Ford Super Duty history: F-250 and F-350 generations and Power Stroke diesels

Ford Super Duty history

Until the late 1990s, Ford's heavy-duty pickups were F-Series siblings of the F-150. For the 1999 model year Ford split them off as the Super Duty, a truck that shared only its taillamp lenses and tailgate with the F-150. It rode on a longer chassis, offered four-wheel drive on dually models for the first time at Ford, and introduced the first V10 in a Ford truck.

Diesels have defined each generation. The original truck used the 7.3-liter Power Stroke V8 at 235 hp and 500 lb-ft. A 6.0-liter replaced it during 2003, the compound-turbo 6.4 arrived for 2008, and for 2011 Ford switched to a 6.7-liter Power Stroke that it engineered, designed and built itself.

The 2017 truck followed the F-150 into a high-strength aluminum-alloy body, saving up to 350 pounds together with its new frame. For 2020 Ford added a 7.3-liter pushrod gas V8 rated at 430 hp, and the 2023 generation brought a High Output 6.7 Power Stroke rated at 500 hp and 1,200 lb-ft.[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]

Years and production numbers

Generations and key variants

Engine and drivetrain facts

• The 1999 Super Duty's 7.3-liter Power Stroke made 235 hp and 500 lb-ft at 1,600 rpm; the gas choices were a 5.4-liter V8 and a 275-hp 6.8-liter V10.
• The 6.4-liter Power Stroke for 2008 made 350 hp and 650 lb-ft, up from the 6.0's 325 hp and 570 lb-ft.
• Ford announced the 6.7-liter Power Stroke in February 2010 at 390 hp and 735 lb-ft, then raised it to 400 hp and 800 lb-ft through a software update that August.
• The 7.3-liter gas V8 introduced for 2020 is rated 430 hp at 5,500 rpm and 475 lb-ft at 4,000 rpm in pickups.

Sources:[1],[2],[3],[5],[10]

What changed, generation by generation

1. 1999Super Duty launches as a separate line from the F-150 with 7.3 Power Stroke, 5.4 V8 and 6.8 V10.
2. 20036.0 Power Stroke replaces the 7.3 during the model year.
3. 2008Second generation with the 350-hp 6.4 Power Stroke.
4. 2011Third generation with the Ford-built 6.7 Power Stroke and a 6.2 gas V8.
5. 2017Fourth generation with a high-strength aluminum-alloy body and a new, stiffer frame.
6. 20207.3-liter gas V8 added.
7. 2023Fifth generation with the 500-hp High Output 6.7 Power Stroke.

Sources:[1],[2],[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]

What to check before you buy one

• Pin down the exact engine: the VIN's engine code separates a 6.0 from a 6.4 or 6.7, and a High Output 6.7 from the standard one.
• On 2003–2007 6.0 trucks, ask for records of head-stud, EGR-cooler and oil-cooler work; these are the engine's best-known repair areas, and documented fixes matter more than mileage.
• On any diesel, confirm the emissions equipment is intact and legal for your state, and check cooling-system condition on the 6.4.
• Match the axle ratio, rear-wheel configuration and towing package to the trailer you plan to pull — Ford's headline tow ratings apply only to specific configurations.
• Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and check whether the truck was in fleet or commercial use.

Model-specific problems by generation are tracked on our Ford Super Duty known issues page. Engine guides: 7.3L Power Stroke diesel & 7.3L gas V8, 6.0L Power Stroke diesel, 6.4L Power Stroke diesel, 6.7L Power Stroke diesel, 6.2L Boss V8.

Ford Super Duty prices and values

Medians of asking prices, not transaction prices; every trim is blended, so performance variants usually sit well above these medians. "Below new median" compares each model year's median used listing with the median listing price of a new 2026 F-250 Super Duty today. More in our Ford F-250 Super Duty depreciation study.

How to verify a Ford Super Duty's factory options

Super Duty value and capability turn on factory options that are easy to misstate: engine (gas, 6.7 or High Output 6.7), axle ratio, single or dual rear wheels, gooseneck/fifth-wheel prep and the tow package. The factory build record settles each one.