The Economical F-150 Diesel
For the first time, Ford will offer an F-150 Power Stroke diesel with a targeted EPA-estimated 30-mpg highway rating, 11,400 pounds of towing capacity and 2,020 pounds of payload capacity, plus 250 horsepower and 440 lb.-ft. of torque.
“For every truck owner who wants strong fuel economy while they tow and haul, we offer a new 3-liter Power Stroke V6 engine that dreams are made of,” said Dave Filipe, vice president global powertrain engineering. “The more you tow and the longer you haul, the more you’ll appreciate its class-leading towing and payload capacity and how efficient it is at the pump.”
This all-new 3-liter Power Stroke diesel now makes for six engine choices for F-150 customers.
Peak torque comes at just 1,750 rpm with strong torque delivery continuing throughout the rpm range, which is ideal for towing or hauling heavy loads over long distances, according to Ford. This new V-6 diesel features the same compacted-graphite iron block material construction and forged-steel crank used in the 2.7-liter EcoBoost engine for added strength and durability along with reduced weight.
For greater responsiveness and reduced turbo lag, the Ford truck team chose a high-efficiency variable-geometry turbocharger. A common-rail fuel injection system precisely optimizes performance and fuel efficiency, while a high-pressure 29,000 pounds per square inch injection calibration enables smoother, quieter operation with reduced emissions, according to Ford.
Dual fuel filters are added for improved break-in, while a cast-aluminum oil pan and two-stage oil pump mean reduced parasitic loss and improved fuel efficiency.
Towing in the Conditions
The Ford truck team paid particular attention to extreme driving conditions when engineering the new 3-liter Power Stroke diesel, which features a premium mechanical engine-driven fan and dual radiator shutters for improved high temperature, high-altitude performance, according to the company.
“We know that competing diesels with electric cooling fans have to dial back on power under extreme heat and altitude, so we decided on a viscous-controlled mechanical fan that has the capacity to move much more air across the radiator and intercooler in extreme conditions,” said David Ives, Ford diesel engine technical specialist. “This gives F-150 Power Stroke owners more power and more passing capability in harsh conditions.”
In more moderate driving and towing conditions, the F-150 engine control system backs off the fan load through a viscous coupler, closing down the two radiator shutters for improved aerodynamic efficiency and reduced parasitic engine loss.
Calibrated specifically for the 3-liter Power Stroke diesel’s low-end power and torque curves, a standard SelectShift 10-speed automatic transmission maximizes shift points and gear ratios to optimize power, low-rpm torque and efficiency. This segment-exclusive transmission can non-sequentially select the right gear ratio based on need. To help reduce fuel consumption and vehicle emissions during city driving, Auto Start-Stop also comes standard.
