What Lies Beneath: the Importance of Integration Under the Hood

Because both the engine and exhaust system components on a machine using cooled exhaust gas recirculation have to work together to meet U.S. EPA Interim Tier 4 (IT4) emissions regulations, it’s critical that all aspects of the engine and exhaust system are integrated at the earliest stages of machine design.

Proper integration in an IT4 machine maintains performance, visibility and safety – while eliminating the need to seek service from multiple sources.

In today’s environment, customers should depend on one qualified source for all machine service throughout its life. This single-source service is most often extended through manufacturers like John Deere that utilize internal remanufacturing and remarketing services to handle exhaust filter cleaning and resale of low-tier machines. Uptime and operating costs can suffer if multiple service points are required for the engine and exhaust systems.

Service is only part of the equation. Now, equipment has to be precisely configured to allow for the proper placement, cooling and operation of both the engine and its exhaust filter.

The temperatures needed for the exhaust filter to automatically clean itself are dependent on machine control, idle time and parasitic energy sources. More complex interaction between engine and machine will intensify as construction equipment moves toward electrification.

When buying new equipment, ask the dealer if the integration between engine and machine took place during the design and engineering process. Make sure the manufacturer has trained dealers who can be your trusted partner, capable of handling product support for the whole machine, including parts, service and diagnostics.