According to the 980K Specalog the Lockup Torque Converter is an option. I'd see a need for it in load & carry operations but not for much else.I guess that they will soon com the Europe then! Is the lock-up torque converter standard or optional?
Completely agree regarding the fuel savings in a load & carry operation. However the problem with lockup torque converters on wheel loaders in my personal experience is that the freewheel stator mechanism that is necessary for the lockup to function is, shall we say, less than 100% reliable. I'd estimate more than 50% of TC failures I've seen were the one-way clutch that fixes the freewheel stator in position. In fact the 994 loader had a lockup clutch and freewheel stator as standard up to the F coming out, at which time it was removed and replaced with a fixed stator along with extra cooling to handle the higher heat rejection.You´re right about that Nige, it is for load & carry and you do save a lot of fuel with a lock up torque converter.
There are at least two different ways of meeting the tier 4i and stage 3B regulations. One is to fine tune the engine so that the level of soot out from the engine is low but then the level of NOx is higher so then you need to add DEF fluid which brings down the NOx. The second way is to bring down the NOx in the combustion chamber but then the level of soot out of the engine is to high so you need to add a DPF and perhaps a DOC depending on if you are using passive or active regeneration. I believe that the reason for some of the manufacturers to choose the DPF solution is that it might be difficult to buy DEF fluid in some countries, the DEF fluid tanks must be heated since the liquid crystallizes below 11 degres C and it is also very agressive to metal. It is an extra cost for the machine owner to buy the DEF liquid.
On the other hand, the DPF filter needs to be replaced after a while so that is also an extra cost for the machine owner.
I think it will be interresting to se what will happend in january first 2014, by then probably all manufacturers will have to use both DEF fluid and DPF to meet the regulations.