus the Raptor comes with FOX Racing Shox, increased suspension travel, and more great features to create an absolute beast of a truck. It’s more than most folks need, but it’s worth considering if you’re looking for a pickup that can dominate any trail you put in front of it.

The 2018 Ford F-150: Major Updates and Changes

For the 2018 model year, the F-150’s engine lineup is almost entirely updated—only the revised 3.5L EcoBoost V6 remains the same from 2017 (when it was introduced). The starting engine for 2018 is an all-new 3.3L Ti-VCT V6 engine that provides 290 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, which is a notable upgrade from the previous standard powertrain. With this engine, which is still paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, the 2018 F-150 provides 1,990 lbs of maximum payload and 7,700 lbs of max towing. It’s not a huge boost, but it still has enhanced capabilities.

The 2.7L EcoBoost V6 engine has been updated and enhanced for the 2018 model year, providing 325 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. You can see that’s a significant boost to torque with this engine, plus it comes paired with the 10-speed automatic transmission that was introduced with the 2017 model. When properly equipped, this engine lets the F-150 get 2,470 lbs of maximum payload and an increased 9,000 lbs of max towing. The 5.0L V8 engine has also been enhanced for 2018, providing 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque along with 3,270 lbs of max payload and 11,600 lbs of maximum towing capacity. This engine also comes with the new 10-speed automatic, creating another terrific option for driving around Dallas each day.

A Diesel Engine for the 2018/2019 F-150

One final engine to note for the F-150’s 13th generation is a 3.0L Power Stroke diesel engine that became available late for the 2018 model year, though it was offered more consistently starting with 2019 models, which is why we’ve listed both. This beast of an engine delivers 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque, giving you 2,020 lbs of payload and up to 11,500 lbs of towing capability. If you’re not interested in a diesel engine, then you don’t need to worry about this too much, but if you like the reliability and capability of a diesel powertrain, then you can find one on select 2018 and later F-150 models.

Find the Perfect F-150 for Dallas Driving

As you can see, even though the 13th generation of the Ford F-150 only spanned six model years, there can be big differences in the engines you find on these trucks depending on some specific years. Going with a 2015 or 2016 model gets you the starting options for this generation; 2017 adds a new 3.5L EcoBoost engine with the best performance and towing the F-150 has to offer; 2018 models get upgrades or changes for the other three engines, and you can start finding a diesel engine on those ones. This is a big part of why we suggest 2018 and later F-150 models for our customers since it gives you access to the best engines the 13th generation has to offer, and we work hard to ensure all of our used trucks deliver big power and performance.