A Conversation Among Friends About Choosing Your First Pickup

The 2020 Chevrolet Colorado mid-size pickup.

Here's a creative way to dig into the pros and cons of an issue, an article at The Globe and Mail in which Petrina Gentile and Mark Richardson discuss ins and outs of buying a new pickup truck for the first time. There are many issues to consider and the article is a creative way to unearth the various facets of these issues. 

The article is titled, "I'm looking to buy my first pickup, preferably a diesel. What should I buy?"

What a great title. It's not clickbait, but is certainly effective. It tells you what the article will be about and pulls you in.

A reader named John has written in to say that after driving cars for years (currently a Ford Escape) he wants to purchase a pickup. Because he may also be buying a boat in the near future he wants to get something that tows well, and is leaning toward a diesel. What size should he get though? 

These were his thoughts and the authors. dive right in.

Richardson begins by letting John know that as soon as he gets a pickup he will be "everybody's friend" as they will come to him to help them move and bring things to the dump. Gentile concurs, noting that this has also increased their popularity. Seven companies, he adds, are working on bringing electric pickups to market, though Richardson quickly notes that these will be expensive.

The two digress to debate whether these EVs are simply status symbols or really worth the extra cost. Then they return to the discussion. Because trucks are heavier are they counterproductive as a commuter vehicle? Richardson then notes that he knows people who would never consider driving something that wasn't a truck, so the question is moot.

One of the bigger issues is brand. Pickup owners are exceedingly brand loyal. "I can’t recall a single pickup-truck driver among my friends who’s switched brands in the last decade," Richardson said. 

Gentile shared that his dad drove a Ford F-150 for 50 years and never once considered trying a Silverado.

As for size, Richardson says that John only needs a full-sized pickup if he's planning to get a full-sized boat. The mid-size will be more than satisfactory and, because it is lighter, will give better fuel economy.

Gentile replies, "Not so fast." The Dodge Ram 1500 is powerful and fuel efficient. Richardson agrees here, saying he'd driven a Ram diesel that gave better fuel economy than his Toyota Rav4.

There are a number of additional details, but when all is said and done what do you think they recommended? Well, since there is no right answer and you don't want to offend anyone too badly, many brands catch some strokes. I'm impressed, though, at how many positive things we've been hearing about the diesel-powered mid-sized Chevy Colorado on so many forums. Its cousin the GMC Canyon gets cited as well as the Ford Ranger with a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine, though this latter has no diesel option.

The friends close out the discussion with a reminder that there are options with all these choices which can add additional costs, so there is a lot to consider. 

The article is a fun read, and an intriguing way to present information. Follow this link for the full story.

Diesel Outboards? Why Not?

Just because half the lakes in the country are covered with ice doesn't mean we can't think about the upcoming boating season. Eric Haun, editor of Marine News, wrote an interesting article last summer in Marine Link titled "Making the Case for Diesel Outboards." In it he shares insights about transitions taking place in the marine arena.

Haun begins by pointing out how more and more professionals are switching away from inboard motors to outboards on small military craft, workboats, patrol boats another others kinds of vessels that were historically inboard engine powered. This gives the boats several advantages including easier access to maintenance, quicker replacement and the extra space available inside the boat.

At this point the discussion turns to diesel outboards, which have advantages of their own, one of the foremost being fuel safety. The author writes, Compared to gasoline, diesel is a less flammable fuel and therefore much safer to work with in all working environments. In addition, with diesel engines the combustion of fuel takes place due to the heat generated by the compression of fuel and air inside the cylinder. Compression ignition is safer than petroleum being ignited by a spark plug, or any other spark.

One of Haun's sources was OXE Marine, a Sweden-based diesel outboard manufacturer. According to Myron Mahendra, CEO of OXE Marine, “Many vessels are hindered by regulations to carry petrol onboard if fire safe containment is not provided. The use of petrol is, therefore, a challenge for any vessel with tenders.”

He also spoke with U.K.-based Cox Powertrain, which makes diesel outboards as well. Cox noted that NATO has been pushing a single fuel idea, with the aim of maximizing equipment interoperability by using a single fuel option. This is one of the drivers behind the CXO300 diesel outboard Cox Powertrain has developed.

The end result here is that rescue vessels, naval and military vessels can refuel at the mother ship without being burdened with the hazard of highly volatile gasoline.

"Another benefit associated with diesel is efficiency," writes Haun. "Both Cox and OXE point to significant fuel savings compared to gas. Cox claims its 300-horsepower CXO300 offers roughly 30% fuel savings compared to its gasoline equivalent, while Mahendra says the 300-horsepower OXE 300, due to enter production shortly, uses up to 42% less fuel than a comparable gasoline outboard."

This fuel efficiency results in greater operational range so boats can stay out on the water longer.

Diesel outboards also have the usual advantages of diesel engines, including endurance, torque and flexibility. Though the price advantage goes to gas-powered outboards, one can make up the difference by comparing the life cycle costs of each and in most applications this would be fairly even.

The full article can be found here, with more photos as well.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/making-case-diesel-outboards-479456 

Diesel Fuels Power the Workhorse Vehicles of Both Our Present and Future

This past summer there was an article in Diesel Forum that explained why diesel power will continue to power the U.S. economy. The article presents data regarding the extent to which diesel powers the economy in the present and a key insight as to why diesel will continue to be a workhorse in the future. 

The August 2020 article, titled Fuels That Work: Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel and Biodiesel Power the U.S. Economy, begins by noting that nearly half the sectors in our economy rely heavily on diesel. 

The author writes, Diesel fuel and engines are often described as the platform of work. Diesel fuel is the most energy dense transportation fuel available, and the diesel engine is the most efficient means to transfer this energy density into useful work, while gasoline is almost exclusively used in the fleet of passenger vehicles. 

That last statement refers to the U.S. pascar market, inasmuch as diesel has made much deeper inroads in the E.U.

When we think diesel, many people first think of over-the-road transport vehicles. The reality is that diesel engines power heavy duty trucks, buses, locomotives, marine vessels, ferries, ag and construction equipment and even stationary industrial engines.

KEY INSIGHT  
The article goes on to explain why diesel has an edge when it comes to the future of power. 

A key advantage to the use of renewable biodiesel fuels is that compared to competing alternatives, they do not require the purchase of new vehicles, equipment or engines nor do they require expensive additional investments in refueling or recharging infrastructure. Their benefits can be felt immediately across entire fleets of vehicles, rather than only in newly acquired vehicles dependent on new infrastructure.  Biodiesel fuels can be stored, used, pumped and handled virtually the same way as petroleum diesel products.

These are significant points. One can tout the benefits of an EV future, but how much cost and transition time will there be? The goal should not be an EV future but a Clean future. This means all options are on the table, and diesel will be part of it for a very long time. 

Here's another strong point the author makes. 

Driving a global economy requires a steady supply of available, affordable and diverse energy sources. As the prime mover of the global economy, diesel technology continues to evolve to use the fuels more efficiently and with fewer emissions. 

Diesel's ability to efficiently generate power, especially in the new generation of diesel engines, fuels and equipment, is the reason diesel will play a role powering the economy for years to come.

Read the full article here:
https://www.dieselforum.org/policyinsider/fuels-that-work-ultra-low-sulfur-diesel-and-biodiesel-power-the-u-s-economy

Noteworthy New Products of 2020 According to Diesel Progress

Photo by Loren King on Unsplash

One of the most exhilarating things about trade shows is the New Product introductions that take place. Yes, there's always lots of glitz to distract you, but for the most part companies attend these shows to show off what's new, not simply to entertain. Some may use sizzle to get attention, but at the end of the day it's all business. 

For this reason, journalists come from all around the world to be on the cutting edge of what tomorrow's cars, trucks and technology will look like. And because publishers measure which pages get the most traction with readers, they learn early on that one of the most read pages in trade magazines is always the "What's New" page. 

At the end of 2020, many of these magazines will present a summing up of the year's action in the realm of new products. Diesel Progress did this at the end of December, shining a spotlight on a number of new product introductions last year. There may have been a crimp in trades how activity in this "Year of Covid" but the industry did not cease from doing what they do best: creating tomorrow's solutions for today's problems. Here are a few of the noteworthy new products of 2020.

Let's start with the engines.

John Deere unveiled a new 18.0 L diesel engine, the largest it has ever built. The engine, which is being built in Waterloo, Iowa, will be available in 2022. According to Diesel Progress, JDPS said the recently introduced 13.6 L and the new 18.0 L diesels were conceived together. “We started with the concept of having a couple of engines to cover our growing power needs into the future,” said Michael Lefebvre, manager, global marketing and product strategy. “And out of that came the 13.6 L and now the 18.0 L.”

John Deer is a storied name in U.S. agriculture with one of the best slogans of any company anywhere: "Nothing runs like a Deere." 

The Japanese tractor and equipment manufacturer Kubota also introduced a new diesel engine this year, after introducing its first diesel at ConExpo-Con/Agg in 2017. The new engine, also introduced at ConExpo-Con/Agg, is a model S7509, a six-cylinder, 7/ L diesel with a max output of 306.2 horsepower at 1900 rpm. It's their first diesel engine to surpass 300 hp with a max torque of 977 lb. ft at 1500 to 1600 rpm. This power plant will be available in 2023.

 Wireless Filter Monitoring

Another product that caught our eye was a Filter Minder by Donaldson. The Filter Minder is a wireless monitoring system that lets you know it's time to change the filter. The product is available for both off-highway and over the road applications. As everyone knows, or ought to, a large percentage of engine wear comes from dirt and debris entering the engine from outside, making good filtration one of your most important needs. The Donaldson Filter Minder notifies users when the filter's lifespan is nearly complete.  

Each of the products discussed has links to additional information from when they were introduced to readers earlier in the year. Other new products briefly discussed here include:

Kawasaki’s New Excavator System 

Doosan’s Hybrid Powertrain

Verifying Counterfeit Parts. (Danfoss)

New PSI Gas Engines

The Kubota Micro-Hybrid

Keeping E-Vehicle Batteries Connected

ZF Hybrid Marine Transmission

Volvo Penta Gen Drive Engines  

Here is the link to the original article at Diesel Progress:
https://www.dieselprogress.com/news/the-notable-new-products-of-2020/8009442.article

 

Got Snow Plows? Take Care of Those Hydraulic Systems with Champion Snow Plow Oil

It's that time of year. If you're a Northern Tier state you know what we're talking about. Snow. If you've never wondered how much our country spends on snow removal, it's not hard to find out. According to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), our states spend more than a billion dollars a year to keep our roads clear in winter. This includes both the equipment and the salt that is used to keep highways safe.

One thing most of these snowplows need is fuel and lubricants. You no doubt already have a fuel source. It may be that you're unaware that Champion Brands has a specially formulated show plow oil. Here some information worth knowing.

Champion Professional Grade Snow Plow Oil is a long-life hydraulic oil formulated with severely hydro-treated and hydro-finished API Group II base oils for improved oxidation resistance, viscosity retention and cold flow properties. This oil has excellent viscosity retention and cold-flow due to a very high viscosity index. Excellent protection against wear, corrosion and the build-up of sludge and varnish in the most demanding snowplow applications.

https://www.championbrands.com/professional-grade-snow-plow-hydraulic-fluid/

• Extended fluid life for longer service intervals
• Excellent filterability and cleanliness
• High thermal and oxidation stability
• Excellent demulsibility and air release
• Top-tier anti-wear performance
• Excellent cold-flow properties
• Forms thicker films at higher temperatures

Champion Professional Grade Snow Plow Oil meets or exceeds the following specifications:
• Parker (Denison) HF-0, HF-1, HF-2
• MAG (CM) P-68 (ISO 32), P-69 (ISO 46), P-70 (ISO 68
• GM LS-2
• Joy HO-T, HO-S, HO-T2
• AIST (US Steel) 126, 127
• DIN 51524-3, Type HLVP
• ASTM D6158, Type HV
• ISO 6743/4, Type HV
• Eaton M-2950-S, I·286-S3
• Bosch Rexroth RE 90220
• SEB 181222
• AFNOR NF E 48-603 (HV)
• SAE MS 1004, Type HV
• ANSI/AGMA 9005-E02-RO
• ISO 11158, Type HV
• Part# 4013H 12/1 QT 

* * *

If you're in the business of plowing snow you are probably aware of the Snow Plow Forum. If you're thinking of getting into it, and want to learn more, here's the link to an informative site on snow removal:
https://www.snowplowforums.com/threads/trucks-for-plowing-only-gas-or-diesel.9371/

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Since its founding in 1956, Champion Brands has established itself as a stalwart of the oil industry. The following announcement came across the wire this morning. We share it here in case you don't catch it in one of your favorite diesel publications or resources.

 

(Clinton, Mo / 01.04.21) Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry manufacturer of chemicals, lubricants, brake fluids, motor oils and additives, announced this week a year-long 65th Anniversary Celebration in 2021.  Highlights of the year will be sponsorship of national & regional auto races, product contests, promotions, and special events.  

https://www.championbrands.com/

 

Originally Lowe Oil Co. founded by Ralph Lowe in 1956, Champion Brands, LLC is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants. Champion produces and blends more than 350 products including fuel, oil and engine additives, brake fluids and motor oils for the automotive, heavy truck, racing, performance, industrial, commercial, agricultural and specialty markets.  https://www.championbrands.com/products/

 

Champion understands the complexities of doing business in today’s market and is always looking for new and better ways to be more efficient and resourceful. Quality products are more than a commitment at Champion; high standards define the way it does business. Champion is an ISO 9001:2015 Certified and Registered Company.

 

The company uses top tier additives and base stocks to formulate products for outstanding wear protection, fuel economy, high temperature stability, long-life protection, improved efficiency, oxidation resistance, lower evaporation, increased performance, friction reduction, and lubricant compatibility across a wide range of engine operating conditions and applications.

 

Headquartered in Clinton, Missouri, just 75 miles southeast of Kansas City, Champion’s 450,000 square foot plant with 30 loading bays accommodates more than 1.7 million gallons of bulk storage with convenient rail siding.

The plant has 10 filling lines and several blow molding machines including two Bekum 406 production units capable of blowing PVC and HDPE bottles, one Bekum 807D with 6-layer capability for containers up to 5 gallons and one AOKI PET Blow Molding Machine. Depending on the particular configuration, Champion is capable of producing well over 100,000 bottles per day. Three resin silos with over ½ million-pound capacity supply the blow molders. 

https://www.championbrands.com/plant-tour/

 

The facility also houses state-of-the-art net weight and piston filling lines capable of filling 300+ containers per minute to exact weight specifications. Containers are de-palletized, labeled, filled, sealed, capped, coded, packed and palletized, using only 3 operators. Lines are capable of running metal, HDPE, PVC and PET containers in sizes ranging from 2.4 oz to 330 gallon totes.

 

The speed and versatility of these lines make it a high volume, cost effective solution for the many Fortune 500 companies that private label and package product with Champion. Fluid blending and storage capacity includes over 100 tanks ranging from 1.5K to 34K gallons for blending lubricants, brake fluids and various chemicals.

 

The collection of blending tanks feeds the elaborate pigging system designed to prevent cross-product contamination. Rail siding and tanker truck load/offload locations provide the versatility to receive/ship bulk fluids in sizes ranging up to 30,000-gallon rail cars.

 

Ten lubricant/chemical filling lines package engine oils, hydraulic fluids, specialty oils, fuel additives, and automotive fluids that include power steering fluid, brake fluid, tire sealant, etc. Each line has specific types of products that it can package. Bottles are labeled, capped, heat sealed (if needed), coded, placed into cartons, and loaded onto pallets.

 

Champion has a very modern testing laboratory. While the lab’s primary function is to test the performance of products before they are packaged, the lab also has the tools to perform elemental analysis of fluids to blueprint the various components of different fluids or test used fluid. The talented R&D team formulates the world’s most advanced, engineering-approved fluids that exceed API, ILSAC, ACEA, JASO, Dexos, and other OEM and global standards.

 

Champion formulates and provides custom packaging for private label products including mineral, semi-synthetic and full-synthetic engine oils, fuel treatments, brake fluids, hydraulic fluids, automotive additives and chemicals, and more. The product portfolio is one of the largest in the industry.  https://www.championbrands.com/private-label/

 

Good people are the heart of Champion Brands, LLC. Passion, dedication, knowledge and a can-do attitude drive the growth of this company.

 

For more information about Champion 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

The Big Red Flatbed as Featured in Diesel Tech

The November issue of Diesel Tech had a nice story titled "The Big Red Flatbed" that appeared in its online  edition in December. The article by Colin Peterson focuses on a 2000 Dodge RAM 3500 powered by a 24-valve 5.9L Cummins engine. The vehicle is a labor of love for Alejandro "Alex" Ramos, a California teen from Camino, California.

The truck, which started as a stock dually, is a long ways from home, its original home being 3000 miles across the country in North Carolina. Today, the truck is in the midst of a complete makeover "with tractor-trailer-like rims" and beefed up performance. 

There's no question that Alex loves his truck. The article has lots of photos of this beautiful big red beast, but also includes an Instagram link where you can see even more. Alex is proud of what he has and of what he's been doing. It's a work in progress, and a work truck at the same time that he uses to pull excavators and other equipment around on winding roads.

The most aggressive upgrades have been under the hood, Peterson notes. Here's a partial list of what's taken place beneath the surface:

--195-horsepower BD Diesel Performance injectors

--BD Diesel high-performance VP44 injection pump

--Banks Power High-RAM air intake elbow

--Holset HX40 Super 40 turbo. 

"He keeps all of that running strong with Hot Shot’s Secret products. Behind the flywheel and before the NV4500 transmission is a South Bend Clutch dual-disk clutch, plenty well-designed to handle all the amped up performance that the engine puts out. With this setup that provides enhanced fuel flow, airflow and boost, the flatbed western hauler definitely gets the performance it deserves, and Alex has no problems with his heavy towing or hauling."

As noted earlier, it's a work in progress by a young man with big dreams. Dreamers peer into the future and make things happen. The world could use more young dreamers.  

READ THE FULL STORY HERE
https://www.dieseltechmag.com/2020/12/the-big-red-flatbed