Unpopular opinion: Am I the only one who enjoys the sound of the EcoBoost I-3? What's your thoughts on the 1.5L?

[Jake10080Guy]

I'm good with it. It has a bit more HP than my old '06 Accord 2.4 cylinder. It's using maybe less gas. I THINK I'm getting a little bit better in town but cannot get up above 26 mpg.

But it's got a nice growl. Hopefully it's the engine and not sounds pumped into the cabin. I think I read that Ford has that, at least in Sport mode.

Sometimes it's only a tiny bit of fake engine noise pumped in, ford didn't overdo it, but usally most of what you hear is the actual engine, on the outside it emits a good growl.

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[Bronclahoma]

I'm still trying to figure out why some call the 1.5 a "dragon" engine?

 

[Jake10080Guy]

I'm still trying to figure out why some call the 1.5 a "dragon" engine?

It's the code name Ford gave it, Not sure why as ford never really tells us why they pick a certain name for an engine, but yes

The Bronco Sport/Ford Escape and Fiesta ST's with the same 1.5L Turbo 3-Cylinder, the engine is known as "Dragon"

https://fordauthority.com/fmc/ford-motor-company-engines/ford-ecoboost-family/ford-1-5-liter-ecoboost-dragon-engine/amp/

 

[Bronclahoma]

It's the code name Ford gave it, Not sure why as ford never really tells us why they pick a certain name for an engine, but yes

The Bronco Sport/Ford Escape and Fiesta ST's with the same 1.5L Turbo 3-Cylinder, the engine is known as "Dragon"

https://fordauthority.com/fmc/ford-motor-company-engines/ford-ecoboost-family/ford-1-5-liter-ecoboost-dragon-engine/amp/

Thanks for the info. Cryptic.

 

[Mark S.]

Check this out, There's just something really enjoyable about the sound of the 1.5L EcoBoost at first.

I hate to be a spoil sport, but I would not rev the engine like this with no load on it. That stuttering you hear at the highest RPM is the engine bouncing off the rev limiter. The rev limiter is meant to prevent engine overspeed; when the RPM hits the limiter the PCM deactivates fuel flow, ignition, or both causing the RPM to drop. If you keep the throttle open the PCM will reactivate fuel and/or spark as soon as the RPM drops, causing the engine to rev back up to the limiter.

Your engine experiences the greatest amount of wear at maximum RPM. In addition, the rapid acceleration/deceleration that occurs when you bounce off the limiter with no load places the greatest stress on rotating parts.

I like the sound of a well-engineered engine too, but I would advise enjoying it under load, not spinning freely like this.

 

[Jake10080Guy]

Idk I was fine with it until the fire recall for it. If I had the option to go back, I probably would’ve spent a little more money on getting the Badlands just to have the reliable 2.0 liter turbo 4 tbh.

Despite being recalled It's not guranteed that absoutely all of them will have injectors that'll crack, i do see and understsnd where you're coming from.



Although for some reason, the same Engine in ths Ford Fiesta doesn't have this recall, so maybe ford got a bad batch of injectors? (Espically when you consider it was around the time during the pandemic)
Or if the injectors for the Fiesta 200HP 1.5L 3Cyl are "different" injectors.

 

[Bronco Blue]

Despite being recalled It's not guranteed that absoutely all of them will have injectors that'll crack, i do see and understsnd where you're coming from.



Although for some reason, the same Engine in ths Ford Fiesta doesn't have this recall, so maybe ford got a bad batch of injectors? (Espically when you consider it was around the time during the pandemic)
Or if the injectors for the Fiesta 200HP 1.5L 3Cyl are "different" injectors.

Yeah idk, it’s an ok engine, it gets up and goes and it’s got a pretty good sounding growl behind it, but that recall did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Edit: I did some research and Ford of Europe did infact do a recall on the 1.5 engine for the Fiesta, Focus, Puma, and Kuga.

https://car-recalls.eu/fire-risk-oil-ford-recalls-fiesta-focus-kuga-puma/amp/

 

[Greynoodle]

I know the 1.5L EcoBoost I-3 isn't generally preferred to most people, because of the fact that it's a 3-cylinder engine.

It's the exact same motor that debuts in the 2018 Ford Fiesta ST, just de-tuned and without the sporty engine cover
But oh boy, it really has a unique sound, there's sadly not too many WOT runs/videos of the Bronco Sport with the I3.


Whether it's stock, or has exhaust modifications, I would love to explore more of the Bronco Sport performance run with the I3.


181-HP @ 6000 RPM
190 LB-FT @ 3000 RPM From the 1.5-Litre 3-Cylinder isn't bad at all from what it is. (Especially when you consider the engine produces more in the ST)

To me it could be one of the best Modern 3-cylinders, sound-wise and performance wise in my opinion.
How are you guys enjoying your Bronco with the Turbo-3? I used to be one to think that this would be an engine to fail prematurely, but I feel it's solid.

I have just over 12000 on my Bronco Sport and I really like the 1.5 engine. It has enough power for anything that I need. We took a trip to Texas last summer from Ohio and I got 29.8 mpg. Around home I get in the low to mid 30's. The engine sound is different, but I am beginning to like it! By the way, In ECO mode and I stay under 55 I can get in the very high 40's.

 

[Mark S.]

By the way, In ECO mode and I stay under 55 I can get in the very high 40's.

For steady-state highway cruising, the controlling factor here is speed, not ECO mode. ECO mode works by modifying throttle response and transmission shift points. If you are at a steady cruising speed then throttle movement is minimal, and the transmission will shift to the highest possible gear and remain there unless you demand a significant increase in torque by stepping on the accelerator pedal.

I've tested shift points for my Badlands on a number of occasions. The transmission will hold 7th gear until I exceed 63 mph. It will upshift to 8th gear at that speed, then hold 8th even if I slow down to 55--unless I increase torque demand. So my recommendation to get the absolute best highway mileage is to accelerate to at least 63 mph, confirm the transmission has upshifted to 8th (press the M button on your shift knob to display current gear on the dash display), then carefully slow down to 55 and set your cruise control. This will work on relatively flat ground, but no so well in the hill country. That's because as soon as you start up a hill the cruise control will demand more torque to maintain speed, and the PCM will immediately downshift. Then you'll have to go the speed-up-slow-down procedure once on flat ground. To me, this is way too much rigamarole to be worth the fuel savings.

 

[Sdsret2015]

OK, first let me say that I have towed my boat 765 miles from Tennessee to Florida at 75-80 mph and got 18mpg doing so! I not only love the sound but this thing runs phenomenal! I thought originally that I3 turbo? OMG this thing is gonna suck! (Being a former V6 and V8 owner) My Mercedes has a V6 in it and this thing runs as good as it does! I'm sold on the I3T!

 

[Jake10080Guy]

OK, first let me say that I have towed my boat 765 miles from Tennessee to Florida at 75-80 mph and got 18mpg doing so! I not only love the sound but this thing runs phenomenal! I thought originally that I3 turbo? OMG this thing is gonna suck! (Being a former V6 and V8 owner) My Mercedes has a V6 in it and this thing runs as good as it does! I'm sold on the I3T!

If you can, you should do a 0-60 run, I'd love it just to hear that I3 Roar, Or some park/neutral revs =)

 

[Jake10080Guy]

Yeah idk, it’s an ok engine, it gets up and goes and it’s got a pretty good sounding growl behind it, but that recall did leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Edit: I did some research and Ford of Europe did infact do a recall on the 1.5 engine for the Fiesta, Focus, Puma, and Kuga.

https://car-recalls.eu/fire-risk-oil-ford-recalls-fiesta-focus-kuga-puma/amp/

I'm aware that this Engine has 2 recalls


1. Being the injectors (high pressure GDI ones) can crack and cause fire

2. The oil seperator being cracked on install and also causing fire.


Now on the EU site, i acknowledge the fire risk as the oil seperator, but not the injectors.

 

[Jake10080Guy]

I'm good with it. It has a bit more HP than my old '06 Accord 2.4 cylinder. It's using maybe less gas. I THINK I'm getting a little bit better in town but cannot get up above 26 mpg.

But it's got a nice growl. Hopefully it's the engine and not sounds pumped into the cabin. I think I read that Ford has that, at least in Sport mode.

Here is what i meant,

In sport mode, there may be faint engine noise pumped in at around 5500-6000 rpm

But this sounds authentic to me, if not, it must be really good fake engine noise.

 

[BroSpo]

TRIUMPH RIDERS UNITE! I rode a Tiger 1050 for seven years before trading up to the S1000XR I currently ride. I put almost 40K miles on it commuting to work and blasting around the local area in the summer. Up until the BMW, it was by far the best motorcycle I ever owned. Lightweight, powerful, agile, supremely comfortable, and owing to the factory "race" exhaust system a GREAT soundtrack. I often miss that bike, but alas, the House Appropriations Committee Chairperson will not approve ownership of more than one motorcycle at a time. *sigh*

Yep! Triumph bikes sound great and I miss my old SpeedTriple 1050! The 3 cylinder EB sounds better to me (than the 4 cylinder) but I know that isn't a popular opinion with car guys...but no doubt better IMO.

 

[Barry S.]

I hate to be a spoil sport, but I would not rev the engine like this with no load on it. That stuttering you hear at the highest RPM is the engine bouncing off the rev limiter. The rev limiter is meant to prevent engine overspeed; when the RPM hits the limiter the PCM deactivates fuel flow, ignition, or both causing the RPM to drop. If you keep the throttle open the PCM will reactivate fuel and/or spark as soon as the RPM drops, causing the engine to rev back up to the limiter.

Your engine experiences the greatest amount of wear at maximum RPM. In addition, the rapid acceleration/deceleration that occurs when you bounce off the limiter with no load places the greatest stress on rotating parts.

I like the sound of a well-engineered engine too, but I would advise enjoying it under load, not spinning freely like this.

I love that sound. I also like Barry Manilow.?

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