For a few short years, Ford gave diesel enthusiasts a reason to look twice at the half-ton truck segment with the introduction of the 3.0-liter Power Stroke V6 diesel engine in the eighth-generation F-150. This engine promised strong torque, excellent fuel economy, and the trusted durability of a diesel platform—all in America’s best-selling truck. But despite its novelty, the diesel F-150 was unfortunately short-lived.

The 3.0L Power Stroke shares lineage with the Lion diesel engine family developed by Ford and PSA (Peugeot-Citroën). A variant of this engine was previously used in Range Rovers and Jaguar SUVs. Ford heavily revised the engine for the truck application, adding a stronger crankshaft, forged rods, and other durability upgrades to handle sustained heavy loads and high-duty cycles.

More Torque Than The V-8

Ford introduced the 3.0L Power Stroke diesel engine in the F-150 lineup for the 2018 model year and continued offering it through model-year 2021. Under the hood, the turbocharged 3.0L Power Stroke V6 diesel produced 250 horsepower at 3,250 rpm and 440 lb-ft of torque at just 1,750 rpm (whereas the 5.0L V-8, for example, made its peak 410 lb-ft of torque at 4,250 rpm). It was mated to Ford’s 10-speed SelectShift automatic transmission, helping deliver smooth power and strong towing performance.

Towing and Payload

With a properly equipped setup, the 3.0L diesel F-150 could tow up to 11,500 pounds and had a payload capacity over 2,000 pounds (XL and XLT fleet applications)—solid numbers for a half-ton. The low-end torque made it great for towing travel trailers, boats, or equipment with less engine strain and more stability.

Fuel Economy

The diesel F-150 targeted buyers who needed efficiency and towing torque without jumping to the heavy-duty segment. One of the standout features of the 3.0L Power Stroke was its fuel efficiency—a key selling point for diesel fans. When properly configured (4×2 models), the diesel F-150 achieved up to 30 mpg (highway), 22 mpg (city), and 25 mpg (combined). That kind of mileage—combined with a 26-gallon fuel tank—was virtually unheard of in the full-size pickup segment at the time and made it ideal for long-distance haulers or those who wanted truck utility without the fuel penalty.

Hau Thai-Tang, then-Ford executive vice president, product development and purchasing, said in a press release at the time, “Even a few years ago, customers wouldn’t have imagined an EPA-estimated rating of 30 mpg highway would be possible in a full-size pickup, but our team of crazy-smart engineers rose to the challenge.”

Changes Over the Years

From 2018 to 2021, the engine didn’t undergo major mechanical changes, but Ford continued tweaking its integration in the F-150 lineup. It was initially offered more broadly in 2018 and 2019. In 2020 and especially 2021, availability was narrowed as Ford began shifting focus toward its hybrid PowerBoost and upcoming electric F-150 Lightning. The 3.0L Power Stroke was officially discontinued after the 2021 model-year due to low demand and tightening emissions standards.

R.I.P., Diesel F-150

The 3.0L Power Stroke diesel F-150 was a niche truck that filled a unique need: fuel-efficient, torque-rich performance in a light-duty package. While its run was short, it gave diesel enthusiasts something different—and something to miss. For those who own one, it’s a bit of a hidden gem in the F-150 lineage. And for the rest of us, it’s a reminder of the long-gone days when all the major truck manufacturers offered half-ton diesels.