On-board diagnostics (OBD) to be added to Mack, Volvo 13L diesel engines

Feb. 5, 2009
Recently issued federal rules requiring on-board diagnostics (OBD) for heavy-duty diesel engines will be met with a combination of existing sensors already in place and “a handful of new sensors,” according to Steve Berry, director of government relations for Volvo Powertrain North America, the subsidiary that builds engines for both Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America

Recently issued federal rules requiring on-board diagnostics (OBD) for heavy-duty diesel engines will be met with a combination of existing sensors already in place and “a handful of new sensors,” according to Steve Berry, director of government relations for Volvo Powertrain North America, the subsidiary that builds engines for both Mack Trucks and Volvo Trucks North America.

"Both the regulators and the industry have benefited from the automotive experience with OBD systems…(and) the communications standards for communicating signals and reporting information have matured considerably since the early days of automotive OBD," he told
FleetOwner.

While the OBD requirement is intended to ensure engines remain under the Federal emissions standards taking effect in 2010, the technology will also provide truck users with "a robust diagnostic system that will be informative when any repairs may be required," Berry said.

The new rule issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in December calls for each engine maker to install OBD systems on "one family" in their heavy-duty engine lineup starting in 2010. Volvo Powertrain intends to meet that deadline by installing the full OBD system in its 13L Mack MP8 and Volvo D13, according to Berry, although all of its engines "will have some level of OBD" at that date.

EPA will not require OBD on all HD diesels until 2013, providing a phase-in period to help manufacturers perfect the systems.

As for added costs, Berry said that "There will be increased costs associated with the 2010 emissions technology, but it's too soon to say how much or to break it out by individual systems, such as OBD."