Daimler's new diesel: The OM 654

When the diesel shed its lethargic power development at the end of the 90s, thanks to direct injection and the variable turbocharger vanes, the economical Mr. Reliability turned into a driving pleasure engine. Torque, efficiency and revving, a modern diesel has been the first choice in recent years. Until "#Dieselgate".

The right engine, at the wrong time?

OM654 - The high-tech diesel with the Formula 1 genes

You don't develop a new engine overnight. The case of fraud at the competition, for the engine developers at Mercedes-Benz, is no reason to celebrate. Because the new all-purpose weapon in the Mercedes engine shelf ignites again. Because this is the only way to achieve maximum efficiency. Beyond a PHEV strategy. But up to the diesel gate from Volkswagen, the expensive topic of hybridization was subordinate to the topic of diesel drive. That is changing. Throughout the industry. E-drives and PHEV, the future belongs to them. But until then, it will be engines such as the OM 654 that will bring the EU's CO2 hurdles in fleet consumption within reach. But Mercedes-Benz is not stingy with technology for the new engine!

OM 654 - the F1 diesel

The new OM 654 diesel engine in the new E-Class W213. As the E220d, it will not accelerate the pulse beat of F1 pilots. This is the new fleet engine, for diesel drivers with ambitions and generations of company car drivers. E220d sounds modest, but with 195 HP and 400 Nm the engine makes it clear: Despite all modesty, it is a friend of performance. But the bridge to Formula 1 is a completely different technology.

Nano Slide 

The coating of the cylinder inner surfaces originates from the F1 engine construction. Minimizing friction also increases efficiency there. However, in the new OM 654, NANOSLIDE coating was also necessary because it was the first time that a full aluminum engine was combined with steel pistons.

The new all-aluminum engine has become 46 kilograms lighter than its predecessor. This was also helped by the reduction in displacement (from 2.1l to 2.0) and the new single-stage, two-stage supercharging.

At the same time, the further increase in peak pressure (gas pressure) in the combustion chamber and the switch to a combustion process within the troughs of the new piston require steel as material. Less heat-sensitive than aluminum and more compatible with high pressures, the OM 654 combines for the first time a full-aluminum engine block and head with steel pistons. The new combustion chamber design together with the steel pistons, the Nano Slide coating and the deliberately accepted friction reduction due to the different thermal expansion of the materials used already results in a consumption and emission advantage of about 4% for the new engine over its predecessor.

More power, more efficiency, less consumption

It sounds like magic, but it's the simple result of research and development. Magic for many because you simply cannot see anything that is so crucial for the efficiency of an engine. The burn. In the case of the OM654 it is “self-igniting”.

80% less NOx, 13% less CO2, 17% lighter engine - but 18 kW more power. 

It was a clear development goal that the new OM 654 should be one of the cleaners among the self-igniters thanks to its architecture with the exhaust gas cleaning systems located close to the engine and the SCR process for after-treatment.

The new 220d celebrates its debut in the new E-Class, but it's just the first member of a new family. More cylinders? Will come. A new 6 cylinder diesel engine is just as much a part of the family as new high-performance engines. Even if it sounds absurd, but just under 200 horsepower from a two-liter diesel engine are not yet the limit. However, you will also expand the engine family down. Logical step? The 200d.

Formula 1 technology in a taxi - kind of cool - and he still nails like his great-grandpa. And even if Volkswagen has completely screwed up the diesel issue, progress currently needs diesel and combustion engines in addition to electric motors. We cannot yet do without it completely.

And for the technology fans, the details of the new 220d

The data of the new engine compared to its predecessor: