The engine, maintenance and fuel costs to comply with EPA’s 2007 diesel emission standard are becoming clearer, Fleet Owner reports. Truck manufacturers, engine makers and suppliers outlined these costs this week at the annual Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) meeting in Alexandria, Va. Engine Costs International announced late last year it expected a bump in sticker prices for 2007 engines of $5,000 to $6,000 for medium-trucks; Class 8 and vocational trucks could go up $7,000 to $10,000 per unit. A spokesman for engine maker Detroit Diesel Corp. said last month the average Class 8 vehicle’s price would go up by $6,638, along with additional yearly maintenance costs of $367. Volvo Trucks North America said prices for its trucks would rise $7,500. Volvo’s sister company, Mack Trucks, said sticker prices for Mack’s highway products are going to rise by $7,000. New engine oil New engine oil is also going to be required for 2007 engines, called CJ-4, though pricing still isn’t set. Dan Arcy, technical expert for Shell, stressed that while CJ-4 oil is going to be more costly than today’s CI-4 and CI-4 Plus blends, prices aren’t going to double. Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) will have a sulfur content of 15 parts per million (ppm) compared to today’s 500 ppm fuel. It is expected to cost from five to 13 cents more per gallon, and is mandated to replace today’s higher sulfur diesel by Oct. 15 in retail outlets. Diesel Particulate Filters The new diesel particulate filters (DPF) needed to trap the soot will need cleaning. Exchanging a dirty DPF for a clean one could cost between $300 to $500 per transaction. However, those filters will only need to be cleaned somewhere between 200,000 and 400,000, Bill Stahl, director of OEM sales for Cummins, told Fleet Owner. Some won’t need the filter cleaned at all for the period that they own the truck.
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