Detroit (Daimler Truck)
Detroit DD13: Specs, Service Intervals, Lifespan & Common Problems
The Detroit DD13 is a 12.8-liter inline-six diesel. It is the smaller of the two Detroit engines in the Freightliner Cascadia. Detroit lists the Gen 5 DD13 at 370–525 hp and 1,250–1,850 lb-ft. We could not find Detroit's North American DD13 spec sheet. So the oil fill, weight, and bore and stroke below come from Detroit's sheets for Australia and New Zealand, and each one is labeled.
Detroit (Daimler Truck) published the Detroit DD13 figures in its own documents. Last reviewed November 3, 2026.
What are the Detroit DD13 specs?
| Configuration | Inline 6-cylinder |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 12.8 L |
| Power and torque (Gen 5, North America) | 370–525 hp, 1,250–1,850 lb-ft |
| Bore × stroke (Australia/NZ sheet) | 5.20 in × 6.15 in (132 mm × 156 mm) |
| Compression ratio (Australia/NZ Gen 5 sheet) | 20.3:1 |
| Dry weight (Australia/NZ Gen 5 sheet) | 2,447 lb (1,110 kg) |
| Oil and filter service fill (Australia/NZ sheets) | 40 qt (38 L) |
| Detroit's Gen 5 claim | Up to 4% better fuel economy than the previous DD13. Detroit credits a swirl piston and a 10-pin injector. |
Commonly paired with the Detroit DT12 transmission; see the transmission specs reference.
Fitted in the Freightliner Cascadia, Freightliner M2 112 Plus, Freightliner 114SD Plus, Western Star 47X and Western Star 49X; compare with the truck model specs.
How long does a Detroit DD13 last?
Detroit's DD13 pages do not state a design-life mileage or North American warranty terms, so this page does not print either. Numbers quoted elsewhere are not from those pages. The DD15 guide shows the warranty Detroit prints for that engine. Do not assume the DD13 has the same terms. Get the coverage for your truck in writing.
Warranty, as the OEM lists it
- Not stated on the Detroit DD13 pages we read. Confirm coverage in writing for the specific truck
Detroit DD13 oil capacity: how much oil does it hold?
40 quarts (38 liters) for an oil and filter change, as Detroit lists it on its DD13 sheets for Australia and New Zealand. We could not find a North American DD13 sheet, so check your operator's manual before you buy oil.
Capacity is how much oil goes in. The interval is how often you change it. The next section covers the interval.
How often should you change the oil in a Detroit DD13?
We could not read Detroit's North American oil interval table for the DD13, so this page does not print one. Detroit's DD13 sheets for Australia and New Zealand list kilometers and hours for local duty cycles. Those do not carry over to U.S. trucks. Use Detroit's operator's manual for your engine.
- On Detroit's DD15 Gen 5 sheet, the oil interval depends on annual miles and mpg. See the DD15 guide for that table. Do not assume the DD13 uses the same numbers.
- Detroit's Australia and New Zealand sheets list the oil and filter fill at 40 qt (38 L). Confirm the fill for your engine in the manual.
Put your Detroit DD13 interval on a schedule with the maintenance scheduler.
What should you check before you buy a used truck with a Detroit DD13?
- Ask for service records. The Detroit (Daimler Truck) documents we read do not give an oil interval table, so confirm the interval for that truck in its owner's manual.
- Get the warranty terms in writing for that exact truck. The documents we read do not state them.
- Check recall status by VIN. We have not searched recalls for this engine.
What are the common problems with the Detroit DD13?
We found no repair report that is specific to the DD13 Gen 5. Most of what is written online mixes it with the DD15 or the Volvo D13, so this page lists none. Parts and repair sites do name the same systems on every modern SCR diesel: EGR, turbo and aftertreatment. Use those as a general inspection list on any used truck. A documented service record tells you more than the engine name.
How does it compare with other heavy-duty engines?
Each engine guide on this site follows the same format and the same sourcing rule, so you can read theDetroit DD13 next to the other engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much oil does a Detroit DD13 hold?+
40 quarts (38 liters) for an oil and filter change, as Detroit lists it on its DD13 sheets for Australia and New Zealand. We could not find a North American DD13 sheet, so check your operator's manual before you buy oil. That tells you how much oil to buy. The service interval tells you when to change it, so read both.
Is the Detroit DD13 a good engine?+
Detroit sells it in the Cascadia and in vocational trucks. Detroit's pages state no design life, and the repair reports we found were too mixed with other engines to rely on. So we cannot rate it. A documented service record on the specific truck tells you more than the badge.
Who makes the DD13 engine?+
Detroit makes it. Detroit is the engine brand of Daimler Truck, which also builds Freightliner and Western Star trucks. Detroit lists the DD13 for the Freightliner Cascadia, M2 112 Plus and 114SD Plus, and the Western Star 47X and 49X.
How much horsepower does a DD13 have?+
Detroit lists the Gen 5 DD13 at 370 to 525 hp and 1,250 to 1,850 lb-ft of torque. The rating on a given truck depends on how it was ordered, so read the engine tag or the build sheet.
How many liters is a DD13?+
12.8 liters. That is about 782 cubic inches on Detroit's Gen 5 sheet for Australia and New Zealand.
Is the DD13 the same engine as the DD15?+
No. Detroit lists them as two engines. The DD13 is 12.8 liters with a 5.20 × 6.15 in bore and stroke. The DD15 is 14.8 liters with a 5.47 × 6.42 in bore and stroke. They share the inline-six layout and the Detroit family name. The DT12 transmission is listed with both.
How often should I change the oil in a DD13?+
We could not read Detroit's North American interval table for the DD13, so we do not print a number. Detroit's DD15 sheet sets its intervals by annual miles and mpg. Do not assume the DD13 matches it. Use the operator's manual for your engine and your real duty cycle.
Sources
Run a Detroit DD13 truck? Let a dispatcher handle the rest.
Grow Trucking finds loads, negotiates rates and does the paperwork for owner-operators and small fleets. Tell us about your Detroit DD13 truck and we will show you how we can help.
Also: About Grow Trucking · Refer a carrier · Trucking blog
Specs, intervals and warranty terms for the Detroit DD13 change by model year and configuration. Confirm the exact figures for a specific truck against Detroit (Daimler Truck)'s current documents and your written warranty before you make a purchase or maintenance decision. Reported-issue information comes from repair and parts businesses, not from an independent failure study.
Free tools for a Detroit DD13 truck
Decode Detroit DD13 fault codes, keep its service on schedule and check a truck before you buy.
- Diesel Fault Code Lookup (SPN/FMI)Decode the SPN/FMI fault codes the Detroit DD13 reports.
- Preventive Maintenance SchedulerTrack Detroit DD13 oil and filter intervals by odometer for your duty cycle.
- Breakdown Cost EstimatorEstimate what a Detroit DD13 breakdown costs in repairs and lost revenue.
- Truck Breakdown TriageIf the Detroit DD13 shows a red lamp or overheats, see if you should stop now.