Diesels On Parade: Mercedes-Benz 4000 and Series 60 EGR
Contributing editor Ed Thomas was at the wheel of a white Century Class with a Mercedes-Benz 4000 under the slope hood. I was creeping by in a Schneider Century with the latest EGR Series 60. Both of us were right on the speed limit at 65 mph in a run from Charlotte to Asheville, N.C., and enjoying every moment of the opportunity to drive the latest products from the Detroit Diesel engine division of DaimlerChrysler.
The event was a ride 'n drive to showcase the 4000 Series Mercedes-Benz diesel engine, one of three power units in Freightliner, LLC's "portfolio" of engines for 2002. This and the Series 60 are both sold and serviced under the Detroit Diesel banner and are within the powertrain group of Freightliner's parent DaimlerChrysler. Optional following the EPA '02 deadline will be Caterpillar, which will have the "bridge" engine until its ACERT technology is ready for release next year. For now, at least, Cummins is out of the picture for over-the-highway trucks although not totally ruled out in the future, says sales and marketing Senior VP Mark Lampert.
The trucks in the evaluation were the two Century Class tractors and a Columbia daycab from the Freightliner side of the house. Representing Sterling, there was a Western Star 4900 tractor and Sterling L-Line three-axle dump truck. The engines were 435 hp MBE 4000 for the highway tractors with 1,550 pounds-feet peak torque, a 410 hp/1,450 4000 for the dump and the Series 60 at Schneider's preferred 375 hp and 1,450 pounds-feet peak torque.
The run was over varied terrain: west on I-85 then north on I-26, easy Interstate for the most part but with several long pulls and a significant grade up toward Henderson, N.C.
The trucks were loaded, though the Series 60 was hauling 10,000 pounds less than the M-B powered rigs, accounting for its edge on the hill. But even so, it couldn't get away from the Benz-powered trucks.
The Mercedes-Benz engine is most impressive for its fat torque curve, which peaks at just under 1,000 rpm and stays flat out to 1,400 rpm. Rated horsepower is at 2,000 rpm but both the 435 and the 410 make better than 400 hp all the way back to 1,400 rpm. This flat power curve is a characteristic of all ratings for the 4000 Series, making it a really flexible engine to drive and one that acquits itself very well on the road. We found that when it gets into a grade, it'll hang in there and lug itself up on the torque.
So for a highway truck, especially in any sort of weight-sensitive application, the MBE-4000 is a very useful addition to the engine line-up available to these Freightliner brands. The real jewel, though, was the dump truck with the 410 engine. Coupled with an Eaton 8 lo-lo transmission, it was an easy shifting, competent, lil' red dump truck that was as quiet and tight as any over-the-road unit.
The Series 60 performed well enough, too, though in the climb at steady-state, wide-open throttle it felt a bit short on horsepower. But accelerating up to speed on the freeway ramps, the engine displayed the distinctive extra low-speed response from the variable geometry turbo that is part of the Detroit EGR package.
The Cat line-up is still a mystery, but with the Series 60 and the tried-and-tested MBE 4000, the post '02 engine portfolio from Freightliner looks well balanced and poised to deliver.
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