Diesel Vehicles Aren't Going Away Any Time Soon. What We Need Is More Mechanics.

The Hollywood film Bicentennial Man, starring Robin Williams, is the story of a robot named Andrew who increasingly seeks to become human. It begins at a time when androids that can take care of routine household tasks are beginning to be mass produced. Robin Williams is one of the robots, essentially a household appliance.

There's a defect in Andrew, because he's developed a capacity for emotional attachments and though he follows the first law of robots (Obey your masters) he nevertheless isn't just another bot. The sad part of being a robot is that you outlive the families you serve, and Andrew's span of years is two centuries in this film.

The story is about Andrew's quest to become human. Part of this involves future developments in prosthetic organs and limbs. 

What's intriguing is how over time there are fewer and fewer mechanics who can do the repair work Andrew desires. After much searching he finds Rupert Burns, an old school tinkerer and technician. Burns becomes a handy asset for Andrew as he gets "worked on" with new body parts. 

* * * 

I share this because as we look in the the future, there is going to be a need for skilled hands-on mechanics to take care of the millions of vehicles we drive. Currently there are roughly 36 million trucks on the road today. According to the American Trucking Association there are close to a half million interstate freight carriers. (Big shout out to all the truckers transporting Covid vaccines around the country in a timely fashion.) 75 percent of our trucks, and 97 percent of our interstate transport rigs are diesel powered.

These are pretty staggering numbers, and though EVs get most of the publicity, diesel trucks will be an essential part of our transportation landscape for decades to come. An essential role in the future of trucking will be the need for mechanics to maintain these machines.

Do you like puzzles and problem solving? Engines can be fascinating? Do you like working with your hands? Do you like the feeling you get when you have skills that are essential to the future of the economy?  

According to Universal Technical Institute (UTI), the following skills are important for a career as a diesel mechanic or technician:

1. Attention to Detail (ability to focus)

2. Communication Skills

3. Technical Knowledge

4. Problem Solving

5. Desire to Succeed

For those with an entrepreneurial drive, there can be still wider horizons after you have laid a foundation with several years of experience and a good mentor.

* * * 

This blog posted was prompted by an article I read about a new diesel technology center that has opened in Oregon.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the need for diesel technicians and mechanics is expected to continue growing over the next ten years. A college education is not for everyone. You might only end up with a piece of paper and $25,000 in debt. There's dignity in a career in the trades. As with everything else, you can never tell where it will lead.

* * * 

Related Links

Fixing the Economy Begins by Fixing Our Workforce l

Looking for a Career? 10 Reasons to Become a Diesel Mechanic

Interview Tips for Diesel Mechanics

Diesel Tech Qualifications

* * * 

Do you have diesel news or a good diesel story?

Tell us about it. Send it to our Blue Flame director Karl Dedolph III 

@ kdedolph@championbrands.com

According to Car and Driver, This F-250 Is the Quickest Diesel Pickup They've Ever Tested

Can a four-ton Ford hit 60 mph in just over 6 second? Car and Driver says yes. With an F-250 Ford Lariat with a Power Stroke engine that cranks 1050 pound-feet of torque, you can be sure people will sit up and take notice.

The story by Eric Stafford appeared online last Friday. According to the folks at Car and Driver it's the quickest diesel pickup they've ever tested. Under the hood it's got a Power Stroke 6.7-liter turbo-diesel V-8, "making it the only three-quarter-ton truck with over 1000 pound-feet of torque." When you watch it go through its paces it gives you hot flashes.

What surprised the C&D folks was how quick this beast was despite being a heavier truck, sporting a SuperCrew configuration, 6.8-foot box, 4WD and an off-road Tremor package that included 35-inch Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires--8,120 pound, or just over four tons.

The fun part of being a writer for mags like Car and Driver is that you not only get to write about these vehicles, you get to play with them. Tech editor David Beard, who piloted the machine to its stellar record run, offered a number of tips.

1. Switch the transfer case to 4Hi.

2. Lock the electronic rear differential.

3. Turn off traction control.

4. Preload the driveling by stepping on the brake pedal and adding pressure on the gas.

5. Right before the max amount of boost is available, release the brakes and hit the sweet spot.

6. Keep the pedal to the floor and you've nailed it. 60 mph in 6.1 seconds.

* * *

The author proceeded to ask what it was that made this F-250 SuperCrew quicker than all its peers. I'll let him explain it:

Simply put, it has the most power, baby. Ford's Power Stroke not only makes a best-in-class 475 horsepower, but the iron-block V-8 generates a glorious 1050 pound-feet of earth-moving, redwood-uprooting torque. The 2021 Ram 3500 offers a high-output Cummins diesel that currently owns the HD torque crown with 1075 pound-feet. But the diesel F-250 is the only three-quarter-ton truck that eclipses the 1000 mark. The Ram 2500's Cummins 6.7-liter diesel inline-six tops out at 850 lb-ft, and the Duramax 6.6-liter diesel V-8 in the GMC Sierra 2500HD and Chevy Silverado 2500HD peaks at 910 lb-ft.

To call one pickup the quickest one must immediately ask, "Compared to what?" The C&D folks answer that question in the very next paragraph. The second quickest of all that they tested was a 2017 Silverado 2500HD. It likewise came very close to the 6 second sprint to 60 mph (6.2 seconds). Interestingly, despite having 340 lbs. less curb weight, it couldn't muster a quicker time. 

After a discussion of the real impact of curb weight on speed, Stafford ends the article asking the question, Do acceleration time really matter in heavy duty pickups?  

Go read the full article and then weigh in. It's either a yes or a no.  

2020 Ford F-250 Is the Quickest Diesel Pickup We've Ever Tested 
https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a35341157/2020-ford-f-250-tested-quickest-diesel-pickup-ever/ 

* * * 

Do you have diesel news or good diesel story?

Tell us about it. Send it to our Blue Flame director Karl Dedolph III 

@ kdedolph@championbrands.com

2021 Chev Silverado Diesel Makes a Splash in Argentina

On January 1, GM Authority kicked off the year with a story about a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado that was unveiled in Argentina a few days before in Cariló Park. The Silverado 1500 is a diesel-powered gem, and as you can from the photo here it is dressed in silver so luscious it appears to be liquid.

Deivis Centeno, the author of the story, shared how this was a pretty big surprise when the Silverado was unveiled at the end of year event a couple days earlier. The silver LTZ is equipped with a Duramax turbo-diesel 3.0L LM2 inline-six engine that generates 281 hp and 457 pound-feet of torque.

Argentina has more than 14 million cars and trucks on the road, more than any other Latin or South American country other than Brazil and Mexico. It's understandable that GM is seeking to find the right vehicles to match customer needs in that country. The Silverado is part of this effort. 

The top five brands in Argentina are Volkswagen, Toyota, Renault, Chevrolet and Ford. The two American automakers are neck and neck. GM has made a commitment to zero in on what Argentinians are looking for. 8% of the people there live in rural communities where agriculture remains strong. Ford is the leader in pickup truck sales, which is why GM is eager to win hearts with the Silverado.

Centeno states, "The automaker announced that it will continue analyzing its target audience’s preferences and fine-tune the most appropriate offer for the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado in the Argentine market. As a result, it’s possible that some versions of the pickup featuring the 5.3L L84 V8 engine, with 355 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque, will also be available in Argentina."

The Silverado is expected to go on sale during the first half of this year. It's summer in this Southern hemisphere country at the Southernmost tip of South America. GM has chosen an exotic location to display its offerings, at a place called the Chevrolet Forest Walk, a 28,000 sq. foot area in the middle of a forest. Pretty cool digs.

GM, we wish you well in your efforts there.

* * * 

Here's a reminder to enter our sweepstakes and win a year's supply of Blue Flame Diesel Oil. Click on the bright green button on the upper right of this page.

* * * 

Do you have diesel news or good diesel story?
Tell us about it. Send it to our Blue Flame director Karl Dedolph III 
@ kdedolph@championbrands.com

Gas-Powered? Here’s a top-tier choice for Vintage Trucks

This product is not from our diesel family but it is an important one for enthusiasts with old, gas-powered classic trucks. The reason is that in the mid-90s the American Petroleum Institute began to phase out zinc and phosphorous. There were soon problems cropping up in older vehicles with flat tappet cams. In response to this need, Champion introduced a beefed up Classic & Muscle Car Oil that protect old vintage vehicles. Here are the details.

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil is a favorite among enthusiasts with older gas-powered vintage pick-up trucks, hot rods, street rod, classic, and muscle car engines. This full synthetic motor oil is proven to provide more horsepower and torque than other leading brands of oil for older vehicles.  

 

These benefits are directly linked to Champion’s premium base stock and ZDDP anti-wear protection package, which contains a unique balance of chemistry including high levels of zinc and phosphorus. The full synthetic formula provides lower coefficient of friction than conventional or synthetic blend motor oils. Plus offers film strength and viscosity stability of thicker mono-grades at higher temperatures with less drag, provides upper cylinder anti-wear protection, and reduces operating temperature. 

https://www.championbrands.com/classic-muscle-15w-50-full-synthetic-motor-oil/

 

In addition, the Champion 15W-50 Classic and Muscle Motor Oil is specially formulated utilizing exclusive TVS® (Thermal Viscosity Stabilizer) technology. This proprietary technology delivers unmatched film strength at high temperature, better piston ring seal for maximum compression, and increases the foot-pounds of torque in most engines.

 

This top-tier oil addresses the potential of flat tappet camshaft failures found in older gasoline motors. The problem started years ago when oil companies began producing oils with a reduction in the anti-wear additive packages and noticed flat tappet camshaft and lifter failures 

 

“Most engine builders over the years might have blamed camshaft or lifter hardness, however they found that the majority of the failures were, in part, due to a reduction of anti-wear additives in motor oils. These failures coincided with an EPA mandate calling for the reduction of the Zinc additive and a longer life of the catalytic converters,” stated Karl Dedolph, Director of Champion Racing and Performance. 
https://www.championbrands.com/classic-muscle-15w-50-full-synthetic-motor-oil/

 

“This is not a problem in late model engines using roller lifters and newer camshafts because they do not need the anti-scuffing additive packages to protect the sliding action of flat tappet camshaft and lifter surfaces,” said Dedolph. “The main anti-wear additive in Champion’s Classic and Muscle Motor Oil is Zinc dialkyldithiophosphates (ZDDP).  There are other anti-wear additives but Zinc is maybe the most well-known oil additives found in any “purpose-built” oil. In much the same way that aspirin cures many ailments, ZDDPs provide many benefits to lubricating oils, especially engine oils”.

 

This class of additives delivers the anti-wear film necessary to protect metal parts under mixed lubrication where metal-to metal contact can occur. They function by adhering to the metal in the engine and are activated as metal-to-metal contact causes temperatures and pressures to rise. 

 

The result is a smooth, glass-like surface that provides excellent protection of metal components. This sacrificial coating prevents metal to metal contact, which reduces friction and wear. All key protection properties for cams, lifters, push rods, wrist pins, distributor gears, bearings, etc.

 

ZDDP also provides an excellent anti-oxidant that works synergistically with other additives found in engine oils. Along with its stability it activates at differing temperatures and pressures.  

Champion’s Classic and Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil is recommended for typically all non-catalytic converter equipped vehicles. This “purpose-built” oil provides a higher level of Zinc not found in the current API certified oils for recommended for newer OEM applications. 
https://www.championbrands.com/classic-muscle-15w-50-full-synthetic-motor-oil/

Engine builders and enthusiasts can now feel assured of using the right oil for their hot rods muscle cars, antique cars, trucks and vintage boats to protect the flat tappet camshafts. The full synthetic 15w-50 viscosity range will work with older, high compression engine and their larger clearances. 

“Forget the 0W-20 and 5W-20 used in today’s motors; they run tighter clearances and are specifically designed to work with these new, thinner oils. Older engine designs and platforms use heavier viscosity oils such as 15W-50,” added Dedolph. “Champion’s 15W-50 full synthetic motor oil is built specifically to meet the lubrication demands of older gas-powered vintage pick-up trucks, hot rods, street rod, classic, and muscle car engines”.

 

 * * * 

CONGRATULATIONS CHAMPION BRANDS 

as you celebrate 65 Years serving the needs 

of automotive and diesel engine enthusiasts.

Mack Releases a Fuel Savings Calculator for Its New Engine & How To Improve Fuel Economy

As we've noted many times, the primary drivers for technological change in the automotive and transportation industries for the past half century have been fuel savings and reduced emissions. In the automobile side of the equation, fuels savings have been achieved through a variety of ways including the use of lighter materials or making cars smaller, fine tuning aerodynamics,  (See 10 Ways Automakers Are Helping You Spend Less Money On Gas)

The trucking industry has also been on a decades-long effort at continuous improvement in these areas. Even if advanaces are only incremental, they add up over time, much like compound interest in the Warren Buffet portfolio. 

Last fall Mack Trucks introduced a 13-liter Mack MP8HE engine that the company says improves fuel efficiency by up to 3% compared to the current MP8HE. One of the new features on this new engine is a fuel savings calculator for this MP8HE+ powertrain package. The fuel savings calculator can be accessed on its website here:
https://info.macktrucks.com/mackonomics

The article that drew our attention to this was David Sickels' piece in Fleet Equipment last week. He wrote:

The fuel savings calculator allows Mack website visitors to select fleet size, number of trucks in their fleet and the average cost per gallon of diesel fuel. The information is used to calculate the average amount a customer could save over one, three or five years with the Mack MP8HE+ powertrain package, the company says.Mack said that the next generation of its 13-liter MP8HE engine improved fuel efficiency by up to 3% when compared with the former MP8HE engine. Included in the MP8HE+ powertrain package are the MP8HE engine, Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission, Mack Predictive Cruise and multiple aerodynamic enhancements.

* * * 

Since we're on the subject of fuel economy, here's another good article How to Improve Fuel Economy in a Truck. As noted above, it's all about incremental improvements in every facet of the truck, including the manner in which you drive it. According to Rowe, optimizing fuel use can reduce operating costs by as much as 20%. Considering that the trucking industry spends as much as 105 billion dollars on fuel alone, imagine the savings if every carrier cut 20% off their fuel costs. That's over 20 billion dollars a year.

Here are the 10 recommendations. A link to the full article follows. It's worth your time because it goes into details on each of these points.

1. Stop Speeding
2. Reduce Aggressive Driving
3. Cut Down on Idling
4. Stay Tuned Up
5. Keep Tires Inflated
6. Get More Efficient Routes
7. Cool It With the AC
8. Ditch Extra Weight 
9. Turn Down the Heat
10. Get Fleet Management Software

Many of these we know already. Most also apply to Owner Operators.

Actually, later in the article Rowe states that these tips can save up to 30% on fuel costs and improve MPG from 6 to near 8.5 MPG per vehicle. You can probably calculate how many trips to the moon and back you'd get on those savings.

Here is the link to the full story:
https://tech.co/fleet-management/truck-fuel-economy

Electric Trucks Vs. Gas or Diesel, The Pros and Cons

Electric vehicles (EVs) are nothing new. Electric cars have been increasingly adopted into the mainstream for more than two decades. In this third decade of the 21st century we're beginning to read more abut electric trucks and it appears that we'll be seeing them soon.

Elon Musk sure has a way of garnering media attention, and his Tesla Cyber Truck rollout definitely turned some heads. Yes, it's odd looking by conventional standards, but then we thought the VW Bug was a bit odd when it first began multiplying ou American roads. The plan is to have Tesla Cyber Trucks on the road by the end of 2021 or sometime in 2022. 

Five other manufacturers have EV trucks in the works to be road ready later this year or early next as well. In light of these developments people are wondering about whether or when to consider this new concept in transportation. The ideas here below come from WBAP, a news/talk radio website story titled, Are Electric Trucks Better Than Gas or Diesel? 

* * * 

The article lists the following Pros for electric trucks,, most of which we're all familiar except the last.

Pros
Reduced Emissions

Lower Cost per Mile

Quiet (How loud is your golf cart? Sweet.)

Less Frequent Maintenance and Less Expensive

Tax Credits (EVs are incentivized)

HOV Lanes (Carpool lanes available in some places even if you are solo.)

* * * 

There are some drawbacks worth noting, however. It's nice to find them assembled in one place

The Cons

Range Anxiety

In 1900, 50% of all cars were electric. The problem was that you could only go about 17 miles before you had to re-charge. How do you get from New York to see cousins in Boston? 

The author of this article focuses not on the range limitation per se, but on how awareness of our limitations distracts and affects us inwardly. I'd never considered this before. What's more, haulers designed to crisscross states not only need to be recharged regularly but also quickly.

 

Choice of Truck

Right now the options are quite limited. There are only a handful of companies with EV trucks in the works.

Insurance Costs

Evidently, and I was unaware of this also, there are only a limited number of insurance companies willing to take the risk with insuring EV truck. Prices are higher, too.

Availability of Charging Points

The infrastructure is not yet in place as with gas stations. This is a concern, at least in the near term.

Time to Charge 

It takes minutes to fill your fuel tanks. Not so to re-charge your batteries.

Increased Cost of Vehicle 

Be prepared for sticker shock.

 

The Bottom Line

Here are the conclusions presented by the author of this article:

The current administration wants more EVs and will offer incentives. In other countries, the incentive helps but doesn’t cause consumers to sell their vehicles and have only one EV in their households. It helps but will not replace all gas and diesel-powered vehicles.

Manufacturers will be producing electric vehicles in order to meet the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE), as federal fines could be excessive over time. Manufacturers are not making profit from these vehicles and they’re in business to make money. If they’re not making money and are forced to produce cars that don’t produce a profit, it will only hurt their bottom line which will reduce their advancement in technology and employment.

List of 2021 Electric Trucks available

Rivian R1T 
Prices start at $67,500 – 250 mile range – deliveries start in June

Tesla Cyber Truck 
Prices expected $39,500 – very late 2021 or 2022

Bollinger B2 
Prices start at $125,000 – no set time in 2021

Lordstown Endurance pickup 
$52,500 – September 2021

Atlis XT 
$45,000 – available 2022

Hummer EV 
$80,000 – late 2021

* * * 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE:
https://www.wbap.com/news/are-electric-trucks-better-than-gas-and-diesel-trucks/

Truck Wars: Who Has the Most Powerful Heavy Duty Diesel

Last week, TheFastLaneTruck.com published an article by Andre Smirnov comparing the latest and greatest details of our 2021 heavy-duty diesel truck offerings from the Ford, Chevy and Ram families. It includes a video, billing itself as Heavy-Duty Diesel Truck Wars! 

Smirnov takes the approach of a conscientious private detective, patiently assembling data and making useful comparisons. When all is said and done, will it be the 2021 Ford Super Duty, 2021 Chevy Silverado HD / GMC Sierra HD, or the 2021 Ram HD?

The starting point for his analysis is a straight up comparison of power output and torque. The highest horsepower was generated by the Ford Super Duty, its 6.7L V8 turbo-diesel cranking 475 hp. The torque monster, however, turns out to be the 2021 Ram HD, edging the Ford with 1,075 lb.-ft. of torque. Here are the numbers:

	2021 Chevy/GMC HD	2021 Ford SD	2021 Ram HD
Engine	6.6L V8 turbo-diesel	6.7L V8 turbo-diesel	6.7L I6 turbo-diesel H.O
–Power	445 hp	475 hp @ 2,600	420 hp
–Torque	910 lb-ft	1,050 lb-ft @ 1,600	1,075 lb-ft
Transmission	10-speed auto (Allison brand)	10-speed (Ford)	6-speed (Aisin)

It's interesting to see the places where these power plants differ. Note the slightly smaller Chevy/GMC engine. It's also interesting how the Ram has a 6-speed transmission whereas the competitors utilize a 10-speed setup.

When it comes to towing and payload ratings, Smirnov notes that this is where the manufacturers are digging down, fighting for your dollars. That's because at the end of the day you want a work truck that can work.

The first comparison is of the maximum tow ratings for diesel-powered one-ton dually trucks with a regular two-door cab, rear wheel drive only. A follow up chart provides max payload ratings for gasoline-powered two-door 2WD trucks. The conclusions he draws are surprising:

While the diesel-powered trucks have the torque and power to tow great big trailers and the exhaust brake systems to slow them down, the diesel engine itself adds weight to the truck. As such, if you want maximum payload from your heavy-duty truck, you need to choose one that is powered by a lighter gas engine.

This is first place where Smirnov dons a Sherlock Holmes twist, comparing not just the trucks but the method of trailering, either gooseneck or 5th-wheel. 

Then like a sidewinder he throws another curveball, suggesting that many people prefer crew cabs and 4WD so they can carry more people. And what about a 2021 dually crew can with that 4x4 configuration? Shouldn't we compare these, too?

After laying out the numbers for these he continues still further to the 3/4 ton diesels, and by the time he gets to the end what have we learned? That the verdict is still out, sort of. The author states that they will be updating data as additional information comes in.

The article ends with a video designed to make us hungry for more diesel action in person than what we could share in 2020. HERE is the link for Truck Wars.