Ford Dishes Specs on New 3.0-liter Diesel F-150

Not willing to cede any pickup ground to its rivals, Ford Motor Company will soon open orders for a light-duty diesel pickup. Under the hood of its F-150, the Blue Oval’s new 3.0-liter Power Stroke diesel V6 promises class-leading fuel economy (in a very small class) and greater towing capacity than its Fiat Chrysler competitor.

The model’s trailer-yanking potential is the result of the latest battle in the great, ongoing Torque War.

With 250 horsepower on tap and 440 lb-ft of torque delivered at 1,750 rpm, Ford’s light-duty diesel tops the Ram 1500 EcoDiesel (currently available as a 2017 model) by 10 hp and 20 lb-ft. Its towing capacity — 11,400 pounds — beats the Ram by 2,110 lbs, while a payload capacity of 2,020 lbs is some 380 lbs greater than the EcoDiesel.

Power and hauling prowess is one half of the diesel equation, but it isn’t as marketable if fuel economy isn’t up to snuff. Ford claims an EPA-estimated 30 mile-per-gallon highway figure — presumably for a rear-drive variant. That earns it the title of most fuel efficient F-150, as well as leader in the light-duty class.

Ram’s EcoDiesel took a fuel economy haircut after the EPA revamped its testing regimen, meaning the model currently rates a 27 mph highway figure. Earlier models carried a rating of 28 mpg highway, with the HFE model aero’d out for a 29 mpg figure.

Helping Ford’s quest for the efficiency crown is the model’s recent weight loss and the addition of a 10-speed automatic transmission. A start/stop system comes standard.

Yes, it’s the stuff “that dreams are made of,” claims Dave Filipe, Ford’s vice president of global powertrain engineering. The crew tasked with finessing the continually improved 6.7-liter Power Stroke put their skills to use in crafting this engine, with plenty of technology carryover between the two. A variable-geometry Honeywell turbocharger aims to reduce lag, while the engine’s compacted-graphite iron block material and forged steel crank come straight from the 2.7-liter EcoBoost bin.

While Ford gets in on the aero game with dual radiator shutters, it doesn’t let the drag-reducing feature sacrifice performance. The shutters stay closed at moderate loads but pop open during hard uphill climbs to aid the engine-driven fan.

“We know that competing 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.”

You’ll have to wait for official pricing. Certainly, there’ll be a premium attached — no doubt the greatest of the model’s six-engine lineup. Orders open in a couple of weeks, with the first F-150 diesels arriving on dealer lots this spring.

[Image: Ford Motor Company]