If you’re shopping for a used 6.7-liter Power Stroke Ford Super Duty diesel truck, there are a few things you’ll want to watch out for before you sign on the dotted line. Whether you’re eyeing a 2011 F-250 or a freshly off-lease 2023 F-450, not all Super Dutys are created equal. Let’s break down the good, the bad, and the diesel-smoky truth about owning one of these beasts.

But First, A Quick 6.7-liter Power Stroke Engine History Lesson

Ford introduced the 6.7-liter Power Stroke in 2011 as its first in-house-designed diesel. Since then, it’s seen a bunch of updates:

• 2011–2014: Early versions—decent power, but had some growing pains.
• 2015–2016: Some reliability upgrades (especially the turbo).
• 2017–2019: Major redesign with new body and engine tweaks.
• 2020–2022: Huge torque bump and a ten-speed transmission.
• 2023+: Welcome the high-output monsters with 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft of torque!

The Good: What You Want To See In A Used 6.7-liter

1. Service Records

Diesel engines love clean oil and fresh fuel filters. Look for trucks that had regular:

• Oil changes (every 7,500–10,000 miles)
• Fuel filters (around every 15,000 miles)
• Transmission serviced (every 30,000–60,000 miles)
• Coolant flushed (especially post-2017) every 100,000 miles

Bonus points if the owner used OEM parts and has receipts to prove it.

2. Clean Emissions Systems

Modern diesels are loaded with emissions gear—DPF, EGR, SCR, DEF—you know, the whole alphabet soup. Make sure that they’re all working and that nothing has been “deleted.”

Check for:

• Excessive DEF consumption
• Check engine lights
• Rough idle (a clue something’s clogged or failing)

3. Smooth Turbo and Transmission

Listen for any weird turbo noises and make sure the truck isn’t puffing blue or white smoke on startup. When you drive it, the transmission should shift crisply, with no slipping or banging into gear.

The Bad: What To Watch Out For

Model-Year Landmines

2011–2014

These were the guinea pig years. The trucks were great if they were maintained, but the turbo was small and failure-prone, the CP4 high-pressure fuel pumps could grenade the whole system, glow plugs could break and destroy a piston, and the radiator and EGR cooler had leak issues.

2015–2016

The engine had a better turbo, but it still had the dreaded CP4 pump. These years were kind of a middle child—improved but not perfect.

2017–2019

The aluminum body meant no rust, but body repairs became pricey. The trucks were still CP4-powered. Some trucks had issues with oil cooler clogs and weird electrical gremlins.

2020–2022

There was much better fuel delivery. The new ten-speed TorqShift automatic transmission was great—when it worked right. Early ones needed software updates.

2023–2025

The latest and greatest iteration hit power-hungry shoppers with an impressive high-output version. While there’s not a lot of used-market data yet, early signs are promising. However, the trucks are still expensive to fix if anything goes south.

The Checklist: Don’t Buy A Used 6.7-liter Without Doing This

When you’re checking out a truck, here’s what you should be eyeballing:

Pro Tips

• Bring a scanner to your test drive to check codes and regen history.
• Avoid trucks with deleted emissions systems.
• Fleet trucks are often better maintained than privately owned ones (think oil change every 5,000 miles).
• Newer isn’t always better—a well-cared-for 2015 might be a better buy than a neglected 2022.

A Beast—If You Buy Smart

The Ford Super Duty with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke is one of the most capable workhorses you can buy, but it’s not a truck you want to roll the dice on. Do your homework, bring a scanner, and be picky.

If you get the right one? You’re in for hundreds of thousands of miles of smooth diesel-powered towing, hauling, and grinning like a kid every time you hit that throttle.