After the introduction of four-valve technology for gasoline powered passenger cars, Mercedes-Benz consistently developed this technology also for Diesel engines.
Based on the proven success of the prechamber combustion system, this new Diesel engine generation, which includes 4, 5 and 6-cylinder naturally-aspirated engines, will be the first four-valve Diesel engines to be installed in passenger cars.
The naturally aspirated 3.0 liter 6-cylinder in-line engine which represents the high end of this generation will be offered for sale in all 50 states of the USA in the Executive Class models starting on January 1, 1994.
Four-valve technology allows the prechamber to be located centrally between the intake and exhaust valves which results in a major improvement of the combustion process.
In addition, this 6-cylinder engine has a resonance intake system controlled by two butterfly valves to maximize the volumetric efficiency of the engine. With this resonance intake system and four-valve technology the engine torque is higher at all speeds and full-load fuel consumption is decreased simultaneously. The high full-load torque together with the considerable increase in maximum engine speed deliver the driving characteristics of a typical good performance gasoline passenger car.
The exhaust emissions of the engine are significantly reduced by the central location of the prechamber, the precisely adapted exhaust gas recirculation and the new oxidation catalyst.
This engine in combination with the new California certification Diesel fuel is, as far as information is available, the first Diesel engine which will meet the 0.08 gram per mile particulate matter emission standard without trap oxidizer.
