The Short, Troubled Life of Ford’s 3.0L Power Stroke Diesel

0-liter Power Stroke diesel into the 2018 F-150, it looked like a smart bet. The engine promised diesel torque and highway fuel economy without forcing buyers into a heavy-duty truck. It delivered 440 pound-feet of torque and up to 30 mpg on the highway—solid numbers for anyone who towed regularly and watched fuel costs.

For a moment, it seemed like Ford had quietly built one of the smartest half-ton trucks on the market.

But that moment was brief. After just four model years, Ford killed the diesel without fanfare. No farewell press release, no successor. The 2022 F-150 lineup simply moved on. The reasons piled up fast. A new hybrid powertrain—the PowerBoost—arrived and outperformed the diesel on power, torque, and towing capacity.

Buyers also kept choosing gasoline engines, leaving the Power Stroke with low sales year after year. A Ford spokesperson told MotorTrend in 2021: “Our customers overwhelmingly order our EcoBoost V6 gasoline engines. ” Translation: buyers didn’t want it, and a better option had arrived.

The numbers back that up. The PowerBoost hybrid cranks out 430 horsepower and 570 lb-ft of torque, tows 12,700 pounds, and gets 24 mpg city and highway. The diesel managed 250 hp, 440 lb-ft, 12,100 pounds of towing, and 22 city/27 highway. Meanwhile, diesel fuel has cost more than regular gas for nearly 20 years.

The math never worked.

Then there were the reliability headaches. S. diesel fuel. It produced metal shavings that contaminated the entire fuel system, requiring a $10,000 replacement. Oil dilution during active regeneration cycles forced oil changes every 5,000 miles instead of the recommended 10,000.

And the diesel particulate filter and EGR cooler clogged on short trips, making the engine ill-suited for daily commutes. By 2021, the Power Stroke cost $500 more than the PowerBoost, couldn’t pair with the 36-gallon fuel tank, and lacked the Pro Power Onboard generator that became a hit after Texas’s 2021 winter storm.

0-liter Duramax also launched in 2019 with better specs across the board. The Power Stroke was simply outclassed on every front.