DAF Trucks has announced a new engine generation, developed for the new Euro 6 emissions legislation, which comes into force in the European Union on 1 January, 2014.

The 12.9 litre Euro 6 PACCAR MX-13 engine uses state of the art common rail technology, a turbo with variable geometry and advanced controls for maximum efficiency. In order to comply with the strict Euro 6 emissions requirements it features exhaust gas recirculation, together with SCR technology and an active soot filter.  "The PACCAR MX-13 engine is ultra clean", said Ron Borsboom, member of the DAF Trucks N.V. Board of Management and responsible for Product Development. "In addition, we've gone to great lengths to obtain industry leading fuel efficiency, reliability and sustainability."

Compared with the current Euro 5 standard, Euro 6 requires that nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions must be reduced by a further 77%, while soot particle emissions must be cut by 66%. In concrete terms, this means that nitrogen oxide emissions have to be reduced from 2.0 to 0.46 grams/kWh, and soot particle emissions from 0.03 to as little as 0.01 grams/kWh. These are however not the only requirements: Euro 6 engines must meet these stringent requirements for a minimum of seven years or 700,000 km, in all operating conditions. In future, authorities will carry out random checks to ensure that vehicles in service are compliant with these standards, and new on-board diagnostics systems will warn the driver in the event that this is not the case.

A quarter of the Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks supplied in the United States since summer 2010 are equipped with the six cylinder 12.9-litre PACCAR MX engine with EPA10 specification. "This engine complies with current North American legislation, whose emission values come close to those set out in Euro 6", explained Ron Borsboom. "We have therefore been able to build up vast experience of technologies we will now be applying in Europe for Euro 6, such as exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), a variable geometry turbo and an active soot filter. We have further developed these technologies, focussing in particular on how we can best integrate them into the European vehicle configuration. A good example is the higher position of the EGR cooler, which allowed us to place the turbo closer to the block, further reducing the overall size of the engine. This is an important factor when it comes to fitting the engine in our European cab-over-engine vehicle designs: it allows for a low cab floor to ensure ease of entry and maximum cab space. In addition, we will of course also be applying technologies to the Euro 6 PACCAR MX-13 engine that have recently been introduced as part of our ATe programme for Euro 5. An encapsulated exhaust manifold for even better turbo efficiency and optimised piston rings and cooling are just a few examples of these technologies."

The engine has:

• A newly designed engine block for optimum stiffness and integration;
• High pressure common rail fuel injection for injection pressures of up to 2,500 bar;
• Variable geometry turbocharger;
• Innovative technologies for maximum efficiency: integration of functions, encapsulated cable harnesses and advanced management systems.
  

To meet the stringent Euro 6 emission requirements, DAF is using a combination of exhaust gas after-treatment technologies, such as an SCR catalytic converter and an active soot filter. For its Euro 6 technology DAF has implemented important innovations in all areas.  New is a single poly-V belt, as well as a fan that is mounted directly on to the crankshaft without a coupling shaft-- which save on maintenance costs, improve reliability and reduce weight and fuel consumption. A larger oil sump volume also allows service intervals of 150,000 km with Euro 6. It is made of composite material to reduce weight and noise levels. The fuel filter and water separator have been combined into a single unit, which is mounted directly on the engine for maximum ease of maintenance, and the oil cooler - usefully combined with the oil filter - is now made from stainless steel to further increase its robustness. Still unique in the industry is the fact that the cable harnesses are encapsulated, just as they are in the current Euro 5 engines.

The new 12.9 litre Euro 6 PACCAR MX-13 engine will enter production early 2013, with outputs of 300 kW/410 hp, 340 kW/460 hp and 375 kW/510 hp. "Obviously, the introduction of new and additional Euro 6 technologies will have consequences for our vehicles," concluded Borsboom. "We will be revealing these at the IAA in Hanover in September. You can be sure that DAF will come up with something beautiful!"