Talk about burying the lead. This is a huge detail that is easily missed. Steel pistons in a diesel are serious business. They can handle way more heat and pressure than an aluminum piston, and are often found in custom built race engines. Here's how Ford decided to announce the change in the 2020 Super Duty Press Release we posted this morning:
"Super Duty’s third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke includes a new 36,000-psi fuel injection system with all-new injectors that precisely meter and spray up to eight times per stroke to control noise levels and optimize combustion. This innovative inboard exhaust diesel V8 features a redesigned electronic-actuated variable-geometry turbocharger that provides improved pumping efficiency and throttle response. Structural enhancements increase the strength of the cylinder head, block, connecting rods and bearings to handle higher cylinder pressure and increased output. New steel pistons provide higher firing pressure capability and less friction – meaning improved performance and more horsepower and torque than ever."
Take a look at this pic:
Immediately noticeable is the beefed up connecting rod. However, take a look at the piston. That's a one-piece steel unit that looks very much like a Mahle Monotherm. Mahle has been a Tier-1 supplier for a ton of components for Ford, including high-performance forged pistons for the SVT GT500 Mustangs, and I have a sneaking suspicion that they are at work here as well.
Mahle Monotherms are widely used on Cummins B-Series engines in the drag racing and sled pulling worlds. Essentially, when you want to make stupid power in a diesel and you want it to last you install steel pistons. However, these one-piece designs are different than the two-piece style you typically see in 10+ Liter diesel engines. So this is a first, no other truck manufacturer is installing a piston like this in their diesels. Cummins just had the opportunity with their newly released 1,000lbft 6.7L B-Series, but they skipped out.
I predict you're going to see the 6.7L Powerstroke leap frog the Cummins by a decent margin. The 2020 Super Duty could very well have have the first 500HP diesel on the market, and torque is easily going to be over 1,000lbft.
"Super Duty’s third-generation 6.7-liter Power Stroke includes a new 36,000-psi fuel injection system with all-new injectors that precisely meter and spray up to eight times per stroke to control noise levels and optimize combustion. This innovative inboard exhaust diesel V8 features a redesigned electronic-actuated variable-geometry turbocharger that provides improved pumping efficiency and throttle response. Structural enhancements increase the strength of the cylinder head, block, connecting rods and bearings to handle higher cylinder pressure and increased output. New steel pistons provide higher firing pressure capability and less friction – meaning improved performance and more horsepower and torque than ever."
Take a look at this pic:
Immediately noticeable is the beefed up connecting rod. However, take a look at the piston. That's a one-piece steel unit that looks very much like a Mahle Monotherm. Mahle has been a Tier-1 supplier for a ton of components for Ford, including high-performance forged pistons for the SVT GT500 Mustangs, and I have a sneaking suspicion that they are at work here as well.
Mahle Monotherms are widely used on Cummins B-Series engines in the drag racing and sled pulling worlds. Essentially, when you want to make stupid power in a diesel and you want it to last you install steel pistons. However, these one-piece designs are different than the two-piece style you typically see in 10+ Liter diesel engines. So this is a first, no other truck manufacturer is installing a piston like this in their diesels. Cummins just had the opportunity with their newly released 1,000lbft 6.7L B-Series, but they skipped out.
I predict you're going to see the 6.7L Powerstroke leap frog the Cummins by a decent margin. The 2020 Super Duty could very well have have the first 500HP diesel on the market, and torque is easily going to be over 1,000lbft.
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