In Dealer Training

Keith Browning · February 5, 2010

Tomorrow Ford will be bringing a 2011 Super Duty to our dealership and doing some training with us. The message also stated they will be bringing "a variety of interesting props."

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Aaron · February 6, 2010

What was the variety of interesting props, and where's the pics? Posted Image

Keith Browning · February 6, 2010

Okay, first thing is no pics. It is weird to be doing that in your own freaking showroom like a fucking Japanese tourist in Atlantic city. Posted Image There was really nothing we haven't seen already with the Ford videos and the pictures that some of our esteemed fellow DTS members took and shared with us. I did bring my better camera to work and I did scope things out early in the day so don't get me wrong, if there was something worth pixelizing you would be viewing it right now. We will see plenty as we encounter problems when they arise and we start to disassemble a few engines.

As for the "interesting props" I was feeling let down as I expected some really cool stuff like a cutaway of the single sequential turbocharger for example, or the air-to-water charge air cooler or the EGR valve in it's housing. I wanted to really see some of the new approaches to some of the problems Ford put so much effort into solving that plagued recent Navistar engines. That was a big point the presenters made and that Ford really studied the current engines and allowed a dedicated team to work on developing this engine. They gave them a goal, got out of the way and let them get creative. We did see a cross-section of the 6.2L cylinder head and a piston Posted Image - the big block is back! We were handed one of the cylinder head to turbo pipes from the 6.7L PSD which was less interesting than the concept behind it. As far as I was concerned the only real prop there was the truck itself.

But before you begin to think that this training was less than interesting or of little value let me stop you. It was in fact new model training and I believe you will get credit on STARS for attending it. In the three hours we spent with the two men from Ford I left the showroom impressed with Ford's efforts and with the product. It appeared to me that there was a lot of thought put into all of the new features that the 2011 Super Duty truck has to offer. It wasn't just the new Ford diesel engine, the new 6.2L gasoline engine or the 6-speed Torqshift transmission. They really took the whole truck to a new level. The refinements to the existing features were matched by the new features we will become familiar with when the trucks hit the street.

Above and beyond the current features and the new engines and transmission, here are some of the new "functional" features and equipment:

[*]Factory gooseneck/5th wheel hitches

[*]Trailer sway control with RSC (Ride Stability Control)

[*]Live PTO provision allowing stationary and moving PTO operation

[*]Ford Work Solutions

[*]Helical limited slip rear differential

[*]Electronic locking rear differential

[*]Hill Decent Control (holds set vehicle speed between 2 to 20 MPH by applying brakes)

[*]Integrated exhaust brake (uses the VGT to create back pressure)

[*]Hill assist (holds the brakes for 2 seconds to prevent rollback on steep hills after brake pedal is released)

[*]Transmission manual mode (driver manually shifts by depressing buttons on shifter)

[*]Transmission Progressive Range Select (driver can reduce the range of gears available)

[*]Enhanced Tow-Haul (by integrating the exhaust brake)

[*]Instrument Cluster LCD productivity Screen (new message center and vehicle systems options and controls)

There were no road tests and we didn't even get to hear the diesel engine run. You really cant see the engine. I did get to touch it though. I am looking forward to the classroom training for the 6.7L as my career has spanned the introductions of all 4 Power Stroke engines and as I reflect upon that fact the last 20 years in this industry have been amazing as has been the evolution of the Ford truck.

Steve Mutter · February 6, 2010

I am going to a Ford thing on Feb 18 were we can drive the new truck,It is a sales thing but they are letting me go to it,I will see what I can do to get pictures and maybe a video

jw33 · February 6, 2010

That sucks you didnt get to hear it run, it is very quiet. How do you think it will be to work on? I dont think it will be to bad, the biggest pain is going to be the turbo inlet pipe from the pass. side head. The 6.2 is badass, they were roasting the tires on one when i was at the truck plant, they had one tore down in our classroom its a monster.