Ford Power Stroke Diesel Engine Problems

The Ford Motor Company has used Power Stroke diesel engines in its heavy duty pickup trucks since 1982. Originally manufactured by International Harvester and now by Navistar, the 6.0-liter V8 sold from 2003 to 2007 was problem-plagued, presenting owners with various engine problems.

Background

Introduced in 2003, the 6.0-liter turbodiesel V8 offered more power and lower emissions than the 7.3-liter engine it replaced. This engine is rated at 325 horsepower and 570 foot-pounds of torque and featured an exhaust gas recirculation system.

Problem Trucks

Problems with the 6.0-liter V8 turbodiesel are isolated to 2003 and 2004 trucks. The main problem has been blamed on a high-pressure fuel-injection system developed by Navistar which uses both an oil pump and electronics to power the engine. Consumer complaints of fuel injection or turbocharger failure were common with other owners complaining about oil leaks, faulty sensors, bad computers and recirculation valve problems. A major redesign released in late 2004 has proved that later versions of this engine are more reliable, according to Autoweek.

Warranty

Ford spend hundreds of millions of dollars on warranty work to fix problems outlined in 77 company technical service bulletins. Affected vehicles are covered by a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

References

• Autoweek: Ford's Diesel Drama Drags On: Power Stroke Woes Anger Buyers, Drive Up Warranty Costs
• Power Stroke Diesel: History