Detroit enhances DD13 Gen 5 engine; extends warranty for older engine

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Updated May 31, 2021
Detroit adds enhancements DD13 Gen 5 engine
Detroit Diesel Corporation

Detroit says its versatile Detroit DD13 engine is now available with new features and power ratings, making the 13L a powerful choice for any highway or job site.

Changes to the engine are focused on efficiency, robustness and thermal management, all of which contribute to a low total cost of ownership (TCO) and maximum uptime.

“The DD13 Gen 5 was built on the proven heavy-duty engine platform from Detroit on which our customers depend to deliver unmatched efficiency and power,” says David Carson, senior vice president, sales and marketing for Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA). “The DD13 Gen 5 builds on that legacy, while offering even more flexibility and options for specific application needs.”

The DD13 Gen 5 engine is 60 lb. lighter than its predecessor due to its new aftertreatment system (ATS) and is available with the Freightliner Cascadia for on-highway applications and Western Star 49X trucks for vocational applications such as construction and municipal jobs. Better packaging and more frame rail space ensures clear back of frame for truck equipment manufacturers (TEMs) and upfitters.

ThermoCoasting, which was initially introduced with the Detroit DD15 Gen 5 engine, prevents aftertreatment cool down during a driving regen to keep the system at its optimum temperature and significantly reduces the need for parked regenerations. This is particularly useful for stop-and-go vocational/urban applications where maximum uptime is a must. ThermoCoasting also increases ATS performance and extends diesel particulate filter (DPF) cleaning and maintenance intervals, maximizing TCO, the company says.

Many of the key components in the DD13 Gen 5 engine have reduced packaging complexity and are more durable to achieve an even higher level of reliability compared to previous generations.

DD13 Gen 5: Versatile solution for even more vocational challenges

With new vocational-focused ratings delivering up to 525 HP and 1850 lb.-ft. of torque, the DD13 Gen 5 is ideal for a wider range of jobsite applications including mixers, municipal, vacuum trucks, and oilfield. These ratings have additional power at the upper end of the RPM band and more torque at the low end compared to the current DD13.

Additionally, the DD13 Gen 5 has been strengthened to handle higher compression ratios, while its new swirl piston design improves combustion and efficiency. A new asymmetric, fixed geometry turbocharger delivers rapid response while also using new thermal management strategies to keep heat in the aftertreatment and reduce the amount of system cool down. The new journal bearing turbocharger also features a thermal control valve (TCV) that significantly boosts regen performance, allowing for more completed regens at most engine speeds and loads, especially when utilizing a PTO for vocational applications, Detroit says.

“Our vocational customers played a critical role in the development and design of the new DD13 Gen 5 engine,” says Mike Stricker, director of sales at Detroit. “We listened to their on-the-job needs and responded by overhauling key engine components for an immediate and long-term benefit on performance and uptime.”

Improved fuel efficiency, reliability for on-highway performance

“When we updated the DD13 Gen 5 for on-highway applications, we applied many of the same solutions found in our recently revamped DD15 Gen 5 engine, ensuring the engine delivers on efficiency and performance,” says Carson.

The new ball bearing, fixed geometry turbocharger allows peak power and torque to be reached faster and delivers more fuel economy gains. Integrated Detroit Powertrain (IDP) ratings further slow engine RPMs while maintaining pulling power, reducing parasitic losses and wear for optimal fuel efficiency. The journal bearing turbocharger with the TCV also is available without further downspeeding for on-highway customers.

Backed by Detroit Technology

The DD13 Gen 5 engine comes standard with the Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services, which provides fleets with remote access to vehicle diagnostic data as well as expert fuel efficiency and safety performance insights.

Through the Detroit Connect portal, fleet managers can access vehicle fault event and performance data to deepen their knowledge about overall fleet health. Access to the information can be customized so only information relevant to the user’s role is visible. 

Included in Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle solutions is Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostics service, which lets fleet managers know within minutes when vehicles experience fault events, the severity of the fault, and when, where, and how to best resolve the issue, providing actionable information and increased uptime. 

In addition to Virtual Technician, the Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services includes Detroit Connect Remote Updates, which uses secure, over-the-air programming and a cellular connection to change select engine parameter settings; and Detroit Connect Analytics, which translates fuel efficiency and safety performance data into actionable insights for optimizing truck and fleet performance, the company says.

All Detroit engines are backed by the expansive Detroit service network, which has more than 700 authorized service locations nationwide. 

Extended warranty for DD13, DD15, DD16 products

Detroit also announced Thursday DD13, DD15 and DD16 engines that have expired warranties are now eligible for the new Detroit OE Advantage extended warranty coverage from DTNA. Detroit OE Advantage provides comprehensive coverage, similar to other Detroit extended warranties, with multiple plan options and terms of one year/125,000 miles or two years/250,000 miles.

This product is different from existing aftermarket products because it is an easy to understand OEM coverage that offers flexibility on when it can be added without caps, deductibles, hidden fees, surcharges or aggregate limits, the company says.

Detroit OE Advantage has a coverage maximum time distance of seven years/750,000 miles. "We want to provide our customers with the best support for their Detroit engines at every stage of their ownership experience," says Kevin Holland, sales and marketing manager, DTNA. "Detroit OE Advantage provides the highest level of OEM protection for customers with expired Detroit engine warranties, giving them confidence that their engines are fully backed by Detroit." 

DTNA Product Manager Shawn Hinson adds, "This product is truly unique, in that, it is a time-flexible, hassle free OEM coverage supported by the Freightliner and Western Star dealers and the Detroit service network."   

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