Will Future F150 Owners Be Making The Switch?
 

I was reading through my recent issue of Truck Trend last night and noticed something that current F150 owners would like to have that the Titan is supposed to be getting.

A DIESEL ENGINE!

It is rumored that is will be in the 2007 model year and most likely in the 5.5 L range.

Thoughts anyone?

-Matt :-tap

I believe it will be far more like a 4-4.5l engine (think PSD with 2 cylinders lopped off)...

It should be a good 'un

Will be interesting to see what the competition brings to the table...

diesel in 1/2 ton pickup
 

I was discussing this very subject with a guy at work the other day, I love the new F150'S but want the diesel engine for towing, fuel economy, and durability. A smaller diesel in the F150 would be awesome. You would probably get mid 20's or better per gallon.. How do we get FORD on board with this idea, of course they would have to beef up the drive train and suspension. If you agree please email FORD..

I'm a firm believer that the first company to install a diesel into a 1/2 ton pickup will have the market locked up. At least until the competition follows up with their own. Imagine how many people would opt for the diesel option on an F-150 for instance. Better towing than the 5.4 (most likely) far better fuel mileage, and of course the durability. To one that needs to do moderate towing, but doesn't want a 3/4 or 1 ton truck, the 1/2 diesel is looking mighty fine. I hope to see this one day. Heck. Cummins should shave a few cylinders off the 5.9, and watch people flock to buy a Ram 1500 with an I-4 CTD.


Best as always.

They would have the market if they did it right. Rushing a diesel to market that isn't ready for prime time would hurt in the long run. Anyone remember the 350 chevy diesel of the 80's. What a disaster.

I would love to see a half-ton diesel from any manufacturer. Toyota is working on a new 4.4L V8 CRD with around 300hp and 428 lb-ft. Whether they bring it to America or not is a tough question though as they are pushing hybrids pretty hard over here. I would prefer the CRD though.

http://www.tacomaterritory.com/forum...ead.php?t=5070

Maybe I'm going against the grain here, but I have no intrest in a diesel engine in an F150. Why should I pay $3000 extra for an engine that requires fuel that is more expensive, and harder to find, than regular gasoline? There is no payback, even though the diesel may get better mileage. Also, seems to me that regular maintenance on a diesel is more expensive (what does a 6.0 hold, 13 or so quarts of oil?). Now, I understand that there are certain applications where a diesel is superior, such as towing, but if I use my truck as a daily driver, with minimal hauling and no towing, I don't see the advantage. In fact, if I were to buy an F250, I'd get the V10 anyway.

I suppose it depends on where you live. Most stations I have seen in Canada have diesel a few cents cheaper than regular unleaded so the payback isn't hard to come by. I know which local stations have diesel and major stations along highways are always a good bet when travelling. This is coming from a VW TDI perspective, but maintenance seems to be roughly the same: oil is more expensive but goes longer between changes, glow plugs may require replacing but there are no spark plugs, wires, or coils to worry about. Resale value for a diesel is likely going to be higher than the gas engine so some of the initial investment does return if fuel savings don't pay off.

Wouldn't it be great if there's a hybrid Diesel? giving 25-30mpg for our half ton trucks with increased power? I'm sure there's works somewhere under closed doors. I'm positively sure that it'll be an instant hit when it reach the market.

Cummins does make a 4 cylinder diesel. Its a 3.9 and many jeep owners swap in the engine. I don't know why they don't use it in half ton use though.

I think it would be a huge move for ford to put a diesel in there F150. Ford would own the truck market if they were the first ones to introduce a 1/2 ton diesel. On the other hand i would definitly wait alittle while until all of the quirks would be worked out. I drive a Explorer, and i am even hoping to see a diesel in the Explorer sometime down the road.

From rumors I've seen, with the cancelation of the Hurricane engine, Ford will be putting more work into a diesel instead. I would bet that once the low sulfer diesel regulations take affect in '07, that we will see all sorts of diesel options.

I got a few concerns about a diesel in a half-ton class pickup...

1. How much will it cost? If it adds over $1500 to the price of the truck noone's going to buy it in my opinion.

2. How much will it weigh? All the new 1/2 tons are relatively flimsy IFSs and I wouldn't want a 1000lb engine dragging down my front end. My wife's 5.4L F150 Crew already weighs about 5600lbs. Do I really want a 1/2 ton pickup that weighs 6000lbs??

3. Alot of guys buy 1/2 tons for speed. I don't see any 1/2 ton diesel engine being in the same class speed-wise as the 5.6L Nissan or the Dodge 5.7L. Maybe I'm wrong about that

Ford has already spent much time on developing a diesel for the F150, and is prolly in front of other mfg'ers to bring it to a 1/2 ton truck.

According to Peterson's 4x4 mag, the VT-275 (V-6 diesel) was developed by Navistar for the '04 F-150, but due to it's weight it was shelved. This was in the latest mag, under the "Big diesel power" article.

I strongly believe lot people will buy the smaller diesel (four or six cyl) on half ton pickups.....at the hefty price of 6K, the Ford are selling the powerstrokes on Super Duties like hotcakes. So even with extra 3K on half ton, which would accounts for 7-10% markup, I'm pretty sure it'll sell especially with the gas price nowdays. I would buy a diesel if there's availability in near future, with understanding that it's going to be reliable, more power, and most of all better gas mileage than the 5.4L. Diesel Hybrid would be most ideal with best of both world.