History of Ford F-250 Super Duty

Although the Ford F-Series has been around since the 1958 model year, the Ford Super Duty was split out from the standard F-Series pickup line for the 1998 model year. Initially, Ford offered the light-duty F-150 and F-250, while the heavy duty F-250 and F-350 pickups continued on with the previous body style. The light-duty F-250 was discontinued at the end of the 1999 model year leaving only Super Duty F-250 (and F-350) pickups, which were introduced for the 1999 model year.

Power for the early Super Duty models included a 5.4-liter (255-260 hp, 350 lb-ft) V-8 and 6.8-liter (310 hp, 425 lb-ft) V-10 Triton SOHC 2-valve gas engines and a 7.3-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel V-8 with 235 hp and 500 lb-ft. The Powerstroke gained power in 2001 making 250 hp and 525 lb-ft with the automatic and 275 hp and 525 lb-ft with the manual transmission.

In 2005, both gas engines moved to a SOHC 3-valve per cylinder design with the 5.4-liter V-8 now making 300 hp and 365 lb-ft, while the 6.8-liter V-10 now making 362 hp and 457 lb-ft. A new 6.0-liter Powerstroke turbodiesel replaced the 7.3-liter in 2003 and made 325 hp and 560-570 lb-ft.

While the gas engines carried over for the second-generation Ford Super Duty, which arrived for the 2008 model year, a new 6.4-liter Powerstroke V-8 engine was introduced making 350 hp and 650 lb-ft.

The third-generation Ford Super Duty was introduced for the 2011 model year with all-new engine options. A new 6.2-liter SOHC 2-valve V-8 replaced the 5.4-liter and 6.8-liter gas engines. The new 6.2-liter made 385 hp and 405 lb-ft. A new 6.7-liter Powerstroke V-8 now made 390 hp and 735 lb-ft. Ford bumped the power up to 400 hp and 800 lb-ft a few months after it debuted. By 2015, the turbodiesel now made 440 hp and 860 lb-ft. Both engines were backed by a new six-speed automatic transmission.

The 2011 Ford F-250 Super Duty beat the Ram 2500 HD in a comparison. We concluded: “It’s now stronger, more confident, and easier to drive. And it has class-leading fuel economy.”