Detroit Diesel Corporation announced new enhancements to its engine family for 2013. Engineered to meet Greenhouse Gas 2014 (GHG14) regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the updated Detroit family of heavy-duty engines combines engine, electronics and BlueTec emissions technology improvements to benefit fuel economy.
"It is our goal to pace the industry in emissions compliance and fuel efficiency," said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America. "Early submissions for GHG14 engine compliance is evidence of this strategy for the updated family of Detroit engines. The Detroit brand is synonymous with power and efficiency, and our enhanced engine lineup builds on our tradition of providing our customers with the best performing products in the market today while meeting the emissions regulations."
Detroit's integrated powertrain – which also includes Detroit Axles and the Detroit Transmission – is part of Daimler Trucks' Global Excellence Strategy to have uniform production standards and processes worldwide, resulting in the most efficient, highest quality and lowest cost of ownership products in the industry.
Optimizing Efficiencies and Serviceability
All Detroit heavy-duty engines feature the enhanced BlueTec emissions system. New components include a liquid-only DEF delivery system, which contributes to better fuel economy due to the elimination of air assist. A 1-Box package with fewer parts is now universally-configured for all trucks, resulting in improved serviceability.
Additional changes to every engine include enhanced DDEC engine electronics that contribute to improved engine control, optimized powertrain and BlueTec management, and accurate fuel reporting for the customer.
Further contributing to ease of serviceability and decreased maintenance costs is the new fuel filter system. Featuring one less filter and longer intervals (100,000 miles vs. 50,000 miles) than the previous system, the new module also requires less priming strokes and provides easier access to the water drain.
"By optimizing components where it best makes sense, we have reduced the overall complexity of the engines, which ultimately benefits serviceability and performance," said David Hames, general manager for marketing and strategy for Daimler Trucks North America. "Detroit engines already have the longest scheduled maintenance intervals, and our updates will keep drivers on the road."
Maximum Impact: The Detroit DD15
The newly designed Detroit DD15 engine features a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger with a next-generation amplified common rail system (ACRS), which not only improves performance and fuel economy, but reduces overall weight and complexity. The variable-speed water pump and optimized oil pump reduce load on the engine, further contributing to the improvements in fuel economy.
Additional engine enhancements include an optimized piston design, which reduces oil consumption through the use of an improved oil control ring; and ACRS, which provides higher injector pressure for improved combustion control while eliminating the pressure regulator, improving overall engine performance.
"With the modifications we've made to the DD15, we are not only meeting compliance standards, but we're providing our customers with a reliable solution that can provide significant fuel economy gains," said Williamson. "And, with the recent introduction of the Freightliner Cascadia Evolution, we were able to showcase the power and performance of the enhanced engine."
Powered exclusively by Detroit and featuring some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancements in the industry, the Cascadia Evolution delivers up to an additional seven percent improvement in fuel economy over an EPA 2010-compliant Cascadia equipped with a first generation aerodynamic package and up to a 5 percent improvement compared to a current model year 2013 Cascadia equipped with the latest aerodynamic upgrades.
Enhanced Efficiency: Detroit DD13, DD15 TC and DD16
Ideal for regional, LTL and vocational applications, the updated Detroit DD13 engine features longer service intervals and improvements such as fuel injector nozzle modifications and a new crankcase sensor for OBD requirements. A variable speed water pump creates greater efficiency compared to a gear-driven design. With ratings from 370-470 hp and a torque range from 1250-1650 lbs, the enhanced DD13 offers the power ratings customers demand.
Detroit will continue to offer the DD15 TC (with turbo compounding) which will receive many of the engine family changes including the new DDEC electronic controls and improved fuel filter system. The DD15 TC will be available in many of the Freightliner and Western Star trucks and will continue deliver the reliability and performance customers have demanded since its introduction in 2008.
Rounding out the Detroit engine family, the enhanced Detroit DD16 now has a wider selection of available horsepower and torque ratings that have been shifted from the DD15 engine. With up to 600hp delivering up to 2050 lbs of torque, the DD16 was designed to haul the heaviest of loads through the most difficult terrains.
"Detroit has the best performing engines for any application," said Williamson. "Our customers expect power, performance and durability and with our engines engineered for GHG14 compliance, we deliver every time."
