More Insights on the Future of Diesel: An Engine Design that Meets 2027 California Standards

This engine by Achates Power is getting real attention.

We've all seen the impact of communication technologies and the Internet. The world today is far different from the one we experienced as kids in the Fifties. There are many futurists who have been watching the auto industry, anticipating an equally explosive shift with regards to the future of transportation. One of these is Mike Millikin, founder and editor of Green Car Congress. 

Millikin was a trained journalist who spent most of his career in IT and Internet related pursuits. He was right in the center of the 90s whirlwind that transformed everything. In 2004, he saw that an even bigger transformation was coming as science was applied toward the goal of green transportation and energy. 

This past week Green Car Congress published an article titled Achates opposed-piston 3-cylinder 10.6L diesel emissions meet 2027 EPA, CA requirements.  It's about a radically improved internal combustion engine that meets California emissions standards. That seems pretty progressive as far as I'm concerned.

The article begins:

Achates Power’s innovative 3-cylinder, 10.6L opposed-piston heavy-duty diesel engine has achieved performance results that comply with pending 2027 requirements of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California to reduce sharply emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx). Engine and aftertreatment system development and performance assessments were conducted at the Achates Power facility in San Diego and the Aramco Research Center-Detroit.

It is a major development for a project that aims to improve the environmental performance of commercial vehicles using hydrocarbon fuels.

The most recent test of the engine, including aftertreatment, measured 0.02g per brake horsepower-hour (g bhp/hr), demonstrating the capability of the engine to be certified under California’s ultra-low NOx regulation, which requires diesel commercial vehicle engines to reduce NOx by 90% by 2027 to no more than 0.02g bhp/hr over the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) cycle.

Furthermore, carbon dioxide emissions are 8% below the current standards in California. As the saying goes, "Aim high, you just might hit it." 

The engine is a three-cylinder design in which the opposed pistons move vertically. Achates Power power accomplished this achievement with a standard DEF injection aftertreatment system. 

You can read the full story here:
https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/12/20201218-achates.html

We applaud these efforts toward a clean diesel future.

Important Things to Know about Winterizing Your Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)

It's amazing how timeless some ideas are. Change is the one constant in life. Nothing remains the same forever, or so it seems. This is especially true in the realm of technology. In the past few decades we've seen nanotech applied to filters, and "brain boxes" (minicomputers) orchestrating the symphony of movements within the internal combustion engine. 

Many of these technical improvements are driven by a singular aim: the more efficient production of power while simultaneous producing cleaner outcomes. 

When the EPA in 2010 mandated selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in diesel trucks, the objective was clearly positive for the environment, but appeared to be problematic for the consumer. Why? Because it violated the principle of KISS--Keep It Simple Stupid--by adding a step to our maintenance regimens. The added complication was the need for Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF).

Like most habits, as it turns out, maintaining DEF has not been as big a headache as initially perceived. It's no more complicated than making sure your truck has wiper fluid. Nevertheless, there may have been some gripes till we got used to it, and having a dashboard warning indicator there to remind us our DEF was low was also helpful and wise.

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ALL THIS TO SAY that as we head into the most frigid time of year if may be a good time to be reminded about winterizing and DEF. Here are some insights from an article by K.J.Jones at last winter's Truck Trend site, "Tips for Handling and Storing DEF in Cold Climates."

Early in the article Jones explains, "Handling and storing DEF in cold climates can be challenging. Made from a mixture of technically pure urea and purified water, DEF freezes at 11 degrees Fahrenheit and needs to be properly maintained and dispensed to preserve its quality."

A lot of people may forget that DEF is two-thirds water and water freezes when it gets cold. In other words, you shouldn't store the DEF in an unheated garage or in the back of your pickup if you live in North Dakota or Upper Michigan.

Because water expands when it freezes, you should not fill the DEF tank all the way in winter, Jones says. Some trucks have low-energy heaters that will protect the fluid from freezing during shutdown, but if you aren't sure about yours, this would be a word to the wise. 

IF YOUR DEF FREEZES, do not put additives in the tank to help it melt, says Jones. The DEF fluid needs to be kept pure to work properly. Instead, there there's a special heater that will melt the DEF fairly quickly. 

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SHELF LIFE is a consideration to keep in mind when storing and handling DEF. Wine may get better with age, but DEF does not. You should make sure to note the expiration date on your bottle, usually one year or a little longer under optimal conditions.

DEF is manufactured to certain specifications which get approved by the API. Jones suggests looking for the API approval logo on the package. There are also a few additional statements about storage conditions. Not only do you want to keep it from freezing, you also shouldn't let it sit in the sun if your in Miami next summer. 

To review the full article, visit:
http://www.trucktrend.com/news/2001-winterize-diesel-exhaust-fluid-def
How to Winterize Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) 

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EXTRA POINT: How DEF Works
DEF is made from deionized water and a very pure form of urea. When hot exhaust gas and DEF enter the catalytic converter, the urea from the DEF and the exhaust gas reacts with a variety of metallic compounds to convert nitrogen dioxide and monoxide into harmless nitrogen and water.  

The New GM 2.8-liter 4-Cylinder Diesel Engine Is at the Heart of This Mad Max ISV

Tell me this doesn't look like something out of Mad Max. (GM Defense)

Sometimes art inspires life. That was my first thought when I saw this October story in Car and Driver about GM's new Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV), which looks like it would have been right at home in the storied Mad Max series. (How fun it must have been for the folks who were assigned to create all these bizarre rat rod-like contraptions for that post-apocalypse thrill-ride.)

Three companies had been given a million dollars each to develop a light-weight off-road troop carrier. Every aspect of the design had functionality as its criteria. It had to be light enough for easy dispatch from a C-130 or C-17 transport plane, as well as for sling lift by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The nine-seat ISV also had to be strong, durable, and off-road nimble. GM Defense got the assignment.

In developing the concept, GM Defense began with a Chevy Colorado ZRT as a foundation. From there it gets exciting as they clamped a new GM 2.8 liter, 4-cylinder diesel power plant in place under the hood. Ezra Dyer reminds readers that the specs are classified, but experienced journalists have no problem sharing their hunches as regards the possibilities. Dyer knows well the Colorado this machine is based on.

Dyer also shares a little GM history as well, noting that the automaker "started building trucks for the military in 1914, sending 90 percent of its trucks to the front in World War I. More recently, in the the 1980s, they built more than 70,000 lightly militarized Blazers and Silverados: the Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle (CUCV). Plenty of those are now in private hands, their naturally aspirated 6.2-liter diesels still grumbling away. So the ISV continues a long tradition of modifying GM trucks for military duty."

The contract GM Defense signed was worth $214 million for 649 vehicles. Ultimately the army is looking to acquire 2700 of these light-weight beasts. The occasion for this article in October was that the company had just deliver the first of the lot. To get the full story, plus some cool video showing off what the ISV can do, follow the link below. Looks fun.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a34518940/gm-4x4-colorado-based-military/

 

Are 2021 Diesel Events Just Around the Corner?

The rumble of diesel power is approaching on the horizon. Can you hear it?

The other day I saw a Tweet that proclaimed the first performance diesel competition of 2021 is coming. It's hard to say which events will really take place and which will be postponed another season. 

When the 2021 Outlaw Diesel Series schedule was announced in November, there was a lot of optimism in the air. With all the media noise about spiking Covid, it's hard to know what will really unfold and which will have to be folded up. I know of at least one early diesel event that already got shuttered.

You'' find the dates and classes for the 2021 Outlaw Diesel Series here and to stay current with event announcements you'll want to follow the Outlaw Diesel Superseries on Facebook. The first one listed is Rudy's, April 23-24. Will we pull it off? Place your bets.

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Planning to Scheid's Diesel Extravaganza at summer's end? The dates this year are August 27-28. Get your tickets here. Seems like a long ways off, but it will be here before you know it. 

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Tomorrow is our Winter Solstice when the tilt of the earth's North Pole is furthest from the sun. Beginning Tuesday, the days will begin getting longer. Historians tell us that peoples and cultures have been celebrating this event since pre-history. Whether you celebrate or hibernate tomorrow, let's look forward to a brighter year ahead.

$40 Million in Grant Money Available in the Bay Area to Reduce Diesel Engine Pollution

This story was sent to us the other day regarding funds available to upgrade older diesel trucks with state-of-the-art clean diesel engines. The primary aim of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District is to reduce toxic emissions from older diesels. Vehicles being considered include medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, mobile construction and industrial equipment, agricultural equipment, marine vessels, locomotives and school buses. 

I'm imagining that school districts with nimble leadership will try to take advantage of this offering. Those whose decision-making apparatus is tangled in tape will be less able. 

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If you've ever wondered why air quality is such an issue in California, a visit to Los Angeles in person might answer part of that question. This city, and most of the coastal cities on the Pacific, are situated in basins with mountains stretching up on the East and an incoming breeze from the ocean. It's like a bowl that cataches and holds all the smog, zone and particulate matter. An atmospheric inversion occurs which causes it all to form a "pollution dome" over the city. 

Most major cities have a slightly discolored dome hovering over them, but wind and weather usually cleanses this cloud in most places. The cities on the West Coast, being hedged by mountains, find themselves with a unique drawback. 

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California has been wrestling with air quality issues for a century now and San Francisco has not been exempt. Jack Broadbent, the Bay district’s executive officer, said the grants would pay for “cleaner-than-required equipment to improve air quality in neighborhoods that need our help most." The funding comes from the Carl Moyer Program and Community Health Protection Program.

NOTEWORTHY

The announcement was made on December 11, and these funds will be distributed on a first come first serve basis. 

To apply or for more information, go to www.baaqmd.gov/AB617grants or call (415) 749-4994. Applications will be evaluated on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out.

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Story Source: The Independent News

Win a Year's Supply of Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil. Register Here!

Winning contests is fun.  But in order to win you have to play. They won't pick your name unless you throw your hat in the ring. 

Photo by Danny Howe on Unsplash

Champion Brands has announced a sweepstakes in which you can win a year's supply of Blue Flame Performance Diesel Oil for your favorite ride. What's intriguing about this particular contest is that it doesn't have a deadline. There will be drawings throughout the year. 

I won my first contest when I was 8. I ended up on the front page of the local newspaper. I won another contest in high school, and more later in life. Why? Because usually there are fewer entries than you'd think, which means that the odds favor you more than you might think, if you enter.

Here's are the key points about this contest. 

To Register
1. Click on the green Blue Flame Contest button on the upper right.
2. Fill out the form.
3. Submit

In a nutshell, this is a classic sweepstakes in which you register to win with no-purchase-necessary. 

The contest manager will pick winners throughout the year and provide enough Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Engine Oil to cover a minimum of four oil changes a year. 

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Restrictions 

One entry per household

Must be 18 years of age

US 48-state addresses only

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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.

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 horse power and torque.

 

Champion Blue Flame “Classic” 15w-40 Performance Diesel Engine Oil. 
https://www.championbrands.com/blue-flame-classic-blend-15w-40-pre-2007-diesel-engine-oil/ 

Champion Blue Flame API 15w-40 Performance Diesel Engine Oil

https://www.championbrands.com/champion-blue-flame-15w-40/

 

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ABOUT THE BLOG

Champion’s Blue Flame Blog aims to establish itself as a vital resource for diesel performance enthusiasts by becoming a hub connecting enthusiasts to other digital platforms such as Diesel Forums, Press Releases, Email, Web Sites, RSS Feeds and other social media platforms. I

 

The Blue Flame Diesel Blog also has links that provide real time information on such subjects as diesel fuel prices, truck stop locations, technical information, torque specs, how to become a Champion Oil distributor, real time crude oil prices, diesel seminars, and on-line purchases. www.blueflamediesel.com

IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE here at the Blue Flame Blog, let us know. If it will help other Diesel Enthusists, we'll work it in.

 

About Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 350 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information contact your nearest Champion distributor, or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, 64735 or go to http://www.championbrands.com

Performance Diesel Podcasts for Your Listening Pleasure

There was a time when your only options for what to watch on television were what the networks produced and fed you. With the exception of ham radio enthusiasts, radio content was also created for delivery via the airwaves and you listened to what they generated. With the advent of cable television your choices were broadened, but also you were still limited.

Then the Internet came and the monopoly of the networks was broken forever. Nearly anyone could be a content producer or develop a show to share on YouTube, Vimeo or other platforms. In fact, 500 hours of new content is being uploaded to YouTube every minute. This amounts to 720,000 hours of content each day. Imagine how big Google's hard drives are to hold all that information.

Two decades ago the concept of RSS feeds was emerging and Podcasting began to emerge as a viable force. Podcasters are similar to radio programs except they use audio files that can be played on the listener's devices. Just as there are millions of people uploading videos to YouTube and Facebook, so too there are currently 850,000 podcasters who have produced over 30 million podcast episodes.

Many podcasters produce a series in which a host or hosts interview guests on a theme or cover news around a related topic. It should come as no surprise then that there are literally hundreds of podcasts for diesel enthusiasts. 

One way to find channels you like is simply to Google it.  Here's a popular one called Diesel Performance Podcast. DPP has been archiving shows since 2015. Recent topics include:

Talking Fabrication and Sled Pulling with Jason Wehrli

Frank Kuperman of RevMax

Black Friday 2020

Reasonable Upgrade Lists for Every 6.6L Duramax

There are a wide variety of ways to listen to your favorite programs. You can subscribe via RSS, listen on Apple Podcasts, download to your laptop, email to your iPhone, listen on Stitcher or Spotify or head over to YouTube. In short, the power is in your hands.

The best part is, if you think you can do better then you can share your own Diesel interests with a podcast of your own. If you do, leave a comment and tell us about it. 

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Links
Diesel Performance on Google Podcasts 

More Diesel Performance 

Backtracks Diesel Performance Podcasts