SwRI Evaluates 2007 Diesels

October 26th, 2006

Southwest Research Institute will evaluate seven new engines for the Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Benchmarking program, focusing particularly on the engine performance and fuel consumption associated with new exhaust emissions control technology. Manufacturers developed this new control technology, which uses the ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel now available nationwide, to meet 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions regulations.

Beginning in October 2006, SwRI will benchmark three light heavy-duty diesel engines from pickup trucks including the Cummins ISB used by Dodge, the Isuzu Duramax used in Chevrolet and GMC models, and the International PowerStroke® V8 offered by Ford. Four heavy heavy-duty diesel engines will also be evaluated: the Caterpillar C15, Cummins ISX, Volvo D13 and DDC Series 60. Additional engines of interest may be added later in the year. The program already includes data from 10 previously benchmarked heavy-duty diesel engines.

The data sets for these engines will include:

• a 200-point steady-state performance, heat rejection and gaseous emissions map;
• 22 speed/load points with combustion and particulate data;
• European Stationary Cycle (ESC) and U.S. FTP transient testing;
• constant-speed step load transient response tests;
• engine teardown; and
• cylinder head flowbench evaluations.

Subscribers may contract with the Institute on an individual basis to expand the scope of the program for additional measurements and evaluations.

For more information about the program, visit the Clean Diesel IV website or contact Dr. Thomas Ryan at (210) 522-3192 or tryan@swri.org.

Entry Filed under: Everything Else, Powertrain Test