Ford 6.8L V10 Triton

Ford 6.8L V10 Triton — every model and year that used this engine (23 models, 1997–2019), based on NHTSA VIN build data, with links to prices and reliability.

Super Duty, E-Series, RVs.

6.8L · 10 cylinders · seen in 23 models, 1997–2019

By the numbers

Output range 265–385 hp (median 305 hp). Gasoline: 100%. Based on 1,125 decoded NHTSA VIN build sheets.

About this engine family

The Ford Modular engine is an overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 gasoline-powered small block engine family introduced by Ford Motor Company in 1990 for the 1991 model year. The term “modular” applied to the setup of tooling and casting stations in the Windsor and Romeo engine manufacturing plants, not the engine itself.

In detail

In the early 1980s, then-Ford Motor Company chief operating officer Donald Petersen challenged Ford's vice-president of design, Jack Telnack, and his staff to come up with new vehicle designs to replace the boxy styling that had dominated Ford products for years. The result was the adoption of sleeker, more aerodynamic designs like that used for the highly successful Ford Taurus. In the second half of the 1980s, Petersen, then chief executive officer, sought to update Ford's decades-old V8 architectures, challenging Ford senior engineer Jim Clarke to develop a new V8 engine that would surpass Ford's earlier V8s in every meaningful way, from power and efficiency to emissions performance and smoothness of operation.

Clarke and his engineers studied engine designs from major European and Japanese automakers and sought to develop a technologically advanced, power-dense, dependable, low maintenance V8, with no major service required before of use. The initial engine design would implement a 90° vee-angle with a bore and a stroke of , resulting in a displacement and creating a nearly 1:1 bore-to-stroke ratio. This square configuration was chosen primarily for its positive noise, vibration, and harshness characteristics.

The engine would utilize features such as a chain-driven, single-overhead camshaft valve train with roller finger followers, a deep-skirt cast-iron block construction and cross-bolted main bearings, all benefiting long-term durability. In the interest of reducing overall engine weight, aluminum-alloy heads would be standard and all major engine accessories would be mounted directly to the block, resulting in a more complex block casting but eliminating the need for heavy mounting brackets.

All engines in the family shared a common bore spacing of . Tight construction tolerances were used in shaping cylinder bores to accommodate narrow piston rings. This improved engine efficiency through reduced friction and oil consumption while also promoting cleaner emissions. Various single- or dual-overhead camshaft eight- and ten-cylinder engines could be produced. Six-cylinder derivatives were also explored, though never built.

In order to accommodate the wide array of engine configurations possible within this architecture, Ford developed a new modular tooling system for producing different engines quickly and efficiently in the same factory. Such an approach allowed for significantly faster changeovers when switching from one engine platform to another among the modular engine family. This also allowed for the existing engine plants, and their supporting offsite production facilities, to handle shorter production runs.

By 1987 Ford was fully committed to producing the new Modular V8, having invested $4 billion (~$ in ) in the engine's design in addition to retooling the company's Romeo, Michigan tractor plant to build the engines. Three years later, in the third quarter of 1990, the first Modular engine, a 4.6 L SOHC V8, would be used in the 1991 model year Lincoln Town Car. In spite of having a smaller displacement, the lighter 4.6 L Modular V8 could generate more power than the Town Car's previous overhead valve 5.0 L (302 cu in) V8 and accelerate to 1.5 seconds faster, all while delivering better fuel efficiency.

Ford modular engines would go on to become its chief gasoline V8s and V10s. The displacement 90-degree V8 was offered in 2-valve SOHC, 3-valve SOHC, and 4-valve DOHC versions. The engines were also offered with both aluminum and cast iron blocks, depending on application. The 4.6 L's bore and stroke are nearly square, respectively. Deck height for the 4.6 block is and connecting rod length is center to center, giving the 4.6 L a 1.67:1 rod to stroke ratio.

Cylinder bore spacing measures , which is common to all members of the Modular engine family.

Source: Wikipedia — Ford Triton engine, CC BY-SA.

Models that used this engine

Model Years with this engine Fuel VIN builds seen
F-350 1999–2010 Gasoline 369
F-450 1999–2019 Gasoline 166
E-350 1997–2019 Gasoline 144
F-250 1999–2010 Gasoline 119
F-550 1999–2019 Gasoline 116
MOTORHOME CHASSIS 1999–2019 Gasoline 63
E-450 1999–2019 Gasoline 41
EXCURSION 2000–2005 Gasoline 33
F-650 2012–2019 Gasoline 26
COMMERCIAL CHASSIS 2011–2019 Gasoline 25

Engine usage derived from NHTSA VIN build data (displacement + cylinder configuration). Model links lead to prices, generations and reliability.

For sale with this engine