Ford’s new 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine that debuted last month in F-Series Super Duty pickups is also available in Super Duty chassis cab, F-650 and F-750 medium-duty trucks, E-Series, and F-53 and F-59 stripped chassis. The 7.3-liter gas V8 engine delivers high performance in a compact package and based on decades of commercial engine experience, this 7.3-liter is expected to be the most powerful gas V8 in its class
This 7.3-liter V8 generates more torque and power than the 6.8-liter V10 engine it replaces. Its compact package provides greater maintenance access for technicians and because it has two fewer cylinders, it also uses fewer parts than the outgoing V10, resulting in less downtime at the shop and lower long-term ownership costs.It is also unique in that it utilized pushrods instead of an overhead cam and two valves per cylinder.
Based on decades of commercial engine experience, the 7.3-liter uses an all-new cam-in-block, overhead-valve architecture with cast iron block and forged steel crankshaft for maximum durability. While the pushrod configuration activating two valves per cylinder may seem like a throwback to yesterday’s technology, it is actually the best solution for a large gasoline engine in heavy-duty truck applications. The engine is simpler in design than its overhead valve counterparts and produces its peak power at lower rpms, which results in fuel savings when pulling heavy loads.
But the proven pushrod technology is also paired with the latest fuel injection and valve timing technologies. Port injection with variable-valve timing optimizes the intake and exhaust to match performance with workload. Oil jets cool the pistons under heavy loads to increase reliability.
Ford is the only manufacturer that designs, engineers and builds its own engines and transmissions for all of its commercial vehicles. In this case, the 7.3-liter V8 gasoline engine is paired with a-new Ford-designed and Ford-built 10-speed heavy-duty TorqShift automatic transmission.
