Ford's Twin-Fuel 'Bobcat' Engine Could Replace Power Stroke Diesels

[Administrator]

At a recent engineering conference Ford representatives gave a presentation on secret new engine the company is developing. Code named "Bobcat" the new twin-turbo 5.0-liter V8 engine is seen more as an alternative truck engine, although as it is similar to Ford's EcoBoost engine, passenger car applications are possible.

The Bobcat engine is a twin-fuel engine, using both conventional gasoline and E85 ethanol. Both fuel systems even have their own tanks and fuel injectors. Here's how it works:

Turbochargers work to compress the air, while conventional port-injection of gasoline is used to get fuel into the cylinders. Then ethanol is sent into the combustion chambers through direct-injection, eliminating knock by cooling the air/fuel mixture. Ethanol is only added under high-load conditions, otherwise the engine operates like a conventional gasoline engine. By injecting ethanol, it also raises the fuel octane rating from 87-91 to 150 - allowing for extremely high compression. As a result, an engine the size of the 5.0-liter one can make 500hp and 750 ft-lbs of torque, while getting 25 to 30 percent better fuel-economy than a conventional gasoline engine.

Ford developed the technology alongside Ethanol Boosting Systems of Cambridge, Mass., which calls its trademarked process DI Octane Boost. The Bobcat engine would be comparable to Ford's 6.4-liter Power Stroke diesel, which makes 350hp and 650 ft-lbs of torque, but would cost one third the price to make as no exhaust treatment systems would be necessary.

The system is also 5 to 10 percent more fuel-efficient than Ford’s new EcoBoost engine.

The down-side is that as there are two fuel-tanks, both would need to be filled up separately. No worry says Ford, the 5.0-liter Bobcat V8 would get 528 miles on a 26-gallon tank, while a 10-gallon tank of E85 would last anywhere from 100 miles to 20,000 miles depending on how much heavy-load conditions the truck is driven under. And if no E85 is available, the engine can still run on just gasoline, albeit at reduced power.

The Bobcat engine may just be Ford's answer to recent increase in the fleet fuel-economy rating for light trucks and SUVs, which will go from the current 23.1 mpg to 30 mpg by 2016.

More: Ford's Twin-Fuel 'Bobcat' Engine Could Replace Power Stroke Diesels on AutoGuide.com

[smotrs]

I like the idea. Definitely sounds like it has potential.

[red_georgia]

I like the hp number... but what is the torque number? Can it tow like a diesel?

[hitecdan]

"while a 10-gallon tank of E85 would last anywhere from 100 miles to 20,000 miles depending on how much heavy-load conditions the truck is driven under."

So what is the self life of E85?

[ffstreetdoc]

Originally Posted by red_georgia

I like the hp number... but what is the torque number? Can it tow like a diesel?

As a result, an engine the size of the 5.0-liter one can make 500hp and 750 ft-lbs of torque, while getting 25 to 30 percent better fuel-economy than a conventional gasoline engine.

[massbadass]

Wow, that's cool and all but I think I'll just add propane or cng to my 7.3. Much easier and less expensive.

[Super_Dave]

Originally Posted by hitecdan

So what is the self life of E85?

Generally, it's manufactured to be "good" for 14 to 28 days. That's the information that I got for gasoline, which would be related to the E85 product. Racing fuels are developed with different products that give them a longer shelf life.

[drinkypoo]

Flex-fuel engines have been around for a long time. But ethanol is a total boondoggle (cellulosic ethanol has been "five years away" for almost as long as cold fusion) and you actually get less power/mileage on E85 than on gasoline! Meanwhile, if ethanol REALLY WAS the answer, we could be running E95 in diesels. All you need is even-higher-than-usual compression and a timing change. You'll get my diesel when you pry the keys out of my cold, dead hands. P.S. Real "flex fuel" is when you can run on diesel fuel, veggie oil, or E95.

[Super_Dave]

Originally Posted by drinkypoo

P.S. Real "flex fuel" is when you can run on diesel fuel, veggie oil, or E95.

I'm with you!

Smashed coffee grounds, aglae, used engine oil...bring it all on.

[macmaniac1]

i will have to agree with you guys. This bobcat engine is good in theory but a diesel is just better in so many ways. Especially since if you run out of e85 you loose almost a;; the benefits of the engine. Now if you apply the same types of multi fuel technology to a diesel, now you have something. If a diesel runs out of the secondary fuel you still have its superior efficiency. I know that the company buck marine diesel,Buck Marine Diesel, has already set themselves up for this by incorporating two fuel injectors in their engine design. not to mention they can still introduce fuel/water into the intake system. The possible combinations are just amazing. Another thing is look at what people is Europe are doing with the current single fuel diesel injection tech.
YouTube - Opel Eco-Speedster
WOW!
Just my .02

[Btravelen]

Hmmnnn.. Those numbers don't match. E85 wont give higher mileage than gas and the power numbers appear kinda high... other than that, it sounds good..

[red5jedi]

What about the cost of this new engine? Sounds like it will cost more than a 6.4L diesel, 16 injectors, two fuel systems.

[scottyryan]

If it ain't diesel - I don't want it.... Heck I don't even want a "New Clean Diesel"!!!!!

[thecollector]

Originally Posted by Btravelen

Hmmnnn.. Those numbers don't match. E85 wont give higher mileage than gas and the power numbers appear kinda high... other than that, it sounds good..

E-85 is pretty much cheap race Fuel. It is not neccessarily more efficient, but can make more power. The power in this motor is being created VIA utilizing Gas and E-85 together, injecting the ethanol under high loads cools the intake charge and allows them to run timming on what would be 150 octane fuel. Dayton 5.0 performance currently has a built mustang burning the rollers at over 1,300hp on E-85. It is cheap Widely available high octance fuel. In your taurus or ranger its ineffecient, in your high compression car its affordable smiles.

The combination of these into one engine shows great potential for average consumers and enthusiasts who don't want to be forced by congress into driving gutless hybrids.

Maybe Ford's Gas truck engine lineup can finally grow some balls

[drinkypoo]

Originally Posted by thecollector

E-85 is pretty much cheap race Fuel. It is not neccessarily more efficient, but can make more power. The power in this motor is being created VIA utilizing Gas and E-85 together, injecting the ethanol under high loads cools the intake charge and allows them to run timming on what would be 150 octane fuel. Dayton 5.0 performance currently has a built mustang burning the rollers at over 1,300hp on E-85. It is cheap Widely available high octance fuel. In your taurus or ranger its ineffecient, in your high compression car its affordable smiles.

It seems like an awful lot of complexity and work; you could do the same thing with a diesel instead, and get a still better power to weight ratio. Ethanol is a dream, and a stupid one. Every time you fill up with Ethanol, it means that much less food for someone who really needs it. The economic impact to the average Mexican family has been staggering. Meanwhile, biodiesel can be easily grown in the desert using seawater.

Ford has had high powered gasoline engines before. They wouldn't pass a gas station, so this is sort of an improvement; but having two high pressure fuel systems will make the repair costs astronomical.