Top Ten Stories of Our First Year and a Shout Out to Our Readers

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Blue Flame blog, a year of finding stories of value and sharing them with diesel enthusiasts. It's really been a remarkable year in many respects. We truly appreciate all of you who have made time to visit here over the course of the year. 

When we began this endeavor one year ago today we were fairly certain that there was an unmet desire for diesel-related news, hence our desire to become your diesel performance resource center.

We've now posted 261 unique blog posts by 11:00 a.m., Monday through Friday since September 1, 2021 in the heart of the pandemic. The average reader is spending nearly six minutes on the blog per visit. Thank you for your interest. We're delighted that there is always something to talk about when it comes to diesel. And if there's something you'd like to see that we're not covering, please let us know in the comments.

What follows are links to our Top 10 stories of this past year. 

10 

According to Shelby American president Gary Patterson, they created the Super Baja by combining all the best features and experience they'd gained from the  Shelby Raptor and Shelby F-150 programs. Phoebe Wall Howard described it as something "for that special someone who has everything."

Read: Shelby F-250 Super Baja Limited: The Epitome of Diesel Cool

9 
Automotive News editors were intrigued that whenever they had long discussions with auto industry leaders, somehow the conversation often drifted to racing. The editors came to realize that racing was itself a microcosm of the industry. 

Read: The East Coast Diesel Nationals and Thoughts on Why Motorsports Competition Matters

8 
It's late summer now, but fall is in the air and winter around the corner. What follows are a few areas to focus on, extracted from an article by Whitney Russell that appeared in The NewsWheel.

Photo courtesy Chevrolet

Read: Getting Your Diesel Truck Ready for Winter

7 
If you're a diesel guy you're probably have a few ideas about how to produce more power. Nevertheless, if you aspire to play with the big boys you'll want to make sure your fundamentals are covered. Afterwards you can add your own secret sauce.

Read: How to Get More Power from Your Diesel 

6 
Viscosity control? Shear stability? TBN retention? Confused? Best to start your search by understanding your application; tractor pulling, drag racing, stationary, street, off-road, etc. Answering these five simple questions will help you zero in on the right oil for your truck's specific needs.

Read: Five Questions to Help You Pick the Right Diesel Engine Oil

5
The National Association of Diesel Motorsports (NADM) announced Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil as the official oil for this year's annual East Coast Diesel Nationals held at Numidia Dragway in July.  

Read: East Coast Diesel Nationals Picks Champion Blue Flame as Official Oil

4 
There are five reasons diesels are such torque monsters. Here's a deeper dive into the details.

Read: The Biggest Reason We Love Diesels: More Torque

3

The 7'1" former NBA All Star doesn't always have an easy time finding a vehicle he can comfortably drive. The Drive gives an account of the steps Shaq took to find a ride more suited to his special needs and tastes.

Read:  Shaq Goes Big with a Diesel Ford F-650

2  
This was a big story for us. Shelby American is recommending Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil  for its new Ford Shelby F-250 Super Baja, a Limited-Edition off-roading pick-up truck. 

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

 
1 

Diesel drag racers were invited to participate in the Champion Blue Flame contingency program. The response has been such that this became our most read blog post of the past year

Read: Blue Flame Contingency Program Rewards Diesel Drag Racers

 

THE BLUE FLAME BLOG has been designed to be a destination for owners, enthusiasts  and fans of diesel vehicles. From the start our goal has been to create a one-stop spot to stay informed, discuss, share and learn about all things diesel. As diesel fans, supporters and critics, we value and appreciate your participation in generating diesel related content. If you have ideas for stories, please leave comments or send an email to BlueFlame1952@gmail.com

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

With our editors on vacation, we're re-posting a few of our favorite stories from the previous year. This story appeared in March.

In February the story broke about the new Shelby F-250 Super Baja Limited. It was a fun story because for many, this is what dreams are made of. The name alone is iconic, in part because of its celebrated history. It's not every day that you see a car designer featured on the silver screen. (Ford v. Ferrari) Then again, the Shelby story really does at times appear to be bigger than life.

So it with special enthusiasm that I read yesterday's news headline: 

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

Here's the rest of the story.

Champion Oil, a global leader in performance diesel engine oil now celebrating its 65th anniversary, announced that Shelby American is recommending Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil  for its new Ford Shelby F-250 Super Baja, a Limited-Edition off-roading pick-up truck. 

“We deigned the Shelby F-250 Super Baja pickup to perform under extreme conditions, both on and off-road," said Gary Patterson, president of Shelby American. “With 6.7-liter V8 Power Stroke Turbo Diesel churning out 475-horsepower and 1,050 pound-feet of torque, the truck can really fly. For such an aggressive application, we recommend using Champion’s Blue Flame 15w40 CK4/SN Performance Diesel Engine Oil."  

Built for Shelby in Elkhart, Indiana, by Tuscany Motor Co., and in Las Vegas by the Shelby American team, the trucks will be sold at select Ford dealers in the U.S. Each will be documented in the official Shelby Registry. Production will be limited to only 250 vehicles.

Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils are formulated with workhorse high-zinc performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic fluids. The Shelby F-250 Super Baja needs a total of 13 quarts of oil including the capacity of the oil filter.

In addition, Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils deliver unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, with the muscle to combat oil shear and maximize sustained cylinder compression. They also inhibit oxidation, corrosive acids, sludge and varnish build-up. 

These robust performance oils keep diesel engines going longer by reducing soot-induced engine wear, controlling abrasive soot contamination and preventing high temperature corrosion, even while allowing for improved fuel economy and lower total cost of ownership. They are proven to increase engine horsepower and torque. https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion Brands, LLC 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 contact Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO  http://www.championbrands.com