Campingtom,
I agree completely that they are trying to figure this out. They, Ford, have been building there own diesels, along with GM and Dodge (Chrysler). They are due out in the next few years.
Currently I have heard extreme predictions that Ford Motor Company could see as much as 60% of its Dealer networks, for trucks, close there doors due to the Fuel prices and Emission Mandates for 2010. I think this extreme. It all began in 2003 when Ford pushed to Market, the 6.0L before it was ready. They were afraid of loosing market share to the ever increasing popularity of the Duramax/Cummins. The 7.3 was and is a dirtier producing engine, compared to the 6.0L, so they pushed International. They were not ready .... Ford lost some of the true Ford Blue Blooded Die hards due to the mistake in 2003, 2004.
The turbo and fuel system were designed for a cleaner fuel, we still had high sulfur fuel at the time. Along with poor programing. These two combined for a horrible situation that the Dealer Networks were not equipped or educated to handle.
Hense, people like me, who drove one the first 6.0L in my area, loved the truck but did not buy one and stuck with 7.3 or moved to another OEM. Though soon found out that there were trucks sitting in the dealers shops for weeks because they did not know how too fix them.
With updating and education from Ford, the problems of programing were re-flashed. The EGR system cooler leaks and other, causing head gasket leaks and high pressure oil pumps were all addressed in time. The thing that helped tremendously, was the event of cleaner fuel. The 6.0L was designed with European fuel in mind, big mistake. US fuel at the time was very dirty and compounded the problem. The 6.0L fuel system and VGT Turbo was such a marvel of engineering, it was designed for cleaner fuel. Look at the 2006 models, wow. They just kick from a stock stand point and have such great potential.
The 6.4 was pushed out due to the necessity of emissions. It is going to take time, possibly three years. The new Ford Diesels that are being developed will be much more efficient with the new emissions requirements coming up.
Take a look at a recent article
Ford CEO says shift to small cars here to stay; video Q&A - USATODAY.com
Alan Mulally has been wanting a diesel that is more efficient for some time. Knowing him from Boeing, he does not wait around to be reactive. He is a Pro-Active kind of guy.
I really do not think that International will be putting engines in the Super Duty for much longer .... Just an opinion.
John
