East Coast Diesel Nationals Picks Champion Blue Flame as Official Oil

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Champion Oil, a globally recognized specialty diesel lubricant manufacture, disclosed today that the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) has announced Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil as the official oil this year for the annual East Coast Diesel Nationals on July 17 to be held at Numidia Dragway in Numidia, Pennsylvania.

NADM, established in 2007, is the only sanctioning body for diesels that promotes all diesel motorsports associations, clubs and events. The organization holds over 70 diesel events around the country each year with diesel drag racing, sled pulling, and Dyno competitions. Plus, events are all about diesels including a large Vendor Alley. Gates open at 8am. Drag and pull registration, Dyno, Show-n-shine opens at 9am. Drag racing starts at 10am with pulling starting at 1pm.

http://www.dieselmotorsports.us

Champion Oil has a special contingency program which includes cash and product for all class drag and pull winners at the East Coast Diesel Nationals. Register here: https://www.championbrands.com/racer-contingency/

Champion Brands Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oils are formulated with workhorse performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic and conventional base fluids. In addition, Champion’s Engine Oils deliver unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, has the muscle to combat oil shear, maximizes and sustains cylinder compression, and is proven to increase engine horse power and torque.

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information about the Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil contact your nearest Champion distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231.

Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to http://championbrands.com

Mercedes Diesel-Powered Wolf Catches the Attention of the Robb Report

Yesterday's Robb Report carried a Car of the Week story about a reimagined Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, calling it "a wolf that's ready to prowl. Most of us a familiar with the military background of Jeeps, Land Rovers and Hummers. They were built for functionality, not style, yet the boxy look of these machines became a style of its own, spoken in a different language. 

The original G-Wagen was Germany's equivalent of the Jeep, a lightweight military transport vehicle. The G stands for Geländewagen, which translated means "terrain vehicle." The first G-Wagens were built for the Shah of Iran in the late 70s as a military transport. Though created for the Shah, who was overthrown soon after, the vehicle saw its first military use in Argentina in 1981, the year before the undeclared Falkland Islands War.

Robert Ross, the author, refers to it as a wolf in sheep's clothing, which is interesting because the G-Wagen was itself nicknamed the Wolf beginning in 1987. In other words, not every G-Wagen is a Wolf. This designation is only for those with a fold down windshield and convertible top.

The focus of this article is on the latest iteration of this Mercedes-Benz 250GD Wolf, whose embellishments clearly define it in luxury terms, not military. The vehicle is manufactured by EMC, the Expedition Motor Company and available in 49 of our 50 states.

Under the hood we have a Mercedes-Benz inline-five diesel power plant that required a customized transmission control unit (TCU) "in order to maintain perfectly smooth gear change, quiet operation and reliability." 

For an extra $7500 you can add a turbocharger for additional power.

According to Ross this beast has never been more popular. At the end of 2020 EMC had sold 400,000 of them over the years, up 100K from 2017 when they hit the 300,000 milestone. The demand is so high that people are paying more than the manufacturer's suggested retail price to get their hands on one. We're not talking pocket change. These beautiful brutes typically retail at $125,000.

But what you are getting is a labor of love, so to speak. These vehicles are produced with care with hand stitched interiors and other meticulous attention to detail. It's adorned with all the other modern accoutrements with "options that include climate control by Vintage Air, assorted bumpers, trim, winches, etc." 

According to Ross, "Other revisions that come standard are new instruments and gauges, an all-new wiring harness, premium headlamps (previously optional equipment) and an upgraded entertainment system with new Bluetooth capabilities as well as USB and device plug-in considerations."

What we like, though, is the 0M602 diesel engine. It's durability earned in a nickname of its own, :the million kilometer engine." 

Read the full story here.

Diesel-Powered Vehicle of the Week: Stainless Diesel Sets New Pro Street Record in the 4s

There are people who try to tell us that competition is bad. It hurts people's feelings when they don't win, they say. 

One of the arguments to counter this is that competition makes people dig deeper, work harder to achieve success. "Winning" is meaningless if it isn't achieved the old fashioned way, through competing with rivals. When everybody wins, nobody wins.

When Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile in 1956, he was able to achieve this because he was in a foot-race with someone else and he wanted to win. Even though he did it by only six tenths of a second, the world went crazy because pundits said it couldn't be done.

Today's "Diesel Vehicle of the Week" is the new record holder in the Pro Street class, Team Stainless Diesel. The event took place this weekend at the Ultimate Callout Challenge where their diesel powered Ram 1500 clicked off a 4.96-second pass to break the 1/8th-mile record previously held by Firepunk Diesel, also a Ram 1500 pickup. (The record for a diesel dragster is a much snappier 4.10 seconds and 181 mph.)

You can be sure that there will be more tweaking by each of these teams this year as they strive to best one another's times. 

The Ultimate Callout Challenge in Brownsburg, Indiana, has become a major battleground for these kinds of 4-wheel ground wars. Still ahead, there will are plenty of other events coming up this year to test their wits and their resolve. 

The truck's sponsor is Stainless Diesel, a company that provides products for diesel powertrains. According to autoevolution.com they've been upgrading this truck for a couple years now. 

It's apparent that High Fives are a thing of the past for diesel pickups. We have at least two teams now giving us High Fours.

AS THE COMPETITIVE RACING SEASON RAMPS UP be sure your lubrication needs are taken care of. Check out our Champion Racing Oil Contingency Program, which covers a full range of motorsports racing events.

How to Tell Whether You Have a Bad Diesel Fuel Injector

All diesel engines use fuel injection. The first mass-produced diesel car, the Mercedes-Benz, used fuel injection as early as the late 1930s. Fuel injection was first introduced in gas-powered passenger cars in the 1950s. By the 1990s fuel injection replaced carburetors altogether in passenger cars. The chief difference between carburetion and fuel injection is that the former sucks the fuel into the engine whereas fuel injectors atomize the fuel by injecting it under high pressure through the nozzle.

Fuel injectors consist of two main components, the nozzle and the injector body. If either of these gets damaged of clogged, it compromises the overall performance of your vehicle. One of the keys to smooth, efficient performance is to make sure your injectors are clean. 

A story in yesterday's EconoTimes addresses this issue of injector performance. It's titled 7 Signs That You May Have a Bad Diesel Fuel Injector. Here are the seven things to pay attention to, according to this story. 

1. Engine Misfiring or Vibrating
Does your vehicle frequently misfire? Do you experience a delay when you press the accelerator? This could be a sign that you have an injector issue.

2. Check Engine Warning Light
There was a time when check engine lights were more of a nuisance than accurate indicator of trouble. I had a mechanic once tell me that the solution was to put a postage stamp over it because they were too sensitive. Nowadays, they are invaluable. A good mechanic can take a reading on the codes and tell you precisely which cylinder injectors are causing a problem. You should first check your glow plugs before going the extra mile to check the injectors.

3. Rough Idle
According to EconoTimes, if you have a change in the feel of your vehicle when idling, it may be a clogged injector. It may also be an clogged air filter, so you may want to start there, especially if you drive on dusty roads and haven't checked it in a while.

4. Engine Stalling
If your engine stalls for no apparent reason, it may be because the engine is not getting the fuel it needs. Insufficient fuel will cause the engine to stall out. When injectors are badly clogged, this will be a consequence, though it can also be caused by a fuel leak where the injector is connected to the fuel lines.

5. Diesel Fuel Smell
If you have a diesel fuel smell while driving, this is very likely a faulty injector leaking. You need to take care of this right away. 

6. Poor Fuel Economy
Another reason to keep your injectors clean is because for it is essential for optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency.

7. Bad Emissions
If you live in a state with required vehicle inspections, you may fail an emissions test and wonder why. It is quite possible you have partially clogged injectors. 

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One way to address these issues is to include fuel injector cleaning as part of your routine engine maintenance regimen. Just as you have become disciplined about routine oil and filter changes and checking fluids, so you will want to incorporate routine fuel injection cleaning. 

Diesel fuel injection cleaners are fairly essential to longer service life from your engine. There are other fuel additives that serve specific purposes as well including deposit modifiers, corrosion inhibitors, freeze depressants and more.

Two fuel additives from Champion Brands that you may be unaware of are Diesel Flo Fuel Conditioner and Power Plus Diesel Fuel Additive with Cetane.  The latter will not only remove deposits but also reduce emissions, provide corrosion protection, increase cetane and improve power, a multi-functional diesel additive for today's high-pressure common-rail injectors and modern diesel fuels.

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The article 7 Signs That You May Have A Bad Diesel Fuel Injector has additional information that is not elaborated upon here. To read the full story, Follow This Link.

Featured Diesel Vehicle of the Week: The Kamaz Master Team Rally Raid Truck

Support for sponsors is a global enterprise. 
Kamaz captain Edouard Kikolaev, Red Bull in hand.

For those familiar with it, the Dakar Rally is one of the most exhilarating events in motor sports. It's essentially an off-road endurance test. Because of the ruggedness of the terrain, the vehicles that compete are generally off-road vehicles of various types (four-wheelers, Quads, UTVs, cars, trucks and motorcycles.

The annual event used to be called the Paris-Dakar Rally, running from Paris to Dakar Senegal. Because of security issues (chiefly in Mauritania) the 2008 rally was cancelled and the following ten years the event took place in South America. The two most recent events were held in Saudi Arabia. The race maintains its name because of its symbolic stature which is equated with pushing the limits of endurance. 

Winters are a good reason to go south & race each year

It is within this context that we get to talk about the diesel-powered Kamaz Master Rally Team truck, which was cited in Ian Wright's CarBuzz story, Crazy Diesel-Powered Cars. The Team is a Russian based racing team that has entered the Dakar Rally 27 times, winning an impressive 15 Dakar events. 

Over the years they've used increasingly powerful diesel engines to with this year's turbodiesel entries producing over 1000 horsepower. The engineering is remarkable throughout. Wright points out how their 2019 "Kapotnik" has a 12.5-liter diesel engine that is "happy to do 100 mph across any surface while handling like Colin McRae's Impreza despite looking like it has the maneuverability of a mobile home." 

To a certain extent it looks like a cross between a motorhome, dump truck (in terms of ribbed ruggedness) and a military transport. The row of lights across the front provide max visibility. If you're racing after sundown you really must bring your own lights.

The Kamaz team won its first Dakar in 1996, five years after the fall of the Soviet Union. With this year's win in January, the Kamaz Master Rally Team has racked up its fifth win in a row. Who will step up next to challenge them in 2022?

Key Links
Russian Team Kamaz-Master’s driver Sotnikov wins Dakar-2021 rally raid in truck category
This Red Bull story also has some smokin' video.
Crazy Diesel-Powered Cars (Car Buzz)

Five Questions To Help You Decide Which Diesel Oil To Use

If you're confused when it comes to choosing the right engine oil for your truck, don't be alarmed. You're not alone. 

Sometimes it seems like everything is more complicated than it used to be. When was the last time you looked at the toothpaste options at Walgreens. Seems like it's a half mile long with every kind of whitener, plaque remover, gum treatment, breath freshener, ad nauseam. 

In the lubrication world, the various terms may be different, but the level of confusion remains the same. Viscosity control? Shear stability? TBN retention? 

When all is said and done, the best place to begin your oil selection search is to consider your application. Are tractor pulling or drag racing? Is the application stationary, street, or off-road? Here are five basic questions to help direct you to the right solution.

What are your engine oil specifications? 

It’s important to follow what your original equipment manufacturer recommends. Reading your owner’s manual is the key to maximizing your equipment’s performance. Your manual contains vital API information about caring for your engine, including which oil grades are best suited for them. For example: SAE 15W-40, 10W-30, 5W-40 oil? Mineral, semi, or full synthetic base stock needs to be considered.

How important is fuel economy? 

If you’re keeping an eye on your miles per gallon, the right lubricant can help your equipment achieve its maximum fuel efficiency. By squeezing a few extra miles from each tank, you can see major savings over time. A semi or full-synthetic diesel engine oil is your best option to deliver maximum fuel efficiency without compromising engine performance. It can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent under normal conditions and by up to 3 percent during cold starts.

Does your diesel engine run in a range of temperatures? 

Speaking of cold starts, temperature is another important consideration when choosing an engine oil. Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can be brutal on moving parts in your equipment. Heat can quickly turn an engine into an oven, and the cold can thicken some oils until they’re practically jelly.

How old is your diesel engine? 

Most diesel owners want to stretch the life of their engine as long as possible. To perform their best, older diesel engines require attentive care, and a quality lubricant can go a long way toward maintaining them. For example, is your diesel not running a DPF? Rebuilt for performance? Out of warranty?

Are looking for more horse power or torque? 

Be sure to look at the oil’s data or spec sheet to see if it addresses increased performance, high in anti-wear protection, etc. Look for semi and full synthetic diesel engine oils that use shear stable synthetic base oils. That are also high in film strength, have viscosity control, work with high compression, have a higher TBN retention, and if needed, designed to address demands of turbo or super-charged diesel engines.

I hope this has helped a little in your decision. Need a place to start? Take a look at these eight diesel engine oils: https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/ And if you're still confused, Ask Jake.

A Partnership Made In Heaven: Cummins Diesel and RAM Trucks

Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel (2021)

When we think of "barnstorming" the image that comes to mind is that of airplane stunts by rural daredevils who would fly town to town back in the 1930s. There was something romantic about these aerobatic flyboys. 

Barnstorming didn't apply only to pilots however. The makers of Cummins engines also did some barnstorming themselves, in their own way. They orchestrated events to showcase their benefits and win fans.

While reading the 100-years-plus history of the Cummins engine I came across this account from 1931 in which a Cummins H-powered diesel truck drove 14,600 miles non-stop to show off its reliability over a long haul. For the sake of transparency, so that no hanky-panky could take place, the event was conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of witnesses. 

What's striking is that more than 80 years later, the feature that sets diesel engines apart is not just the power they generate but also their reliability.

In 2019 Cummins completed a 30-year relationship with RAM trucks that began with the Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel. This year's 2021 6.7L Turbo Diesel generates even more horsepower and torque while continuing its tradition of durability and efficiency.

HD RAM 3500 Dodge pickups produce 1,075 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the Aisin transmission. And it is no laggard in the horsepower department either, with 420 hp.

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One of the great advantages of living in the Internet age, especially at this point in time, is that if you are new to the Diesel Cummins-powered RAM family, there are communities of RAM enthusiasts out there that you can reach out to in time of need, or just to stay current on things. The same applies to whatever engine that moves you, whether Duramax or Power Stroke as well. 

Whenever engine designs change there can be quirks you need to be aware of. Just switching over from a gasoline-powered vehicle to the diesel family can be a learning curve. For this reason we've included a list of hot-linked forums for easy access here in the right hand column. 

The Cummins Forum not only has troubleshooting tips, but interactive starter questions designed to address various issues. It's a great way to stay current on what's happening.

Related Links

The History of the Cummins Engine

Motor Trend's 10 Best Diesel Trucks Ever

Champion’s Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive Formulated for Diesel Pick-Ups

When I  first saw this new product from Champion I thought of the 1992 film My Cousin Vinnie in which the Marisa Tomei character states, "the evidence proves that the getaway car was actually a 1963 Pontiac Tempest, which had the limited slip differential." Remember that line?

Here's the tie-in. Champion's Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive also works with some diesel pick-ups to eliminate noise, vibration and harshness associated with certain positraction, limited slip, and locking differentials. Its robust formula improves mileage, reduces wheel spin, creates more traction, increases drain intervals and results in less wear.

Basically, a differential allows the inside and outside wheel to rotate at different speeds in a turn. An "open differential" is the simplest type of differential used by many diesel OEMs. In this scenario the differential allows the inside and outside wheels to turn at different speeds. Unfortunately, an open differential cannot get the power to the wheel that has the least amount of traction.

During straight-line acceleration, an open differential ofter produces a "peg-leg" type burnout. That diminishes straight-line performance. An open differential will tend to spin the inside tire and diminishes the ability of the vehicle's traction.

This was the purpose behind the development of limited-slip differentials (LSD).They were designed to work in both an "open" configuration and a "locked" configuration by limiting or controlling the amount of slip allowed in the differential. For a maximum straight-line acceleration in severe environments or under heavy load, the LSD would allow zero slip between the left and right drive wheels.

For example, pulling a trailer around a corner, the LSD would seek to bias additional power to the outside wheel. This, in turn, would reduce inner wheel spin and allow the driver to maintain better accelerating and control of the turn.

OEMs like Ford, Chrysler and GM have often used a "clutch-type" LSD which has several internal clutch plates that produce a very strong locking performance and superior response in their diesel vehicles. 

In general, a clutch-type LSD has pressure rings and friction plates inside the differential case When all the clutch plates are engaged, bothwheels are locked and the torque is transferred equally to both wheels. 

In recent years, diesel OEMs have been switching to electronically controlled limited-slip differentials to precisely modulate just how much locking action occurs at any given moment, allowing for even greater performance and control.

There are many models in the market, however, that can benefit from Champion's Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive. If they have an installed LSD on a diesel pick-up, it will be referenced in their specific vehicle owner's manual. It will be located on the inside door plate with a code, or a small tag on the rear axle. If in doubt, one can ask for identification assistance from of a qualified and knowledgeable mechanic.

Some popular diesel examples with the LSD option include: Chevrolet 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, 4WD, 1 ton and Suburban; Dodge 1/2 ton, 4WD, A-100, B250, Power Wagon, Ram 1500, Ram 2500 and Ram 3500; Ford E 250/350, Expedition, F-250, F-350 and F-450; GMC 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton and Hummer H2/H3.

Use Champion's Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive at a 1:25 dilution in appropriate gear oils or use at a 1:10 ratio to provide factory fill limited slip performance. Champion friction modification technology has been shown to provide more durable friction modification than the major OEM technologies in SAE #2 friction durability testing with a variety of clutch plate materials. The additive has a high viscosity-index (VI) that provides relatively constant viscosity and film thickness with varying temperature change.

This premium friction modification technology has been lab tested and field proven in demanding high-speed police fleet trials -- where fast acceleration, high torque and low traction place severe demands on locking differentials. The new product surpasses OEM requirements.

Champion Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive specific properties: Light amber color, 5.1 Viscosity @ 100°C cSt, Flash Point 385°F, 0.88 Specific Gravity. 
Composition Ingredients: Mineral Oil and small concentrations of proprietary LSD performance additives.

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2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members
Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

Diesel Vehicle of the Week: 2-Stroke Monster Truck Rat Rod on the Wild Side

Steve Darnell gets dreamy about his Diesel 2-stroke.

While scrolling through sites looking for a worthy candidate to be Diesel Vehicle of the Week I came across this YouTube video of a most unusual creature, a 2-stroke Monster Rat Rod. The rat rod's builder, Steve Darnell, is founder of Welder Up, now in the limelight on the Discovery channel's show "Vegas Rat Rods." This Brit is also into dirt bikes. 

He thought there might be a way to tie in his truck concept to the vintage two-stroke bikes he rides. He designed the truck to be used to haul dirt bikes to interesting locations and trails.

This is what an original 1958 Chev Apache looks like.

What he decided to do was drop a Detroit Diesel 2-stroke engine into a 1958 Chevy Apache. It's an homage to 2-stroke dirt bikes and the history of the motorcycle. The video I found details the story of this build and its unique features. "2-strokes are always fun," Steve says at the beginning of this story.

There are pros and cons to dropping a 2-stroke engine into a truck. First, they do not produce a lot of horsepower and torque, and this one is a bit under-horsepowered. But it's functional and very reliable. Because of their reliability they were used in trucks, boats, pumps and tanks in WW2 and Vietnam.

Another problem for these old motors is the matter of engine runaway. The term runaway is exactly that. There's enough heat in the engine to cause preignition and it keeps accelerating until the engine fails. This was a serious problem for vintage motorcycles. One solution, to prevent that, was an air shutoff, which is effective because ignition power is generated by the air-fuel mix.

After describing what he's created, the camera draws in close to show what's under the hood, which has been cut away to make room for the turbos. It's a V-6 with an intercooler-radiator combo that he calls "confusing, but it looks cool."

Cue up intense guitar music and we get footage of the best clawing through rugged terrain. The drone camera work adds a nice touch there on the mountainside.

Darnel says he and his sidekick Merlin first started thinking about this truck when they were in Big Sky country. For sure it's always fun to be paid to do what you love. Kudos to the whole team at Welder Up.

Related Links

See several other whacked out Welder Up builds here.

YouTube video in which Steve Darnell talks about his Monster Truck Rat Rod. 

The Next Ford F-150: Combining Old-Style Diesel Tech in a Futuristic New Design

As any student of automotive history knows, truly "new" breakthroughs don't just happen. Perhaps they are conceived in an "aha" type of moment but the engineering can take years to work out. All kinds of new engine designs have been conceived during the past century. Most of what we are familiar with are incremental improvements on basic designs. Even these take time to work out the kinks. For this reason many vehicle owners are reluctant to jump right in on the first year of a new engine design.

Needless to say, automakers and engine builders work very hard to minimize the speed bumps. Extensive testing is a given. And it all takes time.

Last month The Drive published a story about a new engine design for the next Ford F-150. The tech article by Caleb Jacobs takes a look at the direction Ford is taking with its most popular truck. The goal here is not just fuel economy but energy efficiency, and to achieve it they are drawing upon an older tech concept: pre-chamber ignition.

We've been reading a lot about pickups getting bigger, stronger and more muscular. What Ford is doing here is moving in the direction of diesel's other strength: efficiency. Jacobs opens by noting that with the dawn of a new EV age, most manufacturers are putting their creative energy in that direction, not in new technologies dependent on oil. What Ford realizes, however, is that the EV revolution is going to take decades till full adoption. The benefits outweigh the risks when you think it through.

At this point I will interject that there was a time when the earth was considered the center of the universe. Copernicus proved otherwise, that we were just a tiny speck in a massive decentralized space. This realization became known as "The Copernican Revolution." That is, the idea the earth was at the center and everything revolved around us was now proven wrong. Funny thing is, this "revolution" took 100 years before it became accepted as widespread knowledge. So it is that transitions take time, and though the EV revolution is more than two decades old, it has only just begun.

Ford has been investing heavily in this new engine design, $10 million over three years. Here's an attempt to describe what they are working on.

Last fall Road and Track did a story on Maserati's new MC20 Supercar that uses pre-chamber ignition. "Pre-chambers are exactly what they sound like: separate chambers inside the cylinder head connected to the main cylinder area. There are two types: active and passive. Active pre-chambers contain a spark plu and fuel injector, and ignite after a lean air-fuel mixture is brought into the cylinder. Normally, this mixture wouldn't have enough fuel to ignite on its own, but the fuel from the pre-chamber is enough to create an optimal air-fuel ratio, and speeding up the combustion process, improving efficiency."

The pre-chamber concept is an old diesel idea that has been used in the racing world as well. The Ford engineers are adding a little twist to the concept, some kind of compressed-air alongside the fuel injector. The objective is "to achieve faster, cooler combustion that burns fuel more completely while also producing fewer NOx emissions."

The real challenge is always in the translation from drawing board to reality. In theory, this will bring us one step closer to the ideal truck of the future, powered by fuel and not batteries, powerful and efficient simultaneously. 

Another surprising feature of the new engine design is that it will be 15% lighter than the current engine, with subsequent improvement in mpg as well. 

Go check out the story here at The Drive. They also have a video there on how the pre-chamber ignition setup works. 

This Road & Track story explains and clarifies Maserati's pre-chamber ignition design.

The 2021 GMC Yukon Denali: This Diesel Might Surprise You

With 2020 behind us, the economy has begun showing serious strength in a variety of ways. Live, in person diesel events are happening again and SEMA has announced that SEMA registration is open for this year's show in Las Vegas. Over 1500 companies are already registered.

On April 30 Cars.com had an interesting story by Aaron Bragman titled "Can the Mammoth GMC Yukon Denali Get Good MG With a Diesel Engine?" I like headlines with questions. The word "mammoth" adds a dimension of intrigue. If he left that word out of the title it would not be the same. with the word inserted it suggests, "Can something this massive get good MPG?" 

Bragman begins with a little background that many of us are familiar with. 40 years ago GM offered diesel engines in its big SUVs. More recently, diesels are back, this time with a turbo-diesel 3.0-liter Duramax six-cylinder engine as an option on some of its vehicles. Included in the 2021 catalog are the Chev Tahoe/Suburban and GMC Yukon/Yukon XL. 

"Diesels are often renowned for their stump pulling torque," he writes, as well as their "fuel-sipping frugality." For this reason, Bragman has set up some tests to see how well these attributes hold true in the latest and greatest Yukon.

Before heading into the meat of the matter, we're treated to a description of the interior. Like many of the latest pickups and SUVs by all the manufacturers, efforts have been made to make these machines as comfortable as a dream. More spacious, more luxurious. And under the hood we have a diesel power plant that delivers 277 horsepower with 460 pounds-feet of torque driving a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission and four-wheel drive.

What Bragman is intending to do here is take the Yukon for a long drive that will involve city, suburban and open highway routes, then compare his results with what the EPA has rated the vehicle at. Before sharing his ride with us, he spells out the expectations with a specificity that lets us know where things stand. This is not his first rodeo. He has a standard 200 mile loop that he drives, and a standard procedure of having the tire pressure set at the manufacturer's recommendations, windows closed and climate control with A.C activated. There are no segments where he does drag racing and his speed is maintained within 5 mph of the posted limits.

Unfortunately, one variable that he has no control over did interfere in his first attempt. Wind gusts up to 45 mph were on and off again to such an extent that he had to abort the mission. The second attempt took place on a placid, sunny day, with satisfying results. 

The Results
Even with its massive weight (5800 lbs) the Yukon Denali 4WD delivered impressive number. The EPA rated it to get 22 mpg but Bragman's results were significantly better. While highway cruising his trip computer showed he was getting more than 30 mpg. The overall numbers when tallied showed he had achieved 27.9 mpg on the 206 mile course. When he refilled the tank, the fuel economy appeared to be 26.9 mpg which was 5 mpg better than its EPA rating.

To Bragman's big surprise, the diesel engine option is $1500 less than the V-8 for this Yukon. Fuel economy savings and a better price as well? What's there not to like?

Well, there are a couple tradeoffs, he says in his closing paragraph. You still know it's a diesel engine there because of the noise. Not a bad big-rig clatter, but something that you can notice. Also, since diesel fuel is currently more expensive at this time, the fuel economy comparison isn't entirely apples to apples. Nevertheless, 65% better fuel economy makes up for a lot compared to the V-8 engine. 

Bottom line: There is much to like in the 2021 Diesel-powered GMC Yukon Denali. 

Read the full story here: https://rb.gy/of5t4m 

Insights for Diesel Owners: the Pros and Cons of Turbochargers

Turbo cutaway

Last week we looked at a triple turbo diesel setup that was quite intriguing and incredibly powerful. In that article we looked at how turbochargers can improve horsepower and torque. But we never examined the downside of turbos. Are turbochargers always beneficial? Is there a downside to turbos that people can neglect to consider? 

Turbos have generally been add-ons that improve engine efficiency and performance. In recent years more and more vehicles have been fitted with turbochargers from the getgo.

The way a turbo works is like this: hot exhaust gasses spin the turbine that is connected to another turbine which sucks air in and compresses it into the engine. It is this compression that provides the engine with extra power. The more air you can get into the engine, the more fuel can be added for more power.

We're fairly well acquainted with the benefits of turbochargers. Extra power is primary. Unlike superchargers, there is no engine drain because the power comes from hot, expanding gases coming out of the engine already. In addition, turbos aren't affected by the thinner atmosphere of higher altitudes. Furthermore, turbos provide better fuel economy, so they are a win-win on several fronts.

What's the downside then?

The first is heat. Turbos are powered by hot exhaust gases and they get hot, hot hot. How hot? Hotter than molten lava! When pushed to its limits for a continuous amount of time the turbo can start glowing red. For this reason racers have vents to get air circulation flowing through the engine bay. 

The second is friction and heat in the turbine itself. Think about this for a second. Your engine revs at 2,000 rpm when cruising. Your turbo's turbine can reach speeds of more than 280,000 rpm. When I wrote, "Think about this for a second," it was to make you think about this: in one second that turbine will spin as many as 4,666 times. Try wrapping your head around that... more than 4500 times a second. That's a lot of friction there if the lubrication is insufficient.

This turbocharger bearing system is lubricated by the oil from the engine which is fed under pressure into the bearing housing. The oil is both lubricant and coolant. This is one more reason that the engine oil you select meets specifications.

Another disadvantage with turbochargers that doesn't get talked about much is "turbo lag." At times, when conditions are right (or wrong), there will be a delay between the moment you stomp on the pedal and the moment you actually feel power. This is turbo lag. 

At low speeds there aren't a lot of exhaust gases passing through the turbo, "so when you demand power from the engine, the turbocharger turbine needs time to start spinning at an optimal speed. The effects of this can be reduced by downshifting to a lower gear." Astute drivers will still notice the split delay at times.

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Because of their benefits, turbochargers have almost universally become stock equipment on diesel pickups and will be around for years to come. It's useful, however, to be aware of their shortcomings.

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Sources 

What Is a Turbocharger and How Does It Work

Eight Things About Turbochargers You (Probably) Never Knew

Champion Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils Dominate Diesel Drag Racing and Pulling

Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry leader in racing and performance specialty lubricants for over 65 years, is proud of their winning success and podium finishes with Champion’s Full-Synthetic Gear Oils in diesel drag racing and pulling vehicles that need robust lubrication in severe environments to decreases friction and wear, oil film resistance at hot temperatures, and to allow smooth gear shifting at start-up and during lower temperatures.

“Hypoid differentials, gearboxes, transfer gearboxes, synchronized or non-synchronized gearboxes, gearbox/differential, or transfer gearboxes found in diesel and other vehicles require specialized lubrication that provide a high degree of gear protection”, stated Karl Dedolph at Champion. “Our Racing 75W-90 and 75W-140 Full Synthetic Racing Gear Oils ae designed to lubricate these components with extreme-pressure additives that are more viscous than other racing type gear oils in the market.”

 

“These additives have the ability to transfer a lot of power when the gear box runs very hot, work with heavy loads and low revolution speed or moderate loads and high revolution speed and have a good balance of extending replacement intervals.  This, choosing a high-quality diesel racing gear oil, like Champion’s, is very important for the life of your competition or high-performance vehicle.”

 

“While many of the racing gear oil competitors still use mineral gear oils, synthetic gear oils are becoming the norm in racing. Synthetic gear oils show better resistance to oxidation, better flow at start-up, and better retention of viscosity at elevated temperatures.  These characteristics are exceptionally important as race maintenance-intervals get stretched out, sumps get smaller, and airflow across the axle is reduced by ever changing body designs, wheel-wells, air ducts, skid plates, and track condition aerodynamics.”
 

“While mineral gear oils are usually thickened with heavy paraffinic base oils, synthetic gear oils are typically lighter and are thickened with polymers. Champion uses a premium grade polymer in a proprietary formulation which makes it less likely to quickly shear out of grade,” added Dedolph.

 

Champion 75W-90 and 75W-140 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils benefits include: Formulated to provide extreme pressure protection for competition racing, provide better lubricant oxidation stability, superior corrosion protection for less synchronizer wear, reduce differential and gearbox temperatures, improves shifting, reduce foaming at high speed, and long lasting.

Plus, Champion Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils, part #4312 & #4371, have the highest film strength in the market, contains a limited-slip additive, suitable replacement for a differential calling for an 80W90 or SAE 90 gear oil, contains additional friction modifiers for suitability with clutch-type limited slip differentials, plus anti-oxidation, anti-corrosion and anti-foam additives.  

 

Champion SAE 75W-90 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oil specific properties: Amber color, 16.7 Viscosity @ 100°C cSt, GL-5, Viscosity Index 172, KRL Shear % Loss - 8.4, Flash Point 199°F, Composition Ingredients: Synthetic Oil, Alkyl Polysulfides, Long Chain Alkyl Amine, Alkyl Phosphate, Long-chain Alkenylamine. https://www.championbrands.com/full-synthetic-racing-gear-oil-75w-90-2/

 

Champion SAE 75W-140 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oil specific properties: Amber color, 27.4 Viscosity @ 100°C cSt, GL-5, Viscosity Index 190, KRL Shear % Loss - 8.5, Flash Point 199°F, Composition Ingredients: Synthetic Oil, Alkyl Polysulfides, Long Chain Alkyl Amine, Alkyl Phosphate, Long-chain Alkenylamine. https://www.championbrands.com/full-synthetic-racing-gear-oil-75w-140/

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2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members

Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

Champion Blue Flame Named Official Oil of 2021 East Coast Diesel Nationals

Photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Here's another sign of spring, and evidence that things are opening up again for diesel enthusiasts and the economy.

This week Champion Oil announced that the National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) has selected Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil as the official oil of the annual East Coast Diesel Nationals on July 17^th  held at Numidia Dragway, 10 Dragstrip Road, Numidia PA. 

 

NADM, established in 2007, is the only sanctioning body for diesels that promotes all diesel motorsports associations, clubs and events. Diesel Motorsports holds over 70 diesel events around the country each year while also building a membership that offers benefits for business members as well as fans with diesel drag racing, sled pulling, and Dyno competitions. Diesel Motorsports events are all about diesels, and include a large Vendor Alley at each event. 

 

The prestigious event in Numidia, PA is Diesel Motorsports' biggest “diesel only” show of the year with drag racing, sled pulling, Show-N-Shine, dyno competition and more.  Gates open at 8am. Drag and pull registration, Dyno and Show-n-shine opens at 9am. Drag racing starts at  10am with pulling starting at 1pm. Visit the Diesel Motorsports website for specific class guidelines.

This year Champion Oil has designed a special contingency program which includes cash and product for all class drag and pull winners at the East Coast Diesel Nationals. Register here:  https://www.championbrands.com/racer-contingency/

 

Drag Racing Classes include:

• Street Truck: Competitors will run with street trucks with no times, just lane winner at end of track lights! Race against your buddies with no worries about anything but who the winner was on the pass!

• ET Bracket Class: Competitors race against their dial-in efforts to predict, react and perform better than the competition without breaking out from their timed number.

• 12.0 Quick Diesel: Indexed at 12 seconds, this class leaves the starting line together (heads-up style) and the first legal racer to cross the line without running quicker than the index wins.

• Heads-Up Truck: Full size trucks with proper safety equipment compete on an unlimited, heads-up racing in 1/8 and/or 1/4 track!

• Pro Stock: Fiberglass-bodied diesel-powered trucks and cars compete heads-up to the finish in the 1/8 and/or 1/4-mile action. 

• Top Diesel: Diesel dragsters designed for all out speed compete heads up in 1/4-mile action.

• Work Stock: Stock OEM turbochargers, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited.

• Hot Work Stock: Street turbochargers that plug no larger than 2.55, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited, licensed for street, DOT tires.

• 2.5 Street Diesel/2.6 Smoothbore: Single turbo, 2.5 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited or 2.6 smoothbore turbo, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 2.6 Street Diesel: Single turbo, 2.6 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted. 

• 3.0 Smoothbore Diesel: Single turbo, 3.0 smoothbore, water injection prohibited, solid rear suspension, receiver style hitch required, drive shaft u-joint shields required, hanging weights permitted.

• 3.6 Single Turbo / Super Pro Multiple Turbo: These classes will pull together, with 300# weight difference. Other handicaps may be used if there is an agreement of the majority of both classes. The 3.6 (3.6) Single Turbo is based on stock chassis and the Super Pro Multiple Turbo (SP) is based on a tube frame.

Sled Pulling Classes include:

• Work Stock: Stock OEM turbochargers, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited. 

• Hot Work Stock: Street turbochargers that plug no larger than 2.55, water injection prohibited, hanging weights prohibited, licensed for street, DOT tires.

• 2.5 Street Diesel/2.6 Smoothbore: Single turbo, 2.5 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited or 2.6 smoothbore turbo, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 2.6 Street Diesel: Single turbo, 2.6 inch maximum inducer bore, turbocharger bushings prohibited, water injection prohibited, bolt in, removable solid rear suspension bars permitted, receiver style hitch required, hanging weights permitted.

• 3.0 Smoothbore Diesel: Single turbo, 3.0 smoothbore, water injection prohibited, solid rear suspension, receiver style hitch required, drive shaft u-joint shields required, hanging weights permitted. 

• 3.6 Single Turbo / Super Pro Multiple Turbo: These classes will pull together, with 300# weight difference. Other handicaps may be used if there is an agreement of the majority of both classes. The 3.6 (3.6) Single Turbo is based on stock chassis and the Super Pro Multiple Turbo (SP) is based on a tube frame.

 

Champion Brands Blue Flame® Performance Diesel Motor Oils are formulated with workhorse performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic and conventional base fluids. In addition, Champion Brands Blue Flame® Diesel Motor Oil delivers unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, has the muscle to combat oil shear, maximizes and sustains cylinder compression, and is proven to increase engine horse power and torque. Purchase oil here at  https://theblueflameblogger.blogspot.com/2021/

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information about the Champion Blue Flame® Performance Diesel Engine Oil contact your nearest Champion distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to http://championbrands.com