Volvo B18 engine
Overview
ManufacturerVolvo
Production
  • 1961–1968 (B18)
  • 1969–1981 (B20)
Layout
ConfigurationNaturally aspirated Inline-4
Displacement
  • 1,778 cc (108.5 cu in) (B18)
  • 1,986 cc (121.2 cu in) (B20)
Cylinder bore
  • 84.14 mm (3.31 in) (B18)
  • 88.9 mm (3.5 in) (B20)
Piston stroke80 mm (3.15 in)
Cylinder block materialCast iron
Cylinder head materialCast iron
ValvetrainOHV
Compression ratio8.5:1 – 10.5:1
Combustion
Fuel system
ManagementBosch D-Jetronic or K-Jetronic
Fuel typeGasoline
Oil systemWet sump
Cooling systemWater cooled
Output
Power output40–225 bhp (29.8–167.8 kW)
Chronology
PredecessorVolvo B4B engine
SuccessorVolvo Redblock Engine

The B18 is a 1.8 L inline four cylinder 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,[1] a 1966 Volvo P1800S, traveled more than 4,890,993 km (3,039,122 mi) on its original B18 engine.[2][3]

B18

Volvo B18 engine

The B18 has a single cam-in-block, operating two overhead valves (OHV) per cylinder by pushrods and rocker arms. The crankshaft rides in five main bearings, making the B18 quite different in design from its predecessor, the three-bearing B16.

With a bore of 84.14 mm (3.31 in) and stroke of 80 mm (3.15 in), the B18 displaces 1,778 cc (108.5 cu in). 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.[4]
  • 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.[5] This cylinder head was used in competition Volvos for several years.[6] On 1 January 2014 the Grainger & Worrall company announced that they had partnered with Axelsson to reproduce the DOHC head for the B18 engine.[7] Power output of the base engine was expected to be 190 bhp (141.7 kW), while a high-output version developing 225 bhp (167.8 kW) would also be available.

B36

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.[8] 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.[9][10]

B20

Volvo B20, rear 3/4 view

With the same stroke as the B18 but a bore enlarged to 88.9 mm (3.5 in), the B20 displaces 1,986 cc (121.2 cu in). The cylinders are on 105 / 108 mm (4.13 / 4.25 in) 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 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 from 1969 to 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

From the 1969 model year Volvo produced a six-cylinder version of this engine called the B30 for the newly released Volvo 164. Adding two extra cylinders with the same dimensions to the B20 produced a 3.0 L (183 cu in) engine.

Engine chart

Volvo B18 and B20 engine specifications[11]
Engine Year Induction Power (SAE) Power (DIN) Torque (SAE) Torque (DIN) Compression
B18A 1962–1964Zenith 36VN75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) at 4500 rpm101 lb⋅ft (137 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm8.5:1
1965–1968[12]ZS 175-CD2-S85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) at 5000 rpm75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) at 4700 rpm108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 2300 rpm8.7:1
B18B 1961–19632 x SU HS6100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5500 rpm108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm9.5:1
1964–1966108 PS (79 kW; 107 hp) at 5800 rpm110 lb⋅ft (149 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm10:1
1967–1968 140[12][13]115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) at 6000 rpm100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5600 rpm112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm
1967–1968 121 122S[13]96 PS (71 kW; 95 hp) at 5600 rpm106.5 lb⋅ft (144 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm
1967–1968 1800S[13]103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) at 5600 rpm108.5 lb⋅ft (147 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm
B18C40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) at 2500 rpm
B18D 1961–19632 x SU HS690 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5000 rpm105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm8.5:1
1964–196695 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) at 5400 rpm107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) at 3800 rpm8.7:1
1967-1968[14]100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5700 rpm90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5500 rpm108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 3200 rpm
B20A 1969–1974[15]ZS 175-CD2-SE90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 4800 rpm82 PS (60 kW; 81 hp) at 4700 rpm119 lb⋅ft (161 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm116 lb⋅ft (157 N⋅m) at 2300 rpm
B20B 1969–19702 x 175-CD2-SE118 PS (87 kW; 116 hp) at 5800 rpm100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5500 rpm123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm9.5:1
1971-1974[15]
  • 2 x SU HIF6
  • 2 x 175-CD2-SE
9.3:1
1972–1974 US2 x SU HIF697 PS (71 kW; 96 hp) at 5800 rpm103 lb⋅ft (140 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm8.7:1
B20D 1969–1971[16]2 x SU HIF6105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) at 5500 rpm90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5300 rpm123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm114 lb⋅ft (155 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm9.3:1
1972[17]110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) at 5500 rpm95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) at 5300 rpm
B20E 1970–1971[16]: 64 Bosch D-Jetronic130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) at 6000 rpm120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) at 6000 rpm130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm10.5:1
1972–1973[18]135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp) at 6000 rpm124 PS (91 kW; 122 hp) at 6000 rpm
1974[15]Bosch K-Jetronic10.2:1
B20F 1972Bosch D-Jetronic107 PS (79 kW; 106 hp) at 6000 rpm113 lb⋅ft (153 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm8.7:1
1973112 PS (82 kW; 110 hp) at 6000 rpm115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm
1974Bosch K-Jetronic109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) at 5500 rpm115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) at 2500 rpm
1975198 PS (72 kW; 97 hp) at 6000 rpm110 lb⋅ft (149 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm
Note:
194 PS (69 kW; 93 hp) and 105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) when equipped with a catalytic converter.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Highest vehicle mileage". www.guinnessworldrecords.com. 14 May 2014.
  2. ↑ Neff, John (26 October 2007). "Man with 2.6 million-mile Volvo P1800 aims for 3 million". www.autoblog.com.
  3. ↑ LaChance, David (July 2007). "Volvo B18". Hemmings Motor News. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. ↑ Gardh, Karl (4 August 1999). "Spaningsradar PS-15 - Historik, Erfarenheter" [Surveillance Radar PS-15 - History, Experiences] (PDF) (in Swedish).
  5. ↑ Charlesworth, Simon (27 January 2014). "Classic Volvo DOHC 16-valve Conversion". www.dep-o.co.uk.
  6. ↑ Tift, Duncan (29 January 2014). "Grainger & Worrall works with Swedish designers on new engines for classic Volvos". www.thebusinessdesk.com.
  7. ↑ "New cylinder head for historic Volvo range…". Grainger & Worrall. 1 Jan 2014. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Dredge, Richard (23 May 2016). Volvo Amazon: The Complete Story. The Crowood Press UK. ISBN 978-1785001048.
  9. ↑ Aamodt, Hans-Petter. "Volvo B 36 V8" (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 12 September 2019.
  10. ↑ Severson, Aaron (2 September 2011). "Sainted Swede: The Volvo P1800 and 1800ES". ateupwithmotor.com.
  11. ↑ "Volvo Engines". The Volvo Owners's Club.
  12. 1 2 Instruktionsbok För Volvo 144 [Volvo 144 Owner's Manual] (PDF) (in Swedish). Aktiebolaget Volvo Göteborg. August 1966. TP 436/1.
  13. 1 2 3 Supplement to Instruction Book — Exhaust Emission Control System (PDF). November 1967.
  14. ↑ Volvo 121/122S (PDF). Gothenburg, Sweden: AB Volvo.
  15. 1 2 3 Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144/145 [Volvo 142/144/145 Owner's Manual] (PDF) (in Swedish). Gothenburg, Sweden: AB Volvo. August 1973. TP1043/1.
  16. 1 2 Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144 [Volvo 142/144 Owner's Manual] (PDF) (in Swedish). Aktiebolaget Volvo Göteborg. September 1970. TP756/1.
  17. ↑ Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144 [Volvo 142/144 Owner's Manual] (PDF) (in Swedish). AB Volvo. August 1971. TP858/1.
  18. ↑ Instruktionsbok Volvo 142/144/145 [Volvo 142/144/145 Owner's Manual] (PDF) (in Swedish). Gothenburg, Sweden: AB Volvo. August 1972. TP961/1.
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