Super Duty Ford pickups offer a choice of gasoline and diesel engines. The 6.7 liter Power Stroke diesel engine delivers more pulling power than Ford’s petrol engines. But not everyone can justify the higher cost of the diesel, or needs that much torque. That’s why 2026 Ford XL, King Ranch and Platinum models come standard with the 7.3-liter gas V8.
The most obvious difference between the two ‘Zilla V8s is their engine displacement. While both engines use cast iron engine blocks with cylinders bored to the same 4.22-inch diameter, the 6.8L has a shorter crankshaft stroke. The Mini-Zilla’s stroke measures 3.68 inches, 0.3 inches shorter than the 7.3L. Despite the shorter stroke, the Mini-Zilla has a higher compression ratio of 10.8:1 compared to the larger engine’s 10.5:1.
Despite its lower compression ratio, the Ford 7.3L Godzilla is the most powerful gas engine available in the 2026 Super Duty lineup, delivering 430 horsepower and 485 pound-feet of torque. The 6.8-liter Mini-Zilla produces a respectable 405 hp and 445 lb-ft of torque.
History of Ford Mini-Zilla and Godzilla V8
When comparing Ford 6.8 liter and 7.3 liter engines, it is important to note that other Ford engines exist that shared their displacement. Ford’s original 7.3-liter debuted in 1988 with the F-250 and F350 pickup trucks, a diesel engine with indirect fuel injection. This 7.3L IDI was built by Navistar. Ultimately, Ford ditched Navistar and switched to the Power Stroke diesel. Ford’s previous 6.8 liter petrol engine, the problematic Ford V10 Triton, was used in heavy-duty Fords from 1997 to 2019.
Ford introduced the 6.8L gasoline engine – the one we know as the Mini-Zilla – in its Super Duty trucks for the 2023 model year. Three years earlier, the 7.3L Godzilla V8 debuted for 2020 Super Duty trucks. Both engines feature a pushrod architecture with overhead valves and a single camshaft in the engine block. Prior to the 2020 7.3L Godzilla, the last high-performance pushrod V8 Ford produced was the 351 Windsor from the 1995 SVT Cobra R.
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