Good news for Kentucky! Ford recently announced that they’ll be adding 350 new jobs at Louisville’s Truck Plant. The company is investing in “facility upgrades, retooling and increased capacity.”

Via WDRB:

Ford plans to make 55,000 more trucks annually, a 15 percent increase.

“It’s a good testament to the underlying growth in the U.S. economy; trucks are all about doing work,” Hinrichs said, citing increases in home building and construction. “We’re seeing that demand, and then it comes home in the great commonwealth of Kentucky, where we need to build more of these things.”

Ford has already filled the new positions from a pool of 10,000 applications that were previously on file. All new workers should be on the job by April 1.

Read more via WDRB.

Power Stroke engines, designed for Ford Motor Company, are diesel engines that are definitely environmentally friendly because they use fuel that is 20% biodiesel and are constantly being improved.

With state of the art engineering, Power Stroke engines are economical and more fuel efficient than gasoline engines.

Clean air and less toxins in the environment are a huge concern for many. With a better gas recirculation system, a diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction, Power Stroke engines are performing well and have been producing less and less toxic emissions as technology improves.

The EPA created stringent clean air standards back in 2007 and these diesel engines meet and exceed all of these standards. The newest engine to hit the market, the 6.7L will run on B20 biodiesel fuel.

B20 biodiesel fuel is a combination of regular diesel fuel at 80% and the remaining 20% of biodiesel. This formula is safer for the environment because less toxins are produced as the fuel is burned by the engine.

Power Stroke Engines are environmentally friendly because they are efficient, and adhere to all standards set by the government.

Built in Huntsville, Alabama, the large diesel engines for Ford’s line of super duty pickup trucks are durable and have performed well against gasoline engines.

A water-separator-valve is a valve that separates water from lighter liquids such as gasoline. This means that a water-separator-valve can be used to clean fuel thereby preventing water from entering an engine during operation. The filter work on the principles of gravity because water is heavier than gasoline it sinks to the bottom of the fuel filter. Without a filter in place, the water makes its way through the fuel filter and into the engine. The product works by using a lever that helps to drain water from the fuel filter. As the water settles into the bottom of the filter, it can be removed by using the lever. To combat the risk of fuel leaks, the water-separator-valve uses fuel resistant o-ring as a gasket to form a seal that prevents fuel leakage.

Signs and symptoms of water in your gas tank or fuel filter include poor engine performance. Specifically, your engine may sputter and act like it is about to die. In milder cases, the engine may knock and ping. These are symptoms that the fuel is not rich enough for minimal engine performance. In really bad cases, misfire may also occur. Any of these symptoms need to be take care of immediately as prolonged cases can lead to significant engine damage. Installing a water-separator-valve is a great preventative treatment for this potential problem.

If you are a truck enthusiast, then you have probably heard of the power stroke engine; in fact, you may even be driving a truck with a 7.3L, 6.0L or 6.4L power stroke diesel engine. Have you ever stopped to wonder where the power stroke engine was made? This fantastic diesel engine was originally designed and manufactured by International / Navistar.

Ford Motor Company and International / Navistar began working together in 1983, when Ford first offered the International Harvester’s 6.9L IDI diesel engine in their pickups. However, in recent years the relationship has been severed. Currently the Ford Motor Company manufactures a 6.7L power stroke diesel engine. The latter engine represents the first in-house designed and built Ford engine of its kind.

Now, that you have a bit of history about the power stroke diesel engine, let’s discuss manufacturing origins. Power stroke engines are typically made in Illinois and Alabama. The automatic version is usually constructed at the Ohio factory. In past years, the Ford Motor Company has received 7.3 engines, which were made at the Indianapolis, Indiana, and Canoas, Brazil engine plants.

Did you know that you can easily check the origins of your power stroke engine? To check where your power stroke engine was made, simply check the engine bar code sticker on the driver’s side valve cover. This bar code sticker should list the name of the plant (and geographical location) where the engine was originally manufactured.

Many types of Ford diesel trucks come equipped with a powerstroke engine. These engines were first introduced in 1994 as the engine could boost horsepower while reducing exhaust gas temperatures due to its unique fuel injection and high pressure oil pump systems. Also included in such a diesel engine is an electric vacuum pump that helps operate the braking system.

What is an Electric Vacuum Pump?

An electric vacuum pump allows for the brake booster to function properly. The brake booster uses the vacuum that the internal injection engine generates from the manifold to create braking power. Unfortunately certain environmental conditions such as high altitude, or certain operations such as using the air conditioning or warming up the engine, can lessen the amount of a vacuum that the manifold creates.

When this problem occurs, you may have problems with the brakes going out. The electric vacuum pump helps to eliminate this issue by creating additional vacuum pressure going to the brake booster. Many of the newer hybrid and electric vehicles hitting the market are using electric vacuum pumps.

Problems You May Experience With a Malfunctioning Electric Vacuum Pump

If you see the brake light come on but won’t go off, you may think that something is wrong with the brake light switch. Yet if also you have problems stopping or you can’t press down brake pedal, the issue could be a malfunctioning electric vacuum pump.

You can perform the replacement of the vacuum pump yourself if you have the mechanical skills and understanding of the engine compartment. There are several manufacturers that offer replacement electric vacuum pumps. Before replacing the pump, you should check to ensure the vacuum hose is connected to the electrical vacuum pump. You can also perform a vacuum pressure test by using a vacuum test kit.

Ford F-Series Pick-Up (Photo credit: kenjonbro)

Things are a-changing. Rumors have been swirling that Ford will be unveiling a new design for the F-150 at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Via NBC News, “And it’s not just a restyled pickup with a few more features. The 2015 Ford F-Series is expected to mark a dramatic shift in a market segment that’s come roaring back over the last 12 months, with the Detroit maker opting for a new, aluminum-intensive design that should shed hundreds of pounds compared to the outgoing pickup – in the process improving fuel consumption by perhaps 5 miles per gallon.”

We look forward to seeing what Ford has in store for 2014.