I have a 2016 3.5l with the dreaded turbo coolant leak and manifold leak. I figure since I am going to have everything taken apart anyways it would be a good time to update/upgrade the turbos. I am trying to decide between Garrett powermax and borgwarner. Does the powermax require anything more than a specific tune to make it work properly? And is it really worth the extra couple hundred dollars to buy??
Garrett Powermax vs Borgwarner turbo replacement
andromida2
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Interesting, please explain why you prefer Precision over Garrett or BW
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Picking Precision over Garrett is kind of like picking a Whipple over an Eaton. When you compare similarly sized turbo's from all your main players like Garrett, Mitsubishi, etc, Precision is general considered to be your most efficient turbo.
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Can you validate those claims??
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No, because I don't feel like taking the time to search the internet for this info. If you care to then it's out there. Just use a search engine for Precision vs Garrett vs BW, or something like that. Look up the records in all your major race leagues, and see who's holding them. From my understanding cars running Precision turbo's are generally the most dominant in the racing leagues. I believe Garrett used to make Precisions turbo's, but they had a falling out 20+ years back, and Precision had to start making their own turbo's kind of like Whipple and Lysholm. The general consensus used to be that Precision turbo's were more efficient, but not as reliable as Garrett or BW or Mitsubishi. Who in the aftermarket still uses Mitsubishi turbo's for example? Greddy used to, but you don't hear about their turbo kits anymore. Precision's big in the racing seen. Look I'm 42 and don't keep up with this stuff like I used to, but people like Cleetus MacFarlane, and many others push them.
I don't care what you run, and am not some lead authority in EB turbo upgrades, but these are what I was recently looking at. These are OEM turbo's that have been remanned by Precision. I don't know whether or not they're better than other turbo upgrades, but I do know that Precision has a reputation as probably the most efficient turbochargers on the market.
Precision Factory Upgrade Turbocharger - Ford F150 EcoBoost
Precision’s Ford F150 EcoBoost turbocharger package, available exclusively through Walsh Motorsports, upgrades the existing factory turbocharger components, which ensures a simple bolt-on installation process. The result is more horsepower, increased torque, and lower air inlet temperatures than...
fullthrottlespeed.com
I went down this rabbit hole recently. This is not advice, but merely my thought pattern. If anyone has anything to add or correct, please do.
External oil and coolant leaks on driver side turbo. Turbo oil flange completely rusted out exposing the gasket and created a slow leak at the oil return line. Unfortunately, this is a big thumbs up to get a 5.0 coyote or other non-turbo engine from the f-series if living in the rust belt. We apparently spray spent beer products on our roads, its tasty, but eats vehicles like a rabid pacman... Hopefully its still getting enough oil feed to not self destruct. I ended up purchasing OEM BW from Full-race for a 2016 f150 3.5l ecoboost. Also purchased upgraded coolant lines, turbo adapters, and manifolds. Installed a larger 3in freakoboost exhaust from fullrace as well. I have 34in Ko3, add-a-leaf, eibach rear shocks. 115k miles with neurotic maintenance scheduling. Complete stock engine with repairs done as needed. Have not installed the turbos or manifolds as it is -6c atm here in VT and I spend all my free time skiing.
After researching, it seems there are other variables that can occur with upgrading turbo size and power. This increases the price point. For effective use I found one would be looking at upgraded programming, intercooler, BOV, MAP sensor to 3 bar, catch can install, and exhaust. Are they all needed, some needed, none needed? Not sure, but for reliability and longevity I would want all of these upgrades with the Garret upgrade. Any upgrade with OEM BW is now going to be an added bonus, but not an absolute need.
Even though it says the Garret can be run with stock tune and OEM system, I was still on edge trusting my PCM brain to do the work and keep everything at check. By keeping OEM sized turbos its not going to be a racecar or tow monster, it is going to still run hot, but I will be maintaining factory conditions and staying within engine parameters for longevity, ease of maintenance, and decreasing variability in system. I now have back-up parts in case the new turbos malfunction and if I decide to do some upgrades it will help with heat soak, but not overpower or cause any damage to other engine parts. Some will continue to claim that a larger turbo will increase gas mileage and decrease boost psi for same air volume, I agree this is true, from theory and researching turbo design online. However, I do not know how this engine and all its components will continue to work with changes and age, and if there is a hiccup with the OEM setup, will it over spool and blow up the turbine, cause a seal/gasket malfunction, leak in another area?... I am not a turbo expert or a mechanic, just a dude with a wrench.
If I had $$$ and didn't spend so much time throwing my body off cliffs, through trees, and down snow covered chutes I would have probably upgraded to Garret with additional peripheral parts to better support the system. The future awaits, but by the look of it investing in a sturdy cart, a good stallion, and a team of good natured mules may be around the bend...
External oil and coolant leaks on driver side turbo. Turbo oil flange completely rusted out exposing the gasket and created a slow leak at the oil return line. Unfortunately, this is a big thumbs up to get a 5.0 coyote or other non-turbo engine from the f-series if living in the rust belt. We apparently spray spent beer products on our roads, its tasty, but eats vehicles like a rabid pacman... Hopefully its still getting enough oil feed to not self destruct. I ended up purchasing OEM BW from Full-race for a 2016 f150 3.5l ecoboost. Also purchased upgraded coolant lines, turbo adapters, and manifolds. Installed a larger 3in freakoboost exhaust from fullrace as well. I have 34in Ko3, add-a-leaf, eibach rear shocks. 115k miles with neurotic maintenance scheduling. Complete stock engine with repairs done as needed. Have not installed the turbos or manifolds as it is -6c atm here in VT and I spend all my free time skiing.
After researching, it seems there are other variables that can occur with upgrading turbo size and power. This increases the price point. For effective use I found one would be looking at upgraded programming, intercooler, BOV, MAP sensor to 3 bar, catch can install, and exhaust. Are they all needed, some needed, none needed? Not sure, but for reliability and longevity I would want all of these upgrades with the Garret upgrade. Any upgrade with OEM BW is now going to be an added bonus, but not an absolute need.
Even though it says the Garret can be run with stock tune and OEM system, I was still on edge trusting my PCM brain to do the work and keep everything at check. By keeping OEM sized turbos its not going to be a racecar or tow monster, it is going to still run hot, but I will be maintaining factory conditions and staying within engine parameters for longevity, ease of maintenance, and decreasing variability in system. I now have back-up parts in case the new turbos malfunction and if I decide to do some upgrades it will help with heat soak, but not overpower or cause any damage to other engine parts. Some will continue to claim that a larger turbo will increase gas mileage and decrease boost psi for same air volume, I agree this is true, from theory and researching turbo design online. However, I do not know how this engine and all its components will continue to work with changes and age, and if there is a hiccup with the OEM setup, will it over spool and blow up the turbine, cause a seal/gasket malfunction, leak in another area?... I am not a turbo expert or a mechanic, just a dude with a wrench.
If I had $$$ and didn't spend so much time throwing my body off cliffs, through trees, and down snow covered chutes I would have probably upgraded to Garret with additional peripheral parts to better support the system. The future awaits, but by the look of it investing in a sturdy cart, a good stallion, and a team of good natured mules may be around the bend...
2015 Lariat Screw 5.5' | 3.5 Eco | 4x4 3.55 Max Tow Twin Turbo Dadmobile
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I can't argue with any of that thought process at all.
If one has no intention of getting too wild with tuning and chasing horsepower, the stock turbos are just fine.
Also the stock turbos are fully capable of delivering a nice reward with tuning alone, if ever that ambition does bubble up the to do list.
I do have ambitions to get a little crazy, but those ambitions lie in wait, for now. So for me, it's nice to know the equipment is ready once I am.
If one has no intention of getting too wild with tuning and chasing horsepower, the stock turbos are just fine.
Also the stock turbos are fully capable of delivering a nice reward with tuning alone, if ever that ambition does bubble up the to do list.
I do have ambitions to get a little crazy, but those ambitions lie in wait, for now. So for me, it's nice to know the equipment is ready once I am.
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Even now after having installed the Garrett Powermax turbos, a stock tune worked just fine with them. 5* tuning had a black Friday sale going on, so I got a couple tunes for cheap, and have been running it on 87 and so far so good. I upgraded the coolant lines at the same time to prevent that from being another problem in the future. Either way I think BW or Garrett are good choices, and it comes down to what you are comfortable with and want to get out of your engine.
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From everything I have read, short of an insane tune and lots of tweaking it, the engine and transmission will be able to handle the little bit bigger turbos just fine. It's a great idea to upgrade everything you are upgrading, especially the intercooler for countering heat soak. I purchased an XCT4 (I think that's what it is) for tuning, and it works well. I didn't want the screen version, just the plug and tune one. Although it does have a gauge mode, which is helpful, but for the most part it's not really needed. When the weather warms up hopefully the install goes well for you, I found it worked really well to soak the exhaust and manifold bolts in WD40 everyday for a week leading up to it. Most everything spun off with minimal knuckle bashing 🤘
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