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Ford 3.5L EcoBoost firing order  — diagram & guide

Proper sequence and specifications for the Ford 3.5L EcoBoost firing order.

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Filip Gromovic September 19, 2023 |

Back in the day, Ford’s supercar GT model had a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 under the hood, so many enthusiasts didn’t approve of the new GT having a 3.5-liter V6. However, the twin-turbo EcoBoost has much to offer, and knowing the Ford 3.5L EcoBoost firing order can help keep it running.

While many DIY enthusiasts have wondered about the firing sequence, there’s also the matter of cylinder placement and a few other key features. So, we’ll discuss them all in this guide to help you get the most out of one of Ford’s most versatile engines in the past few decades.

Ford 3.5L Twin Turbo firing order

To give you an instant answer and a solution, the Ford 3.5L Twin Turbo firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6, and while the engine uses a different set of turbines for specific vehicles, this sequence is always the same.

The engine is widely used in different Ford models, from the flagship GT supercar to trucks and SUVs like the F-150 and Expedition.

The engine used in utility vehicles and trucks comes with a different set of turbochargers than the GT since they are more oriented towards towing capacity. On the other hand, the GT goes from 0 to 60 in less than 3 seconds, which is more than impressive and these turbochargers are more performance-oriented.

So, this causes a lot of confusion among drivers, but regardless of the turbine manufacturers, the firing order of this engine is always the same.

Ford 3.5L EcoBoost cylinder diagram

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The new EcoBoost V6 is a whole other story when it comes to comparing its cylinder diagram with previous generations of Ford’s V6 engines.

It comes with two cylinder banks each carrying three cylinders, and the passenger’s side one contains cylinders 1 to 3, while the driver’s side bank has cylinders 4 to 6.

Looking from inside the vehicle, the cylinder order goes from 6 to 4 on the driver’s side, and from 3 to 1 from the passenger’s side towards the radiator.

One important thing to note here is that the firing order of the 3.5L EcoBoost is a whole lot different than other Ford V6 engines. While most of the modern V8s with a similar displacement as the older ones carry on the firing order of their predecessors, the new 3.5-liter engine has a different order than the previous one.

It fires like a set of two three-cylinder engines, much like the Bentley W12 that fires like two V6 engines. That’s where the unique exhaust note comes from, and that’s also something you should know for repairs besides the firing order itself.

Ford 3.5L EcoBoost vehicle applications

To make sure you’ve got this right and hadn’t mistaken the new 3.5L EcoBoost for a V6 Duratec engine, we’ve compiled a list of all the models that use it:

Besides these vehicles, this engine has also been used in a few Lincoln vehicles including the Navigator, the MKT, and the MKS.

Our take

Unlike most of the modern-day V8s, Ford’s turbo V6 EcoBoost is a whole lot different in terms of the firing order than its predecessor. So, this guide should set you on the right track and prevent you from misplacing the order for that of a previous-gen Duratec engine.

We hope to have helped with our expert advice on this and keep in mind one last thing – different versions of the 3.5 EcoBoost may use different turbochargers, but the firing sequence is still the same.

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