Power Solutions International, Inc. (PSI) has introduced a newly designed and tooled 8.8-Liter engine, capable of operating with natural gas. Designed, tooled and manufactured in the U.S., it offers industrial, bus and truck Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) a fully-integrated drop-in solution that provides power performance with maximum fuel efficiency, emissions certification and fuel flexibility. PSI will unveil this new product at the RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky on November 29th, 2011 and at Power Gen International in Las Vegas on December 13th, 2011.
The new 8.8-Liter engine will suit a wide range of applications, including school buses, waste-hauling trucks and light-duty delivery truck uses. PSI will also be integrating the new system with existing industrial customers.
“On-road markets have been actively seeking medium-duty engine replacements as existing big block inventories have wound down,” said Dan Grohoski, Director of New Business Development for PSI. “Most current offerings are compromises or partial fixes. PSI now offers them a total integrated solution–no compromises–with the new 8.8-Liter engine.”
PSI’s 8.8-Liter engine’s fully retooled design offers several enhancements to the traditional big block that result in across-the-board improvements in power, torque, efficiency and emissions control. “Our design intent for this engine was to advance big block design in the areas of fuel efficiency and emissions reduction–without compromising power. And we have. In fact, we’ve increased power and torque by 20% over previous blocks across all applications,” said Don Wilkins, Vice President of Advanced Product Development for PSI.
The engine’s intake manifold incorporates a tuned, long-runner that specifically targets engine efficiency, providing higher torque. A special air gap design prevents the engine block from heating the intake manifold by keeping the air cooler. This moves more dense air into the engine to improve efficiency. In addition, high-flow, fast-burn cylinder heads move air through the engine more efficiently and ensure a full burn to reduce emissions.
PSI designed the 8.8-Liter engine with a significantly stronger crankcase and a forged and nitrided steel crankshaft. The resulting block is capable of over 1,000 ft-lb of torque. “We have advanced the big block engine into new territory by designing in the robustness of a medium-duty engine,” said Wilkins. “This heavier-duty, more durable design will provide customers with a long-lasting engine that avoids catastrophic failure and will be easier to rebuild.”
(This article compiled using information from a Power Solutions International, Inc. press release)
