Just before the previous-generation F-150 went out of production, Ford offered the truck with a “gaseous-fuel prep” option for the 2014 model year. In non-gassy speak, the package was essentially a kit that allowed the engine to run on compressed natural gas, and it was only available with the old F-150’s base 3.7-liter V-6. Now nearly a year into the current F-150‘s production run, Ford has announced that it will again offer a gaseous-fuel prep option—only this time, it’ll be for the more powerful 5.0-liter V-8.
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The key thing to know here is that the $315 prep package is not a full propane or compressed-natural gas (CNG) conversion. In order to drive away with an F-150 fed by propane or natty light—er, natural gas—you’ll need to first take your prep-package-equipped truck to a Ford-approved upfitter and shell out between, for CNG, $7500 and $9500. For its part, the kit brings hardened intake and exhaust valves and valve seats, according to Ford. The benefits to the prep? Well, once the upfront costs are recouped, businesses and fleets can take advantage of generally lower natural-gas prices. That said, with today’s per-gallon gasoline prices hovering not drastically far above those of natural gas, the nearly $10,000 CNG conversion may take some time to financially pencil.
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Ford says that the F-150 is the only CNG-capable half-ton pickup on the market, and that’s technically true—Chevy and Ram offer similar CNG conversion prep kits and turn-key options for their trucks, but only on heavy-duty models. (Ford also offers prep for its F-250, F-350, F-650, F-750, Transit, Transit Connect, chassis cabs, and E-series models.) As for the stickers covering the CNG-prepped F-150 in the photos? We’re pretty sure those don’t come with the kit.
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