First Drive Review: 2011 Ford F-250 King Ranch 4x4 Crew Cab - Unloaded, Part 2 - PickupTrucks.com
7-liter V-8 is the quietest diesel engine we've driven in a pickup, thanks to the engine's new piston design, fuel-injection strategy and special acoustic covers that sit over the injectors on each cylinder bank to quiet noises from the fuel... We've heard some say that you can stand next to the truck and not be able to tell it's idling, but we were still clearly able to hear its subdued clatter, which we consider to be a positive characteristic. However, if you're into getting the attention of other oil-burning HD truck owners in the Home Depot parking lot as you roll in, you're going to be disappointed. You've got to be within about 10 feet of an idling truck to know a diesel is in your proximity. There's extra baffling to reduce road and powertrain noise and the continued use of what Ford calls "quiet steel" in the dash panel, which uses a multilayer laminate to help reduce vehicle noise and vibration levels. The ceiling is covered with a new headliner material that feels a bit more solid to the touch than before and helps absorb noise in the cab. Perhaps Ford was listening because it's much easier to point Super Duty pickups where you want it to go, especially at lower speeds, thanks to several key changes. Source: news.pickuptrucks.com
