Subaru Diesel....

[PH-SCP]

Found this article on Automotive.......

Subaru develops horizontally opposed Turbo Diesel engine

September 29, 2006 Subaru Europe President Hiroyuki Ikeda dropped an unexpected announcement in his Paris motor show speech when he mentioned that the company was working on a SubaruBoxer Turbo Diesel and that development is nearly complete. The horizontally opposed engine layout made famous by Volkswagen has long been favoured by Subaru and has been the mainstay of its fleet for more than three decades with its latest effort winning first place in the 2.5-liter class of the International Engine of the Year Awards. Though it?s logical that the company would develop the world?s first horizontally opposed diesel engine, there are many technical difficulties to overcome, so it was by no means regarded as a given. Anyway, we have the drawings in high res and we suspect it?ll be a beauty.

The superb rotational balance of the horizontally-opposed engine allows low vibration because the pistons counteract each other to cancel it out. Moreover, with its firmly supported crankshaft, the crankcase construction is strong enough to resist huge combustion pressure. The horizontally-opposed engine?s character is proving an excellent match for a diesel engine.

Ikeda said, ?the adoption of a thin journal for the crankshaft and turbo charger placed under the cylinder block enhances all the advantages of the Boxer Engine, which are a low center of gravity, lowvibration, high rigidity and compactness.?

Ikeda said he anticipated unveiling the Subaru Boxer Turbo Diesel engine next year at Geneva Motor Show.


With all the expertise around, specially in the Eggenfellner-company, I wonder if this could be used in an RV-7....
For the European builder it would be a dream come true......
Anyone with more information about power output etc. ??

[rv6ejguy]

Unless they are going to MMC blocks and heads, this will just be too heavy for RV7 though 9s. Might have some application for RV10s if the long block weight is under 350 lbs. Going to be a few more years before these show up in bone yards. The modern electronics on diesels are extremely complicated and interconnected with chassis electronics to a large degree. A real mess to transpose into an aircraft application unfortunately and make it work properly.

[Mike S]

I wonder what the RPM range is going to be----------

The possibility of a direct drive instead of a PSRU is bouncing around in my poor brain.

Mike

[Pirkka]

Originally Posted by PH-SCP

For the European builder it would be a dream come true......

I bet it will be close to that. However it's real dream come true when it works also inverted. I yet haven't catched diesel for a inverted flying and so far I think that the reason has been inside turbo. But this is a great alternative.

[rv6ejguy]

The direct drive turbo thing is a real possibility with turbo diesels. That will save a good 35 lbs. over a redrive. Add a bit more boost and it might be feasible.

The Clarke brothers have demonstrated the performance of gasoline, direct drive, turbo Sube motors for many years. While there is a weight penalty relative to engine size and power output, the simplicity of the the package without redrive not to mention cost, makes the concept attractive. With the turbo diesel generally having a much lower torque peak rpm than most gasoline engines, operation at some reasonable prop rpm is possible although Reg Clarke is generally operating at about 3500rpm I think so most MT, Hartzell prop would not be useable.

The turbo does not care if it is upside down as they usually have a scavenge pump in aircraft because they are mounted below the oil level.

I'm thinking about the new BMW335ci engine 300hp and 300 ft./lbs. at 1900 rpm. Makes about 160hp at 2800 rpm. That would sound sweet in a long nose RV. Have to mount it inverted to correct the thrust line and dry sump it. Minor problem.

[Tandem46]

[gmcjetpilot]

I am glad to hear Subaru is getting a diesel and a Boxer at that! I might me in the market for that. That might be my next car. When ever looking at cars Subaru is on my look at list. My first nice practical car was a used 1982 Subaru 4 Dr GL I got after Grad from college. I drove that thing for 10-11 years and sorry I traded it in. The Hybrid does not turn me on but the diesel does. Almost as good or better mileage as a Hybrid. VW has always been hit and miss in quality and the Benz big bucks. I can't wait. Wounder if it will sound like a diesel, clack clack clack clack.

(UPDATE: No Cars for 2007 in North America, only Europe. , maybe 2008)

[Dave_Boxall]

Martin Long at Wilksch Airmotive told me that thy would be fitting their 4-cylinder diesel engine with a dry sump "to make it aerobatic".

Dave

[Pirkka]

Originally Posted by Dave_Boxall

Martin Long at Wilksch Airmotive told me that thy would be fitting their 4-cylinder diesel engine with a dry sump "to make it aerobatic".

Thanks for the info. However I think that WAM-160 can be a little too small for aerobatics (especially for RV-7 or 8) as maximum continous power is rated 100 kW. I wouldn't like to play with 5 min max. TO powers.

[210TC]

I have owned an opertated well over 100 peices of diesel equipment and I have found that if you ever run one DRY it is a son-of-gun to restart. Given this problem I would NEVER put a diesel in an airplane until they prove to me it will restart like a gas engine.
I think anyone who runs a plane out of fuel in flight should loose the ticket for a period of time. Yes, I toooo have forgot to switch tanks, the most stupid mistake I have ever made. I was at altitude and nobody but me knew about it. Don't tell anybody that pilots forget to switch tanks....