Daimler Unveils Detroit DD8 Medium-Duty Diesel Engine

[kscarbel2]

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 15, 2017

Daimler Trucks North America and its Detroit brand unveiled the new Detroit DD8 medium-duty engine at the NTEA’s Work Truck Show in Indianapolis.

Aimed at vocational truck markets, the Detroit DD8 is a 7.7L in-line, 6-cylinder medium-duty engine. It offers a horsepower range of 260 to 350 hp and a torque range of 660 to 1050 lb.–ft.

The DD8 will expand on the Detroit medium-duty platform that was launched last year with the DD5. Daimler says the engine offers industry-leading fuel efficiency and maintenance intervals.

In addition, the DD8 will launch with both engine and transmission power-take-off options required for many vocational applications.

The DD8 will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models. Expanded availability into additional DTNA products will come later, with future availability planned for Thomas Built Buses and Freightliner Custom Chassis.

Vehicles equipped with the DD8 will feature Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service. Virtual Technician helps fleets make informed maintenance decisions, so that they only service their vehicles when needed. In the case that a vehicle does need to go into the shop, Virtual Technician, with the backing of the experts at the Detroit Customer Support Center, provides access to in-depth information to get the vehicle repaired as accurately and quickly as possible, improving uptime.

“The Detroit DD8 is ideally suited for the vocational applications across the Daimler Trucks North America family of products,” said Kary Schaefer, general manager, marketing and strategy, Daimler Trucks North America. “The medium-duty engine options are all about giving our customers added value when making their engine selections.”

The Detroit DD8 is scheduled for availability with vehicle production beginning in February 2018, and targets a wide range of vocational applications, including utility/maintenance/repair service, pick-up and delivery, oil field, construction, logging, plow and dump, wrecking, refuse, fire/emergency and recreational vehicles.

In November 2015, Detroit announced a $375 million investment to bring the manufacturing of both proprietary medium-duty engines to its manufacturing facility in Redford, Michigan. The facility also produces the Detroit heavy-duty line of engines, the DT12 automated manual transmission and its complete offering of Detroit axles.

Related reading - https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/46262-daimler-enters-medium-duty-engine-market-with-dd5/#comment-340768

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[kscarbel2]

I suspect Volvo will finally have to offer the UD (Nissan Diesel)-designed six-cylinder D8 (aka GH8) in the Granite MHD. There is also a four-cylinder D5 (aka GH5) version.

[Red Horse]

1 hour ago, kscarbel2 said:

I suspect Volvo will finally have to offer the UD (Nissan Diesel)-designed six-cylinder D8 (aka GH8) in the Granite MHD. There is also a four-cylinder D5 (aka GH5) version.

Kevin, 

I don't see how the Granite can compete with the F'liner medium duties from a pricing perspective.  Mack can put an 8 or 9 liter engine in the Granite but IMO it is still a legitimate class 8 truck.  This would be not much different than F'liner putting the new D8 in a Coronado or Cascadia.

You can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear or in this case, why make a sows ear out of a silk purse

Having said all that, I can see why some diehards might want to attempt to maintain their loyalty to Mack but I would have to believe the price differential would have to be significant.  Just how much can you decontent a Granite to get it down to medium duty price levels???

[kscarbel2]

Daimler plans DD8 engine release for 2018

Sean Kilcarr, Fleet Owner  /  March 16, 2017

Its new 7.7-liter inline six cylinder medium-duty diesel engine will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models.

Detroit Diesel Corp., a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), officially took the wraps off its Detroit DD8 medium-duty engine here at the 2017 National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA) Work Truck Show.

Chris Moran, medium-duty program manager for sales and marketing at Detroit, told Fleet Owner that the 7.7-liter inline six-cylinder DD8 diesel engine should be available to order by the end of this year, “and then we’ll start getting it into vehicle production in early 2018.”

The DD8 will initially be available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD and 114SD models, targeted primarily at vocational applications including, utility/maintenance/repair service, pick-up and delivery, oil field, construction, logging, plow and dump, wrecking, refuse, fire/emergency and recreational vehicles.

Moran said he expects the DD8 will be made available for Freightliner Customer Chassis Corp. (FCCC) vehicles by the fourth quarter of 2018 and will also be offered as a “rear engine only” option for school buses models sold via DTNA’s Thomas Built Bus subsidiary by the end of 2018 as well.

The DD8 features a 260-350 hp range and a torque range of 660 to 1050 lb.– ft. and will launch with both engine and transmission power-take-off (PTO) options required for many vocational applications.

Moran said the DD8 and its DD5 sibling, introduced last year, sport a “B10 life” of 400,000 miles. He also expects the DD8 to match if not exceed the 45,000 mile oil drain and fuel filter replacement interval offered for the DD5.

“We expect it to be at least that good,” he said. “That’s going to bring real cost of ownership benefits to customers.”

DTNA noted that vehicles equipped with the DD8 will also feature the Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service.

The DD8 will also be entirely built at Detroit’s Redford, MI, manufacturing facility. Unlike the DD5, which began production in Germany and being gradually transferred to Redford, the DD8 will start out being built at Redford from day one.

That’s part of a $375 million strategy initiated by DTNA back in November 2015 to bring the manufacturing of its proprietary medium-duty engines, DT12 automated mechanical transmission (AMT), and its proprietary line of Detroit Axles to the U.S.

[RoadwayR]

Maybe Freightliner will try to get rid of the Cummins B again.

[kscarbel2]

Freightliner welcomes DD8

Rick Weber, Trailer-Body Builders  /  December 7, 2017

Coverage from the recent NTEA Truck Product Conference, a look at the critical details of new and coming-soon equipment from the chassis manufacturers, and what the changes mean for upfitters and truck body builders.

Detroit Diesel, a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), unveiled the Detroit DD8 medium-duty engine at the Work Truck Show earlier in the year.

By the end of this year, the 7.7l inline diesel engine will be available to order, and then will be put into vehicle production early next year—initially available in the Freightliner M2106, 108SD, and 114SD models, which are targeted primarily at vocational applications, including, utility/maintenance/repair service, pick-up and delivery, oil field, construction, logging, plow and dump, wrecking, refuse, fire/emergency, and recreational vehicles.

The DD8 will also be entirely built at Detroit’s manufacturing facility in Redford, Michigan—unlike the DD5, which began production in Germany and was gradually transferred to Redford.

This is all part of a $375 million strategy initiated by DTNA in November 2015 to bring to the United States the manufacturing of its proprietary medium-duty engines, DT12 automated mechanical transmission (AMT), and its proprietary line of Detroit Axles.

“That means North American testing and North American validation for fuels and fluids and duty cycles, and also the investment in the Detroit diesel plant to build up the medium-duty engine assembly line in Michigan,” said Steve Collins of Detroit Powertrain Sales. “Even though this is a global platform of engine, it is a true North American engine.

“We were able to achieve some pretty amazing targets, such as the B10 life of 400,000 miles. We have the longest scheduled maintenance intervals in its class. We were able to use technologies such as variable exhaust cam phasing and efficient thermal management. And all of it is backed by a three-year, 250,000-mile warranty.”

The DD8 features a 260-350 hp range and a torque range of 660 to 1050 lb-ft and will launch with both engine and transmission power takeoff (PTO) options required for many vocational applications. It is expected to match or exceed the 45,000-mile oil drain and fuel filter replacement interval offered for the DD5.

He said variable exhaust cam phasing is used to increase exhaust temperatures for effective DPF regeneration in all conditions. It has a compact design that is integrated into the exhaust camshaft and advances the camshaft for early-valve opening.

The Detroit Connect Virtual Technician is standard for three years on DD5 and DD8 engines. He said it allows the user to make informed service decisions within minutes of an engine or aftertreatment fault event; know the severity of the fault and when, where, and how to best fix the issue; and reduce the time spent on diagnostics and in the shop while increasing vehicle uptime.

Dan Silbernagel, TEM product strategy manager, gave a rundown of Freightliner’s key features and recently released options.

“This is a small portion of everything we’re working on,” he said. “We have 40 to 50 items we’re also working on. Right now, they aren’t to the point where I can say, ‘Hey, they’re available at this time.’ ”

He said those will be announced at The Work Truck Show in March, but the following are available now:

• Hendrickson FMO20 lift axle for refuse market. This is a factory-installed axle that saves cost and time to delivery and provides clearance for the hydraulic cylinders on roll-off bodies. It has a planned start of production of January 15, 2018.

• Engine compartment lighting. This is a single LED light center-mounted on the front wall and is important because of the NFPA requirement to provide engine compartment lighting. Availability is targeted for the first quarter of 2018.

• 5-inch drop axle for twin steer prep. It allows the axle to clear an Allison transmission compared to the current 3.5-inch drop axle. Scheduled start of production was November 6.

• 515 coverage for tridem suspensions. It expands a new routing and clipping process to tri-drive rear suspensions.

This will help improve the routing of air lines, fuel, and electrical harnesses. Start of production was August 7.

• Dual side adjustable hood-mounted mirrors. The swing arm-mounted cross-view mirrors expand coverage to the M2 106. The option is already provided for M2 112, 108SD, and 114SD. Start of production was August 7.

• Right-hand aft tank. This is a fuel tank mounted 32.5 inches back of cab and spaced outboard two inches from the rail, allowing for safe fuel-line routing between the ATS, rail, and fuel tank. Start of production was June 5.

• Dana 590 axle. The D590 two-speed planetary double reduction single drive axles offer versatile power in a complete line of planetary double reduction models. The D590 Series tandems are ideal for medium- and heavy-duty applications from 46,000 to 70,000 pounds GAWR, including construction, heavy-haul, logging, oil field, refuse, and other demanding vocational applications. It allows a top speed of 65 mph with Allison transmissions. Ratio coverage from 4.75 through 10.90:1 allows maximum performance across a variety of vocations. High-capacity gearing and bearing system for durability and reliability with higher horsepower/torque engines. Patented axle breather design allows unrestricted air flow—a no-maintenance feature. Start of production was June 5.

• Trailer wiring provisions w/hydraulic brakes. This is a new design to provide a hydraulic service brake signal to the customer-furnished brake controller. It reduces upfit time by eliminating the need for aftermarket electrical wiring to enable electric brake controllers with hydraulic brakes. Start of production is December 18.

• Auxiliary function range inhibit. This is a hardwire interlock to Allison transmission that prevents neutral to drive or neutral to reverse when there is an input from the body. Start of production is March 19, 2018.

• RP170 bodybuilder connectors. This is a chassis-to-body electrical interface per TMC’s RP 170 recommendation. It provides the vocational/refuse industry a common electrical interface connection that is environmentally sealed, contains all required electrical circuits and is located in an industry-standardized location. Start of production is December 18.

• A/C condenser mounted on frame. This is a right-hand, frame-mounted RedDot A/C condenser, located 20 inches back of cab. Customers running M2 108SDs on feed lots require special cooling packages that are easier to clean due to the type of debris they encounter. Start of production is December 28.

• Idle shutdown with audible alarm. Audible warning has been added to the existing visual warning prior to engine shutdown. Idle shutdown with be disabled in PTO mode. Visual warning: flashing red engine light. This ensures that a vehicle in PTO mode does not shut down and interrupt any work in progress. Visual and audible warning prior to shutdown will alert operator, allowing override of shutdown if necessary. Became available September 11.

• RPL20 driveline. This is a Meritor driveline that is permanently lubricated, reducing operating and maintenance costs for customers. Became available November 6.

• Front frame extension tow hooks. Relocation of front tow hooks from the front suspension spring hanger to a more forward location when FFE is specified. That will improve accessibility on FFE trucks. The new location mitigates the risk of damage to bumper and other components during recovery operations. Production started October 2.

• Bendix (Smartire) tire pressure monitoring system. It informs the driver and maintenance crews of tire issues by displaying tire pressure and temperature status on dash display, and provides early warnings before tire damage is done. Available starting October 2.

• Yellow grab handles. This option will allow drivers and passengers to safely enter and exit the vehicle with a high-visibility grab handle, and allow dealers to meet municipal bid specs requiring yellow grab handles. Start of production set for the first quarter of 2018.