i heard a rumor about a diesel being offered for the f150 within the next few years, anyone know if this is true?

 

Yes, most likley will.
This is a golden oppertunity for Ford, if they do it right and not put out a piece of ***** and waist it.

 

I hadn't heard. The 2008 CARB laws have such stringent NOx regulations that everyone else is getting out of the deisel business. In Europe, diesels are the rage. I'm looking at a diesel Jetta for my daughter with EPA estimated 48mpg highway. This is right in the range of hybrids without the skinny hard tires, lots of kludgy looking aerodynamics, and propensity to run out of juice in the mountains. It is a peppy, clean, efficient car (1.9 liter turbo diesel). Over here, I think VW is the only diesel car left. Even Mercedes had to abandon them.

The CARB/EPA main regs only apply to passenger cars and light trucks. In the heavy duty trucks through big rigs, diesels are all the rage here too.

I just googled, DaimlerChrysler are going to try diesel this year with an E class diesel and a Jeep Liberty diesel. They had none last year.

 

I know quite a few people who work in the refining business. when they first got a look at the new diesel regs the knee-jerk reaction was "We'll just have to shut down diesel production". Should that actually take place and most refineries stop making diesel, then NOBODY will be able to afford to build or drive diesel vehicles.

The belief around my circle of aquaintances is that the regs will be softened to allow these corperations to continue in business or bio-diesel will become a viable reality. There are several research firms that have been successfull in producing great amounts of biodiesel cheaper than petroleum based diesel. Remember that the Oil companies in America are VERY powerful. Companies which, up to now, have not been allowed to produce cheap biodiesel will spring up like sunflowers in the spring once the government cracks down on the oil companies.

Remember too, that the only way the government has of cleaning up diesel emmissions is to regulate the fuel, not the vehicles. When XLS (extreme low sulpher) becomes law, everybody, including the truckers and railroads will be hurt if we don't have an alternative.

Bottom line, Dodge wouldn't be coming out with NEW diesel models if it thought they would not be able to continue producing them. Since Ford can (emphasis on CAN) build a better product, it's time for them to continue the good work they've been doing and get some light duty diesels out there.

 

back in the day, they had a diesel engine in the rangers, the box body rangers

 

I heard from a Ford rep that came to my house to cut me a new key that a v6 diesel is being tested in Europe right now and will be available in 2006. True?? I would say so. Certainly the power train can handle it, unlike the overseas built trucks. So no real mods to the truck are needed. I see it happening. This was rumor so don't hold me to it.

 

Low suphur diesel is mandated for 2006, so you'll likely see a lot more of them on the market at that time.

 

many rumors on the street. Yes Ford is coming out with a diesel not for sure when it will be done. It is about a $20,000,000.00 deal. Big news, Toyota is coming out with theirs late this year or beginning of 2006. For those who don't know much about diesels after 2002 they started installing cat converters. Truck still does not have to be smogged. Many guys are taking them off which makes it illegal and will void the warranty. Here is the kicker, it is a straight through design so it doesn't do much. Also I heard yesterday through a Friend who works for GMC that even the 2005's are grandfathered in and will not fall under new laws. Oh the engine for the diesel F-150's is designed by international.

 

Why does Ford always use V-series engines? Isn't the best configuration for a diesel a straight-6? I guess we're just a culture stuck on V8s and V6s.

 

Don't make blanket statements like "they don't have to be smogged." It all depends on the state that you live in. Washington state DOES require a smog inspection for diesels, while Kalifornia does not. Check your local emission laws.

 

Really depends on a number of factors. An inline-6 wih a 120-degree crank is perfecly balanced, so it will run very smooth, but it is a long engine and presents packaging problems.

V-type engines are quite compact, but you only get perfect balance with a 60-degree V12; all other V engines will have some 1st- or 2nd-order forces that cause slight vibtarions, which are often cancelled-out with a balance shaft.

Given frontal crush structures and safety regulations, it is becoming increasingly difficult for carmakers to package an inline-6 into a modern car.

 

I heard from a mechanic that one reason Ford uses V engines so that they can fit them in their full size E-series vans, which have cramped engine bays. The V engines are "shorter" in length and height. He also thinks it the V engines bring a nostalgic "muscle" image to the motors.

I'm not sure which is better in diesels, the inline or V configuration. Lots of big rigs use inline 6 diesels, but in some heavy industrial applications, they use V shape diesels. General Electric uses 4400 hp V12 and V16 turbodiesels in their diesel-electric locomotives...and they make the majority of the heavy train engines you see on the railways.

EMD Power Products (ElectroMotive Division, a part of GM) produces diesel power for marine propulsion, offshore and land based oil well drilling rigs, and stationary power generation. The EMD line of engines is available in 8-, 12-, 16-cylinder Roots blower models and 8-, 12-, 16- and 20-cylinder turbocharged models. The horsepower ranges from 800 to 6000, and they are all 45 degree V engines. EMD is the other large locomotive producer, and they use V engines in those as well.

Caterpillar, who makes the best big rig inline-6 diesels, also makes a lot of other industrial and locomotive engines. Their big marine (333 liters, 10,000 hp) engine is a V-18.

On the other hand, the largest diesel used in cargo ships, the 100,000+ hp Sulzer diesel, is an inline 14. So maybe, the "smallest" diesels used in trucks are inline, the mid-size industrial diesels are Vs, and the largest ones for ships are inline?

 

Years ago when Detroit Diesels (GM) were still 2 stroke, they had three cylinder displacements, 60 cubic inches, 72CI, and 110CI (I'm doing this from memory but I believe that's right). You could buy them in inline or V's in any of the three sizes and in several numbers of cylinders. I2s, I4s, I6, V6, I8, V*, etc. on up through huge industrial engines. The cylinder components were the same, pistons, valvetrains, unit injectors, etc. We had a sawmill and several pieces of equipment had them, from a WD-140 crawler tractor with an inline 272 through a power unit that I think was a V 8110.

 

that would be great. i live in diesel country most vehicles here are diesel run because of the price difference and the mileage. ford trucks and suvs have a very low resale value because of the reputation of being gas guzzlers. so i think ford sales will jump with a diesel f150 or even an expedition. but we will all miss the power of the gas engines

 

Lots of rumors here.....

F150Knox,

Not doubting you were told by this "rep", but I seriously doubt a "Key Cutter" is going to have inside knowledge on upcoming offerings from Ford.

Ford had a Diesel in the works about three years ago; however, because of emissions issue's it was tabled. I beleive it was a 4.5L 6cyl? I had a picture of it somewhere on my computer. I'll have to find it and post a pic here. I believe the #'s were somewhere around 250 HP and 400 torque? I'd love to see it come about.

Sackett