Detroit Diesel Corp. announced its 2013-model engines will get mechanical and electronic enhancements to meet federal Greenhouse Gas 2014 (GHG14) limits. Improvements will reduce fuel use, which also serves to cut carbon dioxide emissions.

The regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will restrict CO2 emissions starting in January 2014, but the Detroit engines will meet the limits ahead of time, said Brad Williamson, manager, engine and component marketing for Daimler Trucks North America.

"It is our goal to pace the industry in emissions compliance and fuel efficiency," he said. "Early submissions for GHG14 engine compliance is evidence of this strategy for the updated family of Detroit engines."

Detroit's integrated powertrain - which also includes Detroit Axles and the Detroit automated mechanical tansmission - 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, Williamson said.

All Detroit heavy-duty engines now use an enhanced BlueTec system first introduced in 2010 to neutralize residual nitrogen oxide in the exhaust that wasn't eliminated in the engines themselves. New for 2013 is a liquid-only delivery system for diesel exhaust fluid, which contributes to better fuel economy due to the elimination of air assist.

The DEF dosing chamber and diesel particulate filter are contained in a 1-Box package, as they are now. But the 2013 version will have fewer parts and will be configured for all trucks, resulting in improved serviceability.

Additional changes to every engine include more capable Detroit Diesel Electronic Controls that more precisely operate the engine and DEF injection systems, and deliver accurate fuel reporting for the customer.

A new fuel filter system eliminates one filter and doubles the service intervals from 50,000 to 100,000 miles. The new module also requires fewer 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 longer."

New features for the Detroit DD15 engine include a proprietary asymmetric turbocharger with a next-generation amplified common rail system (ACRS), which improves performance and fuel economy while reducing weight and complexity. The ACRS will have higher injector pressure for improved combustion control while eliminating the pressure regulator, improving overall engine performance.

A variable-speed water pump and optimized oil pump reduce parasitic loads on the engine, further contributing to improvements in fuel economy. An optimized piston design reduces oil consumption through the use of an improved oil control ring.

"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.

Detroit will continue to offer the turbo-compounded DD15-TC, which will receive many of the engine family changes including the new 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.

An updated DD13 engine features longer service intervals and improvements such as fuel injector nozzle modifications and a new crankcase sensor for on-board diagnostic requirements. A variable-speed water pump creates greater efficiency compared to a gear-driven design.

At the top end of the Detroit engine family, an enhanced DD16 will have a wider selection of available horsepower and torque ratings that have been shifted from the DD15. With up to 600 horsepower and 2,050 pound-feet torque, the DD16 was designed to haul the heaviest of loads through the most difficult terrains.