Impressive Engineering: The 2021 Jeep Gladiator Rubicon Ecodiesel

Earlier this month Motor1.com published a story by Chris Bruce about the 2021 Jeep Gladiator with an EcoDiesel engine that gets 28 miles to the gallon highway driving. The headline highlights this feature regarding MPG, but the beast has many other attributes that make the gladiator a real fighter.

It's noteworthy that when the Gladiator was introduced at the L.A. Auto Show last year Jeep used the theme soundtrack from the film Gladiator starring Russell Crowe. 

The Gladiator brand was actually introduced in 1962, continuing through to 1988. None of those vehicles had a dashboard like today's Gladiator that you see here.

There's a certain nostalgia associated with the name, but Bruce notes that the new Gladiator with its EcoDiesel powerplant has taken the machine to a whole new level. He writes, "The 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 produces 260 horsepower (194 kilowatts) and 442 pound-feet (600 Newton-meters) and comes exclusively with an eight-speed automatic in the Gladiator and Wrangler. Models with this powerplant get tougher Dana 44 axles at the front and rear that are generally for the Rubicon grade of the gas-fueled examples."

The story includes 68 photos of the Gladiator in action. You' can find the Bruce story here: https://www.motor1.com/news/442131/2021-jeep-gladiator-fuel-economy/

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Diesel Motorsports Is Rockin' Our Blues Away

Great story by Jeff Zurschmeide on the PRI website. Diesel motorsports is far from dead, and is even growing. The article, titled Shake, Rattle & Roll, describes how diesel motorsports have become a powerful niche market that is drawing in more people every year.

(Sidenote: The song Shake, Rattle & Roll was originally recorded by Big Joe Turner, then made famous by Bill Haley & the Comets.)

https://www.performanceracing.com/magazine/featured/08-01-2020/shake-rattle-roll

Zurschmeide begins with a little background about how historically diesels-powered vehicles were used to tow their gas powered race cares to the track. JZ says, however, that times have changed. "Diesel motorsports now represents a large and enthusiastic market, with a wide variety of engine builders, aftermarket providers, and sanctioning bodies providing products to racers and a great show for fans.

The majority of diesel racing happens at drag strips, with a strong second presence at pulling competitions. Diesel has also found some surprising success in sports car racing, when Audi proved that a diesel-powered prototype could compete at the highest levels. In fact, Audi’s R10 TDI prototypes won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans three years straight, from 2006–2008."

That last bit about Le Mans is no laughing matter. Audi and other automakers have developed some powerful diesel power plants, as I noted Tuesday regarding Daimler's powerful new diesel engine for their Mercedes Benz.

That said, the mass market for diesel motorsports in America remains almost entirely limited to straight-line power contests. For now.

Trucks are King in the diesel motorsports scene, which is a grassroots movement driven by an appreciation for power. This need for power is what drives engine builders to satisfy the hunger. Cummins, Duramax and Power Stroke are the main foundations, but innovative builders augment these engines to maximize their capabilities. 

The full article goes much deeper. Check it out by following the first link below.

KEY LINKS

Shake, Rattle & Roll

70-Year-Old Diesel Is A Thoroughbred at Pike's Peak Hill Climb

Daimler Claims This Is the Most Powerful Diesel Car in Mercedes-Benz History

Looking For Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil? 

The 2020 PRI Trade Show at Indy Has Been Cancelled

Over the past three decades Indianapolis has become a vibrant center for trade shows and conventions. According to an Indy Star story the lost revenue due to cancelled events is estimated to be more than a half billion dollars this year. To the city's credit they are already visioning the bounceback and preparing for the future with optimism.

One of the latest trade shows now cancelled is a favorite for diesel enthusiasts, the 2020 PRI Trade Show that was scheduled for December. SEMA announced this week that the Performance Racing Industry event has been cancelled.  According to this story on Racer.com:

The announcement comes after months of work with the Visit Indy team, the Indiana Convention Center staff, and other Indianapolis officials on developing a plan for a safe and productive show. Though a full complement of health and safety guidelines would have followed, mounting uncertainty related to the Coronavirus resulted in “an environment that would not be conducive to a productive trade show,” the PRI release states.

“It is with great disappointment that we announce that the 2020 PRI Trade Show will not take place,” said PRI President Dr. Jamie Meyer. “Our goal is to always do what is best for the motorsports industry, and PRI will continue to lead with business solutions for an ever-changing future.”

It's unfortunate, and must have been a tough decision to make. The impact will be felt by motorsports parts manufacturers, resellers, racetracks, race teams, sanctioning bodies, media, and racers themselves.

On a positive note for those who had made deposits for booth space, PRI will be refunding.

Here's hoping for better outcomes in 2021.

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Photo courtesy Creative Commons.

CK-4, FA-4? Still Confused About Diesel Engine Oil Specs?

CK-4, FA-4? Are you still having diesel engine oil confusion? Consider this post simply as a tutorial about the differences between the current diesel engine oil standards known as American Petroleum Institute’s (API) CK-4 and FA-4. These service categories came out a few years ago as an improvement over the previous API Diesel Engine Oil Standards by providing enhanced protection against oil oxidation, engine wear, particulate filter blocking, piston deposits, and degradation of low- and high-temperature properties.

API CK-4 describes oils for use in high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway and Tier-4 non-road exhaust-emission standards as well as for previous model-year diesel engines. That is, they are backward compatible.

These oils are formulated for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500 parts per million (ppm). However, the use of these oils with greater than 15 ppm sulfur fuel may impact exhaust aftertreatment system durability and/or oil drain intervals.

CK-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4, and CH-4, and can effectively lubricate engines calling for those service categories. When using CK-4 oil with higher than 15 ppm sulfur fuel, consult your original engine manufacturer (OEM) for service interval recommendations. Most diesel OEMs are recommending you use API CK-4 oils as a replacement going forward.

The API FA-4 standard designates certain lower viscosity oils specifically formulated for use in select high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. Diesel OEMs are recommending this new oil spec for most late model-year engines. These oils are neither interchangeable nor backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4 or CH-4 oils. Therefore, you should follow the OEM’s advice when they recommend API FA-4 oils.

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Everything You Need to Know to Buy a Used Diesel Truck

Years ago I had a writer friend who self-published a book on how to buy a used car. It was 24 chapters, mostly short, but filled with useful information. His target audience was women who were tired of being taken advantage of by car salespeople who recognized their lack of experience in what was previously "a man's world." It wasn't really just for women though. I learned a lot from it and have had a lot of luck--and saved a lot of money--by knowing what to look for when buying second hand.

I thought of that book when I saw this story by Mike McGlothlin at Driving Line. The first paragraph setup details the advantages of diesel power. But then, he starts asking questions: 

"So how do you decide if a Ford, GM or Ram, Power Stroke, Duramax or Cummins is right for you? Which model years are more reliable than others? Which transmission would be better, and should I look for an automatic or a manual? What types of trouble signs should I look for on the engine, in the cab or under the body?"

And most important: What trucks should we be avoiding? No one wants a money pit. If you've ever been burned buying used, you know what I'm talking about.

Factors the author addresses include knowing how much weight you need to tow, how much the mileage should be considered as a variable, emissions systems, EGR, rust, injector issues and a dozen other details to consider. Late in the article he offers specific questions for specific models and model years. You'll appreciate the inspection pointers as well.

If you're considering a new used truck in the coming year, this 2018 story is one you'll want to read and bookmark.

 BUYING A USED DIESEL TRUCK: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Daimler Claims This Is the Most Powerful Diesel Car in Mercedes-Benz History

More power, less fuel consumption, fewer emissions. What's not to like?

According to Daimler.com, their new six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, the OM 656, sets a new standard as regards what diesels are capable of.  

What makes it noteworthy is that it not only has more power, but it also consumes 6% less fuel. The engine isn't designed simply to meet today's standards. Their target is always tomorrow's standards as well. Their goal, in conjunction with a cross-sector consortium of other companies, is a net zero future. 

I find it interesting that the engine has an aluminum block with steel pistons. It also touts a nano-level coating inside the piston chambers that they call NANOSLIDE®.

When you try to wrap your head around the engineering, chemistry and science involved in making today's high-tech cars, it's literally astonishing what we're seeing today. Just as the Internet was unimaginable half a century ago, so are the advances in automotive technology. 

You can read the full story here.

70-Year-Old Diesel Is A Thoroughbred at Pike's Peak Hill Climb

I heard about this last week and thought, "Cool." Now that I have more details, I realize it is a very cool story. The CarBuzz.com article by Sebastian Cenzo is titled 70-Year-Old Truck With 1,400-HP Just Broke A Pikes Peak Record. That's one hefty power plant.

When I was in school years ago I read a biography of Zebulon Pike, the explorer after whom Pike's Peak is named. When the U.S. bought the territory nicknamed The Louisiana Purchase from France in 1803, Thomas Jefferson inaugurated several expeditions to the West, Southwest and Upper Midwest. Lewis & Clark's expedition across the Rockies to Oregon is probably most famous, but Zeb Pike's exploration of Colorado and the Southwest has left us with a piece of geography as famous as the Bonneville Salt Flats for race fans.

Like Bonneville, there's plenty of prestige associated with Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Minimizing weight is one key to success on this hill. That's not exactly easy to do with a 1400-horsepower Cummins diesel power plant. Nevertheless, "Old Smokey" showed that a 1949 Ford F1 doesn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Super-congrats to Scott Birdsall for showing the world what a diesel can do.

Cenzo's article goes provides details about Litespeed Racing's lightweight forged wheels and the compound turbo setup on the Cummins diesel. "When you can get up the legendary hill in just 11:24.065 for a new world record, you'd also be happy to sacrifice economy," Cenzo writes.

And then there's the black smoke. Or rather, the lack of it. This is a truck running biodiesel and it's up to 90 percent cleaner than traditional diesel, with little to no modifications for a modern diesel engine to run safely.

Here's a video from YouTube to give you an idea of what Scott Birdsall and Old Smokey as all about. Not the sharpest imagery, but you have full camera control, so you can look left, right, up and down. If you've never run Pike's Peak, this might be your best first look. Up, up and away.

Here's the full article by Sebasitian Cenzo:
https://carbuzz.com/news/70-year-old-truck-with-1400-hp-just-broke-a-pikes-peak-record