New integrated heavy truck engines designed to comply with upcoming fuel efficiency and GHG-reduction rules will continue to become more complicated and more difficult to maintain, warned OEM executives at the Technology and Maintenance Council’s (TMC) 2013 Annual Meeting.
As reported by Today’s Trucking magazine, the speakers were explaining what truck buyers should expect from emerging engine technology for model years 2014 through 2018.
Vic Meloche, manager of Technical Sales Support with Daimler/Detroit, said the burden of complying with the EPA rules falls on OEMs, however fleets will have to adjust to changes in maintenance, engine software and associated costs.
“There are metals we haven’t used before and we’re running temperatures we haven’t seen before,” said Dave McKenna of Mack Trucks, who stressed the importance of training operators and technicians on the new engines.
Cummins’ Bill Kendrick said to “expect ‘bugs’ and many software updates.” He added that all engines will have on-board diagnostic systems in 2013, he said, ahead of the 2016 deadline.
