Fifth (MY2013) and sixth (MY2016 facelift) generation Ford Explorer.

It's a SUV... a wonderful and big SUV! For those who like the category, of course! For many aspects, it is similar to its cousin Lincoln Navigator, even though it doesn't feature the same comfortable and expansive Lincoln's optionals.

 

 

 

 

Ford Explorer's technical specifications

• 3.5L TT (Twin-Turbocharger) V6 60° DOHC 24v (4 valves per cylinder)
• Direct injection
• 4WD
• "SelectShift" 6-gear automatic transmission
• 370PS @5500 rpm (272kW, 365bhp)
• 475Nm @3500 rpm (350 ft*lb)

The 3.5L engine is only available for the Sport and Platinum versions.

 

Thirteenth generation F-150 (MY2015)

Among the "light and medium-duty trucks", the F-150 is the world's most popular and widespread Ford product.

 

 

 

 

 Ford F-150 technical specifications

• 3.5L TT (Twin-Turbocharger) V6 60° DOHC 24v (4 valves per cylinder)
• Direct injection
• 4WD
• 10-gear automatic transmission
• 370PS @5500 rpm (272kW, 365bhp)
• 570Nm @3500 rpm (420 ft*lb)

The 3.5L engine is available for all the F-150 versions. XL, XLT, LARIAT, Raptor, KingRanch, Platinum and Limited.

The EcoBoost TT 3.5L engine

The engine has been developed starting from the 3.5L Ti-VCT Duratec 35 aspirated version (Ford Cyclone V6 family), but in the EcoBoost version you can find a Twin-Scroll turbo compressor and direct gasoline injection, while timing remains variable. Both systems are controlled by a Bosch MEDG17.0 central unit.

 

Direct gasoline injection

The high-pressure fuel is directly injected inside the combustion chamber of each cylinder. The advantages include a more accurate fuel supply that reduces emissions, an improved volumetric efficiency, a significant reduction in the eventual knock sensor for better engine performance and decreased fuel consumption.

 

 

EcoBoost TT V6: Twin-Scroll Turbo.

Through this system, the exhaust gases flow from the two manifolds of the V6 engine to the turbine and the kinetic energy generated by the rotation speed of the shaft spreads the rotation to the compressor, increasing the aspirated air pressure. Nobody wants "turbo-lag”! For this reason, Ford has decided to first use the Twin-Scroll Turbo configuration on the 2.7L EcoBoost engine, but the TT technology is not just suitable for muscle-cars. The restyled Ford 3.5L F-150 MY2015 is a valid example. In fact, thanks to this engine, the F-150 truck has been evaluated as the "best of the 12200 lb class" in terms of towing.

 

The MEDG17.0 engine-controlling central unit

ECU Bosch MEDG17.0 technical specifications:

• M
• Electronic throttle valve management
• Direct fuel injection (GDI)
• Getriebe (car transmission management)
• 17 -> Micro TriCore TC1797 IROM (Flash inside the micro, EEPROM inside the micro)

How to read the control unit?

Alientech offers you two opportunities: working from OBDII with KessV2 or opening the ECU and connecting K-TAG.

 

Using KESSv2:

• From the CAR list: select “Ford” brand and “F-150” or “Explorer” model.
• Protocols button: select OBDII and the “Ford EcoBoost MED17.2” family or Number “414”.

 

OBDII Explorer position:

 

OBDII F-150 position:

 

Using K-TAG:

• From the CAR list: select “Ford” brand and “F-150” or “Explorer” model.
• Protocols button: select BOOTLOADER TRICORE or “Bosch ME17/MED17 FORD/JAGUAR/LAND ROVER/VOLVO” central unit or Family 200. The correct Plug-in is “618”.

ECU Explorer position:

When lifting the bonnet, first remove the plastic engine cover. The control unit is located exactly on the engine.

 

 

ECU F-150 position:

When lifting the bonnet, the central unit is found on the left of the engine, near the battery (in front of the front passenger's seat) Simply to find, isn't it?

 

Here after you can find some pictures of the opened control unit, where the TriCore TC1797 micro is located. You can see that it is not complicated to be opened compared to a MED17 T-PROT BMW, for example.

 

The ECM Titanium drivers

Now we will show you an example of an ECM Titanium driver and the related maps we found for a FORD EXPLORER (VI) 3.5L V6 EcoBoost TT 370PS.

 

As you have surely noticed, there are all the most important map categories to manage the engine performance. Please, don't forget that the Explorer and F-150's Bosch MEDG17 central unit is similar to the one mounted on the new 1.5L EcoBoost (New Mondeo) and 2.3L EcoBoost (Mustang e Focus RS). The maps show the same units of measurement, that are:

• [Nm] for axes and motor torque maps.
• [Load] for axes and motor charge and turbo pressure maps. The unit [Load] is equal to the volumetric efficiency (V.E.), so don't be surprised if for a turbo engine as the 3.5L the charge reaches values of 1.8 or 2.0.
• [°TPS] for the electronic throttle valve map. TPS stands for Throttle Position Sensor.
• [deg BTDC] for motor timing maps. BTDC stands for Before Top Dead Center.
• [Lambda] for injection maps.
• [°F ECT] for the axes representing temperatures expressed in Fahrenheit.
• [hPa] for the axes representing pressure expressed in Etto-Pascal.

Let's now concentrate on the most important maps you can modify to increase power.

 

Torque limiter f(APS)

Questa mappa di coppia in funzione della pressione atmosferica è importantissima perché serve a limitatore le prestazioni del motore in accordo con uno dei “parametri ambientali” che servono anche a proteggere il Twin Scroll Turbo: la pressione atmosferica.

 As a consequence, the maximum engine torque value (474 Nm) shown on the map is related to the an ideal atmospheric pressure of 1000 hPa.

Let's now compare this map's values with the next limiter.

Maximum torque limiter

The following is a simple limiter depending on the motor RPM and on the percentage position of the accelerator pedal [% Acc]. You can notice that the maximum value of 474 Nm is identical to the previous map.

Hence, you need to modify both maps (percentage or absolute value) entering the same maximum value on both maps in order to prevent Bosch ECU diagnosis to identify an error in the calculation of the torque found in the central unit.

 

Correction injection f (ECT)

 

Have you ever wondered which strategy is used by the ECU calibrators to choose the correct injection value to protect the engine? One of the essential parameters is the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT).

 

 

At 180°F (around 82°C) the ECU uses the map values to manage fuel enrichment to protect the engine functioning. This strategy can be extended to other systems, such as the turbo.

 

Limiter of turbo pressure f(IAT)

 

 

Although values don't seem so true (500°F are around 230°C) this map is used by the ECU to limit the motor charge generated by the turbo system.

Remember that the unit of measurement [Load] is valid for aspirated and supercharged engines. In case of supercharged engine, the Load value always overcomes the 1 threshold.

 

 

Base map timing

It is always fundamental to understand the meaning of this map, because it's always the most risky to be modified, if not correctly elaborated.

 

 

On the 3D ECM Titanium view you can see that the three-dimensional structure of the map is really consistent, without variations ("peaks" or "gaps") that could provoke a knocking or a gap in the engine performance.

After modifying the map, we suggest to open the 3D view to verify there are no anomalies in its shape.

 

Useful information

Other vehicles fitted with the EcoBoost TT 3.5L engine:

• Lincoln MKS and MKT (MY2013, 365 hp (272 kW) @5500 rpm, 350 lb·ft (475 Nm) @1500-5000 rpm)
• Ford Flex (MY2013, 365 hp (272 kW) @5500 rpm, 350 lb·ft (475 Nm) @3500 rpm)
• Ford Expedition and Expedition EL (MY2015, 365 hp (272 kW) @5000 rpm, 420 lb·ft (570 Nm) @2250 rpm)
• Lincoln Navigator and Navigator L (MY2015, 380 hp (283 kW) @5250 rpm, 460 lb·ft (625 Nm) @2750 rpm)

“in a recent past…”

In 2010, Ford had already used the 3.5L EcoBoost engine for the most powerful version of Taurus: SHO. Performance was equal than in Ford Explorer, but in that period they mounted the Bosch MEDG9.8.1 ECU (still equipped with a Motorola Micro BDM MPC5xxx). Taurus SHO has long been fitted with K-TAG (#279).

"…in the next future"

It's really probable that a more powerful version of the 3.5L EcoBoost TT engine will be mounted on the latest version of Ford GT MY2017 (as announced at Detroit Auto Show 2015) with 607PS (600 bhp, 447kW).

Hopefully it will be fitted with the same ECU!