Ford News
Ford vehicles are engineered to perform in demanding conditions, but a recent adventure in Chile pushed that philosophy to an entirely different level. As reported by Ford Authority (https://fordauthority.com/2026/07/ford-ecoboost-v6-lineup-survives-climb-to-worlds-highest-volcano/), a fleet of Ford SUVs and pickups tackled Ojos del Salado, the world’s highest volcano, giving Ford’s EcoBoost V6 engines an extraordinary real-world test at elevations approaching 20,000 feet.
The expedition supported a team attempting the World’s Highest Marathon, which began high on Ojos del Salado before descending toward sea level. Five stock Ford vehicles supported the effort, including two Ranger Raptors and multiple SUVs. Before heading into the extreme terrain, Ford engineers reviewed existing high-altitude testing data and even equipped one of the vehicles with a data recorder during a pre-run to ensure the powertrains could handle conditions far beyond Ford’s normal validation environment.
The results were impressive. A Ranger Raptor powered by Ford’s 3.0-litre EcoBoost V6 climbed to approximately 5,900 metres, or nearly 19,400 feet, while tackling rough, sandy terrain and grades as steep as 30 percent. An Expedition Tremor equipped with the 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 reached approximately 5,765 metres, or nearly 19,000 feet. The vehicles were also repeatedly cold-started after overnight stays at extreme elevations, with Ford reporting that every vehicle started successfully.
Turbocharging plays an important role in making that possible. As elevation increases, air becomes thinner and naturally aspirated engines lose power. Ford says a naturally aspirated engine can lose roughly three percent of its power for every 1,000 feet of elevation gained. EcoBoost turbochargers compress the available air before feeding it into the engine, helping compensate for the increasingly thin atmosphere. Just as importantly, sophisticated engine management software controls boost to protect the powertrain when operating under such extreme conditions.
Few drivers in British Columbia will ever ask their Ford to climb anywhere close to 20,000 feet, but that’s exactly what makes extreme testing valuable. BC drivers regularly encounter steep mountain highways, rapidly changing weather, cold starts, challenging forestry roads, and demanding towing conditions. Ford’s normal high-altitude validation is specifically designed around situations such as maintaining performance while towing uphill or providing sufficient power to pass safely on a mountain highway.
Ultimately, the expedition demonstrated what Ford’s engineers hoped to see: the vehicles continued to start, climb, and perform thousands of feet above the elevations normally encountered during North American validation testing. The Ranger Raptor even operated within its acceptable design limits throughout its climb. You may never take your Ford anywhere near the summit of the world’s highest volcano, but knowing the engineering has been pushed to extremes provides some extra confidence the next time the road starts heading uphill.