Ford Diesel engine question

100Acre

100Acre

Samsquinch the Terrible Magic Bean Manipulator
Lifetime Member
Club Contributor
Apr 25, 2017
17,511
104,857
113
Idaho
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
Can anybody tell me what the difference is on these two engines and why one might be better than another? Please don’t answer one sucks and one sucks more. Thanks.
DE013E8E CFFD 4896 9BF5 C3E20F3841C7
 
Vikes79

Vikes79

SKOL!
Lifetime Member
Jul 18, 2018
11,709
113,610
113
South Dakota
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4 LV
It depends on what chassis you have. If you’re in the f550 range you have choice of more than one engine.

If you’re in the F250, 350,450? The only diesel available is the Ford 6.7 B20 power stroke engine. It’s a rock solid engine that can run 20% biodiesel without modifications.

The other shown I believe is a cat v8 diesel, but without knowing what year or chassis I’m guessing as that option engine varies in the big chassis range.

My 2016 F350 6.7l PSD is a monster when you hit the go pedal with a load on!
 
HBarlow

HBarlow

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2020
1,622
6,034
113
Daniels, WV
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. Talon X
I think the middle choice, "Power stroke" engine is the old International Harvester 7.3 liter school bus motor.

I think the latter choice, the "intercooled" engine, is Ford's 6.7 liter V8 developed after Ford lost several $100 million on the sorry IH 6.0 liter V8. It's a good engine.

No one in their right mind would buy a Ford (IH) 6.0 liter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ChadD and 100Acre
100Acre

100Acre

Samsquinch the Terrible Magic Bean Manipulator
Lifetime Member
Club Contributor
Apr 25, 2017
17,511
104,857
113
Idaho
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
Personally I’m a Ford guy and personally I would much rather have a Cummins engine even though I know very little about diesel engines to begin with but everything I’ve heard about commons from somebody on this form in particular is that they are the best engines out there I just wish Ford would put a Cummins in their damn trucks i have a 6.7 powerstroke in my f350. What are the biggest detractors I think from my particular truck is when you open the hood you can barely stick your hand in anywhere so many other stupid California compliant components blocking access it is difficult at best just to remove the air filter.
 
Vikes79

Vikes79

SKOL!
Lifetime Member
Jul 18, 2018
11,709
113,610
113
South Dakota
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4 LV
I think the middle choice, "Power stroke" engine is the old International Harvester 7.3 liter school bus motor.

I think the latter choice, the "intercooled" engine, is Ford's 6.7 liter V8 developed after Ford lost several $100 million on the sorry IH 6.0 liter V8. It's a good engine.

No one in their right mind would buy a Ford (IH) 6.0 liter.
Neither the 7.3 or 6.0 are in production for emissions reasons for some time now. The B20 engine is the Ford 6.7 designed diesel.
 
100Acre

100Acre

Samsquinch the Terrible Magic Bean Manipulator
Lifetime Member
Club Contributor
Apr 25, 2017
17,511
104,857
113
Idaho
Ownership

  1. 1000-5
Neither the 7.3 or 6.0 are in production for emissions reasons for some time now. The B20 engine is the Ford 6.7 designed diesel.
I’m assuming in have the B20 in my 2021?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ChadD
Vikes79

Vikes79

SKOL!
Lifetime Member
Jul 18, 2018
11,709
113,610
113
South Dakota
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4 LV
I agree but didn't want to hear the Ford owners squeal.

The only diesel truck motor in a light truck is the Cummins.
Not by any stretch. Cummins has their share of problems as well. Especially considering until recently the chassis the Cummins was in was a real pile of rolling crap.


Ford changed from the 7.3 to the 6.0 inorder to meet the requirements. Dodge/Ram took another route.
 
advertisement
Vikes79

Vikes79

SKOL!
Lifetime Member
Jul 18, 2018
11,709
113,610
113
South Dakota
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4 LV
I’m assuming in have the B20 in my 2021?
Yes. There isn’t a non biodiesel version I know of.

Also…the engine output ratings in the cab and chassis trucks are usually reduced by comparison to the F250/f350 counterparts.

Any diesel engine in a F450 + is going to serve the average joe just fine.
 
HBarlow

HBarlow

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2020
1,622
6,034
113
Daniels, WV
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. Talon X
I have no idea what the op's
Can anybody tell me what the difference is on these two engines and why one might be better than another? Please don’t answer one sucks and one sucks more. Thanks.
View attachment 418013

I have no idea what this document copied here is but the old school bus motor, IH's 7.3 liter diesel, was always called the "Power Stroke." I don't recall it being intercooled. 7.3 liters is approximately equal to 444 cubic inchessl.

The only way numbers "406" in the latter engine makes sense is if it refers to the Ford 6.7 liter engine currently in-use. 406 cubic inches is approximately equal to 6.7 liters.
 
Vikes79

Vikes79

SKOL!
Lifetime Member
Jul 18, 2018
11,709
113,610
113
South Dakota
Ownership

  1. 1000-5

  2. Talon X4 LV
Personally I’m a Ford guy and personally I would much rather have a Cummins engine even though I know very little about diesel engines to begin with but everything I’ve heard about commons from somebody on this form in particular is that they are the best engines out there I just wish Ford would put a Cummins in their damn trucks i have a 6.7 powerstroke in my f350. What are the biggest detractors I think from my particular truck is when you open the hood you can barely stick your hand in anywhere so many other stupid California compliant components blocking access it is difficult at best just to remove the air filter.
All modern diesels are requiring strong maintenance on the fuel supply side and DEF…no different that what you already experience. I change my fuel filters every 2nd oil change on my 2016.

with all the emissions etc, they all stink to work on anymore. This is why most businesses etc are going back to gas engines in their work trucks. It’s also why Ford designed a new big block gas engine in 2021….the 7.3 gas v8.
 
HBarlow

HBarlow

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2020
1,622
6,034
113
Daniels, WV
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. Talon X
Tens of thousands of OTR tractors running the highways of the US, Canada, and Europe are equipped with an inline six cylinder engine built by Cummins, Caterpillar, Mercedees Benz,, or other manufacturer. There is not one single V8 diesel in an OTR tractor.

It's not a coincidence that the Cummins turbodiesel engine used in Doge Rams is also an inline six cylinder.
 
Mopower58

Mopower58

Unburdened by what has been!
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Aug 10, 2017
79,806
708,789
113
Crystal Springs,Ms.
Ownership

  1. 1000-3
I have no idea what the op's


I have no idea what this document copied here is but the old school bus motor, IH's 7.3 liter diesel, was always called the "Power Stroke." I don't recall it being intercooled. 7.3 liters is approximately equal to 444 cubic inchessl.

The only way numbers "406" in the latter engine makes sense is if it refers to the Ford 6.7 liter engine currently in-use. 406 cubic inches is approximately equal to 6.7 liters.
The 7.3 was innercooled from 99 1/2 through 2003 when ford ceased using them and went to the 6 no. The 94-98 Powerstroke was a 7.3 but not innercooled. International built fords‘ diesels until they started building their own 6.7.
 
Mopower58

Mopower58

Unburdened by what has been!
Lifetime Member
Supporting Member
Aug 10, 2017
79,806
708,789
113
Crystal Springs,Ms.
Ownership

  1. 1000-3
The 7.3 was innercooled from 99 1/2 through 2003 when ford ceased using them and went to the 6 no. The 94-98 Powerstroke was a 7.3 but not innercooled. International built fords‘ diesels until they started building their own 6.7.
83-87 ford used the 6.9 IH diesel. 88-93 ford used the 7.3 IDI then 7.3 IDI turbo. Then ford sold their interest in Cummins to help fund the Powerstroke as Cummins was eating away at ford’s market share with the Dodge.
 
HBarlow

HBarlow

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2020
1,622
6,034
113
Daniels, WV
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. Talon X
All modern diesels are requiring strong maintenance on the fuel supply side and DEF…no different that what you already experience. I change my fuel filters every 2nd oil change on my 2016.

with all the emissions etc, they all stink to work on anymore. This is why most businesses etc are going back to gas engines in their work trucks. It’s also why Ford designed a new big block gas engine in 2021….the 7.3 gas v8.

Actually the Cummins 6.7 engine requires very little maintenance.

I bought a new Ram 3500 cab and chassis in 2008 and drove it 235,000 miles. I changed the fuel filter every 15,000 miles as suggested by the maintenance schedule. I sold it to a friend back in Texas about 2 - 2 1/2 years ago and strongly advised him to do the same. Over the past weekend his son took it to Douglas, WY to deliver a late '60s Plymouth Barracuda and he picked up a '39 Ford convertible with small block Chevy on the way home. He sent me photos including the instrument panel. My old Dodge had over 292,000 miles on it when he got home to Lubbock.

The truck has had two water pumps replaced and NO other maintenance. Just routine preventive maintenance. Oil and filter changed every 10k and fuel filter changed every 15k. Cummins turbodiesel engines are extremely rugged and reliable.

If you say you prefer Fords that's your business. It's simply nonsense to claim the Dodge platform is not reliable. I've owned three of them for a total of almost 1,000,000 miles pulling trailers. I've replaced a two water pumps, two ac compressors, shock absorbers on each truck one time, and brake pads on one. I've never had a failure of a truck or cab part.

Oops, I forgot one. The second Dodge Ram, an '06 3500 pickup with MOPAR automatic transmission, had a rear seal failure that was replaced under warranty by a dealer.
 
HBarlow

HBarlow

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
Jun 14, 2020
1,622
6,034
113
Daniels, WV
Ownership

  1. 1000-3

  2. Talon X
83-87 ford used the 6.9 IH diesel. 88-93 ford used the 7.3 IDI then 7.3 IDI turbo. Then ford sold their interest in Cummins to help fund the Powerstroke as Cummins was eating away at ford’s market share with the Dodge.
That's right. I had forgotten about the 6.9 Power Stroke.
 
advertisement

About us

  • Our community has been around for many years and pride ourselves on offering unbiased, critical discussion among people of all different backgrounds. We are working every day to make sure our community is one of the best.

User Menu

Buy us a beer!

  • Lots of time and money has gone into making sure the community is running the best software, best designs, and all the other bells and whistles. Care to buy us a beer? We'd really appreciate it!

    Beer Fund!

    Club Membership!