New engine for refreshed DAF LF

By Categories: NewsPublished On: Monday 4 September 2017

Paccar subsidiary DAF has revamped its British-built LF light/medium-weight truck with a new 3.8-litre engine which is says is ideal for light urban distribution applications.

Trucks fitted with the new PX-4 engine (based on the Chinese-built Cummins ISF four-cylinder engine, which is in turn the parent design of the DAF PX-5 4.5-litre engine) are available with outputs of 156 and 172 hp at 7.5-tonnes gross weight and using an Eaton five-speed manual gearbox.

Besides the reduced displacement, the smaller engines are differentiated from the PX-5 by the deletion of the exhaust gas recirculation system, which in turn allows the use of a wastegated turbo in place of a variable-geometry one.

DAF marketing manager Phil Moon explained that these changes minimised the need for active static regeneration of the truck’s particulate filter.

“They are ideal for applications such as urban parcel delivery, where the engine is not running under load for sustained periods, and maintaining working temperatures can be an issue.”

PX-4-engined trucks are designated LF City and are around 60 kg lighter than their PX-5 counterparts.

Existing LF models take advantage of upgrades to the larger PX-5 and PX-7 (6.7-litre six cylinders) engines announced earlier this year, which included maximum torque output increased by five to 12 per cent and available 100 – 200 rpm lower than previously, allowing higher drive-axle ratios, to drop engine speeds by 150 – 200 rpm, cutting fuel consumption by up to a claimed six per cent and reducing cab engine noise.

Externally, the styling of the Renault Trucks sourced cab on the renamed New LF has been revised to bring it closer to the larger CF and XF designs, and there’s now the option of a kerb-view door window to improve visibility of vulnerable road users.

Cab interiors have been refreshed too, and there’s the option of using DAF’s Connect fleet management system.

At gross weights of 8 to 18-tonnes, and with air rear suspension, New LF has the EU-mandated Advanced Emergency Braking System, Forward Collision Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Departure Warning System installed as standard.

New LF is available in wheelbases of up to 6.9 metres (allowing body lengths of over nine metres) and DAF claims the maximum available fuel capacity of 1240 litres is the largest in class.

Various chassis permutations are permissible: for instance, a maximum wheelbase and minimum rear overhang for refuse collection applications.

A fully-automatic Allison transmission is now available even for the highest horsepower 320 PX-7 engine, which will be of appeal to specialist markets including RCVs and roadsweepers. Other powertrain options are from ZF, and include six and nine-speed manual ‘boxes, together with six and 12-speed AS-Tronic transmissions.

DAF is also introducing specific Body Attachment Modules for the easy attachment of bodywork and equipment such as tail lifts, tanks and tippers while continuing with its on-line production and fitment of standard body options at the Leyland Assembly Plant, which builds the LF for home and export markets.