The Diesel Designer

If you want to gauge Adam Gryglak’s enthusiasm for the all-new 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine that will debut in the 2011 Ford Super Duty, just give him a call. He answers with one word. But it’s not “hello.”

“Diesel” is the greeting callers hear from Gryglak, the lead engineering manager. Such single-mindedness and dedication is understandable, as it’s vitally important the next-generation Power Stroke engine be more capable and reliable than the competition.

“The bar was raised for this new diesel and the Power Stroke team did a fantastic job meeting performance and durability targets,” Gryglak said. “We integrated Ford’s best global practices in engine design, development and testing as we pulled together our co-located team, which included engineering, design, manufacturing and purchasing. This helped us get the job done efficiently and quickly while increasing our focus on the product’s capability, performance, quality and reliability.”

To build team spirit, Gryglak wanted something unique to inspire the organization. The new diesel was code-named “Scorpion,” after Gryglak’s favorite rock band from the 1980s. A mechanical scorpion designed from engine components graced all internal reports.

Scorpion inspiration pays off. The result of the team’s work is the new Power Stroke V-8 turbocharged diesel engine, which will deliver significantly improved torque and horsepower as well as class-leading fuel economy while meeting more stringent federal emissions standards that begin in 2010. The engine is biodiesel compatible up to B20.

“We benchmarked the competition and set very aggressive performance targets to be the leader in capability and reliability,” Gryglak said. “Our customers deserve nothing less.”