The JCB Dieselmax Engine: The tech and design behind the innovation
The JCB Dieselmax engine is still one of the most impressive feats of diesel engineering to date – and remains the fastest diesel-powered vehicle ever built at 350mph. The record attempt was the launchpad for the new JCB Dieselmax 444 engine, showing the world what JCB is capable of. Never before had anyone taken an engine that was built to power Backhoes and Loadalls, and engineered it to world-speed record standards.
The innovation took 21 months of endless commitment from a specially created ‘Project H1’ team. The JCB team were working 15-18 hour days in the run up due to the complexity of the project – and ran the car 57 times to get the engine absolutely perfect. Let’s uncover the design and the engineering of the JCB diesel engine.
The Design
The record-breaking engine was based on the JCB Dieselmax 444 engine, which is a 4.4litre, 4-cylinder diesel power unit. JCB typically use it in construction and agricultural machinery, but this project required a new design take.
The JCB Dieselmax engine was a purpose-built 9.1 meter-long streamliner, underpinned by innovative engineering. Designed for land speed efficiency, JCB used a lightweight, narrow streamliner with a steel spaceframe and carbon composite panels – bringing the total weight of the vehicle to only 2.7 tonnes.
The Engineering
It took a team of 35 JCB engineers, manufacturers and vehicle specialists to engineer the Dieselmax engine. They came up with a solution to push the diesel engine built to power Backhoes and Loadalls to its limit – to power the vehicle with two highly modified JCB 444 engines. Each of these engines produces 750 horsepower, for a combined output of 1,500hp. It uses all-wheel drive, with the front engine powering the front wheels and the rear engine powering the rear wheels.
The Evolution of JCB Diesel Engines
Since JCB’s record-breaking engineering in 2006, JCB diesel engines have been taken to new heights. The development of the JCB Dieselmax engine range shows JCB’s commitment to innovation and quality. Focusing on core customer requirements and increasing efficiency has resulted in best-in-class JCB engines for mid-range off-highway equipment.
JCB’s pushed diesel to its limits, with machines that now emit 50% less CO2 compared with those manufactured in 2010. In October 2022, the latest engine development, the EU Stage V JCB 430 Dieselmax was awarded Engine of the Year in the under 175hp category at the Diesel Progress Summit.
Base engines, like the JCB Dieselmax 448, give you class-leading reliability, long service intervals, high efficiency, and excellent fuel economy. JCB’s also got heavy duty engines, like the JCB Dieselmax 672, offering increased power and high torque.
We can’t wait to see where our engineering goes next – watch this space.
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