
The Ford F-Series trucks have been the most popular line of pickup trucks in North America for over 40 years. For its medium duty lineup, the auto maker is developing new ford engines to boost power and enhance its capability.
A new 7.3-liter V8 will become an option for its Super Duty pickup truck line. The new engine is a standard on the F-550, F-600, F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks and will deliver up to 430 horsepower and 475 pound-feet of torque.
“This engine has the largest displacement in its class and is designed to provide benefits in key areas like power, durability, ease of maintenance and total operating costs,” said Joel Beltramo, Ford manager for gas V8 engines.
Beltramo also said that Ford is focusing on heavy-duty pickup truck customers who demand strong towing capability but are not quite ready to move to a turbo diesel.
The new V8 utilizes an overhead-valve architecture that generates power in the low engine-rev range to begin hauling heavier loads faster. Other features include a variable-displacement oil pump and extra-large main bearings. It also has a forged-steel crankshaft for durability and piston-cooling jets to help manage temperatures under heavy loads.
Complementing the engine is a newly designed 10-speed heavy-duty automatic transmission. This option will be available to all but the F-650 and F-750, which will continue to come in six-speed transmissions only.
The F-150 gearbox configuration was the inspiration behind the design of the 10-speed transmission, but it will only have 7 percent of its parts in common with its larger siblings. Ford developed the new transmission to be beefier and have more durable components, weighing in at just 3.5 pounds more than the six-speed transmission it replaces.
Ford plans to offer the new gasoline engine for later in the year. It will initially roll out with the Super Duty F-250 and F-350 pickups. This will be offered on top of the standard 6.2-liter V8 gas engine and the upgraded, third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke diesel motor.
The new diesel engine is still in late stage development, so Ford has not yet provided any performance numbers. The automaker claimed however, that it has made significant improvements to the motor, which also goes by the name Scorpion.
Anita Bersie, the diesel engine supervisor for Ford, said that the base architecture remains the same with a 90-degree V8 configuration, but has some significant improvements. A proprietary inboard exhaust system was designed to help manage heat under loads.
Other significant changes include a more efficient turbocharger. The company also added a variable displacement oil pump so the engine can operate at high oil pressures when under strain.
“We’ve added a larger oil cooler so we can have improved towing performance and hot weather conditions,” Bersie said.
With these new engine options, Ford hopes that customers will find the perfect truck for their needs at a price that would be competitive. It would encompass a wider range of options for even the most demanding buyer, whether it comes as a gasoline or diesel variant.
We offer a variety of Ford trucks for lease. Contact us at 1-877-479-1388 or email Steve Gruber at sgruber@thomassolutions.ca. We offer solutions for your car, truck or fleet rental and no-term leasing needs. We have locations in Hamilton, Selkirk & Niagara and service all of Ontario through our partner network. With a fleet of over 1000 vehicles and growing, Thomas Solutions has a wide array of work vehicles for lease or rent, and an expert team that provides fleet vehicle management services for large industrial firms.