The 6.7L Powerstroke engine from Ford is one of its more reliable engines. It lags behind compared to some competitor options but is far more durable than its predecessors – the 6.0L and 6.4L Powerstroke engines.
Furthermore, Ford has steadily improved the 6.7L Powerstroke since its debut in 2011, with each new engine iteration proving better than the last.
The cost of replacing a 6.7L Powerstroke engine ranges from $5,750 to $16,000. The average cost of replacing the engine is $10,825. Labor costs, the engine’s condition, the number of parts to be replaced, and the engine’s seller determine the replacement cost.
This piece looks at the factors affecting the replacement price of a 6.7L. It also shows you ways to reduce the cost of replacing your engine.
The Average Rate and What Will Determine Your Cost
Replacing a 6.7L Powerstroke engine costs an average of $10,825, including labor. It’s not cheap, but if you have no other choice, you’ll have to fork out the money.
Fortunately, the 6.7L is more reliable than the previous Powerstroke engines. [The 6.0L Powerstroke, in particular, was a reliability nightmare. If you must purchase a vehicle powered by the six-liter, refer to the following article to avoid picking a problematic car.]
Let’s look at the factors that’ll determine the replacement cost.
1. The Engine’s Condition
Replacement engines come in various conditions. Used 6.7L Powerstroke engines, the cheapest and least durable, will cost you about $4,000. The price may be higher or lower depending on the engine’s mileage: the lower the mileage, the higher the cost of a used engine.
Used engines with low mileage are costlier because they are expected to last longer. Purchasing a used motor is cheap but risky – there’s a chance that the engine or parts of it will fail soon after installation.
If a used engine fails immediately after installation, you’ll still have to pay labor costs (unless the mechanic’s error caused the failure). You might end up using more money than you imagined. On the other hand, you might get lucky and end up with a reliable, used engine.
The next option is purchasing a reconditioned engine, which is more expensive and durable than a used engine.
A reconditioned engine is one that’s been stripped, cleaned, and had some damaged parts replaced before being rebuilt. They are a less risky purchase than used engines, but there’s still a high chance of component failure.
The third and most expensive choice is a remanufactured engine built to Ford’s specifications. Remanufactured engines work similarly to or better than stock engines from the factory line. Some outlets customize their engines by replacing unreliable parts on the stock engine with more durable parts.
Therefore, by buying a remanufactured engine, you might end up with a motor better and more durable than the ones produced by Ford. However, remanufactured engines are very costly.
2. The Number of Parts Needing Replacement
The price of a replacement engine increases with the number of parts needing replacement. If the damage on the vehicle is extensive, you’ll pay more for the engine switch.
Typically, parts that bolt to a motor, like the pulleys, exhaust manifolds, and belts, aren’t included in the replacement engine. However, if these parts are spoiled, you’ll have to pay extra to get them changed, on top of the cost of the new motor.
To avoid inconvenient surprises, have a mechanic perform a thorough inspection of the vehicle to determine if there are parts other than the engine that need replacing.
Unfortunately, some issues show up after the installation of the new engine, especially if the reason for the engine swap was a catastrophic failure.
Therefore, to be safe, have more money on hand to sort out any unexpected repairs. Also, spare $100 for fluids the engine needs to run – for example, coolant, oil, and transmission fluid.
3. Labor Costs
Labor costs vary from shop to shop. Nevertheless, expect to pay anywhere from $110 to $150 per hour to replace the engine.
A skilled technician typically takes 10 to 12 hours to remove an engine and install a new one. However, the 6.7L is a monstrous and complicated unit, extending the replacement process to about 15 hours.
4. The Engine Supplier
There are several reliable suppliers of replacement 6.7L Powerstroke engines. Visit as many as possible to find out which offers the best price, including shipping costs where necessary.
Some suppliers even allow you to bargain or offer discounts on certain parts. There isn’t a big price difference in cost between suppliers, but you could save several hundred dollars by searching for the best price.
How To Lower the Price of Replacing a 6.7L Powerstroke Engine
The following options can help you lower the cost of replacing a 6.7L Powerstroke engine.
1. Take Advantage of the Warranty
If the warranty on your vehicle has yet to expire, Ford can cover the engine replacement cost. The Ford engine warranty expires after five years or 100,000 miles (160,934.4 kilometers). The warranty covers parts like the engine, turbocharger, cylinder block, and injectors.
If your car qualifies for a warranty, you won’t have to spend a dime on the engine replacement. To determine whether your vehicle’s Ford warranty is valid, key in the vehicle identification number (VIN) on Ford’s website. You can find the unique 17-digit number on the dashboard, door frame, engine, or vehicle’s service manual.
You can also get a powertrain warranty covering your engine on a pre-owned Ford. The company Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program allows Ford dealers to sell warranties to pre-owned vehicles fitting specific criteria.
Therefore, if you purchase a pre-owned Ford with a 6.7L Powerstroke, visit a Ford dealer or call your local dealership to ask about warranties. It might save you a lot of money if the engine fails.
Also, consider paying for an extended auto warranty. Thanks to the customizable nature of extended warranties, you can cover parts of the vehicle that’ll likely cost you the most to repair, like the engine.
2. Practice Proper Vehicle Maintenance
One way of reducing the costs of eliminating the cost of repairing an engine is by preventing engine failure. Flawed engines like the 6.0L Powerstroke will inevitably break down, but if you take care of a 6.7L Powerstroke engine, it can last you over a million miles (1,609,344 kilometers).
In March 2021, the owner of a Ford Truck powered by a 6.7L Powerstroke rolled his car into the shop of YouTuber PowerStroke Tech Talk. The odometer had run to a maximum of 999,999.9 miles (1,609,344 kilometers), and the driver claimed it had done more than 1.3 million miles (2,092,147.2 kilometers).
The owner had replaced some parts, including the transmission, turbo (several times), batteries and u-joints (twice), and belts. However, he’d never replaced the vehicle’s 6.7L Powerstroke engine. He told the YouTuber that the car gets a fresh fuel filter and oil change every 8,000 miles (12,875 kilometers).
When the driver bought the vehicle at 98,000 miles (157,716 kilometers), the diesel particulate filter and exhaust gas recirculation system, which regulate vehicle emissions, had been removed. Removing the emissions systems allows the engine to breathe more freely but can be considered illegal.
I don’t advise you to remove the emissions system in your vehicle because it affects the environment and could cost you a massive fine.
Nevertheless, the million-mile truck shows that a 6.7L Powerstroke engine can keep going for many miles if taken care of properly. Watch the mindblowing video below.
Identifying the common problems of a 6.7L Powerstroke aids with maintenance as it helps you diagnose an issue before it escalates.
Fix common 6.7L Powerstroke issues – bad bearings, leaking seals, clogged EGR coolers, faulty sensors – as soon as you identify them. It’ll help you reduce the chances of terminal engine failure.
3. Replace the Engine at Home
You can avoid paying labor costs by replacing the engine at home. By installing the new 6.7L Powerstroke engine at home, you can save more than $2,000.
However, it’s a difficult task that requires skill and specialist equipment. Furthermore, it’ll take a specialist far less time than it would take you to complete the engine swap.
If you have the skill and equipment in your home garage, execute the replacement and save a couple thousand dollars. Take time and ensure you install and connect everything correctly; a shoddy replacement job can destroy the new motor.
Conclusion
The cost of purchasing the replacement 6.7L Powerstroke engine forms takes up the largest chunk of the engine replacement expenses.
Buying a used engine is less costly than purchasing a reconstructed or remanufactured motor. However, used engines have far lower durability than the other options.
A reconstructed or remanufactured engine will cost you more, with the latter being the most expensive option, but the engine will last longer and perform better.