Ah, the mighty 6.4 liter Powerstroke diesel engine. When Ford first started stuffing the 6.4 into F-250s and F-350s back in 2008—the entire diesel industry thought it was the next great engine.
And, it's easy to see why.
Packing factory compound turbos and common-rail fuel injection, the 6.4 Powerstroke was just a few modifications away from 600+ horsepower. Tuners, racers, and weekend warriors were seriously impressed at just how easy it was to turn the 6.4 into a tire-melting animal.
And then, it all seemed to fall apart.
The downfall of the 6.4 Powerstroke
Not long after the 6.4 was introduced, some of the major problems became known, including but not limited to:
- Cracked Pistons
- Blown Head Gaskets
- Clogged Oil Coolers
- Fuel Dilution/Cylinder Washing
- Cracked Exhaust Up-Pipe Expansion Joints
- Front Cover Failure
- And leaking radiators, among other things..
These failure points are so common and so expensive to fix, truck owners around the world learned to fear the 6.4. Right or wrong, the engine became known as an endless money pit—that would continue to break no matter what you did to fix the factory issues.
To make matters worse, Ford quickly discontinued the 6.4 in 2010, which only added to the folklore of how terrible the engine was.
The ultra-loyal 6.4 Powerstroke community
Despite all the bad publicity, some diesel owners never stopped loving, buying, and building 6.4-equipped Super Duties. Despite the financial risk, for one reason or another, the 6.4 market never completely died off.
Sure, the 2008-2010 F-250s and F-350s didn't hold their resale very well (and still don't). But, for some, that made the 6.4 even more appealing.
Especially for mechanically-inclined Ford fans, the 6.4 Powerstroke is often seen as an affordable (to purchase, at least), modern Ford diesel pickup truck with a TON of power potential.
As of the writing of this article, the 6.4 Powerstroke horsepower world record is north of 1,900 wheel horsepower.
Are 6.4 Powerstrokes getting popular again?
Fast-forward nearly 20 years from the first time 6.4-equipped Fords hit dealer lots, and it's possible a revival is underway.
As the 2008-2010 Powerstroke-powered F-250/F-350 has declined in value (excluding COVID-era price hikes), many first-time diesel owners have looked at the 6.4 as a viable option.
Are there still concerns about reliability, cost of ownership, and possibly being stuck on the side of the road? Sure—but thanks to the internet, all of the fixes for the 6.4's most notorious problem are a Google search away.
Not to say repairing a 6.4 is cheap—but all the information is readily available. On top of that, many 6.4-equipped trucks have already been repaired, reinforced with better components, and successfully driven thousands and thousands of miles.
Lastly, the folklore around the 6.4 being "dangerous" to own, combined with it's legendary performance potential, has given the engine a nearly mythical status.
It's kind of like having a rattlesnake as a pet. You'll be the coolest guy on the block—as long as it doesn't bite you.
Should you buy a 6.4 Powerstroke?
Truthfully, that's not a question we can answer. If you're mechanically inclined, you like owning the less-common version of things, and you don't mind the financial risk, the 6.4 can be a seriously fun platform.
That said, we probably would not recommend it for someone who hasn't spent much time working on diesels, and/or just needs an ultra-reliable daily driver or work truck.
Can the 6.4 be daily driven? Of course, but there are less risky engine options available. We've seen too many first-time diesel owners purchase a 2008-2010 F-250/F-350 thinking it was just an ultra-affordable Powerstroke, only to get hit with $5,000-$10,000+ in repairs just a few months later.
And, while that could theoretically happen with any used diesel truck, the 6.4 does have a history of draining the owner's wallet.
6.4 Powerstroke upgrades at FASS Motorsports
All that said, we're actually big 6.4 Powerstroke fans here at FASS Motorsports. The idea of a compound-turbo, common-rail V8 diesel that can be tuned to 600+ horsepower is just cool.
Sure, the 6.4 can be a bit of a headache, but the best things in life often are. Plus, they're far, far less common these days than most other trucks. To see a mint-condition 6.4 Powerstroke-powered truck driving around is a rare occurrence.
If you need upgrades for your 6.4, give us a shout! We offer a fantastic selection of upgrades for the 6.4 from brands like:
- Edge Products
- FASS Diesel Fuel Systems
- No Limit Fabrication
- S&B
- And more!
If you have questions about upgrades for your truck, give us a shout! You can reach our team by phone at (636) 429-7020, by email at info@fassmotorsports.com, or stop by our show room—located at:
FASS Motorsports
25 Town and Country
Washington, MO 63090
Thanks for reading!