Ford Promises Less Noise, More Power From New Diesel

FORD MOTOR CO. ISN'T READY TO SHARE specific data — power and torque bragging rights are too critical in the heavy-duty pickup sector to let rivals get an early look — but the auto maker promises its new homegrown Power Stroke diesel V-8 easily will surpass the previous generation in performance and efficiency.

A demonstration in Dearborn, MI, of the engine running at idle proves the new 6.7L V-8 also will operate with only a fraction of the outgoing 6.4L Power Stroke V-8's chatter, shimmy and shake.

Development of the new diesel, which began in 2006 and helped fuel a series of disputes with current Power Stroke supplier Navistar International Corp., culminates with a public showing of the new Ford F-Series Super Duty pickup at the recent Texas State Fair.

Slated for production at Ford's Chihuahua, Mexico, engine plant beginning in the fourth quarter, the diesel is scheduled to hit the market in second-quarter 2010 in the '11 Super Duty.

The OHV V-8, codenamed Scorpion internally, weighs about 160 lbs. (73 kg) less than the current Power Stroke, thanks to the use of compacted graphite iron for the block and aluminum cylinder heads.

The CGI block offers twice the strength of a conventional cast-iron block, which allowed Ford to thin the cylinder walls.

The aluminum cylinder heads feature dual water jackets, both upper and lower, for better cooling and long-term durability. The 4-valve-per cylinder head employs dual hydraulic lash adjusters, with two pushrods per cylinder, rather than the conventional single-rod design.

A key innovation is the inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture. Ford says the new Power Stroke is the first modern automotive production diesel to flip the exhaust manifold to the other side of the engine, cutting in half overall exhaust-system volume, reducing noise and heat.

Ford Plans Job One for Mexican-Built Diesel in Q4

subscribers.WardsAuto.com/ar/ford_mexican_diesel_090514/

WWW.WARDSAUTO.COM