Ford's 6.7 Power Stroke diesel engine, released in 2011, represented a significant leap forward in terms of efficiency, performance, and longevity. The 6.7L Power Stroke was designed with the influence of a wide array of engineers, and it incorporated several firsts in the diesel pickup market. The engine featured a modern common rail injector design, a GT32 SST single sequential turbocharger, and 4 valves per cylinder, resulting in an impressive 390 horsepower and 735 lb-ft of torque.
One of the key innovations in the 6.7L Power Stroke was the use of a compacted graphite iron block, which was lighter and stronger than the previous engine. Additionally, the engine featured reverse-flow heads, four valves, four rockers, and four pushrods per cylinder, as well as an air-to-water intercooler. These innovations made the 6.7L Power Stroke a standout engine in the market.
Despite the increased complexity of the emissions control system, the 6.7L Power Stroke offered customers a return to pre-'08 fuel economy levels. This was thanks in large part to Ford's use of selective catalytic reduction, which made use of a high-pressure common-rail system from Bosch. This system, complete with the newfangled CP4.2 injection pump and piezoelectric injectors, produced more than 29,000 psi for the cleanest-burning, most efficient combustion event to date.
Ford's new common-rail fuel system was combined with the engine's dual compressor wheel, single sequential variable geometry turbocharger, and peak torque checked in at a Cummins-like 1,600 rpm. This made the 6.7L Power Stroke one of the most powerful and efficient diesel engines on the market at the time.
One of the biggest changes that Ford made with the 6.7L Power Stroke was to develop the engine in-house, without the help of Navistar. The engine boasted a fresh design with a DualBoost variable geometry turbo and a water-to-air intercooler. The Instant Start feature and lightweight compacted graphite iron engine block made it 160 pounds lighter than the 6.4-liter engine it replaced. The 6.7L Power Stroke continued to evolve, with Ford increasing its horsepower and torque outputs over the years.
By 2015, the engine's output had been increased to 440 horsepower and 860 pound-feet of torque, making it one of the most powerful diesel engines on the market. In 2017, the engine's peak torque rose to 925 pound-feet, further cementing its position as a top performer.
Ford has once again solidified its position as the king of heavy haulers with the release of the 2023 Ford F-Series Super Duty. The new truck comes equipped with a range of powerful engines and boasts a class-leading 40,000-pound tow rating and up to 8,000 pounds of payload capacity, depending on the configuration.
The 2023 Super Duty comes with the option of the tried and true 6.7-liter Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel engine, which delivers 475 horsepower and 1,050 lb.-ft. of torque. But for those who need even more muscle, Ford has introduced a new High Output variant of the engine, which cranks out an impressive 500 horsepower and 1,200 lb.-ft. of torque. With this powertrain, the Super Duty earns a best-in-class performance nod.