What he said:
"Hey mate, look that. A few weeks ago I went to a Ford Trucks dealership and spotted this F-350, the first of the new Euro-5 version that I've ever seen. Now it's only available with the regular cab, but Ford certified a third-party company to perform crew-cab conversions retaining the factory warranty. The old Cummins B3.9 gave its way to the ISF2.8, and the ZF 5S-420 transmission was also replaced by an Eaton FSO 4505 D. The smaller and higher-revving engine sparked some controversy, mostly because in spite of the 25% increase in the power rating (from 120hp to 150hp) there was a roughly-calculated 14% decrease in the torque compared to the Euro-3 (from 420Nm to 360Nm), meanwhile Ford claims a 7% higher fuel-efficiency. As you may notice, the DEF tank is kinda small, attached to the right frame rail and the filling cap is easily accessible from the outside, while the American version has a bigger tank located under the cabin with a filler neck hidden under the bonnet. DEF consumption is about 6.5 to 7% of the fuel volume, almost overcoming the claimed savings..."
My opinion: bonnetted trucks have their "Wild Western" appeal that is what makes them so desired, and the cab is also alleggedly more comfortable for being lower and having a separated compartment for the engine, improving the thermal and acoustic insulation. Its estimated 12.5L/100km fuel consumption may actually not be so attractive compared to the V8 because the smaller engine needs to work a bit harder. All the controversy from the comparatively small engine serves to show clearly the cultural difference about the North American truck market and its European and Asian counterparts, more used to downsizing. The very same ISF2.8 engine is widely used in Chinese trucks that have a GVWR around 7-ton, and it is higher than the F-350 Superduty, and even in the Unites States there is a version of the Isuzu NPR with a downsized 3-litre 4JJ1-TC engine. I see no reason to blame the choice of the ISF2.8 at all. If the front clip was not so outdated it could even become a good option for countries where the 6.7 V8 turbodiesel used in the American F-350 is heavily taxed because of its greater displacement and number of cylinders.
3 comments:
The truck looks good but hey, there are better engines available. IMHO the ISF2.8 was a mistake for Cummins, the ISF3.8 seems suitable to nearly every application currently served by the 2.8 which would be really more suitable to a midsize sedan than to a truck.
Get me one in 4WD and it would be already enought to work on the ranch. We can't even find a no-frills work truck from Ford or GM with manual transmission in America anymore.
Danny is not from French Guyana, at least he claims to be born in Porto Alegre, Brazil. I met him at high school, and he really had a hatred toward Ford at those times.
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