MAN Engines is now equipping Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG’s PistenBully 800 with its MAN D3876 engine. The basis for the delivery of the six-cylinder in-line engine was the development and adaptation of the MAN D3876 to the extreme working environment of the new high-performance snow plow from Laupheim.
In addition to the MAN D4276 on the same platform, the MAN D3876 is the most powerful inline six-cylinder engine in the portfolio of engine manufacturer MAN Engines. With a cylinder capacity of 15.3 liters, the engine of the PistenBully 800 offers 2,900 N·m of torque and 612 hp (450 kW). As a result, the currently most powerful PistenBully in the series portfolio gets a unique push for slope preparation.
One of the decisive factors for this performance is the VTG turbocharger, which optimizes the dynamic response in the specific off-road speed ranges thanks to its Variable Turbine Geometry (VTG).
In addition, this technology shows maximum power and torque over a wide speed range. Especially on steep slopes and changing terrain, this means constant thrust performance. In order to ensure cold start behavior even at temperatures as low as -30° Celsius, the combustion behavior was also modified when starting the engine.
For high-altitude work, on the other hand, MAN engineers had to redesign the behavior of the charge air components in the thinner air at high altitude. In addition, the off-road engine specialists at MAN Engines optimized the MAN D3876’s oil sump and oil pump. Unlike the road version, this allows tilt angles of up to 45° on all sides.
All D3876 engines are equipped with a common rail injection system that operates at an injection pressure of 2,500 bar. This makes the system one of the systems with the highest pressures on the market and guarantees optimal fuel atomization quality. As a result, significant savings in fuel consumption can be achieved.
Our development goal has always been to achieve the best fuel consumption. This saves operator costs and also reduces CO2 engine emissions.
—Werner Kübler, head of MAN engine engineering
Specifically, the MAN D3876 in the PistenBully 800 offers a third more thrust than all snowplows currently available on the market. At the same time, it saves up to 9% fuel per cubic meter of snow moved and emits less CO.2.
Equipped with the latest exhaust technologies, the MAN D3876 complies with today’s strict EU Stage V emissions regulations. In addition, the engine is approved to run on HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) – also known as regenerative diesel – according to the EN15940 standard. Regenerative diesel guarantees clean combustion with up to 90% less greenhouse gas emissions (CO2) in exhaust gases compared to conventional diesel.
To be able to do without CO completely2 exhaust emissions in the future, MAN Engines already has concepts for a pure hydrogen combustion engine for off-road applications. This one, called the MAN H4576, is based on the basic engine of the MAN D3876 and uses the same installation dimensions, so it can replace the diesel engine of the PistenBully 800 in due course.
The MAN D3876 was introduced in 2014 as a completely new and independent engine series from MAN Truck & Bus. This 15.3L six-cylinder in-line engine has replaced the previous 16.2L MAN D2868 V8 engine in commercial vehicles and off-road applications.
While the basic engine and injection equipment are identical for both on-road and off-road applications, the specific characteristics of on-road and off-road are essentially represented by different concepts in turbocharging, combustion and electronics, as well as in the complements. on components and exhaust gas aftertreatment.
The product range of Kässbohrer Geländefahrzeug AG includes the PistenBully family for the maintenance of cross-country ski tracks and slopes with SNOWsat as a digital piste and fleet management system. In addition, the PRO ACADEMY offers training and advice for efficient and cost-effective slope management. In addition, the portfolio includes the BeachTech brands for beach cleaning and PowerBully for rough terrain work and transport operations.
