Ford 6.4L diesel

[jcmseven]

I was wondering if anyone knew anything or had insight into the new 6.4L diesel in the new Ford Super Duty truck. I have been glancing at the truck on the Ford website and it seems impressive. I do not know much about the engine. I have heard a derivative of the engine has been used in some Ford commercial trucks but have heard nothing about it. Any thoughts (about the truck or the engine)?

John M

 

[HGM]

Its a morph of the 6.0L that Ford has been using since '03... This is a new engine primarily to pass '07 emissions..All of the issues you may hear about the 6.0L have been addressed in one way or another.. The Ford site shows and tells some pretty good info on it, there is alot of stuff out there now since the Texas fair.. The truck will be available in late Jan-Feb as of my last info..Very quiet and maintenance intervals will be significantly extended because of the lack of a hi pressure oil system like the other Power Strokes since '94.. Should be pretty cool...

 

[dmccarty]

John,

Funny you asked. I was reading up on the new truck last night at this site, TheDieselStop.Com Forums: Viewing forum: 6.4L Power Stroke Engine and Drivetrain

The new engine does not do anything for me, my 2002 7.3L has more than enough ooomph. But they have some neat features on the new truck. The interior has been redone and it looks real nice to me. Some have been critical of it but I think it looks good. There is a step in the gate which looks neat and useful. Sure would be safer than what I do to get into the bed. They also have a foldaway fence that can hold things near the gate if its close or if it is open it can be placed to keep cargo from sliding out of the bed.

What really has caught my eye is the payloads have really gone up. The Crew Cab with 8 foot bed and a SRW has a payload over 4,000 pounds! My 2002 truck is about 2200/2400 pounds.

What looks real scary is that the engine compartment is beyond cramped and tight. From pictures it looks like when you open the hood the grill goes with it to help provide access to the engine. From some comments and pictures it looks like the front panels come off the truck to provide more access to the engine. There have been comments about the "cab" being removable. I think they mean the front panels. I don't know if this is true or how its done but its a good idea if it can be done easily.

If Ford does not have a problem with the engine this is going to be a real nice truck. I just started reading up on the truck, I'm sure there are some other interesting features on the truck. There are some stuff on the dash that I'm curious about.

Later,
Dan

 

[HGM]

What looks real scary is that the engine compartment is beyond cramped and tight. From pictures it looks like when you open the hood the grill goes with it to help provide access to the engine.

Yep...

From some comments and pictures it looks like the front panels come off the truck to provide more access to the engine.

Not on the ones I have seen, really dont know how that would be possible..

There have been comments about the "cab" being removable. I think they mean the front panels. I don't know if this is true or how its done but its a good idea if it can be done easily.

Yes, that will be a recomended service procedure.. The whole body will come off for engine work.. Its done with the same type of lift they curently lift the truck with to do any other work.. Its really not as bad as it sounds, the body is made to be put together in this fasion, it is also being designed to come apart this way for service.. Its a shocking thing to see, but really not an issue.. This was dont to ease servicability for the guys working on them..There are special tools, procedures and torque specs involved.. As long as the tech follows these procedures, you wont even be able to tell it was apart...

 

[dmccarty]

Yes, that will be a recomended service procedure.. The whole body will come off for engine work.. Its done with the same type of lift they curently lift the truck with to do any other work.. Its really not as bad as it sounds, the body is made to be put together in this fasion, it is also being designed to come apart this way for service.. Its a shocking thing to see, but really not an issue.. This was dont to ease servicability for the guys working on them..There are special tools, procedures and torque specs involved.. As long as the tech follows these procedures, you wont even be able to tell it was apart...

You provided more info than the gossip on TDS. There are some pictures over there showing the front panels off the truck. The idea of lifting off the cab to get to the engine just sounded to out of this world. So it was being guessed that the panels could be removed.

Hopefully the cab only has to be removed for some serious engine work. The worry was it would keep the Shade Tree mechanics from working easily on the trucks.

Rhetorical question time. How hard would it be to have the panel's built for easy removal? My JD tractor does it. Surely Ford could. The contortions required to work on some stuff would seem to be easier. Think of the custom products!

Its a real nice looking truck. Its tantalizing guys to buy one. Its calling me as well but I, 1. Dont have the money. 2. My 2002 is fine with not one problem in 75K miles, 3. Its paid for!

Later,
dan

 

[AlanB]

At first when I read it I was shocked thinking of pulling the cab, but really, I just pulled the bed off the ranger to change a fuel filler tube, and I pulled the bed of my 98 Z71 to do a fuel pump. While certainly more complicated, those beds were pulled in short order, never having done either model before.

With some good electrical connections, some forethought and good planning on the manufacturers part, it should not be that hard to pull the cab off as a unit.

Sure would make it a lot easier to get at stuff I have to think.

 

[HGM]

Rhetorical question time. How hard would it be to have the panel's built for easy removal? My JD tractor does it. Surely Ford could.

I believe the biggest issue is crash testing... Those pretty fenders have a use other than just looks.. If they were made to pop off for service, I would immagine they may do the same in an accident.. I have been told that is the primary reason we havent seen the flip up style front clip like the big trucks have.. Crash testing regulations for the trucks are different..

With some good electrical connections, some forethought and good planning on the manufacturers part, it should not be that hard to pull the cab off as a unit.

Yep, no big deal...The assembly line process depends on quick easy assembly, so the dissassembly idea is not too much to add to it...

 

[QueBota]

Here is a Ford presentation on the 2008 6.4 Super Duty

http://www.backglass.org/duncan/ps64_manual/ps64_overview.pdf

 

[Donnyj]

Lifting the cab off has pretty much become standard now. Ever since 2003 when the 6.0 diesel came out diesel techs nationwide have gotten alot of practice pulling cabs off to work on these engines. Hopefully the 6.4 will give some techs a much needed break from engine work.

 

[HGM]

Lifting the cab off has pretty much become standard now. Ever since 2003 when the 6.0 diesel came out diesel techs nationwide have gotten alot of practice pulling cabs off to work on these engines. Hopefully the 6.4 will give some techs a much needed break from engine work.

Very true.... At least this time it will be designed that way so it will be a bit easier.... We'll see how it goes, training starts the first week in Jan.. .