Detroit Diesel Engines for Semi-Trucks & Commercial Vehicles
It is no surprise that Detroit Diesel engines most commonly appear in Freightliner and Western Star trucks. After all, all three companies are owned by the same parent company, Daimler Trucks North America LLC. Founded in 1938 in Detroit, Michigan, Detroit Diesel manufactures six different engine models. Each member of the engine family is numbered based off the number of liters of capacity the cylinders can displace.
Detroit DD5
The Detroit DD5 has three variations, ranging in 200-240 horsepower and 560-660 lb-ft of torque. Designed for medium-duty trucks such as the Freightliner M2 106, it has a B10 life of 400,000 miles. This means that when tested, 90% of all DD5 engines lasted 400,000 miles before needing a complete overhaul of the engine.
Additionally, the engine is built for fuel efficiency, with an advanced system that optimizes the amount of fuel injected each time. Detroit Diesel advertises that when used effectively, the engine can average over 12.0 miles per gallon (MPG) of diesel fuel.
In terms of maintenance scheduling, Detroit touts the DD5 as best in class. For basic long hauling, the engine oil and filter only needs to be changed every 50,000 miles; the same mileage applies to the fuel filter as well. The valve lash needs adjusting every 100,000 miles, the diesel particulate filter should be replaced every 225,000 miles, and the Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) pump filter needs to be replaced every 500,000 miles.
Detroit stands behind the DD5 with a 3 year, 250,000-mile warranty, meaning the DEF pump filter will outlast the warranty of the engine.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 4 Cylinder
- Displacement: 313 cubic inches/5.1 liters
- Compression Ratio: 17.6:1
- Bore: 4.33 inches
- Stroke: 5.3 inches
- Weight (Dry): 1188 pounds
- Electronics: DDEC
- Service Fill: 18 quarts/17.5 liters
- Horsepower Range: 200-240
- Torque Range: 560-660
For all information regarding the DD5, check out the technical specifications sheet.
Detroit DD8
The Detroit DD8 has a lot in common with the DD5. Both have a B10 life of 400,000 miles, both have an advanced fuel injection system, and both have a 3 year, 250,000-mile standard warranty.
Where they differ is performance, fuel efficiency, and maintenance. The DD8 has seven variations, ranging from 260-375 horsepower and 660-1050 lb-ft in torque (although the highest end, 375 horsepower and 1050 ft-lb torque, is reserved for emergency and recreational vehicles only). With the best driving practices, the DD8 gets 8.5 MPG.
The DD8 is more generous with maintenance intervals than its smaller brother: 60,000 miles for the engine oil and filter and fuel filter, 120,000 miles for the valve lash adjustment, 150,000 miles for cleaning the diesel particulate filter, and 500,000 miles for the DEF pump filter.
Detroit uses the DD8 in trucks that fulfill specific purposes, such as bucket trucks, dump trucks, tow trucks, and similar commercial vehicles.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6 cylinder
- Displacement: 470 cubic inches/7.7 liters
- Compression Ratio: 17.6:1
- Bore: 4.33 inches
- Stroke: 5.3 inches
- Weight (Dry): 1437 pounds
- Electronics: DDEC
- Service Fill: 26.9 quarts/ 25.5 liters
- Horsepower Range: 260-375
- Torque Range: 660-1050
For more details in regards to the DD8, see its sell sheet.
Detroit DD13
Weighing in at just under 2,500 pounds, the Detroit DD13 has only two variations, depending if it is a Rear Engine Power Take-Off (REPTO) or a Front Engine Power Take-Off (FEPTO). Detriot Diesel advertises the REPTO as the superior model, offering benefits of a shorter truck length such as better maneuverability and the ability to carry more without violating regulations on maximum truck length.
Both REPTO and FEPTO average 410 horsepower and 1325 lb-ft at 1625 RPM. Fuel economy ranges from 6.0 to 6.9 MPG, depending on idle time. The engine oil and filter, as well as the fuel filter, needs replacing every 55,000 miles. The valve lash needs adjusting at “100,000 [miles], 500,000, and then every 500,000 thereafter.”
Perhaps most unique about the DD13 is its warranty information. With the DD5 and DD8, only the engine was warrantied, but with the DD13, the engine, injectors and major components are all warrantied separately. The engine is protected for 2 years and unlimited miles, the injectors for 2 years and 200,000 miles, and the major components are covered from after two years until five years from purchase or 500,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6 Cylinder
- Displacement: 781 cubic inches/12.8 liters
- Compression Ratio: 18.4:1
- Bore: 5.2 inches
- Stroke: 6.15 inches
- Weight (Dry): 2487 pounds
- Electronics: DDEC
- Service Fill: 40 quarts/38 liters
- Horsepower Range: 350-505
- Torque Range: 1250-1850
- Front or Rear Engine PTO: Optional
The warranty information is relatively confusing, so be sure to check the specification sheet to understand it fully. The DD13 works with semi-trucks and other various utility trucks alike.
Detroit DD15
Just as how the DD8 and DD5 are of similar stature, the DD15 is very closely related to the DD13. The maintenance intervals are the same (60,000 60,000 100,000/500,000/500,000), but the DD15 also needs its diesel particle filter and DEF pump filter replaced every 500,000 miles. It also has the same headache-inducing warranty policy as the DD13.
Fuel efficiency is also comparable to the DD13, ranging from 6.0 MPG to 6.9 MPG depending on idle time.
The largest difference between the two is performance. At 1625 RPM, the eight variations of the DD15 gets between 400 and 505 horsepower and about 1471 to 1671 lb-ft of torque. The specification sheet advertises the optimal torque occurs at 925 RPM, but using this RPM is less common.
New to the Detroit engines in our tour is the inclusion of Detroit Connect Virtual Technician, which sends information to Detroit Diesel’s customer support center, who then quickly informs the fleet manager about important information such as the severity of the issue and quality repair shops near the truck’s current location.
With more power and perks built for fleet managers, the DD15 is more commonly seen in heavy-duty trucks.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6 cylinder
- Displacement: 906 cubic inches/14.8 liters
- Compression Ratio: 18.5:1
- Bore: 5.47 inches
- Stroke: 6.42 inches
- Weight (Dry): 2718 pounds
- Electronics: DDEC
- Service Fill: 45 quarts/43 liters
- Horsepower Range: 400-505
- Torque Range: 1550-1750
Detroit DD16
Detroit Diesel says the DD16 is “the biggest, toughest, most powerful engine [we have] ever produced.” They were not kidding; it weighs in just shy of 3,000 pounds!
The DD16 is very similar to the DD15, just as the DD15 was similar to the DD13 before it. The DD16 has Detroit Connect Virtual Technician, a perk that best serves owner-operators and fleet managers of heavy-duty semi-trucks. A truck with a DD16 gets 6.0 to 6.9 MPG, depending on the driver’s training.
As to be expected, the DD16 has the highest performance of Detroit Diesel’s lineup. Its six variations get between 500 and 600 horsepower and 1751 to 1951 lb-ft of torque at 1800 RPM. It is extremely durable: it has a B50 life of 1,200,000 miles, meaning there is a solid chance you will be driving this engine for a very long time.
Unfortunately, the maintenance intervals are slightly more narrow than the DD15 (and DD13), as the engine oil and filter, as well as the fuel filter, need to be changed every 55,000 miles, as opposed to 60,000 miles.
Specifications
- Configuration: Inline 6 cylinder
- Displacement: 952 cubic inches/15.6 liters
- Compression Ratio: 17:1
- Bore: 5.47 inches
- Stroke: 6.73 inches
- Weight (Dry): 2837 pounds
- Electronics: DDEC
- Service Fill: 45 quarts/43 liters
- Horsepower Range: 500-600
- Torque Range: 1850-2050
For more information, check out the DD16’s specification sheet.
Conclusion
Detroit Diesel has a variety of engines for a variety of needs. Whether you plan to purchase a semi-truck or a cement mixer, you can be certain that the engine in it will fit the means of the vehicle. Each vehicle can have different engine types, such as a heavy-duty Freightliner having either a DD15 or DD16, so it doesn’t hurt to ask what engine type any vehicle you are purchasing has.
If you couldn’t care less whether your engine weighs 2,700 or 2,800 pounds, you can take solace in knowing that all of the engines are tested to dominate the road with minimal difficulty.
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