The End of the 6.4 Liter Already?

Navistar/International Ford 6.4 Liter Turbo Diesel Engine

Posted February 26 2007 03:31 PM by DP Web Editor
Filed under: Editorials, Opinions, Opinions, Ford

Could the 6.4 Liter really be dead so shortly into it's life?

The Associated Press is reporting today that Navistar/International, the makers of the 6.4Liter Twin Turbo Diesel Engine that Ford is currently using in their Consumer and Commercial trucks, has idled its engine plant in Indianapolis because of an ongoing dispute with the Ford Motor Company.

Navistar said in a statement that it pays suppliers and employees under contract terms and "expects Ford to honor the terms of its agreement." Spokesman Roy Wiley declined to elaborate.

Ford spokeswoman Becky Sanch said the automaker would be able to continue making the F-Series trucks for the "near term." We've been working closely with Navistar ... for many months to resolve the commercial issues we've been having," she said. "We've always honored the agreements we've had and we'll continue to do that."

The Indianapolis factory that was idled made about 400 engines a day. Wiley said he did not know how long the shutdown would last.

So what does this mean to us? Only time will tell.

What do you guys think of this news and Ford's dwindling relationship with Navistar/International?

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Reader Comments:

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1. If ford dosn't want to lose anymore sales and continue to be the laughing stock of the diesel market(6.0)then they should get this resovled A.S.A.P. Ford would be in a world of hurt without a diesel now that DODGE and GM have proven that their motors are stronger and more reliable than the 6.0.

powerhog07 - Posted February 26 2007 08:19 PM

2. Powerhog07 get with the program on your diesel knowledge 6.0 was yesterday the 6.4 is today

powerstroked - Posted February 27 2007 05:15 AM

3. hey powerhog this blog is about the 6.4, not the 6.0 bud. comparing the 6.7L cummins or duramax LMM to the 6.0 is like comparing a 2nd gen 7.3 to a 12 valve cummins--- they werent produced during the same time frame and weren't meant to compete with each other. plus, if the LMM or 6.7L cummins are so great, why are there so many articles in truck and even automobile magazines about the 6.4L powerstroke?!

SRSeahawk70 - Posted February 27 2007 08:46 AM

4. As noted on various sites the 6.0 liter engine had some extremely serious problems, which caused Ford & its customers many problem and dollars. The manufacturer of the 6.0 liter engine had chief responsibilty of the quality of the engine & its performance. Navistar, it seems has someone who is going to affect his companies image as an irresponsible manufacturer. This image will spill over into its onhighway vehicles and other engines it sells. I love a Ford-best driving pickup on the market, but between engine problems and poor quality of the Ford transmission I no longer own one. For some reason Ford has not produced a new 6 speed automatic and manual transmission, so they will not be competitive in the transmission area. The 7.3 always had problems with aeoration on the left bank rear cylclinder, IF one did not keep the additative in the cooling system. Ford did a poor job on keeping this info on the vehicle cooling system. Navistar, needs to face up to its responsibilities, pay its share of the warranty co

ttextyler - Posted February 27 2007 06:38 PM

5. SRSeahawk,
The Cummins and the Duramax are still the same basic design now as they were when they first came out. I would compare the 12v to the 7.3 any day. The 12v 89 is just as reliable (if not more) and efficient as the 97 Power Stroke. So why are so many magazines talking about the 6.4? Well to be honest its fords and Navistar’s last chance to redeem them selves. Also being the first light duty to offer a twin turbo is really cool. Don’t get me wrong I’m not bashing ford (I own two), after all they didn’t build the PS Navistar did. So in general is ford still a good truck, most defiantly. I my self have seen my fathers and brother in-laws in the shop more and more for the motor only nothing more. I just think that the 6.0 left a bad taste with a lot of us ford guys and this 6.4 has a long way to go to prove itself, a long way...

powerhog07 - Posted February 27 2007 10:38 PM

6. Does this mean that Ford is lining itself up with caterpillar? Or do you think that Toyota or Nissan will do a deal with Cat

hazelman2 - Posted March 1 2007 08:29 AM

7. Last I heard Toyota's heavy duty has been pushed to the year 2010 and Nissan has scrapped making a heavy duty due to low sales of their current Titan.

BulldogDeluxe - Posted March 1 2007 10:42 AM

8. I read in a Business Journal mag that Toyota and Nissan are the only front runners to receive a Caterpillar motor. Ford still has Five years left on their contract with Navistar/International (we will see how that all turns out). According to the mag, it would be illegal for ford to ADMITE to any talks with Caterpillar. Whether it be MAXXPOWER or the Caterpillar, whether you drive a Ford or not, let’s hope ford gets this figured out after all they have been an american icon for a VERY long time.

goose0276 - Posted March 1 2007 06:21 PM

9. Ford should get as far way as possible from navistar/international.They caused enough damage with the 6.0L engine i went though 4 turbos and there only 60,000 mile they cost Ford millions and there customers loyalty. I love Fords (i have 4) but they need to get there act together or they will be a thing of the past. They should go with Cat. Catapiller engines are the best in the USA if they could fix there 5 seed tranny they would blow Duramax and Cummins away.

StrokeThis250 - Posted March 1 2007 07:18 PM

10. yes ford should get away from navistar and go with cat. but my ford with the international engine is awesome for pulling heavy trailers. you guys say the 6.0 is a big hunk of junk. the only thing bad about it that i know is the turbo lag. when you floor it from a dead stop. other then that i would take my ford over any dodge or chevy no matter what they had in them. i know ford has not much for racing cars compared to dodge and chevy. but i would take chevy cars for racing. but for what i do i dont need a race car. ford will out pull the chevy just stock i know casue when i bought it my bro took me for a ride in his dodge and i hated it. the chevy was pretty good under the trailer. but my dads ford would out pull the others by a long shot. (all 3 stock mind you). i also liked the sound of the fords turbo compared to the others. yes the dodge and the chevy are quiet but i woulod want a louder engine with more turbo noice then a quite engine with little turbo noice. casue i love the turbo sound in a pickup

hustler_shan - Posted March 6 2007 02:07 PM

11. toyota and nissan wont take a cat motor because it would mean redesigning their whole front suspension and yeah there were alot of bad 6.0s but there were some good ones too but none ours will compete with the 6.4 we just bought its working great so far.....

jshields - Posted March 7 2007 06:44 AM

12. Personally I think Ford should go back to the 7.3 Tried and True. However I believe the 6.4 will be a good motor. And they will resolve the matter with International. But if not the cat motor would be a good motor too.

Ford_Fan22 - Posted March 7 2007 12:28 PM

13. I'm sure all are aware by now that Navistar and Ford have come to terms (i.e. payments anyone?) and are cranking out the new 6.4's left and right.

With a lot of the media saying that the Super Duty was over 60% of Ford's truck sales, it made sense for the Blue Oval's leadership to get their heads out of the sand and come to an agreement real quick. With the new Tundra on the streets, the new Silverado winning the NATOTY and Motor Trend's TOTY award, the new Ram 2500/3500 HD trucks getting larger displacement to aid cooling, Ford had to get on the stick.

Nothing like a little competition that only provides consumers more options on better vehicles every year.

Go Green, Go Biodiesel! My fav bumper sticker: "Real Trucks Don't Have Spark Plugs".

Hoodman - Posted March 9 2007 11:57 AM

14. You Guys should all calm down.. Duramax is over its dead.if you have any intelligence at all you will stay away from a dead breed.(Duramax) the 6.4 is a totally different design than the 6.0. Ford made a mistake with the 6.0 just like Gm with the Duramax. the only real carryover part is the camshaft. so know your stuff before you bash it. it took GM 8 years to figure out that the duramax wont work so after four different motors in 8 years their gonna scrap it. plus ford sells more powerstrokes that dodge and Gm combined!!!!! that will tell you somthing wont it????? Ford and navistar are just like a married couple thay have their problems like all married coulpes. I dont want to hear another word about the Japanese Aluminum piece i dont care how much power it makes or how fast it goes it wont for long thats all i got to say. So theirs really no comparison between ford and GM Dodge cummins fine with me Its just a matter of opinion Ford or dodge i say if you have one of the two your in good shape.

Powerstrokeman - Posted March 13 2007 11:45 AM

15. Ford needs a new diesel engine now if they expect to compete with GM or Dodge.

woody 35 - Posted March 24 2007 07:59 AM

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