Ford Motor Company's SuperDuty F-Series diesel engine is built on the current diesel's traditional strengths, with additional improvements to deliver a very capable grade-climbing and trailer-towing engine.
Ford's 7.3-liter PowerStroke V-8 diesel engine is rated at 275
horsepower at 2,800 rpm and 525 foot-pounds of torque at 1,800 rpm. Normal
operating range is from 1,600 to 3,300 rpm.
Ford and Navistar International teamed up to develop a medium-duty diesel with the most advanced fuel injection system you can buy. The intercooler is expected to boost power and torque dramatically. The cold-weather design is going to change people's minds about diesel performance.
To increase the PowerStroke diesel's power and efficiency for the SuperDuty F-Series, engineers added an intercooler that provides an additional torque and horsepower to the engine. The intercooler reduces the temperature of compressed air being fed into the cylinders, making the air denser, even under pressure, and allowing more of it to be fed into the cylinders. The result is greater efficiency that promotes better fuel economy and less gaseous emissions.
The Powerstroke's direct injection delivers
dramatically improved performance over indirect injection diesels. High pressure is
created within the injector, intensifying a 50 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) fuel line
pressure to 20,000 psi as it is released into the combustion chamber, atomizing the fuel
so that it burns efficiently.
Because the injectors allow combustion to be carefully controlled, the engine produces maximum power with reduced emissions. Other benefits are faster starting and improved drivability.
The electronic controlled turbocharger generates approximate 20 psi for higher torque at low rpm with excellent grade-climbing and towing power.
New PRIME injectors feature fuel-rate shape capabilities for less noise and gaseous emissions. Injector output is controlled by an advanced electronic power train control system (EECV), developed by Visteon. The control module integrates engine, fuel quantity and timing and transmission management.
A glow plug in each cylinder improves cold starts without external aid to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. An available cold-weather package, including an exhaust system back-pressure valve on the turbocharger and an engine block heater, is recommended during operation equal-to or less than 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
An available new dual alternator package, with two 130-amp alternators, supports all Chassis Cab aftermarket configurations requiring auxiliary power loads.
A new front-end accessory drive belt is designed for a 10-year, 100,000-mile durability life. Belt material, length, routing and bearings were changed to improve performance and help eliminate drive-belt noise. Some FEAD components are assembled at the engine plant instead of the vehicle assembly plant to improve the quality of the FEAD systems.
The engine does not require valve lash adjustments for the life of the vehicle and a new flywheel and self-adjusting clutch assembly, has been designed to handle the improved torque output. Also, a redesigned air cleaner induction system enhances engine performance. A new exhaust system with a 3-inch diameter downpipe, coupled with a 3.5-inch diameter muffler inlet and tailpipe, reduces back pressure.
The PowerStroke diesel is linked to the standard and newly available M6OD six-speed manual transmission or an available 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission. The six-speed manual transmission has a low gear for creeping and a higher overdrive gear for better highway mileage and range.
The 4R100 is the first automatic in the segment with an available power take-off provision. Previously, provisions for powering auxiliary equipment were only available with the manual transmission. The 4R100 also features a new oil-to-air dedicated transmission cooling system for improved reliability and durability.
Last modified: Thursday December 13, 2007 07:35 AM