DETROIT’S BIG DD16
At 15.6 liters, the Detroit Diesel DD16 is aimed at owner-operators, specialized heavy-hauling applications, and premium small fleets for spec’ing in 2010. It made its debut at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show, the first Detroit motor to be launched with BlueTec emissions technology, using selective catalytic reduction aftertreatment. Among its features are the amplified common-rail fuel system (ACRS), turbo compounding, and what are called “superior” power curves. It will be offered with conventional and multi-torque power ratings from 1750 to 2050 lb ft of torque and 475 to 600 hp.
The DD16 is the third in a series of all-new heavy-duty engines from Detroit Diesel – at 13, 15 and now 16 liters — that share a common platform and are in fact Daimler’s world engines for use ultimately in Mercedes trucks as well as North American machines. It will be in production for the Western Star 4900 series in March 2010 and the Western Star 6900 in July of next year. Freightliner Trucks will start offering it in March as well.
The DD16 has a wide, flat torque curve that peaks at 1100 rpm, which should provide an easy truck launch and pulling power on steep grades. Its air management system features Detroit’s exclusive turbo compounding technology that converts exhaust-gas energy into useable horsepower. That plus the DD16’s improved EGR system help create what’s claimed to be “superior power and torque response.”
The engine’s electronically-controlled ACRS fuel system optimizes injection events within each stroke. The highest, or ‘amplified’, fuel pressure is generated within the injectors, meaning reduced pressure throughout the rest of the system and greater component reliability, not to mention lower fuel use.
Other key features of the DD16 include its advanced cooling system, which stabilizes operating temperatures and reduces fan on-time; and dual overhead camshafts, which better control the air-to-fuel mixture and improve torque response.
The engine will be assembled at Detroit Diesel’s plant in Redford, Mich.
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