SwRI to benchmark pick-up truck diesel engines

28 April 2004

The Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) announced it will evaluate three 2004 pick-up truck diesel engines for its diesel engine benchmarking program. The GM/Isuzu Duramax 6660, the Ford/International 6.0L Power Stroke and the Dodge/Cummins 600 5.9L diesel engines will be tested beginning in May 2004.

Previously SwRI benchmarked a series of heavy and light heavy-duty diesel engines. Pick-up trucks fall into the light heavy-duty category.

A subscription for the pick-up truck diesel engine data set is priced at $185,000. The program offers an extensive look at these engines and includes a 300-hour lubricant deterioration test; 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 US FTP transient testing; constant-speed transient response tests; engine teardown; and cylinder head flowbench testing.

The three 2004 model year diesel engines selected for the program underwent significant revisions from the 2003 model year, in areas of increased power, increased torque, and revisions to the emissions control systems.

The SwRI benchmarking program has evaluated four heavy heavy-duty diesel engines: a Caterpillar C15 (ACERT) diesel engine, a Detroit Diesel Series 60 (14 liter), Cummins ISX and Volvo VED-12; and three light heavy-duty engines: Cummins ISB, Ford/International 6.0 liter V-8 and Caterpillar C9 (ACERT). The data sets for these seven engines are available online to program subscribers.

Source: SwRI