title: Volvo B18 engine
text: # Volvo B18 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, a 1966 Volvo P1800S, traveled more than 4,890,993 km (3,039,122 mi) on its original B18 engine.
  
  ## B18
  
  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.
  * 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. This cylinder head was used in competition Volvos for several years. On 1 January 2014 the Grainger & Worrall company announced that they had partnered with Axelsson to reproduce the DOHC head for the B18 engine. 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. 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.
  
  ## B20
  
  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 :
  
  | Engine | Year | Induction | Power (SAE) | Power (DIN) | Torque (SAE) | Torque (DIN) | Compression |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | B18A | 1962–1964 | Zenith 36VN | 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) at 4500 rpm | | 101 lb⋅ft (137 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm | | 8.5:1 |
  | B18A | 1965–1968 | ZS 175-CD2-S | 85 PS (63 kW; 84 hp) at 5000 rpm | 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) at 4700 rpm | 108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm | 105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 2300 rpm | 8.7:1 |
  | B18B | 1961–1963 | 2 x SU HS6 | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5500 rpm | | 108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | | 9.5:1 |
  | B18B | 1964–1966 | 2 x SU HS6 | 108 PS (79 kW; 107 hp) at 5800 rpm | | 110 lb⋅ft (149 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | | 10:1 |
  | B18B | 1967–1968 140 | 2 x SU HS6 | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) at 6000 rpm | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5600 rpm | 112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | 107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10:1 |
  | B18B | 1967–1968 121 122S | 2 x SU HS6 | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) at 6000 rpm | 96 PS (71 kW; 95 hp) at 5600 rpm | 112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | 106.5 lb⋅ft (144 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10:1 |
  | B18B | 1967–1968 1800S | 2 x SU HS6 | 115 PS (85 kW; 113 hp) at 6000 rpm | 103 PS (76 kW; 102 hp) at 5600 rpm | 112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 4000 rpm | 108.5 lb⋅ft (147 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10:1 |
  | B18C | | | 40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) at 2500 rpm | | | | |
  | B18D | 1961–1963 | 2 x SU HS6 | 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5000 rpm | | 105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | | 8.5:1 |
  | B18D | 1964–1966 | 2 x SU HS6 | 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) at 5400 rpm | | 107 lb⋅ft (145 N⋅m) at 3800 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | B18D | 1967-1968 | 2 x SU HS6 | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5700 rpm | 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5500 rpm | 108 lb⋅ft (146 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) at 3200 rpm | 8.7:1 |
  | B20A | 1969–1974 | ZS 175-CD2-SE | 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 4800 rpm | 82 PS (60 kW; 81 hp) at 4700 rpm | 119 lb⋅ft (161 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm | 116 lb⋅ft (157 N⋅m) at 2300 rpm | 8.7:1 |
  | B20B | 1969–1970 | 2 x 175-CD2-SE | 118 PS (87 kW; 116 hp) at 5800 rpm | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5500 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 9.5:1 |
  | B20B | 1971-1974 | 2 x SU HIF62 x 175-CD2-SE | 118 PS (87 kW; 116 hp) at 5800 rpm | 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) at 5500 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 112 lb⋅ft (152 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 9.3:1 |
  | B20B | 1972–1974 US | 2 x SU HIF6 | 97 PS (71 kW; 96 hp) at 5800 rpm | | 103 lb⋅ft (140 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | B20D | 1969–1971 | 2 x SU HIF6 | 105 PS (77 kW; 104 hp) at 5500 rpm | 90 PS (66 kW; 89 hp) at 5300 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm | 114 lb⋅ft (155 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm | 9.3:1 |
  | B20D | 1972 | 2 x SU HIF6 | 110 PS (81 kW; 108 hp) at 5500 rpm | 95 PS (70 kW; 94 hp) at 5300 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3000 rpm | 114 lb⋅ft (155 N⋅m) at 2800 rpm | 9.3:1 |
  | B20E | $1970–1971^{:64}$ | Bosch D-Jetronic | 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp) at 6000 rpm | 120 PS (88 kW; 118 hp) at 6000 rpm | 130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10.5:1 |
  | B20E | 1972–1973 | Bosch D-Jetronic | 135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp) at 6000 rpm | 124 PS (91 kW; 122 hp) at 6000 rpm | 130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10.5:1 |
  | B20E | 1974 | Bosch K-Jetronic | 135 PS (99 kW; 133 hp) at 6000 rpm | 124 PS (91 kW; 122 hp) at 6000 rpm | 130 lb⋅ft (176 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 123 lb⋅ft (167 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | 10.2:1 |
  | B20F | 1972 | Bosch D-Jetronic | 107 PS (79 kW; 106 hp) at 6000 rpm | | 113 lb⋅ft (153 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | B20F | 1973 | Bosch D-Jetronic | 112 PS (82 kW; 110 hp) at 6000 rpm | | 115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | B20F | 1974 | Bosch K-Jetronic | 109 PS (80 kW; 108 hp) at 5500 rpm | | 115 lb⋅ft (156 N⋅m) at 2500 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | B20F | $1975^1$ | Bosch K-Jetronic | 98 PS (72 kW; 97 hp) at 6000 rpm | | 110 lb⋅ft (149 N⋅m) at 3500 rpm | | 8.7:1 |
  | Note: $^194$ PS (69 kW; 93 hp) and 105 lb⋅ft (142 N⋅m) when equipped with a catalytic converter. ||||||||
  