Does Ford still use international engines?
In short: No, Ford does not rely on International (Navistar) engines for its current production lineup. Ford’s modern engines are largely developed in-house or through Ford-led collaborations, with Navistar’s involvement limited to historical generations of Power Stroke diesel engines.
The relationship between Ford and International/Navistar in engine supply has evolved over time. This article explains what changed, which engines were involved in the past, and what Ford uses today in both diesel and gasoline powertrains.
A brief history of Ford and International (Navistar) engines
The Power Stroke name has long been associated with Ford’s diesel engines for trucks. In the early 2000s, Ford relied on Navistar International (the company behind the International brand) to supply diesel engines for its pickups and trucks. Two notable examples are the 6.0L Power Stroke (2003–2007) and the 6.4L Power Stroke (2008–2010), both produced by Navistar for Ford under the Power Stroke badge. These engines provided the backbone of several generations of Ford’s diesel trucks but were also infamous for reliability and emissions concerns that affected customer perception.
Navistar’s role in early Power Stroke engines
The 6.0L and 6.4L Power Stroke era represents Ford’s reliance on a third-party engine producer for its diesel lineup. While these engines met market needs at the time, Ford shifted direction in subsequent years, seeking more control over engineering, reliability, and emissions compliance. The 6.7L Power Stroke that followed introduced Ford-led development with collaborative input from Navistar, signaling a transition away from Navistar-alone production for Ford’s core diesel offering.
Past Navistar-built engines helped Ford address demand for robust diesel torque and durability in heavy-duty applications, but since the early 2010s, Ford’s strategy has aimed to bring more engine development in-house and through closer Ford-led partnerships.
Summary: Historically, Navistar supplied several Power Stroke diesels for Ford trucks, but those engines are no longer the basis for Ford’s current diesel lineup. The legacy of that collaboration remains a part of Ford’s engineering history, not the blueprint for today’s engines.
What Ford uses today
Below is a snapshot of the engines Ford currently uses in its mainstream lineup, with a focus on diesel and the major gasoline powertrains that buyers encounter in today’s trucks and SUVs.
Next, a look at Ford’s current engine families, including the diesel options that carry the Power Stroke badge and the gasoline EcoBoost/CFI engines that power most of Ford’s non-diesel models.
- 3.0L Power Stroke V6 Diesel (F-150 and ladder-frame SUVs/trucks in certain markets): Ford-developed diesel engine introduced to provide a balance of torque and efficiency in light-to-midweight duty.
- 6.7L Power Stroke V8 Diesel (Super Duty lineup: F-250 to F-450): A modern Ford-designed heavy-duty diesel with ongoing updates, originally developed with input from Navistar but now managed primarily by Ford as the core engineering lead.
- Gasoline engine families that dominate most Ford trucks and SUVs (examples include the 2.3L EcoBoost, 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.5L EcoBoost, and the 5.0L V8): These engines are Ford- engineered and produced, forming the backbone of the non-diesel portion of Ford’s lineup.
Conclusion: Ford’s current diesel engines (the 3.0L and 6.7L Power Stroke) reflect Ford’s ongoing in-house development and primary control over the design and production process. Navistar’s direct role in supplying engines to Ford has diminished compared with the early- and mid-2000s era.
What this means for buyers and enthusiasts
For buyers, this evolution means Ford’s modern engines are generally designed to meet Ford’s specifications for reliability, emissions, and performance, with a diverse supply chain of suppliers rather than a single external engine supplier. The Power Stroke naming remains, but the engines themselves are now part of Ford’s own engineering ecosystem rather than a Navistar-only product line. For those shopping used trucks from the 2000s or early 2010s, you may encounter Navistar-built Power Stroke engines, which have different maintenance histories compared with Ford’s current engines.
Summary
Ford no longer relies on International/Navistar engines for new vehicles. The company’s current Power Stroke diesels (3.0L V6 and 6.7L V8) are developed and produced with Ford-led engineering and supply chains, with Navistar’s involvement largely in the past. Ford continues to offer a broad lineup of gasoline engines (EcoBoost and V8) alongside its diesel offerings, all under Ford’s direction. For collectors or owners of older Ford trucks, Navistar-built Power Stroke engines remain a notable part of Ford’s diesel history, but they are not representative of Ford’s modern engine strategy.
