Ford Walks Back on Diesel F-150

This past week the news spread like a California wildfire. We read about it in several articles. This one by Joe Patel, from Cars Direct, has a pretty good summary of the report. 

Many observers noticed the absence of a diesel option in the 2021 F-150 last year, but then Ford seemed to have a change of plans and the Power Stroke V6 became available later. This year, Ford Authority announced that the diesel engine for F-150s is to be a thing of the past. This leaves five engine options for F-150 buyers: a 3.3-liter V6, turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, hybrid turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 and a 5.0-liter V8. 

According to Car and Driver, it's the popularity of these other engines, such as the EcoBoost, that led to this decision. July 16 was the last day one could order a Power Stroke diesel option.

Cars Direct stated that this last Power Stroke V6 showed some real grit when one looks at the numbers it generated. 250 hp and 440 lbs-feet of torque is nothing to scoff at. But according to Patel, the availability of a hybrid overshadowed that power.

This is not the end of diesel engines at Ford. Diesel is still "available on the XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trims  with four-wheel drive." The extra cost varies from $3k to $5k. With a diesel engine the F-150 has a towing capacity up to 12,100 pounds or a payload capacity of 1,840, numbers that fall short of what Chevrolet and Ram offer. In fact, even the hybrid V6 has more oomph when it comes to torque (12,700) and the v8 as well (13,000), both of these being outdone by the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (14,000 pounds).  

The Cars Direct article concludes with a reiteration of Ford's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. The all-electric F-150 Lightning and their Mustang Mach-E are the first signals indicative of their seriousness in this effort. "Offering a diesel powertrain doesn’t exactly help the automaker with these goals. Ford didn’t help the diesel engine’s case, though. As Ford Authority points out, the diesel engine wasn’t available with the 36-gallon extended range fuel tank or the automaker’s Pro Power Onboard system."

The departure of the F-150 diesel is not the end of the world, but it is the end of an era.

Read the full story here: F-150 Diesel Engine Discontinued

Diesel Motorsports: Most Fun You Can Get in a Weekend

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Great story by Jeff Zurschmeide on the PRI website. Diesel motorsports is far from dead, and is even growing. The article, titled Shake, Rattle & Roll, describes how diesel motorsports have become a powerful niche market that is drawing in more people every year.

The author begins by making the same observation I've made over many years of going to races. Most racers use a diesel powered vehicle to pull their race car to the track which is gas powered. Today, diesel is no longer for tow vehicles. There is a huge, enthusiastic diesel motorsports culture. This diesel world includes engine builders, aftermarket providers and sanctioning bodies as well as the sponsors and businesses that provide products for the racers. Altogether it's a great show for the fans. 

Zurschmeide notes that drag strips are the primary venues for diesel racing, with a strong second being presence at pulling competitions. Diesel has also found some surprising success in sports car racing as when Audi proved that a diesel-powered car could compete at the highest levels. In 2006-2008 Audi’s TDI prototypes won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans three years in a row.

That last bit about Le Mans is no laughing matter. Audi and other automakers have developed some powerful diesel power plants, as we noted recently regarding Daimler's powerful new diesel engine for their Mercedes Benz. 

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

That having been said, the mass market for diesel motorsports in America still remains almost entirely limited to straight-line power contests. For now.

Trucks are King in the diesel motorsports scene, which is a grassroots movement driven by an appreciation for power. This need for power is what drives engine builders to satisfy the hunger. Cummins, Duramax and Power Stroke are the main foundations, but innovative builders augment these engines to maximize their capabilities. 

The full article goes much deeper. Check it out by following the first link below.

(Sidenote: The song "Shake, Rattle & Roll" was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, then made famous by Bill Haley & the Comets.)

KEY LINKS

Shake, Rattle & Roll

70-Year-Old Diesel Is A Thoroughbred at Pike's Peak Hill Climb

Daimler Claims This Is the Most Powerful Diesel Car in Mercedes-Benz History

Looking For Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil? 

Fastest Diesel Passes of 2020

Front end of the Firepunk Diesel S10

2020 was an unusual year for many reasons, from the global pandemic to social turbulence in many cities. Hard to believe, but there was no SEMA Show, no PRI, no Diesel Power Challenge. Things were so bad that Diesel World labelled it The Year of Cancelled Events.

People were bored, anxious, overworked, and many were unemployed. Nevertheless, there were still many exciting moments for the highlight reels for 2020. As we look in the rearview mirror we see new records set and a lot worth talking about, which is what Diesel World has done for us in this article by Mike McGlothlin titled Fastest Passes of 2020.

McGlothlin begins by noting that 2020 was actually a huge year for drag racing because drivers and teams stayed focused. They didn't allow what was going on around us to distract them from their aims, which is probably good advice for all of us who have dreams and goals. As a result, there were numerous records broken in 2020 and promising prospects for 2021.

After a condensed summary of 2020 we get photos and details about the main stories, beginning with the Quickest Diesel Dragster in the World, Scheid Diesel's billet-block, compound turbo, P-pumped Cummins-powered Spitzer chassis rail. Track conditions were perfect at October's PDRA and the Scheid team was ready. Boom... Elapsed Time on the 1/8th mile run, 4.04 seconds.  New record. 184 mph. Driver: Jared Jones.

It's gratifying when it all comes together. The record Jones broke had been set only 7 months earlier by John Robinson, a 4.101 second pass that screeched to 181 mph. One can expect these two drivers will be very conscious of one another as they push the envelope in 2021. The goal for each will be to break into the 3s. No doubt they can almost taste it.

A new car on the scene in 2020 was Jeremy Wagler's Duramax dragster. This diesel, too, is quick, and made real progress in its first season. This will be another driver and car to pay attention to going into 2021.

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In the diesel truck category the big dog to watch these past several years has been Firepunk Diesel out of Ohio. The Pro Mod S10 has been setting records all along, and the sacrifices they've made have been rewarded with many trophies and achievements along the way. The Diesel World story shared the impressive numbers they produced in October, but failed to note their Cummins-powered breaktrhough into the 3s that later took place in Florida. You can read about that here. Engine builder Lavon Miller and driver Larson Miller will remain in the forefront of what's happening wherever they go in 2021.

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When you scroll through McGlothlin's article you'll find diesel-powered Corvettes, pickups, dragsters and pro street vehicles with Duramax, Cummins and Power Stroke engines. Racing is one of the ways engine manufacturers explore the cutting edge of what's possible in engineering technology. 

You's also find the drivers and teams to watch in 2021.

Here's the link to the Diesel World story by Mike McGlothlin:

https://www.dieselworldmag.com/events/fastest-passes-of-2020/

If you are a racer, learn more about our Champion Brands Contingency Programs for 2021. Here's how to get your piece of the action. You may also tap the orange button near the top of the right hand column.

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PaxPower Converts F150 to Diesel Raptor

Modifications can be fun.  If you have the time, money and skill, you can do almost anything. Here's a company that takes Ford F150s and converts them into Raptors. Not the birds of prey that feed on carrion, but the classic Ford Raptors that scads of enthusiasts have enjoyed. 

What's intriguing here is the diesel capability. The company is PaxPower. Located in Houston, they were the first company to bring a V8 Raptor to market in 2018. They've since shipped V8 and Diesel Raptors around the world. 

Their specialty is 2015-2020 Ford F150s but their broadening their scope to include Ford Rangers, Chv Silverados and GMC Sierras.

They recently revealed that the 2021 model has a new body configuration, so it will take six months to build new fenders, hood, grill, etc. For what it's worth, the 2020 F150 Diesels have been getting hard to find. If you are looking for a Ford Raptor with a Diesel, these are the guys to talk to. Or so it seems.

Here's the website: https://v8raptor.com/

• Full OEM Raptor Body and Suspension Conversion – $25,950
• Raptor Front Fenders, Hood, and Front Fascia
• Raptor HID Headlights
• Raptor Front Grille and Fender Flares
• Raptor Inner and Outer Aluminum Bedsides
• Color-Match Paint with Blend
• Raptor Front and Rear Bumpers
• Raptor Fender Liners and Skid Plates
• Fox Raptor Internal Bypass Shocks
• Raptor Upper and Lower Control Arms
• Raptor Axles, Steering Links and Brake Lines
• Raptor Rear Leaf Springs, Bump Stops, Perches and U-Bolts

Plus Choice is wheels and tires (aprox $3000)

 

Here's they say about the Diesel pictured at the top of the page:

In our continuing effort to bring unique and powerful engine options to Ford’s Raptor chassis, PaxPower introduces its latest creation: the Diesel Raptor! Featuring Ford’s 3.0-liter twin-turbo PowerStroke Diesel, the PaxPower Diesel Raptor boasts 550 ft/lb of pavement or dirt punishing torque! The Diesel Raptor starts life as a 2018-2019 F150 PowerStroke, and then receives PaxPower’s OEM Ford Raptor body, suspension, and chassis conversion. 

Read "the rest of the story" here:

https://v8raptor.com/2018/10/10/diesel-ford-raptor-by-paxpower/

Have a great weekend. And look for lots of car news next week. It's SEMA360.