Thursday 26 September 2013

Ford gives praise for CGI V8 diesels

The 500,000th 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel engine has just been installed into a new 2014 Ford Super Duty F-350 Lariat at the company’s Louisville Truck Assembly Plant in Kentucky.

Introduced in 2011, the 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 turbocharged diesel delivers 400 bhp and 800 lbft torque with best-in-class fuel economy. The V8 has a compacted graphite iron (CGI) cylinder block cast by Tupy SA in Joinville, Brazil; the engine is machined and assembled at Ford’s Chihuahua Engine Plant (CEP), Mexico.

"This is a significant milestone for an engine that was introduced just a few years ago," said Doug Scott, Ford Truck group marketing manager. "Demand for the engine has outpaced our expectations; our customers love the combination of performance, towing capability, and fuel economy."

The 6.7-litre Power Stroke V8 diesel engine delivers 400 horsepower at 2,800 rev/min and 800 lbft of torque at 1,600 rev/min. Ford claim the F-350 truck “easily meets” stringent emissions requirements. The turbocharged diesel shares Super Duty's legendary reliability and durability while enabling up to 24,700 lb towing capability for F-450 pickup and up to 26,600 pounds for F-550 chassis cab.

Ford claims it is the only heavy-duty pickup truck manufacturer that designs and builds its own diesel engine and transmission combination from concept to driveaway, ensuring the powertrain will work “seamlessly” with all chassis components and vehicle calibrations. Ford notes this approach enables its engineers to optimize the vehicle's performance across the entire line-up.

Ford claims the benefits of this V8 Power Stroke diesel engine are its compacted graphite iron engine block. Ford notes that CGI is stronger than cast iron, while the block structure is optimized for reduced weight and maximum strength to meet the demands of higher horsepower and torque.

There is also an advanced inboard exhaust and outboard intake architecture – an automotive-industry first for a modern production pickup truck diesel engine – which reduces overall exhaust system volume and leads to better throttle and turbo response for customers. Additionally, there is reduced exhaust system surface area to minimize heat transfer to the engine compartment and improve noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) performance.

 This engine architecture enables easier service work for all major engine components, potentially reducing downtime. Ford adds that the turbocharger is uniquely centre-mounted on a pedestal low in the back of the valley for improved NVH control. The high-pressure fuel system injects fuel at over 2,000 bar. The system delivers up to five injection events per cylinder per cycle, using eight-hole piezo injectors to spray fuel into the piston bowl.

The direct-injection system is calibrated and phased for optimum power, fuel efficiency and NVH performance. Aluminium cylinder heads further help reduce weight, while the mid-deck construction with dual water jackets provides increased strength and optimal cooling.

There are six-head bolts, instead of four as found on other engines, and help improve sealing and maintain cylinder integrity.

The engine is compatible up to B20 biodiesel, allowing greener fuelling options of up to 20 per cent biodiesel and 80 per cent petroleum diesel

"Our Super Duty customers are no-nonsense, no-compromise individuals," said Joe Bakaj, vice president of powertrain engineering. "Those are the attributes our team took to heart when engineering this diesel engine so we can deliver Built Ford Tough capability, reliability and enhanced productivity." 


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