Ford Adds Turbo-Diesel to 2018 F-150 Engines

The 2018 Ford F-150 will offer six engine choices for 2018, including a new Power Stroke turbo-diesel. That means consumers can choose from three V-6 EcoBoost engines, two naturally aspirated gas engines (one V-6, one V-8) and the new turbo-diesel 3.0-liter 60-degree V-6. The overall weight penalty for the new engine is about 300 pounds when compared to the EcoBoost engines.

The 24-valve turbo-diesel will make 250 horsepower and 440 pounds-feet of torque. The engine is the same diesel currently used in Jaguar, Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles, and is built in the United Kingdom, sourced from the Ford-designed Lion engine family. Although EPA fuel-economy numbers have not been established yet, Ford is hoping the diesel F-150 will be the first half-ton pickup to get a rating at or above 30 mpg highway.

Currently, only the mid-size Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon equipped with the inline four-cylinder turbo-diesel 2.8-liter get a 30-mpg highway rating from the EPA. The Ram 1500 EcoDiesel HFE (the only other half ton to offer a small diesel engine) received a 29-mpg highway rating when it was available in 2016.

Ford's new diesel uses a water-cooled variable vane turbocharger and will be mated to the 10-speed transmission with automatic stop-start capabilities. The engine block is made of compacted graphite iron for added stiffness and strength, and the heads are aluminum. Ford said it has made several upgrades to the crankshaft, the injection system, connecting rods and various engine bearings. The engine will include a 5.4-gallon diesel exhaust fluid tank, allowing the fluid to be injected into the exhaust stream to lower emissions levels. The tank will be located directly behind the fuel tank and filled from the same fuel door.

Interestingly, the new diesel engine will not offer a multisetting exhaust brake switch (like that found in the Super Duty) to help with heavy loads or large trailers during descent down steep hills, but it will offer a slightly more aggressive engine-braking setting when the Tow/Haul mode is selected. The diesel F-150 will also include a selectable boost and DEF gauge within the information screen.

Ford is expecting the take rate for the new diesel to be around 5 percent of total F-150 sales, which is likely to be around 25,000 sales.

Retail customers can order Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum SuperCrew diesels with either 5.5- or 6.5-foot beds; SuperCab versions of those trims will be offered with a 6.5-foot bed. For most setups, diesel F-150s will either have 3.55:1 or 3.31:1 axle gearing.

Fleet customers can get the diesel across all trim levels as a SuperCrew with a 5.5- or 6.5-foot bed or a SuperCab with a 6.5-foot bed. 

The diesel will cost an extra $2,400 over the 3.5-liter EcoBoost for XL and XLT models, $3,000 over the 5.0-liter V-8 for King Ranch and Platinum models, and $4,000 over the 2.7-liter EcoBoost for the Lariat.

The baby Power Stroke will be available for ordering later in January, but diesel F-150s likely won't arrive at dealerships until spring. The Ford F-150 also will get a hybrid powertrain before the end of the decade.

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