Detroit Diesel 50
Encyclopedia
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.
The Series 50 engine is used as a major bus
engine in North America
, especially from buses built in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. The power plant is offered for several applications: truck
s, bus
es, motor homes, construction and industrial equipment, and military vehicles. It is unusual to find an inline four-cylinder engine propelling heavy duty buses, which traditionally use inline six
, V-6
or V-8
diesel engines.
In 2000, in order to better respond to the tougher EPA
emissions stardards, Detroit Diesel announced revisions of the Series 50 for diesel applications. The changes included the addition of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and a variable geometry turbocharger system to improve torque
.
The Detroit Diesel Series 50 can be fueled by diesel fuel or compressed natural gas
(CNG). Several thousand series 50 engines are now in the buses on the streets of major cities such as New York City
and Philadelphia. In September 2004, Detroit Diesel ceased production of the Series 50 heavy duty diesel engine for on highway applications due to emissions standards. It is still available for off-road applications. A replacement was scheduled to take place in 2007 then was pushed back until 2009. According to Detroit Diesel engines will no longer be produced for non-Daimler AG trucks or buses beginning in 2010.
Straight-4
The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft....
diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
, that was introduced in 1993 by Detroit Diesel
Detroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
. The Series 50 was developed from the existing block of its sister engine, the Series 60
Detroit Diesel 60
The Detroit Diesel Series 60 is a inline-6 four-cycle Diesel engine that was first produced in 1987. It departed from most on highway engines, by being an overhead camshaft engine and having full "drive by wire" electronic control. In 1993 it became popular on many Charter buses in the US at...
, which itself was initially designed by Detroit Diesel. The cylinder heads were cast by John Deere
John Deere
John Deere was an American blacksmith and manufacturer who founded Deere & Company, one of the largest and leading agricultural and construction equipment manufacturers in the world...
at one time.
The Series 50 engine is used as a major bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
engine in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, especially from buses built in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. The power plant is offered for several applications: truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es, motor homes, construction and industrial equipment, and military vehicles. It is unusual to find an inline four-cylinder engine propelling heavy duty buses, which traditionally use inline six
Straight-6
The straight-six engine or inline-six engine is a six-cylinder internal combustion engine with all six cylinders mounted in a straight line along the crankcase...
, V-6
V6 engine
A V6 engine is a V engine with six cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of three cylinders, usually set at either a right angle or an acute angle to each other, with all six pistons driving a common crankshaft...
or V-8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
diesel engines.
In 2000, in order to better respond to the tougher EPA
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
emissions stardards, Detroit Diesel announced revisions of the Series 50 for diesel applications. The changes included the addition of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) system, and a variable geometry turbocharger system to improve torque
Torque
Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist....
.
The Detroit Diesel Series 50 can be fueled by diesel fuel or compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas
Compressed natural gas is a fossil fuel substitute for gasoline , diesel, or propane/LPG. Although its combustion does produce greenhouse gases, it is a more environmentally clean alternative to those fuels, and it is much safer than other fuels in the event of a spill...
(CNG). Several thousand series 50 engines are now in the buses on the streets of major cities such as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Philadelphia. In September 2004, Detroit Diesel ceased production of the Series 50 heavy duty diesel engine for on highway applications due to emissions standards. It is still available for off-road applications. A replacement was scheduled to take place in 2007 then was pushed back until 2009. According to Detroit Diesel engines will no longer be produced for non-Daimler AG trucks or buses beginning in 2010.
Features
- Power ratings ranging from 250 to 350 [horsepower] (186 to 260 kW)
- Supports the DDECIII and DDECIV
- Since 2001 the engines included an EGR device.
- Twin balance shafts
- Single over head camshaft design
- Mechanical Unit Injection
Popular horsepower ratings
@ 1200 rpm, 250 hp govern at 2100 rpm @ 1200 rpm, 275 hp govern at 2100 rpm @ 1200 rpm, 320 hp govern at 2100 rpmCompeting power plants
- Caterpillar 3208
- Caterpillar C9
- Cummins 6CTA / Westport 8.3-L
- Cummins ISB275 275 hp 5.9-LCummins B Series engineThe Cummins B Series is a family of straight-four and straight-6 diesel truck and industrial piston engines manufactured by Cummins. The B Series is known for displacing "one liter per cylinder" because of the popular straight-four and straight-six. A straight-four is also available...
- Cummins L10
- Cummins ISLCummins L Series engineThe Cummins ISL is a straight-six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces , and began production in 1998. The engine was based on its predecessor, the Cummins C8.3 engine....
- Cummins ISMCummins M Series engineThe Cummins M Series engine is a straight six diesel engine designed and produced by Cummins. It displaces . Introduced as the M11 in 1994, it was built on the previous L10 engine .In 1996, Cummins added electronic controls to improve efficiency...
- Detroit Diesel 6V92Series 92The Detroit Diesel Series 92 is a two-stroke cycle, V-block diesel engine, produced with versions ranging from four 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...
- International DT466
- Perkins 1104C 4.4-L