Ford launches the new 2011 Super Duty and its all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel engine with biodiesel compatibility. The new diesel engine, available in the 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty, is B20 compatible, which allows customers an additional fueling option that uses blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent petroleum diesel.

Biodiesel is a type of diesel fuel that is derived from renewable energy sources and feedstocks, such as vegetable oils and animal fats.

The new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine is rated at a significantly improved 735 ft.-lb. of torque at 1,600 rpm and 390 horsepower at 2,800 rpm.

"The customer will not see any degradation in performance with biofuels up to B20," Waszczenko said. "Also, testing was conducted to simulate how some customers will use biofuels. This included switching from normal diesel fuel to B20 fuel, just like a customer might do."

This increased flexibility is an important component of the new engine.

"Diesel engines account for 65 percent of Super Duty sales," said Doug Scott, Truck Group marketing manager. "Increased biodiesel compatibility is something many of our customers have been looking for."

"The 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty is all about meeting and exceeding customer demands across a wide range with the 'and solution,'" said Scott. "Ford delivers best-in-class maximum capability and best-in-class fuel economy, with an average 18 percent improvement among diesel pickups and 25 percent improvement in diesel chassis cabs compared with 2010 models, and B20 compatibility."

New diesel engine's extreme durability testing

Ford engineers put more than 10.3 million equivalent test miles on the new diesel engine, including extreme road and weather conditions. The new Power Stroke diesel is the most tested Power Stroke ever, incorporating the most rigorous engine tests found in Ford globally.

Customer data, including driving styles, road types and vehicle usage (towing and payload), also played a key role in developing the testing program that best replicated Super Duty use.

This strict testing work helped ensure the new engine is B20 compatible. Because biodiesel fuel varies in quality in the U.S. and Canada, durability testing cycles were run on multiple blends of the fuel to ensure the robustness of the system. Engine components that are not compatible with B20 will suffer premature wear or corrosion and will have a high potential for leaks if the sealing components are not compatible with biofuels.

Compliance with alternative fuel regulation

Nationally, government fleet customers and energy providers must comply with the Energy Policy Act (EPACT) of 1992, which mandates that a certain percentage of new vehicle purchases have alternative fuel capability. Additionally, certain states and municipalities offer credits or incentives that encourage B20 use, making it an attractive alternative.

According to biodiesel.org, the 500 million gallons of fuel the U.S. biodiesel industry produced in 2007 offset nearly 12 million barrels of oil. The organization also reported that a recent study concluded that in 2007 alone, the biodiesel industry supported more than 21,000 jobs and added more than $4 billion to the nation's Gross Domestic Product.