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US diesel $4.049 per gallonWeek ending Aug 17, 2026 · EIA
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Volvo D13

12.8 litre2007 to presentGHG17 (2017)

Volvo's mainstay, and with the I-Shift transmission and the turbo compound option one of the most fuel-efficient drivetrains sold. The integration between engine, gearbox and axle is Volvo's actual product.

Output

375-500 hp

1450-1850 lb-ft peak torque

Fuel per mile

$0.516

at 7.8 mpg and $4.049 a gallon

Fuel a year

$61,896

over 120,000 miles

In-frame overhaul

$21k-$31k

rough, and shop rates move it

In the exhaust

DPF and SCR

The first greenhouse gas phase targets the whole vehicle rather than the engine, so this era is as much about aerodynamics, tyres and axle ratios as combustion. Downspeeding becomes standard: tall gears, low cruise revs.

Known issues

EGR cooler and valve, DEF dosing hardware, and on turbo compound units an extra assembly to go wrong in exchange for the fuel it saves.

Verdict

Buy the whole Volvo drivetrain or buy something else. The engine on its own is fine; the integration is where the economy comes from.