Detroit Diesel

Last updated
Detroit Diesel Corporation
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Automotive
Predecessor General Motors Detroit Diesel-Allison Division
Founded1938;86 years ago (1938)
Headquarters,
ProductsHeavy-duty diesel engines
Owner Daimler Truck AG (as of 2000)
Number of employees
2,300
Parent Daimler Truck North America
Website demanddetroit.com

Detroit Diesel Corporation(DDC) is an American diesel engine manufacturer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America, which is itself a wholly owned subsidiary of the multinational Daimler Truck AG. The company manufactures heavy-duty engines and chassis components for the on-highway and vocational commercial truck markets. Detroit Diesel has built more than 5 million engines since 1938, [1] more than 1 million of which are still in operation worldwide. Detroit Diesel's product line includes engines, axles, transmissions, and a Virtual Technician service.

Contents

Detroit engines, transmissions, and axles are used in several models of truck manufactured by Daimler Truck North America.

Divisions

Detroit Diesel consists of manufacturing operations of axles, transmissions and diesel engines for on-highway only, which is owned by Daimler Truck AG. The former off-highway division was sold to MTU Friedrichshafen in 2006 and subsequently purchased by Rolls-Royce in 2014.

Detroit Diesel Corporation timeline

The ancestor of Detroit Diesel was the Winton Engine Company, founded by Alexander Winton in 1912; Winton Engine began producing diesel engines in fall 1913. After Charles F. Kettering purchased two Winton diesels for his yacht, General Motors acquired the company in 1930 along with Electro Motive Company, Winton's primary client. [2] :30 Research initiated by Kettering led to the development and release of the EMD 567 locomotive engine in the late 1930s; a smaller engine using a similar two-stroke design was developed by engineers at GM Research, which led to the first 6-71, manufactured in 1938. [2] :32

Origins

Postwar expansion

Shift to four-cycle engines and spinoff

DaimlerChrysler

Products

A GMC Savana with the company's logo GMC Savana Florida Detroit Diesel-Allison Wagon.jpg
A GMC Savana with the company's logo

Current products

Services

Engines still supported

To know the series model one can find out by checking the layout of the overall engine. [14]

Engine model number

Detroit Diesel engine model description chart
8083-7000
Model designatorNumber of cylindersApplication designation Basic engine arrangement and drive shaft rotation or Displacement [lower-alpha 1] Design variation or Engine Control [lower-alpha 1] Specific model number or customer configuration
1 = Series 71, inline arrangement [15]  2 = Marine1 = LA (left hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the left, [lower-alpha 3] or starter on left bank [lower-alpha 4] )0 = 4 valve head "N" engine 
5 = Series 53, inline or vee arrangement [16] [17] 3 = Industrial F-F [lower-alpha 5] 2 = LB (left hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the right, [lower-alpha 3] starter on right bank [lower-alpha 4] )1 = 2 valve head
6 = Series 60 [18] 4 = Power Base3 = LC (left hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the left, [lower-alpha 3] starter on right bank [lower-alpha 4] )2 = 4 valve head "E" engine
7 = Series 71, vee arrangement [19] 5 = Generator4 = LD (left hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the right, [lower-alpha 3] starter on left bank [lower-alpha 4] )3 = Turbocharged
8 = Series 92, vee arrangement [20] 7 = Vehicle F-F [lower-alpha 5] 5 = RA (right hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the left, [lower-alpha 3] starter on right bank [lower-alpha 4] )4 = Aftercooled
9 = Series 149 [21] 8 = Vehicle F-F [lower-alpha 5] 6 = RB (right hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the right, [lower-alpha 3] starter on right bank [lower-alpha 4] )5 = Customer special engine
T = Series 4000 [22]  7 = RC (right hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the left, [lower-alpha 3] starter on right bank [lower-alpha 4] )6 = Constant horsepower, economy (TAE, California Certified)
 8 = RD (right hand rotation, [lower-alpha 2] exhaust & balance shaft to the right, [lower-alpha 3] starter on left bank [lower-alpha 4] )7 = Constant horsepower (TT)
 8 = Constant horsepower (TTA, California & Federal Certified)
9 = Constant horsepower, economy (TTAE, California & Federal Certified)
Notes
  1. 1 2 Series 60 only
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 As viewed from the front of the engine
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Inline Series 71 & Series 53
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Vee Series 53, Series 71, and Series 92 engines
  5. 1 2 3 "Fan to Flywheel"

Joint ventures

Partners

Clean Air Act violations

In 1998, the EPA announced fines totaling $83.4 million against Detroit Diesel and six other diesel engine manufacturers, the largest fine to date, which evaded testing by shutting down emissions controls during highway driving while appearing to comply with lab testing. [23] The manufacturers also agreed to spend more than $1 billion to correct the problem. [24] The trucks used engine ECU software to engage pollution controls during the 20-minute lab tests to verify compliance with the Clean Air Act, but then disable the emissions controls during normal highway cruising, emitting up to three times the maximum allowed NOx pollution. [24]

In 2016, Detroit Diesel agreed to pay US$28.5 million to resolve violations of the US federal Clean Air Act. The company sold 7,786 heavy-duty diesel engines, which were assembled approximately 80% complete in 2009, including the crankshaft, block, pistons, and connecting rods, the short block engines were stored temporarily and completed the remaining assembly in early 2010 for use in trucks and buses of in model year 2010. [13] These engines were alleged not to comply with stricter 2010 emission standards. [13]

See also

Related Research Articles

The Detroit Diesel Series 50 is an inline four-cylinder diesel engine, that was introduced in 1993 by Detroit Diesel. The Series 50 was developed from the existing block of its sister engine, the Series 60, which itself was initially designed by Detroit Diesel. The cylinder heads were cast by John Deere at one time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MTU Friedrichshafen</span> Commercial internal combustion engine manufacturer

MTU Friedrichshafen GmbH is a German manufacturer of commercial internal combustion engines founded by Wilhelm Maybach and his son Karl Maybach in 1909. Wilhelm Maybach was the technical director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a predecessor company of the German multinational automotive corporation Daimler AG, until he left in 1907. On 23 March 1909, he founded the new company, Luftfahrzeug-Motorenbau GmbH, with his son Karl Maybach as director. A few years later the company was renamed to Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH, which originally developed and manufactured diesel and petrol engines for Zeppelins, and then railcars. The Maybach Mb.IVa was used in aircraft and airships of World War I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VM Motori</span> Italian diesel engine manufacturer

VM Motori S.p.A. is an Italian diesel engine manufacturing company which is wholly owned by Stellantis. VM headquarters and main production facilities are located in Cento, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD E-unit</span> American diesel-passenger locomotive

EMD E-units were a line of passenger train streamliner diesel locomotives built by the General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) and its predecessor the Electro-Motive Corporation (EMC). Final assembly for all E-units was in La Grange, Illinois. Production ran from May 1937, to December, 1963. The name E-units refers to the model numbers given to each successive type, which all began with E. The E originally stood for eighteen hundred horsepower, the power of the earliest model, but the letter was kept for later models of higher power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penske Corporation</span> American transportation services company

Penske Corporation, Inc. is an American diversified transportation services company based in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. Roger Penske is the founder and chairman of the privately held company, and Rob Kurnick is the president. Penske operates in the automotive retail, truck leasing, transportation, logistics, and motorsports industries. Penske operates in over 3,200 locations and employs more than 70,000 people globally.

Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. is an American manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors, including bus, refuse, fire, construction, distribution, military, and specialty applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">EMD 567</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The EMD 567 is a line of large medium-speed diesel engines built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division. This engine, which succeeded Winton's 201A, was used in EMD's locomotives from 1938 until its replacement in 1966 by the EMD 645. It has a bore of 8+12 in (216 mm), a stroke of 10 in (254 mm) and a displacement of 567 cu in (9.29 L) per cylinder. Like the Winton 201A, the EMD 645 and the EMD 710, the EMD 567 is a two-stroke engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brockway Motor Company</span> Builder of custom trucks in Cortland, New York, 1912-1977

Brockway Motor Company was a builder of custom heavy-duty trucks in Cortland, New York, from 1912 to 1977.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Detroit Diesel Series 92</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Detroit Diesel Series 92 is a two-stroke cycle, V-block diesel engine, produced with versions ranging from six to 16 cylinders. Among these, the most popular were the 6V92 and 8V92, which were V6 and V8 configurations of the same engine respectively. The series was introduced in 1974 as a rebored version of its then-popular sister series, the Series 71. Both the Series 71 and Series 92 engines were popularly used in on-highway vehicle applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">General Motors Diesel Division</span> Marketing and customer service unit of General Motors

General Motors Diesel Division (GMDD) was a marketing and customer service unit of General Motors founded in 1938. It sought customers for GM's diesel engines, which had undergone major development during the 1930s. It was most active in association with GM's Detroit Diesel Engine Division, which produced lines of lightweight diesel engines that could be adapted to many uses including road vehicles, small boats, military equipment, construction and farm equipment, pumping, and auxiliary power generation. In 1939, Detroit Diesel Series 71 engines were installed in buses produced by Yellow Coach, who would be acquired by GM in 1943 to launch the GMC Truck and Coach Division. Uses for Detroit Diesel engines would proliferate during World War II and the postwar economic boom. The GM Cleveland Diesel Engine Division's products were sold to relatively few customers for mostly marine uses. GMDD developed a widespread international marketing, service, and parts distribution infrastructure for GM diesel engines in the postwar years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack B series</span> Motor vehicle

The Mack B series is a model line of trucks produced by Mack Trucks between 1953 and 1966. The successor to the 1940-1956 Mack L series, the B-series was a line of heavy conventional-cab trucks. Adopting a more streamlined appearance over its predecessor, the B-series was designed with a sloped windshield and larger, rounded fenders The model line was sold in multiple configurations, including tractors and straight/rigid trucks, cowled chassis, or fire trucks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMC Brigadier</span> Motor vehicle

The GMC Brigadier is a series of heavy-duty trucks that were assembled by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors. The second generation of the H/J-series heavy-duty conventionals, the Brigadier was produced from 1978 to late 1989, as a WhiteGMC for the last year and a half. Slotted between the largest medium-duty C/K trucks and the GMC General, the Brigadier was a Class 7-8 short-hood conventional similar to the Ford L-Series and Mack Model R. Configured in both straight truck and semi-tractor layouts, the Brigadier saw use in short-haul, vocational, and severe-service applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GMC Astro</span> Motor vehicle

The GMC Astro is a heavy-duty cabover truck that was manufactured by the GMC Truck and Coach Division of General Motors from the 1969 to 1987 model years. Succeeding the F/D-series "Crackerbox" cabovers, the Astro was marketed by Chevrolet as the Titan, serving as the largest cabover truck ever produced by General Motors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GM "old-look" transit bus</span> GM bus manufactured from 1940 to 1969

The GM "old-look" transit bus was a transit bus that was introduced in 1940 by Yellow Coach beginning with the production of the model TG-3201 bus. Yellow Coach was an early bus builder that was partially owned by General Motors (GM) before being purchased outright in 1943 and folded into the GM Truck Division to form the GM Truck & Coach Division. The Yellow Coach badge gave way to the GM nameplate in 1944. Production of most "old-look" models was stopped upon the release of the GM New-Look bus in 1959, however some smaller "old-look" models continued to be built until 1969. Approximately 38,000 "old-look" buses were built during the 29-year production run. The "old-look" name is an unofficial retronym applied to this series of GM buses after the release of the GM New-Look series.

Continental Motors Company was an American manufacturer of internal combustion engines. The company produced engines as a supplier to many independent manufacturers of automobiles, tractors, trucks, and stationary equipment from the 1900s through the 1960s. Continental Motors also produced automobiles in 1932–1933 under the name Continental Automobile Company. The Continental Aircraft Engine Company was formed in 1929 to develop and produce its aircraft engines, and would become the core business of Continental Motors, Inc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford B series</span> Motor vehicle platform

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dodge LCF series</span> Motor vehicle

The Dodge LCF was a series of medium- and heavy-duty trucks built by Dodge from 1960 until 1976. They replaced the Dodge COE range of cabover trucks built in the 1950s. The 500 through 700 series were medium duty only, while 800 through 1000 series were reserved for heavy-duty versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M915 (truck)</span> Tractor unit used for line haul missions by the US Army

The M915 is a tractor unit used for line haul missions by the United States Army. Designed for use on improved roads, it does not have a driven front axle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mack Trucks in military service</span>

Mack Trucks has been selling heavy duty trucks and buses to the United States military since 1911. Virtually every model has been used. The majority have been commercial models designed and built by Mack with their own components, but they have also designed and built military specification tactical trucks. The military vehicles are rated by payload measured in tons.

References

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  2. 1 2 Speer, David (June 1989). "Engines: Reworking a workhorse". Boating. Vol. 62, no. 6. Diamandis Communications Inc. p. 30. ISSN   0006-5374 . Retrieved 18 June 2024.
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  4. "Detroit Diesel takes over distribution". Motor Boating. February 1945. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  5. "'Jimmy' marks a milestone". Motor Boating. February 1967. p. 112. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
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  11. "DC swallows Detroit and Western Star". Truck & Bus Transportation . September 2000. p. 10.
  12. "MTU in North America: MTU Online". Archived from the original on 2015-02-02. Retrieved 2015-02-16.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Matheny, Keith (6 Oct 2016). "Detroit Diesel to pay $28.5M over Clean Air Act violations". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
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  20. "Series V 92 Model Description Chart". Powerline Components Industries. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  21. "Series 149 Model Description Chart". Powerline Components Industries. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  22. "Series 4000 Model Description Chart". Powerline Components Industries. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
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