SwRI Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Benchmarking Will Provide Extensive Look at Performance, Emissions, Durability for 2002 Models

    SAN ANTONIO--Oct. 30, 2002--Southwest Research Institute(tm) (SwRI(R)) will offer a heavy-duty diesel engine benchmarking program for eight 2002 model-year engines in the heavy-duty and light-heavy-duty engine industries.
    New federal emission regulations affect some of the 2002 heavy-duty diesel engines, which have now incorporated new emission control technologies. The benchmarking program will extensively test and assess the performance, emissions and durability of the two classes of diesel engines.
    These heavy-duty diesel engines, 450 to 550 horsepower (12 to 15 liters), and light heavy-duty engines, 300 hp (six to eight liters), are primarily sold in the United States. Light heavy-duty trucks include pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and Class 3 delivery trucks.
    "Along with our standard assessments, we plan to compare the engines' emissions reduction technologies and durability," said Bob Burrahm, program manager in the SwRI Engine and Vehicle Research Division. "Engine manufacturers and component suppliers can benefit from this data by gaining a better understanding of how the new emissions reduction technologies will impact the performance and durability of heavy-duty engines. Clients who purchase these reports can obtain data sets for much less than if they were to run the tests themselves."
    Each engine will undergo extensive steady-state mapping, step-transient tests, a 300-hour durability assessment, disassembly and inspection, and cylinder head airflow testing.
    The Institute offers a discount to companies that sign subscription contracts by Dec. 10, 2002. The report may be purchased separately for heavy-duty engines and light heavy-duty or both reports can be bought for additional discounts. The report will be available June 30, 2003.
    "This program gives us an opportunity to better understand the engines we work with so that we can build new technologies to improve them," Burrahm said. "Another advantage to our clients is that because we will have procured all eight of these engines, we will be able to offer additional specialty tests upon request for a modest fee."
    As an independent, multidisciplinary research, development and testing organization, SwRI provides a non-biased, third-party perspective. The SwRI Engine and Vehicle Research Division achieved certification to ISO 9001, an internationally recognized quality standard, and is working toward ISO 14001 certification.
    For more information on this program, visit the SwRI Web site at benchmarking.swri.org or contact Burrahm at 210/522-3064 or by e-mail at rburrahm@swri.org.
    SwRI is an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization based in San Antonio, Texas, with more than 2,700 employees and an annual research volume of more than $319 million.