Ford introduced 6.7 V8 Powerstroke engines in 2011 and it has been a mainstay ever since. There are three generations of the 6.7 Powerstroke engines. They are:
- The first generation
- The second generation
- The third generation
The 6.7 Powerstroke years to avoid are the first-generation ones, which are from 2011 to 2014.
The first generation of 6.7 Powerstroke is plagued with problems such as the failure of the injection pump, leaks, and low-quality bearings. Other problems include faulty EGR coolers, problematic EGT sensors, smaller turbochargers than necessary, and fragile exhaust valves.
Some of these problems have been fixed quite early into the production while some others are prevalent throughout the whole of the first generation. I would recommend installing the second generation.
7 Reasons why 6.7 Powerstroke Years That Need To Avoid
Before Ford introduced the 6.7 Powerstroke engines in 2011, they did not manufacture V8 engines themselves. From their introduction up until 2014, the 6.7 engines, which are run by diesel, had one problem after another constantly bugging them. Although things are looking up now, all I heard from the truck owners during those 5 years were various complaints about the 6.7 Powerstroke.
So I did a bit of research and found out these problems with 6.7 V8 engines. These are the reasons why one must avoid the first gen 6.7 Powerstroke-
1. Problematic EGT Sensors
A 6.7 Powerstroke has 4 EGT sensors in them and all of them are prone to be damaged. The two EGT sensors that are most susceptible to failing are the two in the middle- no. 12 and no. 13. As soon as the EGT sensors are detected to be faulty, they should be replaced.
The best way to replace damaged EGT sensors is by taking advantage of the extended warranty that Ford has issued for these sensors. If the warranty expires, the cost has to be borne by the owner.
But the main problem regarding the first gen EGT sensors is that they don’t last very long even after being replaced. Thankfully, this issue has been resolved in the later generations.
2. Failure Of The Injection Pump
Another major reason for avoiding 6.7 Powerstroke engines from the first generation is the constant failure of the injection pump. The injection pump used in the first gen 6.7 V8 engines is Bosch 4.2. This pump is very prone to metal contamination. This contamination takes place as more and more air enters the pump.
When metal contamination takes place inside the injection pump, it makes the metal inside the fuel clash with the metal of the pump. This repeated clashing of metals severely damages the parts that comprise the fuel system such as the injectors and the pressure regulator among others. The repair of injection pumps can cost someone in the region of 10,000 USD, which is a very steep price to pay.
3. Leakage Of Coolant In The Radiator
There are a couple of radiators inthe Powerstroke engine. In the 6.7 Powerstroke, its primary radiators are riddled with problems. One such problem is- coolants leaking out from these radiators. As a result, the engine heats up faster than it is supposed to.
4. Faulty EGR Coolers And Valves
A major issue that bugs the 6.7L V8 engines from Ford is- when the EGR coolers clog up. The main reason for these coolers clogging is a buildup of carbon deposits in them. What is most worrying is that- Ford claimed to fix this issue after people complained about it when using 6.0 and 6.4 engines. But even after fixing this clogging issue has persisted in the 6.7 Powerstroke engines.
A clogged EGR cooler brings about further disaster for a vehicle. Because when a cooler gets clogged up, the space through which coolant makes its entry gets smaller. This means the engine doesn’t get enough coolant to cool down. This leads to the engine heating quickly and the coolant boiling.
EGR coolers are not the only things that are prone to clogging. Carbon can deposit in the EGR valves as well. The primary cause of theseEGR valves being clogged is the poor quality of the fuels.
5. Bearings Of Low Quality
The aforementioned leakage of coolants can be traced back to the engine having very low-quality bearings. As a result of these faulty bearings, the glow plugs of the oil burners are broken, especially those of the earlier versions.
This also causes the primary radiator to be problematic as I said earlier. As a result, coolants leak out. The turbocharger’s coolant inlet is also affected by bearings that are not up to the mark.
6. Turbochargers Not Being Large Enough
The blame for the problem in the turbochargers of the first generation 6.7 Powerstroke engines falls squarely on Ford’s shoulders. This issue arose due to an error in the design. When Ford first introduced the 6.7 engine, they tweaked the design and put smaller turbochargers in them. The reason behind this was Ford wanted to gain more power as well as torque.
This plan backfired instantly. As a result, they were forced to revert to bigger turbochargers in the next generation of 6.7 Powerstroke engines.
7. Having Fragile Exhaust Valves
The 6.7 engines from the first generation were facing many issues. Having a fragile exhaust valve is one of them. This happened because Ford used low-quality materials to make these valves, which couldn’t handle the stress and heat.
A fragile exhaust valve poses a great danger to the engine. As the exhaust valve breaks apart, broken pieces fall inside the cylinder. These pieces then end up breaking the glow plug. This creates a whole new problem when the glow plug fails as well.
What Is The Best 6.7 Powerstroke Year?
Almost all the 6.7 Powerstroke engines suffer from various kinds of problems of varying degrees. But the second-gen (2015-2017) and the third-gen (2018- present) engines have most of their problems sorted out by Ford. I would suggest that the best 6.7 Powerstroke year is the second generation one, i.e., from 2015 to 2017.
There are a few reasons that the second-gen 6.7 engines from Ford are the best. First, the main bearing was coated with IROX coating which not only reduces friction but also makes the consumption of fuel more efficient. Also, IROX coating ensures the emission of carbon dioxide is kept at a minimum. Next, the fan clutch and the turbocharger were upgraded. Finally, the EGR coolers were also fixed.
Read also >> Ford 6.2 Engine Problems & Their Solutions – (Easy Guide)
6.7 powerstroke related (FAQs)
1. What Is The Life Expectancy Of A 6.7 Powerstroke?
Usually, 6.7 Powerstroke engines can last way longer than 200000 miles. But this is not all. As the 6.7 engines have been upgraded by Ford since their inception- these engines can last up to 300000 or even 400000 miles. But there is a condition to this. Ford has suggested that the engines be serviced at a certain interval. If the servicing is done at this recommended interval, the engines will last long.
2. Is 6.4 Or 6.7 Powerstroke Better?
6.7 Powerstroke is better than 6.4 Powerstroke engines. The 6.7 has better quality connecting rods, better reverse-flow heads, a busier valvetrain, better fuel pumps, and a more robust EGR system. The 6.7 engines also last longer than their 6.4 counterparts. Here is a detailed comparison between the 6.4 and the 6.7 Powerstrokes.
6.7 Powerstroke Best Year >> Check out the video below:
Final Thoughts
The very first V8 engine manufactured by Ford themselves, the 6.7 Powerstroke engine has three generations. Among these three- the 6.7 Powerstroke years to avoid are the ones from 2011 to 2014, which are the first generation engines. These engines suffer from a myriad of issues like fragile valves and low-quality bearings, problematic injection pumps as well as coolants leaking out.
Other problems include smaller turbochargers than necessary, EGR coolers and valves that are not up to the mark, and finally, fragile exhaust valves. The best 6.7 Powerstroke years are the second-gen years.
