Ford’s 2018 F150 pickup is now available with a new light-truck diesel engine and is a heavy duty hitter.
Available in the 2018 F150 pickup, this 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 puts out 440 ft.-lbs. of torque at only 1,750 rpm, making it a great choice for anyone who tows a trailer.
It addition to the pulling power, it also gets amazing fuel economy, even while towing. EPA estimated fuel economy ratings are 10.8 litres per 100 kilometres on the highway and with moderate driving style but keeping to the speed limit I was able to better that by 25 per cent.
Even when towing a 6,500-pound Tige Z1 ski boat and trailer on very hilly roads, the fuel economy was as good as the EPA estimates.
Originally designed by Ford for its then-owned Land Rover division, this new 3.0-litre engine, internally named the Lion engine family, has undergone significant development and changes to make it work specifically for the North American truck market.
Anita Bersie, Ford’s Engines System Supervisor for the 3.0-litre Lion engine explained some of those changes.
To fit it into the engine compartment, the turbocharger is placed outboard of the right cylinder head.
The left side exhaust manifold directs the exhaust gases through a connecting pipe around the back of the engine to the right side turbo inlet.
This design frees up space on the left side of the engine for items like the power brake booster and the electric power steering mechanism.
The oil filter, located in the top centre of the engine between the cylinder heads, is changed in a two-step process. First, the filter housing is loosened, allowing oil to drain from the housing down into the engine crankcase.
Then the oil filter housing can be removed to replace the cartridge type oil filter. Placing the oil filter on the top of the engine protects it from damage and allows the alternator to be mounted on the lower left side of the block.
A Bosch design high-pressure injection pump sits on the back of the engine behind the oil filter and between the cylinder heads where it can feed the computer-controlled direct injectors with high pressure fuel.
The pump is driven by a toothed belt from the rear of the left side overhead camshaft. All this technology gives the F150 a best-in-class towing capacity of 11,400 pounds and a 2,020-pound payload.
The F150 is offered in six trim levels from the base XL model to the ultra luxurious Limited edition.
I was driving a Platinum model which is a step above the King Ranch model and just below the Limited, although all these trucks have a feeling of luxury.
Interior trim is leather, with heated and cooled seats and enough legroom for professional basketball players.
Interior features include: a dual panel moonroof, voice control for the touch screen navigation and entertainment system, remote starting and blind spot information system that also monitors traffic in the trailer blind spot when towing.
The optional 360-degree camera system has a split screen mode for great around the truck visibility.
Pro Trailer backup assist enables even a novice to hook up to a trailer with no stress and rain sensing wipers and power tilt/telescopic heated steering wheel are but a couple more of the Platinum model features.
On the road, the F150 is so quiet, most would never believe our truck had a diesel engine. Even standing beside a running truck, you may not think the engine is running.
It is powerful, smooth and deceptively quick, mainly because the truck is so quiet inside.
The 10- speed automatic transmission shifts so smoothly you hardly feel a shift even when it shifts down several gears at once.
Off road, the F150 is equally surprising. I put it through an off road route that was designed to be tough in the dry — it was wet and muddy.
With the transfer case in 4Low and the electric lock rear differential engaged, the F150 tackled steep slippery hills and deep mud holes with ease, all on stock tires.
The low rpm torque of the diesel engine certainly helped.
If you tow, or are simply looking for great fuel economy, the F150 equipped with this new 3.0-litre PowerStroke diesel engine is a great option.
You won’t be disappointed.
