Ford Barra engine

The Barra engines are a family of straight 6s and V8s used by Ford Australia since 2002. The inline 6 is unique to the Australian market and developed and manufactured in Geelong, Victoria. It was first introduced as a "Barra" in the BA Falcon. The V8s are built in Australia, using a US sourced block. Production of the straight 6 is scheduled to continue until at least 2016.^[1]

Straight-six engine

Ford Barra engine
Overview
Manufacturer	Ford Motor Company of Australia
Production	2002–present
Combustion chamber
Configuration	straight-six engine
Displacement	3984 cc (243 cu in)
Cylinder block alloy	Cast iron
Cylinder head alloy	Aluminium
Valvetrain	DOHC VCT
Combustion
Fuel system	Fuel injection
Fuel type	Unleaded Autogas
Oil system	Wet sump
Cooling system	Water-cooled
Output
Power output	156 kW (209 hp) (autogas) (2002–2011) 182 kW (244 hp) (petrol)(2002–2005) 190 kW (250 hp) (petrol) (2005–2009) 195 kW (261 hp) (petrol) (2008–present) 198 kW (266 hp) (autogas) (2011–present) 240 kW (320 hp) (turbocharged petrol) (2002–2005) 270 kW (360 hp) (turbocharged petrol) (2004–2008) 270 kW (360 hp) (turbocharged petrol) (2008–present) 310 kW (420 hp) (turbocharged petrol) (2008–present)

The current I6s are all DOHC engines with VCT.^[2] They are a development of the SOHC I6s produced between 1988 and 2002, which in turn are a development of the 3.3 and 4.1 L push-rod flat-tappet I6 straight 6, developed in Australia as an " Alloy Head" Crossflow in 1981, eventually in both carburetted and injected versions, which itself was developed from the original iron-head cross flow engine from 1976, and which in turn was developed, again in Australia, from the original noncross flow integral inlet manifold iron head family of 'light' Ford sixes which originated in North America in the late 1950s intended for the original American Ford Falcon compact of 1959, initially in a 144 cubic inch (2.4 L) displacement.
Common specifications to all 6s
Bore: 92.26 mm (3.6 in)
Stroke: 99.31 mm (3.9 in)
Displacement: 3984 cc
Number of valves: 24

Petrol

Barra 182

This was the engine in six-cylinder variants of the BA Falcon, Fairmont, Fairlane, and Territory SUV and were produced between late 2002 and mid-2005. This was the first Falcon engine that came standard with DOHC and variable cam timing. This contributed to the significant jump in output over the 157 kW SOHC Intech engine in the previous generation AU Falcon.

Power: 182 kW (244 hp) @ 5000 rpm

Torque: 380 N·m (280 lb·ft) @ 3250 rpm

Compression Ratio: 9.7:1

Barra 190

This was the engine found in the BF Falcon and SY Territory. It began production in 2005. It is aesthetically the same and mechanically very similar to the Barra 182, however the slight increase in power is also due to an increase in compression ratio due to the slight revision of the cam profile, as well as upgrading the BA's Black Oak ECU to the more powerful Spanish Oak ECU. The variable valve timing was now independent.

Power: 190 kW (255 hp) @ 5250 rpm

Torque: 383 N·m (282 lb·ft) @ 2500 rpm

Compression Ratio: 10.3:1

Barra 195

The Barra 195 is the latest version of the naturally aspirated straight-six engine and is in the Ford FG Falcon sedan and ute (the BF Falcon MkIII wagon and Ford Territory SY and SY II SUV use the Barra 190 engine). Modifications made to the engine include a revised plastic inlet manifold on naturally aspirated models and new cylinder head, which achieved minor power and economy improvements over the Barra 190.

Power: 195 kW (261 hp) @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 391 N·m (288 lb·ft) @ 3250 rpm

Turbocharged petrol

Barra 240T

This engine was produced for the BA Falcon XR6T between 2002 and 2005. It is similar to the Barra 182, except it has a slightly lower compression ratio, a single Garrett GT35/40r turbocharger, red rocker cover, and an intercooler.

Power: 240 kW (322 hp) @ 5250 rpm

Torque: 450 N·m (332 lb·ft) @ 2000-4500 rpm

Barra 245T

Barra 245T in a BF Falcon XR6T engine bay

Implemented in the BF Falcon XR6 Turbo and the Turbo Territory, it has been in production since 2005. It is the same as the Barra 190 except it has a slightly lower compression ratio, a single Garrett GT35/40r turbocharger, and an intercooler.

Power: 245 kW (329 hp) @ 5250 rpm

Torque: 480 N·m (354 lb·ft) @ 2000-4500 rpm

Barra 270T

Barra 270T Display

Production commenced in 2004 and it is found in the BA/BF Falcon-based FPV F6 Typhoon and Tornado models. The increase in power is achieved through the use of higher boost pressures from the otherwise under-used Garrett GT3540 turbocharger.
It has a blue-coloured rocker cover.

Power: 270 kW (362 hp) @ 5250 rpm

Torque: 550 N·m (406 lb·ft) @ 2000-4000 rpm

Barra 270T FG

The figures for the revised turbo engine for the FG XR6 Turbo mimic the old FPV turbo I6, but this is an incorrect assumption and the motors are not the same. Firstly, it has a redesigned low-profile intake plenum, as opposed to the circa 1994 broadband manifold intake which originated in the EF Falcon. The engine employs a new turbocharger and intercooler in conjunction with the Barra 195s updates. The result is that the FG XR6 Turbo is actually faster than both FPV's BF Typhoon and the FG XR8. The FG XR6 Turbo uses a smaller turbo than the BA/BF XR6 Turbo so it can spool faster, make more usable power, and make less noise than the larger turbo. This engine also features a 53 Nm overboost feature. The feature can engage depending on the driving style, and when the accelerator pedal is fully pressed to the floor, it can call the computer to overboost and add an additional 53 Nm on top of the 533 Nm, making it a total of 586 Nm of torque.

Power: 270 kW (362 hp) @ 5250 rpm

Torque: 533 N·m (393 lb·ft) @ 2000-4750 rpm

Barra 310T FG

The high-power variant of the FG's turbo I6 is in the new FPV F6. Featuring a larger turbocharger and intercooler, this is the most powerful engine (and the first to produce more than 100 hp (75 kW) per litre) manufactured in Australia.

Power: 310 kW (416 hp) @ 5500 rpm^[3]

Torque: 565 N·m (417 lb·ft) @ 1950-5200 rpm

Barra 325T FGX Sprint

The final variant of the 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol engine featured in the FGX XR6 Turbo Sprint. The engine employs an over-boost feature for 10 seconds when optimal atmospheric conditions are met when under full throttle, boosting power & torque to an almighty 370kW and 650Nm.

Power: 325 kW (436 hp) @ 6000 rpm

Torque: 576 N·m (425 lb·ft) @ 2750 rpm

Liquefied petroleum gas

Barra E-Gas

This engine was launched in 2002 with the BA Falcon and was a development of the Intech E-Gas engine. The E-Gas engine is designed to run on autogas only. It features a low-performance, high-reliability, low-maintenance Vialle closed-loop single-point venturi-style LPG-injector-less carburetion system in lieu of the standard sequential petrol injection system. This engine was carried over to the current FG Falcon, but replaced in mid-2011 by the EcoLPi system.

Power: 156 kW (209 hp) @ 4750-5000 rpm

Torque: 374 N·m (276 lb·ft) @ 2750-3000 rpm

Barra EcoLPi

This engine was launched in 2011 as a replacement for the E-Gas engine. It features a liquid phase injection autogas system which exceeds the power and torque outputs of the contemporary petrol engine.^[4]

Power: 198 kW (266 hp) @ 5000 rpm

Torque: 409 N·m (302 lb·ft) @ 3250 rpm

Discontinuation

Ford Australia has confirmed that the Barra 4.0 I6 will be discontinued along with the Ford Falcon and Territory. All Australian operations will be dismissed at the latest October 2016.^[5]

V8

The Barra V8s are based on the modular engine. All are of the 5.4 litre (330ci) variant with SOHC driving three valves per cylinder and feature VCT. The Falcon was the first vehicle in the Ford world to have the VCT Modular engine. The higher-performance V8s are called the Boss 260 and 290, and from November 2007, Boss 302 with DOHC and four valves per cylinder. They are named in this way due to the kilowatt output of the engines.
Common specifications to V8s
Bore: 90.2 mm
Stroke: 105.8 mm
Displacement: 5408 cc
Number of valves: 24 (32 for Boss series)

Barra 220

This was an optional engine on the BA Falcon and was produced between 2002 and 2005.

Power: 220 kW (295 hp) @ 4750 rpm

Torque: 472 N·m (348 lb·ft) from 3250-4000 rpm

Note: Barra 220 is the BA V8 5.4 L upgrade for the Falcon models below and above XR series (XT, Futura, Fairmont, Fairmont Ghia, Fairlane, Fairlane Ghia, LTD).

Barra 230

An option on the BF Falcon, its extra power comes from a slight increase in compression ratio. This is done safely with the addition of another knock sensor. It was in production since 2005.

Power: 230 kW (308 hp) @ 5350 rpm

Torque: 500 N·m (369 lb·ft) @ 3500 rpm

Note: Barra 230 is the BF V8 5.4 L upgrade for the Falcon models below the XR series.

See also

• Undersquare
• Ford of Australia modern V8s

References

External links

• Ford Australia
• Autoweb article
• Specifications