Detroit Diesel goes for four
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• Detroit Diesel is developing a four-cylinder, 8.5-litre version of its Series 60 six-cylinder engine range.
Designated Series 50, the new engine is based on the 127litre version of the four-stroke, charge-cooled Series 60. Like the Series 60, it uses the company's DDEC electronic engine management system and overhead camshaft that powers its unit injectors.
The Series 50 will be rated at around 224kW/1,356Nm (300hp/1,0001bft).
David Merrion, senior vicepresident of engineering at the Detroit, Michigan-based firm, says the prototype is on target for a 1993 launch: "Its primary advantage will be power density," he says. Both truck and bus customers are anticipated in what Detroit Diesel believes will be a growing requirement for smaller engines.
If successful, the Series 50 could set the standard for a new configuration of 'power dense' engines offering significant weight and cost saving and reduced maintenance. The main disadvantage of powerful fourpot engines has traditionally been noise and vibration,
Only MAN has recently launched any engines with less than six cylinders: its D2865LF EC0.320 five-cylinder unit powers the 1190 range and, rated at up to 235kW (320hp), the .322 tractor.
As yet there are no indications of the Series 50's likely fuel consumption, but Detroit Diesel engineers are confident that it will be comparable to that of its six-cylinder stablemates.
The Series 50 shares most of its components with the 11.1 and 12.7-litre six-cylinder engines: the model under development is effectively the 335kW (450hp) six-cylinder engine with two pots removed, but with a new crank, camshaft and turbocharger.
Merrion is confident that all the company's four-stroke engines will pass the strict 1994 US emissions regulations,