John Deere Diesel Tech Shows How Companies Adapt

This is a story about John Deere that illustrates the evolution of diesel technology from the dark ages to what it has become today. The John Deere slogan, "Nothing Runs Like A Deere," helped create an army of loyal fans in the agriculture industry. We've heard stories of farmers who were buried wearing their John Deere caps. 

The article is titled Making History By Leaving Little Behind. The story outlines the company's continuous development and adoption of new technologies to meet increasingly stringent market demands, most specifically related to emissions regulations and requirements. 

Similar stories could be written about Cummins, Navistar, Caterpillar and others, so in one sense the John Deere story is not entirely unique. On the other hand, the graphics in this story are incredibly enlightening and help show the transformation that the diesel industry has undergone. We encourage you to follow this link and check it out. It shows the remarkable advances all diesel engine manufacturers have achieved when it comes to a cleaner environment, most specifically pertaining to NOx reduction and particulate matter (PM).

The story here is a detailed presentation of the technical hurdles that John Deere worked out to meet ever more stringent emissions standards without sacrificing performance. That last phrase is the second half of the equation that can't be disregarded.

The best way to see the achievements of modern diesel engine builders is to look at the baseline of 1996. These engines used a higher-pressure fuel system, multiple aspirations, 2- or 4-valve cylinder heads, larger displacements, engine callibration and directed top liner cooling to improve oil control. In addition to emissions compliance, the customer experience included improved fuel efficiency, increased power and higher peak torque, among other things. Compared to where the regulators wanted to take things, though, they had a long ways to go.

From 1996 to 1999 the company set about to hit the first set of more stringent targets that were to go into effect in 2000.

What's interesting is how the manufacturers and Federal agencies worked together to achieve these improvements. Reasonable government officials understand that technological development takes time. The industry had four years to comply, not four months or four weeks. Tier Two kicked in in 2001 with its twin objectives of 50% reduction of particulate matter and 20% reduction of Nitrous Oxides.

The next target for NOx was to go into effect in 2006, an additional 40% reduction. 

On top of this the 2011 targets were an additional 90% reduction in PM and 50% in NOx. In addition to optimized engine calibration and a high-pressure fuel system, new advances included series turbochargers, smart exhaust filters, exhaust temperature management (ETM), several technologies to keep things cooler and ultra-low sulphur diesel fuel (ULSD). 

The 2014 target was an addition 80% reduction in NOx. 

These graphics illustrate the remarkable progress that has been achieved over the past 25 years when it comes to improvements in diesel technology. 

Follow the link at the end of this article to see full size.

In each iteration, the objective has been to meet emissions regulations without sacrificing performance. Kudos to the engineers who behind the scenes who have so doggedly dedicated themselves to meet these targets for the benefit of all.

Here is where you can find all the details for each stage.
https://www.deere.com/en/campaigns/engines-and-drivetrain/diesel-engine-technology/

UNOH Now Offering A Diesel Technology Associate Degree

In May an economic report announced that there were more than 8 million unfilled positions in the U.S. job market. Another article I read stated that there were 5 million job openings for people with specialized skills. These were better paying jobs that differed from service sector positions.

These numbers were in my mind as I read a July 5 story about the University of Northwestern Ohio's new Diesel Technology Associate Degree program that will begin this fall. The new program will include classes that students need to become professional Mack and Volvo technicians upon completion of the program. The program is titled Diesel Technology -- Mack/Volvo DATE. DATE is an acronym for Diesel Advanced Technology Education.

What is clear from the announcement of this program is that diesel truck manufacturers recognize that there will be an increased need for diesel technicians for years to come as professional mechanics retire and exit the field. 

This is the third degree program that UNOH offers related to diesel tech. Last year the school initiated a program for medium/heavy duty diesel vehicles, and the another program has as its focus on light duty vehicle and diesel engines.

Mack diesel engines are built to last.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there will be an additional 24,000 job openings for diesel technicians within the coming 8 years. UNOH is dedicated to filling this unmet need for skilled vehicle service technicians within the diesel industry.

The article makes note that students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and a 97% attendance record. But it also points out that "upon completion of the program, students will be prepared for immediate employment at any of the hundreds of Mack and Volvo truck dealerships across North America."

What they especially desire is to see the spark of passion for this industry. Courses will include topics specific to Mack and Volvo engines, including a focus on powertrains, electrical and electronic systems. Students will also learn about chassis components, software and engine diagnosis and repair. The school is hands on so that in addition to theory there is shop time, maintenance training and testing.

Investing in yourself is a decision that yields a lifetime of dividends. 

Key Links

10 Reasons to Become a Diesel Mechanic

UNOH: Turn Your Passion Into A Career

UNOH Launches Third Diesel Technology Associate Degree

The Next Ford F-150: Combining Old-Style Diesel Tech in a Futuristic New Design

As any student of automotive history knows, truly "new" breakthroughs don't just happen. Perhaps they are conceived in an "aha" type of moment but the engineering can take years to work out. All kinds of new engine designs have been conceived during the past century. Most of what we are familiar with are incremental improvements on basic designs. Even these take time to work out the kinks. For this reason many vehicle owners are reluctant to jump right in on the first year of a new engine design.

Needless to say, automakers and engine builders work very hard to minimize the speed bumps. Extensive testing is a given. And it all takes time.

Last month The Drive published a story about a new engine design for the next Ford F-150. The tech article by Caleb Jacobs takes a look at the direction Ford is taking with its most popular truck. The goal here is not just fuel economy but energy efficiency, and to achieve it they are drawing upon an older tech concept: pre-chamber ignition.

We've been reading a lot about pickups getting bigger, stronger and more muscular. What Ford is doing here is moving in the direction of diesel's other strength: efficiency. Jacobs opens by noting that with the dawn of a new EV age, most manufacturers are putting their creative energy in that direction, not in new technologies dependent on oil. What Ford realizes, however, is that the EV revolution is going to take decades till full adoption. The benefits outweigh the risks when you think it through.

At this point I will interject that there was a time when the earth was considered the center of the universe. Copernicus proved otherwise, that we were just a tiny speck in a massive decentralized space. This realization became known as "The Copernican Revolution." That is, the idea the earth was at the center and everything revolved around us was now proven wrong. Funny thing is, this "revolution" took 100 years before it became accepted as widespread knowledge. So it is that transitions take time, and though the EV revolution is more than two decades old, it has only just begun.

Ford has been investing heavily in this new engine design, $10 million over three years. Here's an attempt to describe what they are working on.

Last fall Road and Track did a story on Maserati's new MC20 Supercar that uses pre-chamber ignition. "Pre-chambers are exactly what they sound like: separate chambers inside the cylinder head connected to the main cylinder area. There are two types: active and passive. Active pre-chambers contain a spark plu and fuel injector, and ignite after a lean air-fuel mixture is brought into the cylinder. Normally, this mixture wouldn't have enough fuel to ignite on its own, but the fuel from the pre-chamber is enough to create an optimal air-fuel ratio, and speeding up the combustion process, improving efficiency."

The pre-chamber concept is an old diesel idea that has been used in the racing world as well. The Ford engineers are adding a little twist to the concept, some kind of compressed-air alongside the fuel injector. The objective is "to achieve faster, cooler combustion that burns fuel more completely while also producing fewer NOx emissions."

The real challenge is always in the translation from drawing board to reality. In theory, this will bring us one step closer to the ideal truck of the future, powered by fuel and not batteries, powerful and efficient simultaneously. 

Another surprising feature of the new engine design is that it will be 15% lighter than the current engine, with subsequent improvement in mpg as well. 

Go check out the story here at The Drive. They also have a video there on how the pre-chamber ignition setup works. 

This Road & Track story explains and clarifies Maserati's pre-chamber ignition design.

Diesel Tech Seeking Submissions for Their Special Salute to Our Troops Edition

If you've ever been involved in the car and truck scene in this country, it doesn't take long to see the variety of ways this industry steps up to support our troops. Organizations like Support Our Heroes and The Wounded Warrior Project have done much to raise awareness and to be there for those who have served. Raising awareness is an especially important aspect of all these organizations. Those who have made sacrifices to serve our country ought not be discarded and forgotten. 

This is why Diesel Tech is planning a special "Salute The Troops" issue this summer for its July magazine. 

If you have served in the military, or have friends or family members who do, Diesel Tech wants to share your modified diesel trucks. We're certain that there are some seriously striking trucks out there. If you have something inspiring to share, visit this page to fill out their submission form: 

https://www.dieseltechmag.com/2021/03/2021-salute-the-troops-submissions