Description

DAF Truck Training Manual

I’ve seen more than a few guys pull a diesel engine apart on a Saturday afternoon with a generic PDF they found somewhere. Then they come asking me why their DAF won’t start or why the oil pressure is gone. That’s the difference between a factory training document and some scanned reprint. This DAF Truck Training Manual is 78 pages of what DAF actually teaches their own techs. It’s not a parts catalog and it’s not a generic diesel theory book. It’s the real thing.

Engine Block and Cylinder Liners

Right off the bat, the manual goes into DAF engine technology starting on page 42. You get the full breakdown on engine blocks, wet or dry cylinder liners, and the exact way DAF machines the block deck. If you’re replacing liners on a DAF, you need to understand the interference fit and the liner protrusion specs. This manual covers that. It also explains the crankshaft bearing arrangement and vibration damper setups – page 45. Skip those details and you’ll be pulling the oil pan again in 500 miles.

The Concepts ‘Power’ and ‘Torque’: What the Manual Covers

Too many aftermarket manuals treat torque as a single number. DAF’s training manual takes you through the relationship between power and torque on page 14. It explains how torque is measured, how it relates to engine load, and why a diesel engine’s torque curve matters for drivability. If you’re tuning or diagnosing low power, this section alone saves hours of guesswork. Torque isn’t just a fastener spec here – it’s a fundamental engine concept.

Does This Manual Cover Fuel Injection Systems?

It does. The fuel system of the diesel engine is covered starting on page 23, with a deep dive into fuel pumps, governors, injectors, and fuel filters on page 28. You’ll also find the difference between direct and indirect injection explained on page 32, plus supercharging and intercooling on page 34. That’s not light reading – that’s the kind of detail you need when a DAF rolls into your shop with a misfire or a no-start condition. The manual even includes what they call “the egg diagram” on page 26 – a DAF-specific way to visualize fuel system components.

Get the Right Torque Data from This Manual

Now let’s talk about real torque values. This training manual doesn’t give you a list of every bolt torque in the truck – that’s in the service manual. But it teaches you why torque matters and how to apply it. For instance, the section on connecting rods and bearings (page 46) explains the importance of stretch vs. torque angle. The valve mechanism (page 52) discusses valve clearance adjustment. When you understand the principles, you stop breaking bolts and stop leaking oil. That’s the value of a training manual over a spec sheet.

Why OEM Training Manuals Beat Aftermarket Rehashes

I’ve been handed aftermarket manuals that claim to cover DAF trucks but use generic illustrations from a 1970s Ford tractor. This is the real deal – a DAF Trucks publication printed for their own training courses. The copyright page states it’s for course use only, but the data is based on actual production specs at the time of printing. No third-party rewrites, no missing pages. You get the same material DAF technicians study. That’s why you come to a site like AutoRepairManuals for verified factory content.

Lubrication and Lubricants

Page 20 covers lubrication and lubricants – not just oil weights but the theory of oil flow, filtration, and what happens when you mix wrong additives. DAF engines have specific requirements for oil cooling and piston cooling jets, detailed on page 49. If you’re doing an overhaul on a DAF MX engine, you need to understand these systems. The manual also describes the lubricating system architecture on page 60.

One thing I notice about this manual: it treats the engine as a complete system. Cooling is on page 19 and 64, fuels on page 22, and the DAF engine programme on page 37 gives you an overview of the entire engine lineup. That context matters when you’re trying to figure out which DAF you’re working on.

Related Manuals You Should Consider

• DAF Clutch Training Manual Parts 1310897 1376143
• DAF MX-13 Engine Training Manual
• Leyland DAF EN 55, ET 70 1996 Service Manual – OEM Factory Specs

For transmission work, you’ll need a dedicated manual. I recommend looking at Manual Transmission fundamentals from a reputable source – and this manual pairs well with Manual Transmission diagnostics, but that’s not covered here. This is strictly diesel engine training.

Can a beginner use this DAF Truck Training Manual?

Yes. It’s a training manual written for new technicians. Starts with engine theory and builds up.

Does it give specific torque specs for head bolts or main bearings?

This manual explains the concepts of torque and power, and it covers DAF engine technology in detail, but it does not provide a list of every fastener torque. For exact torque values, you need the corresponding DAF service manual for your model. However, understanding the principles from this training manual will help you apply torque correctly and avoid overstretching bolts. The section on connecting rods and bearings (page 46) is especially useful for understanding stretch specs.

This is the kind of manual that stays on the workbench. When you’re scratching your head over a DAF that won’t make power or a fuel system that’s acting up, the answers are in here. Skip the aftermarket junk. Access the Factory Manual and get the real training DAF intended for its techs.