Ford added a diesel engine choice to its 2018 F-150 lineup a week before the Detroit auto show. The Power Stroke name will be applied to a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel making 250 hp and 440 lb-ft torque while returning a claimed 30 mpg on the highway in Ford’s best-selling half-ton pickup truck.
The 3-liter V6 is less than half the displacement of the company’s monstrous 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8, available in the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickups, but still promises up to 11,400 pounds of towing capacity along with 2,020 pounds of payload in the F-150. Ford says it was designed for the needs of North American buyers.
“For every truck owner who wants strong fuel economy while they tow and haul, we offer a new 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 engine,” said Dave Filipe, vice president global powertrain engineering. “The more you tow and the longer you haul, the more you’ll appreciate how efficient it is at the pump.”
The new Ford diesel gets a graphite-iron block, forged steel crankshaft, aluminum-alloy pistons and a second fuel filter for extra fuel system protection. Peak power comes at 3,250 rpm while peak torque comes way earlier, at 1,750 rpm. A variable-geometry turbocharger increases responsiveness and reduces lag, says Ford.
To keep its new diesel cool, Ford uses a standard mechanical engine fan along with dual radiator shutters that open for improved high-temperature, high-altitude performance. In easier conditions the F-150 slows the fan speed using a viscous coupler and closes the shutters when necessary.
“We know that 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.”
The new diesel F-150, in dealerships this spring, uses the company’s new ten-speed automatic transmission and auto stop/start comes standard. It’s available in 4×4 and 4×2 configurations in a selection of trim levels along with both SuperCrew and SuperCab bodies.
We’re still waiting on pricing, but the 2018 F-150 starts at about $28K and goes beyond $60K for the Limited model. It’s safe to expect the diesel to add at least a few thousand dollars to the price of a comparably equipped gasoline F-150’s sticker price.