SwRI Benchmarking Program to Evaluate Pick-up Truck Diesel Engines for Performance, Emissions, Durability

SAN ANTONIO--April 28, 2004--Three 2004 pick-up truck diesel engines will be evaluated for the Southwest Research Institute(R) diesel engine benchmarking program. The GM/Isuzu Duramax 6660, the Ford/International 6.0L Power Stroke(R) and the Dodge/Cummins 600 5.9L diesel engines will be tested beginning in May 20, 200404.

"We are offering another series of benchmarking evaluations to provide a better understanding of the wide variety of technologies being used," said Bob Burrahm, program manager in the Engine, Emissions and Vehicle Research Division. "We are a leader in the field of diesel engine benchmarking and technology development, as evidenced by SwRI's Clean Diesel IV Consortium, which focuses on developing new diesel technologies."

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 U.S. FTP transient testing; constant-speed transient response tests; engine teardown; and cylinder head flowbench testing. The data sets for the engines will be available online to program subscribers through a secure web server.

"We offer subscribers detailed photographs along with exhaustive evaluations," Burrahm said. "Subscribers also have the opportunity to contract with the Institute to expand the scope of the program on an individual basis for additional measurements and evaluations, if desired."

The SwRI benchmarking program has evaluated four heavy heavy-duty diesel engines: a Caterpillar C15 (ACERT(tm)) 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(tm)). New subscribers may still purchase these data sets. Results are accessed through a secure web server, which requires a user ID and password.