Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Ford's light-duty 4.4L V8 diesel DOA?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/16/fords-light-duty-4-4l-v8-diesel-doa/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/16/fords-light-duty-4-4l-v8-diesel-doa/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/16/fords-light-duty-4-4l-v8-diesel-doa/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Ford F-150

Ford's reported decision to put its long-awaited light-duty diesel truck engine on ice for the time being could well be a result of slowing truck sales and the rising cost of diesel fuel. Indeed, the Blue Oval's pickup sales are down by about 27% compared to last year and are a far cry from what they were a few short years ago. That downward trend in sales is partly blamed on the recent rise in fuel prices, and diesel fuel has outpaced gasoline in its upward spiral. So, while diesel engines are inherently more fuel efficient than those running on gasoline, that pricing difference is usually only made up when a truck is used for heavy hauling and towing - one reason the expensive oil-burners prove so popular in the largest of trucks. Ford's not so sure any longer that drivers of its non Super-Duty trucks want or need a smaller diesel engine option. So, for now, Ford's 4.4-liter diesel V8 has been shelved.

Though not in the full-size truck segment for nearly as long, Toyota's Tundra has seen sales declines much steeper than the pickups from Ford, and the Japanese automaker has also put its diesel V8 on hold. General Motors is still on track to launch its 4.5-liter oil-burner, as is Chrysler with a Cummins-built 5.0-liter turbodiesel V8. These relatively small diesels are expected to average about 25% better fuel economy than their gasoline brethren while offering a power improvement of 10-15%. Ford believes it can offer similar performance benefits with its EcoBoost series of engines, one of which is slated for the F-Series trucks in 2010, for a smaller surcharge. We'll see.

Gallery: 2009 Ford F-150


[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Ford's light-duty 4.4L V8 diesel DOA? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.4-liter4.4l4.4l diesel4.4lDieselecoboostecoboost f150EcoboostF150f 150f-150f-seriesf150ford f 150ford f-150ford f-150 dieselford f-seriesford f150FordF-150FordF-150DieselFordF-seriesFordF150Thu, 16 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Ford F-150's 4.4L diesel exposed]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/spy-shots-ford-f-150s-4-4l-diesel-exposed/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/spy-shots-ford-f-150s-4-4l-diesel-exposed/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/spy-shots-ford-f-150s-4-4l-diesel-exposed/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The Internet got a sneak peek at the new 4.4L Ford diesel engine last April when somebody snapped a pic of the complete package sitting on the floor at Ford's national dealer conference. Now, thanks to some eagle-eyed sharp shooters, we can see the new oil-burning mill in its natural habitat under the hood of a Ford F-150. Sure, there's lots of black plastic covering all the good stuff, but we can get a glimpse of all the assorted plumbing that will make this engine squeaky clean. We can also have a good shot of the intercooler, peaking out between the grille and the radiator.

This engine is labeled as a Power Stroke, Ford's long-running moniker for the diesels equipped in its Super Duty trucks. For years, those mills have been made by Navistar, but after the fallout between the automaker and the supplier, Ford is now using a derivative of the diesel from Land Rover in Europe, though the 4.4L iteration will be made in Mexico for the North American market. Offering 20-percent more fuel economy than the 5.4L gas-powered Triton, along with a considerable bump in power, this could be one very important addition for the Ford Motor Company and will likely make its official debut at next year's Chicago Auto Show.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Spy Shots: Ford F-150's 4.4L diesel exposed originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.44.4-liter4.4l4.4l diesel4.4L power stroke4.4lDiesel4.4lPowerStrokeford dieselford diesel engineford diesel enginesford dieselsford power strokeFordDieselFordDieselEngineFordDieselEnginesFordDieselsFordPowerStrokepower strokepower stroke dieselPowerStrokePowerStrokeDieselWed, 23 Jul 2008 13:02:00 EST<![CDATA[New 2010 Ford 4.4-liter diesel engine scooped!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/new-2010-ford-4-4-liter-diesel-engine-scooped/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/new-2010-ford-4-4-liter-diesel-engine-scooped/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/04/13/new-2010-ford-4-4-liter-diesel-engine-scooped/#commentsFiled under: , ,

At last week's dealer show in Las Vegas, a picture of Ford's upcoming 4.4-liter V8 diesel powerplant was leaked to the Internet... ouch. The new powerplant is hardly a secret (we were reporting the first hints of it in June 2006, and the legal issues surrounding the engine in June 2007), but this is the first time the public has seen a photo of the new diesel in its metallic flesh.

Designed to offer comparable acceleration to the current 5.4-liter gasoline Triton, the new engine should be rated at about 330 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy is expected to be around 20% better than the gas-fed Triton. To meet tough emission standards, a NOx after-treatment called "aqueous urea" will be injected into the hot exhaust stream. While the additive cleans up the tailpipe exhaust, it will also be another fluid the consumer will have to maintain (Ford is promising the "urea tank" will only need replenishing during oil changes). Although it doesn't look very attractive sitting naked on a stand atop the garish hotel carpet, you had better get used to seeing this V8 around town. Ford is saying that after a debut in the F-150 midway through the 2010 model year, we can expect the engine to follow in the Expedition, Navigator, E-Series vans, and F-Series SuperDuty.

Gallery: Ford 4.4-liter Diesel


[Source: F150online via Pickuptruck.com]

New 2010 Ford 4.4-liter diesel engine scooped! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 13 Apr 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.4-literAqueous ureaAqueousUreabreakingDieselF-150FordSun, 13 Apr 2008 09:15:00 EST