Ford's press release 'hints' biodiesel might be used in their new 6.4 Power Stroke diesel.
Oct. 24, 2007 -- Ford is leading the truck diesel revolution with
the first clean diesel engine offered in a full-size pickup truck. The
new Ford-exclusive 6.4-liter Power Stroke® turbo-diesel is quieter,
powerful and more capable, yet it still meets stringent new emissions
regulations thanks to Ford Clean Diesel Technology™.
Highlights:
* New 6.4-liter Power Stroke® diesel with Ford Clean
Diesel Technology™ provides an increase in performance with a sharp
decrease in particulates and emissions
* Sequential turbochargers improve off-the-line performance with smooth acceleration through the power band
* High-pressure, common rail fuel system with Piezo-electric injectors
delivers quiet operation without compromising performance
The 6.4-liter Power Stroke clean-diesel delivers 350 horsepower at
3,000 rpm, 650 foot-pounds of torque starting at 2,000 rpm and has
particulate emissions on par with gasoline engines – a 97 percent
reduction from the 6.0-liter. It has also been tested the equivalent of
10 million miles on road and in the lab, helping ensure excellent
long-term durability.
“No diesel engine has ever delivered this much power and refinement
with such clean emissions,” said Rick Renwick, Diesel Powertrain chief
engineer. “We didn’t compromise on anything.”
A tough, cast iron block and heads provide a strong, durable
foundation for making power and torque. A new cylinder head design and
piston bowl design optimize the high-cylinder pressures delivered by
the high-pressure fuel system. The higher pressures provide more
efficient combustion, delivering increased power and cleaner emissions.
The pistons mount to the forged-steel crankshaft with larger,
stronger rods that feature an increased rob bearing diameter. The
pistons are galley-cooled for increased durability.
Two sequential turbochargers provide improved throttle response
throughout the entire power band with better low-end performance. Tests
have shown zero-to-60 times of more than a second faster than the
outgoing 6.0-liter Power Stroke diesel.
A smaller, variable geometry turbocharger comes on at low rpm to
provide extra boost at take-off. As engine speed increases, the larger
fixed turbo joins the smaller turbo to boost power through the middle
of the torque curve. As optimum speed is reached, the larger turbo
takes over. The system can deliver up to 42 pounds of boost.
Ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel is fed to the engine via a
state-of-the-art, high-pressure common rail fuel injection system. Fuel
pressurized to 26,000 psi is injected into the cylinders through
Piezo-electric injectors. The latest in injector technology can deliver
up to five injections per combustion cycle to better control emissions,
provide instant response for optimized acceleration and improve cold
start down to –20°F.
Dual 440 mm exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) coolers feature an air
oxidation catalyst that literally scrubs the exhaust gasses to protect
coolers against fouling and EGR valve deposits.
The Power Stroke’s engine control module (ECM) has been improved for
2008. Fuel controls and engine controls are now integrated into the
same, rugged cast aluminum housing, enabling proper operation of the
state-of-the-art engine technologies. The ECM durability tests were
increased by two times to insure robustness.
The highly efficient, exhaust system combines engine and
emissions-control technologies such as the diesel particulate filter
(DPF) and oxidation catalyst into a close-knit system, removing nearly
97 percent of the diesel particulate.
A larger fuel filter better separates water from the fuel, an important asset with the increasing availability of biodiesel.
Keeping it cool increases power and durability
The Super Duty cooling system has been designed to handle extremes.
Engineers based the system tests on the F-550 chassis cab’s pulling
gate of 33,000-pounds, combined weight. Super Duty’s radiator has grown
by 33 percent and a larger water pump nearly doubles the coolant flow
rate from 75 to 140 gallons per minute.
“We have designed the industry’s most robust cooling system to
provide maximum power and torque under extreme operating conditions,”
said Renwick.
An all-new engine from an all-new development process
The 6.4-liter diesel is more than just a clean-sheet-of-paper
engine. It benefits from a new development process optimizing
durability, performance, fuel economy and emissions.
The engineering team began by collecting real-world data from
working Super Duty commercial customers, tracking their daily duty
cycles to ensure the development process more accurately reflected
real-world use.
The data was used to develop durability tests that were more
representative of these real-world duty cycles. For example, this
engine program marked the first time that dynamometer tests were run
with the transmission bolted to the engine during the durability run,
allowing engineers to see how the up-shifts and downshifts affected the
powertrain during the duty cycle.
The tests were conducted using the most extreme and abusive
conditions and run to five-times the life cycle that the
hardest-working truck would ever experience, further assuring
durability.
“When we launched the new truck earlier this year, the engine had
already seen more than 10 million equivalent miles of testing both on
the dynamometer and on the road,” said Renwick.
The extended testing hours allowed the team to scrutinize every
component and system under theses customer-driven conditions. As a
result, more than 500 design improvements were made to the diesel
powertrain to improve performance and durability.
Powertrain options include the segment’s most powerful gasoline engine
The all-new 6.4-liter diesel joins a proven gasoline powertrain lineup
that includes the 6.8-liter, three-valve Triton™ V-10 that makes 362
horsepower and 457 pound-feet of torque – both class-leading figures.
Customers also can choose Ford’s modular 5.4-liter, three-valve
Triton™ V-8 that delivers 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque.
More than 80 percent of peak torque – nearly 300 pound-feet – is
available starting as low as 1,000 rpm.
Both engines benefit from electronic throttle control, which
provides economy and performance benefits. For commercial users who
need elevated engine speed to run aftermarket power takeoff (PTO)
systems, the “stationary elevated idle control” feature is available on
all models.
The gasoline engines feature all-new exhaust systems and newly
designed air boxes that mount solidly to the new modular front
structure. Transmission choices include a 6-speed manual with overdrive
or a TorqShift™ 5-speed automatic. The transmissions utilize a new,
unique mounting system that better isolates the powertrain and reduces
vibration.
Transmissions feature all-new gear sets and a three-plate, two-stage
torque converter to reduce turbine noise when the converter is locked.
The F-450 uses upgraded synchronizers to enable electronic shift on the
fly.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles in 200 markets
across six continents. With about 260,000 employees and about 100
plants worldwide, the company’s core and affiliated automotive brands
include Ford, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo and Mazda.
The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit
Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.fordvehicles.com.
Source: Ford Motor Company
