I’m considering buying a 2018 Ford F150 3.0L Power Stroke V6 Turbo Diesel. It’s got 64,000 miles and comes with an 84-month/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.
My concern is that Ford no longer offers this engine, and I’m worried that might mean there were issues or that parts will be hard to find. Does anyone here have experience with this engine? Any advice or things I should look out for?
The dealer is asking $36,000. What do you all think?
I’ve worked in service, sales, and finance. The 3.0 Power Stroke was a good engine—decent power and great fuel economy. The problem was it was initially only available on higher trims, which made it really expensive. They eventually offered it on XLTs in 2020-2021, but by then, Ford was moving toward hybrids with the PowerBoost engine instead.
People saying it’s underpowered might’ve expected it to perform like the bigger Super Duty Power Strokes. This engine is more for good fuel economy and moderate capability, not heavy-duty towing.
If they had offered these engines on the XL trim, fleets would’ve bought them up. Instead, they were only on expensive trims like the Lariat and above. Pricing them that high made them less competitive compared to the Ram 3.0 EcoDiesel or Chevy’s 3.0 inline-6.
Can I ask why you’re considering it? Towing capacity isn’t great, and it’s not very fast, but it is quiet. The fuel economy savings often get eaten up by the higher cost of diesel, DEF, and maintenance like $90 oil changes and $110 fuel filters.
Also, the 2018 models were known to have a crankshaft defect that could cause serious engine damage. If you go for it, get a warranty.
Fair enough. Just keep in mind the higher costs of ownership—no $30 oil changes with this one. But if it works for your budget, go for it. Just make sure you’re covered for any issues, especially with that crankshaft problem.
Yeah, my Silverado 1500 oil changes are already close to $100 these days. I actually found a 2020 F150 Lariat I’m checking out later today. Hopefully, it’s in good shape.
The 3.0 Power Stroke was a niche engine. The EcoBoost had more horsepower and torque, and the fuel economy difference wasn’t big enough to justify the higher price of diesel fuel. Plus, the engine itself cost more.
It made sense for people towing heavier loads regularly but not heavy enough to need an F-250 or F-350. But most people who tow that often just go straight for a Super Duty truck, which is why the 3.0 Power Stroke didn’t sell well.
I actually love mine! I had a tuned 2014 3.5L EcoBoost before this and switched to a 2018 3.0L Lariat. Got it with 41,000 miles for $30k out the door after trading in my old truck.