Volvo Trucks has produced various engines since the late 1920s. In the 2010s, the company also began using engines developed by German motor manufacturer Deutz AG. Volvo was among the first to use turbodiesel engines in commercially successful trucks.
The Volvo B36 is a four-stroke, cast-iron, 90-degree petrol V8 engine introduced in 1952. It produces 120â¯PS (88â¯kW) at 4,000â¯rpm and of torque at 2,200â¯rpm. The engine has a displacement of 3.56 liters and weighs 235â¯kg (518â¯lb). A two-port Carter carburetor and intake are positioned between the cylinder banks. The crossflow cylinder heads are made from a cast iron alloy, and the five-bearing camshaft is constructed from a case-hardened steel alloy. Although the engine is often described as a twinned Volvo B18 four-cylinder, only some components of the valve train are interchangeable between the two engines.
The B36 engine was utilized in the Volvo L420 Snabbe truck, among other vehicles. It was originally developed for a planned luxury automobile named Volvo Philip in the early 1950s. Following the cancellation of the Volvo Philip project, the engine was installed in a truck instead. Due to high fuel consumption, diesel engines soon became available in this range of trucks. The B36 was discontinued in 1973, although it was no longer used in trucks after 1966. It was the last petrol truck engine built by Volvo and the only V8 engine used in any vehicle, except for the newer Yamaha-built units used in the Volvo XC90 and S80.
A marine version, the Volvo Penta AQ180, was available, featuring 180â¯hp with twin carburetors.
Volvo originally lacked the resources to develop its own diesel engines. To address this, Volvo began using the 3,610â¯cc 4D "Dorset" OHV diesel inline-four engine built by Ford for their Fordson Major tractor in 1963. This engine, known as the D36, produced 65â¯PS (48â¯kW). It was installed in the Volvo 425 (Snabbe) and 435 (Trygge) models until 1966, when it was replaced by a more powerful Perkins unit.
In late 1966, Volvo began using a 3,865â¯cc OHV diesel inline-four engine from Perkins (Perkins 4.236) in the F82 and F83 models, renamed versions of the "Snabbe" and "Trygge." This engine, labeled D39 by Volvo, produces . It was eventually replaced by Volvo's own range of diesel engines.
The Volvo D13 engine features 14 different power ratings, ranging from 375 to 515 horsepower (export configuration). A new variable geometry turbocharger enhances throttle response while improving fuel economy. In North America, Volvo offers two XE integrated drivetrain ratings, as well as six Eco-Torque and three Dual-Torque ratings, allowing customers to match engine performance to specific application requirements.