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Volvo B18 engine
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Volvo B18 engine |
| image | VolvoAmazonEngine.jpg |
| manufacturer | Volvo |
| configuration | Naturally aspirated Inline-4 |
| production | |
| predecessor | Volvo B4B engine |
| successor | Volvo Redblock Engine |
| bore | |
| stroke | 80 mm |
| displacement | |
| block | Cast iron |
| head | Cast iron |
| valvetrain | OHV |
| management | Bosch D-Jetronic or K-Jetronic |
| fuelsystem | |
| fueltype | Gasoline |
| oilsystem | Wet sump |
| coolingsystem | Water cooled |
| power | 40–225 bhp |
| compression | 8.5:1 – 10.5:1 |
The B18 is a 1.8 L inline four cylinder overhead valve automobile engine produced by Volvo from 1961 through 1968. A larger 2.0 L derivative called the B20 debuted in 1969.
Despite being a pushrod design, the engines can rev to 6,500 rpm. They are also reputed to be very durable. The world's highest mileage car, a 1966 Volvo P1800S, traveled more than 3039122 mi on its original B18 engine.
B18
The B18 is a 1.8 L overhead valve (OHV) engine with two valves per cylinder. It has five main bearings, two more than the B16.
With a bore of 84.14 mm and stroke of 80 mm, the B18 displaces 1778 cc. The cylinders are on 105 / split bore centers, where the spacing between cylinders 2 and 3 is wider than that between cylinders 1 and 2 or 3 and 4. The engine was used in Volvo's PV544, P210 Duett, 120 (Amazon), P1800 and 140 series. It could also be found in the L3314 and the Bandvagn 202 military vehicles. The B18 was fitted to many Volvo Penta sterndrive marine propulsion systems. It was also used in the Facel Vega Facel III and the Marcos 1800 GT.
There are four variations of this engine:
- B18A: Single carburettor version.
- B18B: Dual carburettor version with a higher compression ratio, fitted variously with dual sidedraft SU or Zenith/Stromberg carburettors.
- B18C: Single carburettor version with a lower compression ratio and mechanical RPM regulator, fitted in the gasoline powered versions of the Volvo BM 320 tractor. This version was also used for the elevator in the PS-15 radar system.
- B18D Dual carburettor version with a lower compression ratio.
DOHC
In 1971 Swedish engineer Gunnar Axelsson developed a DOHC cylinder head for the B18 engine family. This cylinder head was used in competition Volvos for several years. On 1 January 2014 the Grainger & Worrall company announced that they had partnered with Axelsson to reproduce the DOHC head for the B18 engine. Power output of the base engine was expected to be 190 bhp, while a high-output version developing 225 bhp would also be available.
B36
Main article: Volvo B36 engine
In 1952 Volvo unveiled the Volvo Philip concept car powered by a 3.6 litre V8 engine that would later be called the B36. The V8 engine had exactly the same bore and stroke dimensions as the four-cylinder B18, leading some to suggest that the B18 is one-half of the V8. Significant differences between the two engines included the fact that while the V8 engine has crossflow cylinder heads, the four cylinder has a reverse-flow cylinder head. This suggests that the engines are for the most part separate designs.
B20
The 2-litre B20 is a bored-out B18 introduced in 1969, with its bore diameter enlarged to 88.9 mm and a displacement of 1986 cc. The design is virtually identical to the earlier B18, thus most parts are functionally interchangeable, albeit with running changes to the manufacture and design of components. The B20 engine was used in the Volvo 120, 1800, 140, C202 and 240 series, and also in the Bofors Haubits FH77 howitzer. A modified version was used in the one-off 1969 Volvo GTZ concept car. The B20 was produced until 1981.
There are five variations of this engine:
- B20A: Single carburettor version. First produced in 1969.
- B20B: Dual carburettor version with a higher compression ratio. First produced in 1969.
- B20D: Dual carburettor version with a lower compression ratio. First produced in 1971.
- B20E: Fuel injection version with a high compression ratio. First produced in 1970.
- B20F: Fuel injection version with low compression ratio. First produced in 1972 for lower emissions.
The B20E and B20F versions featured larger valves, and intake/exhaust ports and for 1974–1975 switched from electronic D-Jetronic to mechanical K-Jetronic injection.
In 1974 the number of bolts holding the flywheel increased from 6 to 8 and the size of the connecting rods was increased.
The B20A was revived for use in the C202 from 1977 to 1981.
B30
Main article: Volvo B30 engine
The 3.0 L six-cylinder B30 is a B20 with two additional cylinders, introduced for the 1969 model for the newly released Volvo 164.
Engine chart
| Engine | Year | Induction | Power (SAE) | Power (DIN) | Torque (SAE) | Torque (DIN) | Compression |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B18A | 1962–1964 | Zenith 36VN | 75 PS at 4500 rpm | 68 PS at 4500 rpm | 101 lbft at 2800 rpm | 13.5 kpm at 2600 rpm | 8.5:1 |
| 1965–1968 | ZS 175-CD2-S | 85 PS at 5000 rpm | 75 PS at 4700 rpm | 108 lbft at 3000 rpm | 105 lbft at 2300 rpm | 8.7:1 | |
| B18B | 1961–1963 | 2 x SU HS6 | 100 PS at 5500 rpm | 108 lbft at 4000 rpm | 9.5:1 | ||
| 1964–1966 | 108 PS at 5800 rpm | 110 lbft at 4000 rpm | 10:1 | ||||
| 1967–1968 140 | 115 PS at 6000 rpm | 100 PS at 5600 rpm | 112 lbft at 4000 rpm | 107 lbft at 3500 rpm | |||
| 1967–1968 121 122S | 96 PS at 5600 rpm | 106.5 lbft at 3500 rpm | |||||
| 1967–1968 1800S | 103 PS at 5600 rpm | 108.5 lbft at 3500 rpm | |||||
| B18C | 40 PS at 2500 rpm | ||||||
| B18D | 1961–1963 | 2 x SU HS6 | 90 PS at 5000 rpm | 105 lbft at 3500 rpm | 8.5:1 | ||
| 1964–1966 | 95 PS at 5400 rpm | 107 lbft at 3800 rpm | 8.7:1 | ||||
| 1967-1968 | 100 PS at 5700 rpm | 90 PS at 5500 rpm | 108 lbft at 3500 rpm | 105 lbft at 3200 rpm | |||
| B20A | 1969–1974 | ZS 175-CD2-SE | 90 PS at 4800 rpm | 82 PS at 4700 rpm | 119 lbft at 3000 rpm | 116 lbft at 2300 rpm | |
| B20B | 1969–1970 | 2 x 175-CD2-SE | 118 PS at 5800 rpm | 100 PS at 5500 rpm | 123 lbft at 3500 rpm | 112 lbft at 3500 rpm | 9.5:1 |
| 1971-1974 | 9.3:1 | ||||||
| 1972–1974 US | 2 x SU HIF6 | 97 PS at 5800 rpm | 103 lbft at 3500 rpm | 8.7:1 | |||
| B20D | 1969–1971 | 2 x SU HIF6 | 105 PS at 5500 rpm | 90 PS at 5300 rpm | 123 lbft at 3000 rpm | 114 lbft at 2800 rpm | 9.3:1 |
| 1972 | 110 PS at 5500 rpm | 95 PS at 5300 rpm | |||||
| B20E | 64}} | Bosch D-Jetronic | 130 PS at 6000 rpm | 120 PS at 6000 rpm | 130 lbft at 3500 rpm | 123 lbft at 3500 rpm | 10.5:1 |
| 1972–1973 | 135 PS at 6000 rpm | 124 PS at 6000 rpm | |||||
| 1974 | Bosch K-Jetronic | 10.2:1 | |||||
| B20F | 1972 | Bosch D-Jetronic | 107 PS at 6000 rpm | 113 lbft at 3500 rpm | 8.7:1 | ||
| 1973 | 112 PS at 6000 rpm | 115 lbft at 3500 rpm | |||||
| 1974 | Bosch K-Jetronic | 109 PS at 5500 rpm | 115 lbft at 2500 rpm | ||||
| 19751 | 98 PS at 6000 rpm | 110 lbft at 3500 rpm | |||||
| Note: | |||||||
| 194 PS and 105 lbft when equipped with a catalytic converter. |
References
References
- . (). "Werkstatthandbuch, Abt. 1, Motor B 18 A". *Volvo Service*.
- (14 May 2014). "Highest vehicle mileage".
- Neff, John. (26 October 2007). "Man with 2.6 million-mile Volvo P1800 aims for 3 million".
- LaChance, David. (July 2007). "Volvo B18".
- Gardh, Karl. (4 August 1999). "Spaningsradar PS-15 - Historik, Erfarenheter".
- Charlesworth, Simon. (27 January 2014). "Classic Volvo DOHC 16-valve Conversion".
- Tift, Duncan. (29 January 2014). "Grainger & Worrall works with Swedish designers on new engines for classic Volvos".
- (1 Jan 2014). "New cylinder head for historic Volvo range…". Grainger & Worrall.
- Dredge, Richard. (23 May 2016). "Volvo Amazon: The Complete Story". The Crowood Press UK.
- Aamodt, Hans-Petter. "Volvo B 36 V8".
- Severson, Aaron. (2 September 2011). "Sainted Swede: The Volvo P1800 and 1800ES".
- . ["Volvo Engines"](https://www.volvoclub.org.uk/history/engines/volvo_engines.shtml).
- . (August 1966). ["Instruktionsbok För Volvo 144"](https://www.240.se/litteratur/tp436.pdf). *Aktiebolaget Volvo Göteborg*.
- . (November 1967). ["Supplement to Instruction Book — Exhaust Emission Control System"](https://volvo1800pictures.com/document/supplement/emission_control.pdf).
- . ["Volvo 121/122S"](https://www.volvoamazonpictures.se/documents/handbooks/OwnersHandbook%20(121-122S)%201966.pdf). *AB Volvo*.
- . (August 1973). ["Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144/145"](https://www.240.se/litteratur/tp1043.pdf). *AB Volvo*.
- . (September 1970). ["Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144"](https://www.240.se/litteratur/tp756.pdf). *Aktiebolaget Volvo Göteborg*.
- . (August 1971). ["Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144"](https://www.240.se/litteratur/tp858.pdf). *AB Volvo*.
- . (August 1972). ["Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144/145"](https://www.240.se/litteratur/tp1043.pdf). *AB Volvo*.
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