IKCO EF engines. IKCO EF Engines, also known as National Engines, are a family of four-cylinder engines produced by the Iranian car manufacturer Iran Khodro (IKCO). The first engines in this family, the EF7 series, were designed jointly by Iran Khodro Powertrain Company (IPCO) and F.E.V GmbH of Germany. The later models were designed by IPCO alone. IPCO is the powertrain design and production company of IKCO.

The first phase of the IKCO EF Engines project, the EF7 Dual-Fuel, had an estimated cost of  and aimed to supply 800,000 powertrains by 2010.

Most EF engines share a set of common parts. The EF4 and EF7 are bi-fuel engines that primarily use compressed natural gas (CNG) but can also operate on gasoline. The EFD is a single-fuel diesel engine.

The EF family dual-fuel and petrol-fuel engines have achieved the Euro IV emission standard and can achieve the Euro V emission standard with some minor changes. EFD will be the first engine of the family already conforming to Euro IV emission standard at initial release, and will be capable of attaining the Euro VI emission standard with alterations.

Some prominent suppliers for EF engines are INA for critical variable valve timing (VVT) and other mechanical parts; MAHLE, which supplies some integral components of the engine family such as pistons; and Bosch, which supplies the ECU, electrically controlled pedal (Drive-by-wire), and many other sensitive electronic parts. All parts (except high-tech and sensitive parts) from worldwide companies are produced in Iran under license.

EF7 and EF7+ 

The EF7s' general structure is similar to the PSA Group's Peugeot TU5JP4, having a 16-valve engine incorporating CVVT technology on its intake valves (IPS type) with a displacement of 1648cc, a bore of 78.560mm, and a stroke of 85mm. It was introduced as EF7 dual-fuel in 2008 at Engine Expo Stuttgart, Germany. 

The engine feature both a lubrication and liquid-cooling system. Its direct-drive oil pump, water pump, oil pump, and oil coolant systems are carefully arranged to reduce the need for removal of parts during maintenance. Other parts are engineered to ease oil filter changes. The EF7 uses a three-way Catalytic Converter to reach higher emission standards.

All EF7 variants have passed the NVH tests on their head cylinder and cylinder block.
The engines also have a blow-by system which provides ventilation for the crankcase and oil pan.

The EF7 assembly line is in Tehran, Iran.

EF7-NA (Dual-Fuel) 

The EF7-NA reaches its maximum power output at 6000 rpm and maximum torque at 3250 rpm while using either CNG or petrol.

IKCO has indicated an engine timing belt change interval of 180,000 km. IKCO states that if the engine runs only on CNG, it will not need any special maintenance until 250,000 km (on average). Alternatively, if the engine runs on both CNG and gasoline, timing belt mileage will increase to more than 250,000 km.

Due to challenges in feasibility, numerous requests for single-fuel Samand with EF7 engines and petrol-based EF7 engines could not be met. In late 2009, IKCO wanted IPCO to start a project to remove CNG-necessary engine parts. Thus, the project was completed in about 3 months, and the tests were completed in the second quarter of 2010. Only the ECU program is changed in this engine version, and CNG functions are disabled. This ECU program supports immobilizers, too. Currently, consumers can purchase the Samand with a single-fuel EF7 engine.

In September 2010, IKCO announced the design and production of a modified EF7 engine with reduced fuel consumption and air pollution. The engine was envisioned to use direct fuel injection technology for both petrol and CNG, which would have made IKCO the first manufacturer in the world to employ this technology for CNG engines.

Technical details 
 ECU: Bosch Calibration: ME 7.4.9NG- FC34ME - Siemens Calibration: SIM2K-48VR
 Coil ignition: Bosch P-50
 Spark plugs: Bosch FR8DE+ - Denso K20PR-U
 Gasoline Fuel Injectors:Bosch
 CNG Fuel Injectors: Bosch
 CNG Fuel Rail: BENTLER
 Gasoline Fuel Rail: BENTLER
 Upstream Oxygen Sensor: Bosch LS7342
 Downstream Oxygen Sensor: Bosch LS7342
 TMAP Sensor: Bosch 230042
 Accelerator Pedal: Bosch
 Recommended Fuel: Normal CNG & Unleaded Gasoline RON 95
 Recommended Engine Lubricant: 7000 Semi-Synthetic (10W-40 SL) or Behran Rakhsh 10\40
 0W-40 SL)
 Timing Belt: INA
 Alternator Belt: INA
 Idlers Pulleys: INA
 HLA Tappets: INA
 Check Valve: INA
 Automatic Tensioner: INA
 CVVT Mechanism Parts: INA
 CVVT Control Valve: INA
 IPS Tensioner Valve: INA
 CVVT Closing Plug: INA
 Steel Pulley: INA
 Intake Valves: TBD
 Exhaust Valves: TBD
 Engine Starter: Valeo
 Engine Alternator: Valeo
 Flywheel: TBD
 Clutch Kit: Valeo
 Pistons: MAHLE
 Cylinder head: Continental Engines Ltd
 Intake Manifold: Continental Engines Ltd
 Engine Housings: Tara Zob Company
 Engine Mounters: TBD
 Weight: 140 kg

Parts image gallery

EF7 turbocharged (TC7) 
A new variant of the EF7 family was introduced in 2009 with a turbocharger and named EF7-TC or TC7. It is installed on the Soren ELX and Dena Plus.

To resist the high temperature of engine combustion, about 35 kg of nickel is used in the cylinder block alloy.

In addition, a new lubricant will be produced for the engine by the Behran Oil company.

IP-Co has estimated the engine's life cycle to be around 5 years.

EF7 petrol-based 
An EF7 project manager has confirmed rumors of an upcoming gasoline-only EF7.

The development team plans to reduce the new model's engine compression from the 11:1 ratio of earlier models to 10.5:1 and replace temperature-resistant CNG parts with weaker, low-cost gasoline-grade parts.

In addition, the petrol-based EF7 will use a newer ECU program and functions.

The engine output is estimated to be between -

It is expected that the engine will be shown to the public in mid-2011.

EF7 Plus 
The EF7 Plus (or EF7+) series of engines reduces fuel consumption and pollution emission from Euro IV to Euro V standard.

The series include the EF7+ NA (or EF7P-NA) and the EF7+ TC (or EF7P-TC or TC7+).

Performance

EF4 

The EF4 has displacement of 1397 cc with a bore of TBD mm and a stroke of TBD mm. The engine was introduced to the public in 2009 in Iran. It uses the EF7 cylinder head.

The engine reaches maximum power at 6000 rpm and maximum torque at 3250 rpm for both CNG and petrol.

It shares almost all of its technologies with its predecessor, EF7.

The EF4 assembly line will be in Esfahan, Iran.

The EF4 engine never made it to production nor was it installed in any vehicle.

Performance

EFD engines 

EFD diesel engines have a displacement of 1497 cc with a bore of 76 mm and a stroke of 82.5 mm.

The engines have a 16-valve design and feature a range of new diesel engine technologies.

NIOPDC has been the main sponsor of the EFD engine since it began in mid 2008 and has poured as much as  into its development.

Due to the inefficiencies of the Peugeot BE3/5 gearbox and the need for a new gearbox for other IKCO engines, the company has started designing a new gearbox for the EFD engines. This new gearbox will handle higher torque and offer greater efficiency compared to the BE3/5. On November 30, 2010, IKCO announced they would finalise the gear ratios of the new gearbox for EFD soon.

Because EFD engines are the first from the EF family to use alternative fuel, they feature many unique, original parts.Iran Khodro and the IP-Co have partnered with AVL to learn to manufacture many of these new technologies.

New features of EFD engines include:
 Direct injection
 Common rail with a pressure of 
 Glow plug
 Variable geometry turbocharger
 Intercooler
 Exhaust gas recirculation with cooler to meet higher pollution standards
 Diesel Oxidation Catalyst to meet higher emission standard by breaking down pollutants of exhaust gas into less harmful elements.
 Other new technologies designed to meet Euro IV emission standard
 Diesel Particulate Filter to remove diesel soot and particulates from exhaust gas

EFD-NA 

The EFD-NA (natural aspiration), unveiled on November 17, 2009, by the president of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Amol, is the first EFD-variant engine to be mobilized.

The engine reaches its maximum power at 4000 rpm and maximum torque at 1750 rpm.

It is currently installed on some Samands and Sorens and is undergoing final testing.

Other specifications are listed in the Performance section below.

EFD turbocharged 

IP-Co has plans to make a double-stage turbocharged engine.

IP-Co will not begin development on the new engine until its counterpart, the EFD engine, comes to market.

Performance

See also 
 Automotive industry in Iran
 Natural gas vehicle
 Petrol engine
 Internal combustion engine
 Diesel engine
 Turbodiesel
 Diesel fuel

References

External links 
 IPCO
 Iran Khodro Company
 AVL
 F.E.V GmbH
 IKCO EF Engines

Automobile engines
Lists of automobile engines
Gasoline engines
Diesel engines
Car-related lists
Diesel engines by model
Gasoline engines by model
Diesel engines by maker
2008 introductions
Products introduced in 2008
Straight-four engines