F250 Powerboost vs Powerstroke: Differences + Pros and Cons
It is getting to be a confusing world in the automotive industry. In today’s world, you have one brand that uses two different but top technologies to run their vehicles. The problem is these technologies are not applied to the same model series.
The biggest difference between the Powerboost and the Powerstroke technologies is that the former is used for hybrid engines and the latter is used for diesel engines. All these engines are made by Ford however only one is used for the F250 model series.
To learn more about the differences between these two technologies, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can make a good choice between the different vehicles that contain these modern technologies.
What is a PowerBoost F250?
We need to clear up a few things. First, there is no Powerboost F250 that we are aware of. This technology is supposed to be both a model name and a variation on the turbocharger.
It was made specifically for the F150 Hybrid truck and any F150 with the name Powerboost is a truck with a hybrid motor in it. Second, many people confuse the Ecoboost motor with the Powerboost technology or model name.
This is a separate technology that goes into the Ford 2.7L V6 or the 3.5L V6 GAS engines. When it comes to the technology side of things, the Powerboost is supposed to give the F150 up to 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.
So technically, it is a power boost technology but it is not in the F250 series. You may find it in the Mustang and Edge model series but that is about it. What the Powerboost does is work with the Ecoboost engine to provide more power on the electronic side of the hybrid engine.
It is also supposed to provide more power for towing as well as raise the towing capacity. Ford has bragged that the Power boost will extend your gas tank’s fuel range up to 700 miles but so far the data shows only a range of 624 miles overall.
Ford Powerboost Engine Specs
The following information is for the 2021 F150 3.5 L Ecoboost & Powerboost engine. As reported earlier, this combination provides the owner with 430 horsepower and 570 lb.-ft. of torque.
This is achieved by combining the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbocharged engine with a 35 kW (47 horsepower) electric motor in the transmission. The electric motor is powered by a 1kWh battery. Other specs include:
Compression: 10.5:1; Firing order- 1-4-2-5-3-6; BOre is 3.64 & the stroke is 3.41. The Valvetrain is a DOHC and the ignition system comes with the coil on the plug. The battery should produce 35 kilowatts per hour or 45 HP.
The aspiration is a twin-turbocharged, intercool system and the fuel system is a port fuel injection design with direct injection. Then this engine should be able to tow 12,700 pounds and have a payload weight limit of 2120 pounds.
The Ford company advertises the fuel tank capacity at 30.6 gallons which they say you should get 700 miles out of the tank. That works out to be 22.9 mpg approx. Some reviewers are skeptical of the fuel range and overall mpg.
If you are looking to get this motor with the Powerboost installed, you are looking at paying upwards of $80,000 depending on the dealer and location. If you have a trade-in, that should lower your price tag a little bit.
If you are buying an F150 Powerboost, then you are getting the hybrid engine no matter the trim or model.
What is The Difference Between Power Boost And Power Stroke?
You should now have a good idea of what the Powerboost is all about. The Powerstroke is an older engine that was introduced in 1994. It first came in the 7.3L V8 diesel and that continued until 2003 when Ford developed the 6.0L diesel motor.
However, the 2003 6.0L was filled with problems and it only lasted about 5 years and in 2008 Ford developed and released the 6.4L V8 Powerstroke motor. The first model of the Powerstroke got 275 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque.
The 6.0L was bumped up to 325 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque and later on was revised to reach 570 lb-ft. The 6.4L 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque but this is not the end of the series of Powerstroke diesel motors.
In 2011, Ford introduced the 6.7L and that engine produced 475 hp and 1,050 lb-ft of torque and this engine remained till 2018 when it was replaced by the 3.0L Power Stroke V6. 2021 saw Ford discontinue the Powerstroke engine and the final motor only produced 250 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque.
What advantage of the Powerstroke had or has over the Powerboost engine is that it was cheaper and easier to maintain. Again, the Powerstroke, for all generations, was a diesel-powered engine and not a hybrid like the Powerboost engine.
But it does not get the fuel economy the hybrid Powerboost motor gets. But both engines are good and the one you get will depend on your preferences. Most people avoid the hybrids because of their expense and go with the regular diesel or gas engine because they are affordable.
PowerBoost vs PowerStroke Pros And Cons
The positive for the Powerstroke motors was their power. They could produce high HP and torque with ease. It did not need extra or special parts to achieve that power level.
It was also a very long-lasting motor that has many generations running 20 years later. The negative aspects of the Powerstroke were its many problems. Especially the 6.0 as it seemed to be a lemon from the start.
But to be fair, the 6.0’s problems were due a lot to driver error than mechanical issues. With that said, though, it seemed that the 6.0 was forever in the repair shop in comparison to other generations of this motor.
What was its downfall was all the emission regulations that Ford had to meet. The advantages of the 6.0 were that it was great for towing, and with proper maintenance, it is still going strong.
The strong mpg was a good selling point but it does not match up with the mpg of the Powerboost which is one of its positive aspects. Another positive is that the hybrid engine is supposed to be one of the best engines made today.
It is supposed to reach 25 mpg which is higher than Ford’s assessment and higher than its competitor trucks. Also, its towing prowess makes this an ideal engine to have towing your heavy trailer.
The biggest negative you can have is the price tag. It is still outside of many potential owners’ budgets. After that, it is the lack of longevity in the battery. You may see them wear out in 8 to 10 years and it is doubtful that they will last as long as a Powerstroke motor will last.
The cost to replace those batteries right now is between $1000 and $3000 who knows what it will be in 10 years?
Will Superduty Get PowerBoost?
Right now there are no plans to install a hybrid motor inside the superduty model series. But things may change and Ford may consider installing a hybrid motor in this model of their trucks but that may come years down the road.
However, things change and Ford can change its mind in the next year if it wanted to and was able to design a good hybrid motor for this model series. At the moment, it seems that Ford is satisfied with the 7.3 gas engine currently inside their Superduty models.
They are also happy with the diesel motor many of these trucks come with. The power is there and they are some of the largest and most powerful trucks in their class. There does not seem to be a need to upgrade on this performance at this time.
Some owners are not sure if a hybrid could run a Superduty truck. Ford may be agreeing with them and may use advancing technology to come up with something better that would.
There are more owners who would not buy a Superduty truck if Ford did make the changeover. A lot of people just do not want the expensive and short-lived electronics under their hoods.
Some Final Words
There have been some fine engines made for trucks over the years. The Powerboost with the Ecoboost is one of them. The hybrid should help you get great performance if you could afford it.
The Powerstroke was a good engine but too many problems kept people away and it has been discontinued at this time. At least in some models of trucks. However, it lasts longer than the Powerboost so it may be the more economical option when it comes time to choose a new truck.
