Ford's gasoline and diesel 2017 Super Duty trucks will come equipped with a 48-gallon fuel tank that provides a 22% increase over the outgoing diesel engine models and 37% increase over the gasoline models.

The 48-gallon tank replaces a 37.5-gallon tank on diesel-powered 2016 Ford Super Duty trucks and 35-gallon tank on gasoline-powered 2016 Super Duty trucks. The new tank is available with the long-box Crew Cab trucks, Ford Motor Co. has announced.

The truck also arrives with an improved water separator filter and inline fuel filter design that enables longer change intervals, minimizing time and money spent performing routine maintenance.

The diesel-powered trucks are equipped with a larger-capacity diesel exhaust fluid tank, which increases 2.5 gallons to 7.5 gallons.

The new Ford Super Duty trucks have begun shipping and will be available in Fall 2016.

Increased Fuel Capacity: What Are the Benefits for Fleet Trucking Managers?

Boosting the fuel tank capacity on Ford diesel and gasoline Crew Cab trucks provides several performance improvements that can significantly aid fleets in maintaining a high level of productivity. Although an oversized gasoline or diesel fuel tank does not directly improve engine efficiency on these types of heavy-duty trucks, it can generate other useful benefits that can add up to substantial savings in the long run. These benefits include:

• Increased Driving Range - With their 48-gallon tanks, Ford F-250 Crew Cab trucks and related models are able to drive farther distances before refueling. This can be very helpful for vehicles traveling through remote areas where fuel stations are few and far between, or any other areas where for one reason or another it is impossible or undesirable to refuel.

• Increased Productivity - Because they need less frequent refueling, Ford Crew Cab vehicles can spend more time on the road, which provides an obvious advantage for managing fleets with tight schedules.

• Reduced maintenance costs - A larger fuel tank can help reduce upkeep costs on heavy-duty trucks like Ford F-Series Crew Cabs. Part of this is due to fewer refueling stops, which minimizes the incidence of fuel contamination when filling up the tank. Another factor is less wear on the fuel pump and injectors due to less engine hours spent with a low tank of fuel, as these devices operate best on a relatively full tank. Keeping fuel levels reasonably high can also reduce the risk of damage to the catalytic converter that can occur due to engine heat.

For a fleet that relies heavily on gasoline or diesel engine Ford trucks like the F-250 4x4 Crew Cab Platinum, the increased fuel capacity offers benefits that far exceed the minor performance costs associated with a larger tank and its relatively heavy weight. In addition, long-box Crew Cab trucks include high-strength, lightweight military-grade aluminum alloy that helps bolster fuel efficiency.

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