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Isuzu is an automotive manufacturer that is very well known in making diesel engines reliable, resilient and pocketing slick fuel efficiency. Behind it all, there is also a common-rail system that supports it. Now, when Isuzu created the Electrick Control Unit (ECU) software for the new common-rail diesel (CRD), the manufacturer took many things into account in order to achieve a perfect balance between power and reliability of an engine. Then what is it like?

"Isuzu engines are engineered to produce enough (not excessive) torque and kick so that engine pressure is not too high. The aim is to reduce engine wear and increase component life. Reliability is determined by creating an optimal fuel / air mixture and ensuring that heat produced by the combustion process is constant and also sprayed uniformly, "said Iwao Sasaki, Chief Engineer of Isuzu Motors Limited's PT Product Planning & Engineering Dept.

The engine design effort undertaken by Isuzu is aimed at producing maximum torque at low engine speeds - under 2,000 rpm - because at that speed, the most economical fuel consumption and engine response characteristics are considered positive, which has good pulling power.

The development of diesel engines for Isuzu is a constant evolution. Take the latest example of a 4JJ1 diesel engine, which drives the Isuzu D-MAX and MU-X. An embedded mechanical heart was rigorously tested four million kilometers away! Isuzu works tirelessly to further improve its diesel engine. The concoction is done to produce higher output and durability, while maintaining the leading thermal efficiency in the 3-liter diesel engine class. At the same time, the company is pouring its energy into a clean diesel engine R&D process with the aim of reducing particulate (PM) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

But beyond that, fuel contamination is one of the biggest enemies of the common-rail engine. Then the use of poor quality fuel will also have a negative effect on the CRD fuel system. Fuel filters and water separators cannot remove all traces of water, especially the mixture of fuel and water becomes emulsified.

In facing these challenges, Isuzu already has the answer when building the engine to be strong against such damage. "First, we adopted the best fuel filter, which has a filtration efficiency to separate water. Secondly, we installed a filter that is packaged with a water level sensor based alarm system. In addition, the fuel injector is also arranged with a special coating, which protects against substances stranger, "Sasaki concluded.