Volvo is one of the world’s best known and respected brands within the commercial vehicle industry. Associated with the core values of quality, safety, and environmental care, the Volvo Group manufactures powerful and super-efficient Diesel Truck Engines. The diesel engines also have a strong torque with less impact on the environment boosting productivity, thanks to the Engine Management System. The Volvo engines are outfitted with an I-Shift gearbox to improve fuel-efficiency. Considered to be the second biggest brand of heavy truck and diesel engine manufacturers, Volvo is committed to progress and optimizing power where possible.
The Volvo’s full family of engines are built on the foundation of proven, developed architecture that leverages innovative hardware to maximize performance and efficiency. The Volvo Group also manufactures heavy-duty trucks, buses, construction equipment, and marine and industrial engines. The company also provides complete solutions for financing and service through a network of suppliers and distributors across the world. One supplier of Volvo truck diesel engines is Nationwide Truck Parts. We sell high-quality and genuine used Volvo truck diesel engines at a reasonable price.
The diverse Volvo truck engine line up allows customers to find the perfect engine for their needs.
With production facilities in 19 countries and presence in more than 190 markets, Volvo Group is one of the largest producers of commercial vehicles and truck diesel engines in the world. This is an extraordinary journey that began in 1927 with founding fathers Assar Gabrielson and Gustaf Larsson. Volvo was founded upon the concept of safety and was created as a subsidiary company headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The trademark Volvo, which in Latin means “I Roll” was first registered on 11 May 1915. It was founded to manufacture special series of ball bearing for the American market, but it was never used for it. The company rolled out the first Volvo car in 1927 with 280 cars being built in that year. Later in January 1928, the first truck Series 1 was manufactured and attracted attention outside the country. The truck had a four-cylinder engine, 28 bhp, and a payload limit of 1500 kg.
During that time the market lacked a vehicle that could handle the harsh Swedish climate and poor road conditions, so the company decided to move into the truck segment. The Series 1 truck had a simple but highly functional design, delivering a level of quality and reliability that was of no match by non-Swedish trucks. The first 500 units sold quickly with the second batch of 500 Series 2 trucks manufactured shortly. The Series 2 had a few modifications like widening its tracks to 1460 mm and reduced the previous double rear axle to one, which made it safer. In 1930, the export of trucks to Europe started and with the huge demand for their heavy-duty trucks, the company thought of manufacturing diesel engines too to power their trucks. Pentaverken, a company that manufactured engines for Volvo was acquired in 1935 providing a secure supply of engines.
During the war years from 1940 to 1945, Volvo’s business operations underwent a period of rapid expansion. The company acquired a majority shareholding in Svenska Flygmotor, later named it
Volvo Aero. Volvo purchased Kopings Mekaniska Verkstad, a company that supplied gears and gearboxes, and in 1950 acquired AB Bolinder Munktell, a construction equipment manufacturer.
From 1964 to 1969, the Volvo Company expanded its business further by setting up two plants in Torslanda, Sweden, and Alsemberg, Belgium. This guaranteed sufficient car and truck manufacturing capacity placing the company in a world ranking position. A new diesel engine plant was also opened in Skovde, Sweden and in 1968 Volvo began truck assembly operations in Australia.
Later in 1977, a second truck manufacturing plant in Belgium was set up, transforming Volvo into a leading European company with a Swedish base. The year 1980 to 1982 was the time of acquisitions. Volvo Company acquired various companies such as Beijerinvest AB, White Motor Corporation, and AB Höglund & Co. A new plant for manufacturing bus chassis and trucks was opened in Brazil and a new assembly plant for trucks was opened in Tuve, Sweden.
In 1999 Volvo Cars were sold to Ford Motor Company and a new group, focused on the commercial automotive industry was created. The Volvo Group acquired Mack and Renault Trucks to grow within the truck sectors in the USA and Europe. By the year 2001, Asia was Volvo’s second-largest market with the acquisition of Nissan Diesel, which is now known by the name UD Trucks. The group also set up the production in China and a joint venture in India with Eicher Motors.
Volvo Group comprised a wide range of different brands and created five separate units known as Volvo Trucks, UD Trucks, Renault Trucks, Mack Trucks, and Group Trucks Asia & JVs each with profit and loss responsibility for their business.
In 2019, UD Trucks and Group Trucks Asia & JVs merged to form UD Trucks and JVs. A new business area was also formed, Volvo Autonomous Solutions enabling the group to meet growing demand and offer the best possible solutions to customers in the mining, port, and transport industries.
Volvo Group’s unit Volvo Trucks has built various types of engines, beginning in the late 1920s. Here is a rundown of their various truck engines.
The Volvo B36 is a V8 automobile engine that first appeared in a concept car in 1952 and was later used in Volvo’s truck line the Volvo L420 Snabbe and Trygge trucks among others. Also known by the name B8B and C8B, this petrol four-stroke, cast-iron 90 degrees V8 engine was designed and built by Volvo. The engine weighed 518 lb and had a displacement of just 2.5 liters. It developed 120 PS at 4000 rpm and 260 Nm at 2200 rpm. The two-port Carter carburetor and intake were located between the cylinder banks. The cross-flow heads were made of cast iron alloy, while the five-bearing camshaft of a case-hardened steel alloy. However, due to excessive consumption of fuel, and diesel engines soon became available in the Volvo’s truck line. B36 was discontinued in 1973.
Volvo initially lacked the resources to develop their diesel engines. To fill the gap, the 3610 cc 4D Dorset diesel inline-four engine built by Ford was used. It was used in the Volvo 425 Snabbe and Volvo 435 Trygge trucks. The engine had only 65 PS (48 kW) power and was replaced by a more powerful Perkins unit.
The Volvo’s D6B is 180 to 250 hp, 6-cylinder turbocharged inter-cooled diesel engine used to power the Volvo FL Truck. The control system had a major facelift, the inline fuel injection pump was replaced with the EDC rotary distributor pump. Made of cast iron, this engine offers a torque of 424 ft-lbs and a displacement of 5.5 liters.
The D11 is the smallest diesel engine that delivers a power-to-weight ratio, unlike anything Volvo has ever made. The D11 is 21 pounds lighter than the previous generation model producing 20 more horsepower than before, reaching 425 hp with a maximum torque of 1550 lb-ft. Additionally, it is 2.5% more efficient than previous models with aerodynamic improvements.
The Volvo D11 has nine variations, ranging from 325 to 425 hp and torque of 1250 to 1550 pound-feet at the optimal RPM of about 1000. Among the nine variations, two are Eco Torque, and two are labeled as XE. Eco Torque engine has two drive modes the high and low torque that shifts depending on power demand. When going uphill or pulling heavy cargo, the engine detects the need for power and shifts to a higher torque curve. On the flat land and in city driving the engine runs at lower torque for greater fuel efficiency, reducing airborne emissions and fuel expenses. The split torque package saves fuel without sacrificing performance.
XE engine offers a single torque mode but locks the driver out of the highest gear except in specific cases. The XE engine package with I-Shift transmission and I-See predictive cruise control saves fuel in heavy traffic and on the open road. It also has low rolling resistance tires that further help the driver save money on fuel expenses.
The engine has a common rail fuel delivery system that allows it to run smoothly, cutting noise, and vibrations. Thus resulting in a noticeably quieter engine, fuel savings, less wear and tear, and longer engine life.
The Volvo D12 engine was launched in 1993 and was truly a revolution. The 465 horsepower Volvo D12 diesel engine was built with emission standards that were not even around at that time. The engine was built with a longer cylinder head with the help of Cummins. The new, longer cylinder head gives higher quality in terms of optimal oil change intervals (25,000 miles) and combustion. From the beginning, D12 was developed for FH trucks, but in the late 90s, it was introduced in other product areas within Volvo. Also, the D12 diesel engine has gone through several changes over the decades. It meets the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2002 emission regulations with euro 3 and Turbo Compound. Also, it does not require exhaust after-treatment to meet the regulations. It has the same top horsepower and torque ratings as Volvo’s pre-EPA 02 engines.
The Volvo D13 diesel truck engine was developed in 2005, delivering the perfect combination of fuel efficiency and power for a wide range of applications. The D13 engine was built on a foundation of proven, developed architecture leveraging innovative hardware and technology to maximize efficiency, optimize performance, and productivity.
The D13 engine has twenty-two variations varying in horsepower from 375 to 500 and torque from 1450 to 1850 pound-feet at 1000 RPM. Amongst these, six are basic, four Eco Torques, nine XEs, and a new group with three engines, Super Direct. The Volvo D13 engine is designed to meet and exceed expectations of its hauling capabilities, not only boating power but fuel efficiency as well.
The common rail fuel system has a unique design delivering multiple benefits. The fine control allows quicker, more accurate fuel injection for fuel efficiency while the clean installation improves reliability and reduces engine noise.
The engine has a low friction wave piston design that reduces friction losses, thus benefitting power and efficiency. With a weight of 2605 pounds, the D13 is the most efficient engine in its class saving money and hauling loads much more profitable.
Volvo introduced a new 16 liter heavy-duty diesel engine, D16 in 2009. This engine delivers 700 hp (523 kW) of power and 3,150 Nm (2,323 lb-ft) of torque. The Volvo D16G is a further development of Volvo’s previous D16 engine that produced more power of 660 hp. Regardless of the higher power, fuel consumption remains the same as in the previous engine generation.
With the additional 40 horsepower and somewhat higher torque, the new engine reduces emissions by 40% compared to the previous engine. The new 16-liter engine was certified for the new Euro 5 emission requirements.
Through several measures such as redesigning pistons, Volvo’s optimized the combustion process of its D16 diesel engine and met demands for high performance combined with efficient fuel utilization, low emissions, and long lifetime. The engine now also features a new oil thermostat that has a favorable effect on fuel consumption. The noise level is also lowered by 2 dB with the help of pre-injection. In this small amount of fuel is sprayed into the cylinder, resulting in a gentler combustion sequence and lower noise level.
The D16 has a patented engine brake, VEB+ that uses a unique camshaft design to absorb up to 470 kW (639 hp). Coupled with an I-Shift transmission system and clever cruise control, you can maintain a higher average speed without compromising safety or fuel economy.
These are a few truck engines manufactured by Volvo. If you are looking to buy the Volvo engines for your logistic fleet, then you know that they can be quite expensive. However, there is a cheaper alternative, buy used Volvo truck diesel engines online at Nationwide Truck Parts. We sell various models of Volvo diesel engines such as D13, D16, D11, and D12. All the used diesel engines on our online portal are tested and inspected for quality, come with a standard warranty, and are reliable. Buying used Volvo truck diesel engines are cost-efficient and engines will last several thousand miles. So, when you want to buy used engines, contact us and we will help meet your engine requirement.
Specifying the right engine for your truck is the key to getting the most out of your investment. Here is a look at the most important concept of the truck engine.
In diesel truck engines, the power is measured in horsepower (hp). It is calculated by multiplying the torque (the turning force) by the speed of the engine (RPMs). Volvo’s long-haul truck engines power range from 400 hp to 750 hp. An engine with more horsepower allows you to haul heavier loads at a faster speed and up steeper hills.
The torque (the turning force) is measured in pounds-feet (lb-ft) and provides a measurement of the maximum twisting force that the engine can generate when worked hard. Both horsepower and torque are related to one another and gives the driver a sense of the performance they might expect from their vehicle. The Volvo’s new D13 turbo-compound engine adds an extra worth of torque (300 Nm) through greater engine efficiency while keeping RPMs (engine speed) low. The higher torque delivers more speed when driving up hills. However, the low RPM’s means that the truck is both quieter and consumes less fuel.
The next thing to look at is the volume. The engine volume is the total volume of all cylinders in the engine and is measured in liters. Engine volume is correlated to engine sizes that can vary significantly from the truck to truck. However, the number of cylinders does not vary much because too many put the engine under undesirable stress. That is why Volvo Trucks' long-haul diesel engines are all six-cylinder 13L, while trucks covering shorter distances have four-cylinder engines.
Along with these measures, one of the most significant differences from an engineering and environmental standpoint is the emission. Volvo Truck diesel engines have two main technologies: EGR and SCR. EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) treats emissions within the combustion chamber by lowering the exhaust gas temperature and NO2 production. While SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) deals with emissions using a catalyst and a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). However, EGR does not require the bulk and weight an SCR system would occupy on a truck, but it creates challenges for engine performance and fuel economy.
The third alternative turbo compound technology is used to combat the issue. Turbo compound engines use both SCR and EGR technology to significantly reduce emissions and deliver high torque and lower fuel consumption.
When buying a diesel truck engine there are many things to consider such as your operations, the routes you travel on, and your loads to determine which Volvo diesel engine specification might be right for you.