Volvo’s first Euro-6 engine to be available next spring
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By David Wilcox
VOLVO IS THE latest manufacturer to reveal details of its first Euro-6 engine, which becomes available in spring next year, nine months or so before the Euro-6 emission limits come into force on 1 January 2014.
Not anticipating much demand ahead of the deadline, Volvo is limiting early availability to just one engine, the 460hp rating of the 12.8-litre D13 engine, its most popular power unit. Power and torque outputs of this Euro-6 D13K engine are the same as at Euro-5.
As expected, Volvo is hitting the tough Euro-6 NOx limit by a combination of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), the route chosen by most others. However, Volvo is letting SCR do the lion’s share of the NOx reduction work. The EGR system has no separate cooler and AdBlue consumption is expected to average 6% of fuel consumption, a little higher than the Euro-5 rate.
This points to a low level of EGR and Volvo confirms it is virtually inactive during highway cruising.
The other surprising aspect is that the D13K retains the same Delphi unit-injectors as at Euro-5. Equivalent Euro-6 engines from Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Daf and Iveco use common-rail fuel injection and it was thought likely Volvo would also make the change. There is a seventh injector in the exhaust manifold if fuel has to be burnt to raise the exhaust temperature to regenerate the diesel particulate filter, needed to hit the ultra-low particulate limit.
“We have developed a reliable solution that not only meets the emission requirements, but also gives customers added benefits in the form of good fuel economy and trouble-free ownership,” says Mats Franzén, Volvo Trucks engine strategy and planning manager.