• The Powerstroke Diesel first appeared in 1994 in Ford's F-series pickup trucks, as well as some SUVs and vans. A product of Navistar International, the Powerstroke used a 7.3-liter version on all vehicles from 1994 until 2003 and then replaced it with a smaller, but similar 6.7-liter version.
  
  

Production Beginnings

• The Powerstroke Diesel stems from the International Harvester Indirect Injection engine. The IDI was used on Ford pickups from 1982 until 1994, and was ultimately replaced by the Powerstroke version. The IDI engine had similar performance and came in a turbocharged form in 1994; however, immediately following its release, it was replaced with the 7.3L Powerstroke.
  
  

Later Versions

• The 7.3 first hit the market in 1994. The engine was electronically controlled and had a direct injection system and a turbocharger. The engine was altered and modified in 1999. The modifications included the introduction of an intercooler--which not only added more horsepower, but also reduced the temperatures produced by the exhaust. The post-1999 engines also had a waste gate and a modified turbine housing unit.
  
  

Detailed Features

• The 7.3-liter Powerstroke diesel has a bore and stroke of 4.11 by 4.18 inches and a compression ratio of 17.5-to-1. It has 275 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 525 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 rpm.
  
  The engine block is cast iron, and the pistons are aluminum alloy coated with a Ni-resist insert. Fuel-delivery is contolled by an injector system, which has controlled timing. The alternative name for the 7.3-liter Powerstroke is the "International T444E engine."