Diesel Powered Car of the Week: Audi R15 TDI

Right out of the gate the Audi R15 TDI proved itself a champion. In its first race, the 2009 12 Hours of Sebring,  the the sleek bodied R15 captured the checkered flag and thereby generating a lot of buzz while garnering a significant amount of media play. 

The R15 TDI was a followup to the R10, tested in December 2008 so as to be ready for the 2009 racing season. R15 was powered by a compact Turbocharged Direct Injection engine pushed to the middle of the car for better handling. The 330 cu.in. V10 turbodiesel engine produced 590 horsepower and 774 lb.ft. of torque.  

In March 2009, shortly before the Sebring outing, Audi released dozens of photos of the new car. (Check out the Jalopnik link at the end of this post.) They knew they had something special and the outcome at Sebring confirmed it. 

When it came to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, expectations ran high, but Audi's Le Mans Prototype (LMP) took it on the chin when Peugeot captured first and second place that year. 

The loss to Peugeot didn't end their enthusiasm for the R15, though. With some adjustments the R15-Plus returned to garner the 1-2-3 spots at Le Mans in a comeback that saw the first place car win with a five lap lead.

The Audi R15 was followed by an R15+ and in 2o11 the R15++ before yielding to the R18 in 2012. Within a couple years Volkswagen got caught in the Dieselgate scandal, which changed everything. The Audi R15 TDI was still a glorious car.

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Related Links

Audi R15 Uncovered (Racecar Engineering)

The Audi R15 TDI: Now In Glorious Detail! (Jalopnik 2009) 

Audi R15 TDI (Wikipedia)

Has Dieselgate Killed Audi's Highly Successful Le Mans Program? (CarBuzz, 2016) 

Diesel Powered Hearse Designed by the Duke of Edinburgh for His Own Funeral

Photo Steve Parsons. Getty Images. No copyright infringement intended.

Funerals are a pretty big deal when it comes to the rich and famous. This is especially so when royalty is involved That is why we're seeing news stories from nearly every angle regarding the the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. There articles about the life of Philip, of course, but also articles detailing the history of royal funerals through the decades, the dress code for such funerals, the things that are different from normal because of the pandemic, decisions made that may be unexpected, guest lists and other details that must be attended to.

And then there is the story of Prince Philip's custom-designed diesel-powered Land Rover that will serve as his hearse. 

I've heard of people building their own coffins, but this is the first time I've ever heard about a personally-designed hearse. It is a Land Rover that the prince has been tweaking for 16 or 18 years, depending on which news source your read. Either way, it's actually quite a story.

The Duke driving a Land Rover with the Queen in 1955.

It's well known that people who love Land Rovers really love them. They're dedicated. When Prince Philip began to consider his mortality, and all the fanfare that goes along with royal funerals, he simultaneously began sowing the seeds for a no-frills funeral, starting with the hearse itself. "Just stick me in the back of a Land Rover and driver me to Windsor," he purportedly told the Queen.

Specific decisions made by Prince Philip include the military green paint job, the open top rear, and special rubber grips on silver metal pins to hold the coffin in place. The vehicle itself is a Land Rover Defender TD5 130 chassis cab vehicle. Revealed Thursday for the first time, it generated much publicity on it own. 

According to Sky News, the Prince began the project in 2003 when he turned 82, working directly with Land Rover to get what he wanted. The selection of a 4-wheel drive Defender is intriguing. The Defender, introduced in the 1980s, was in 1998 fitted with a new 2.5-liter, five-cylinder inline turbodiesel engine badged the Td5, which replaced the Tdi in order to meet Euro III emissions regulations. Called either a straight five or an inline five, the cylinders are aligned in a row. It's both compact and efficient, using electronic control systems to produce 122 hp at 4850 rpm.  

There's symbolism in the selection of this vehicle. It's not ostentatious. It's sturdy and utilitarian, a functional vehicle for the common man. The Duke of Edinburgh was so enamored by the idea of using the Land Rover as a hearse that he made two backups in case something went wrong with the first during the intervening years from concept to this moment in time.

Here are links to stories about the hearse and tomorrow's funeral:

Sky News story about the hearse designed by the Duke of Edinburgh 
Fox News story about Prince Philip's Land Rover hearse
The Royal Funeral
Telegraph feature on the Royal Hearse

Why the Renewed Spotlight on Remanufactured Diesel Engines?

I've recently seen several articles on remanufactured diesel engines. Perhaps this was because April 8 was Global Remanufacturing Day, a day devoted to raising awareness regarding the benefits of remanufactured diesel engines. This special day was announced and promoted by the Diesel Technology Form (DTF), an association devoted to disseminating information about diesel engines, fuel and technology.

Last week's press release was titled, Remanufacturing of Diesel Engines, Components Key Part of Circular Economy, Saving Energy, Reducing Waste.

DTF Executive Director Allen Schaeffer began his remarks by noting that heavy duty diesel engines are high-value investments "designed with reliability and durability in mind to last thousands of hours or go hundreds of thousands of miles." They play an important role in our economy. Their engineering takes into consideration every aspect of their service life and encompasses or includes remanufacturing. In other words, they are designed to be recycled.

Remanufacturing will see continued growth for the next several years. It has become an important part of engine manufacturers' businesses, "making it one of the lesser well-known but valuable attributes of diesel engines." For customers who know how to evaluate their purchases by considering life cycle costs, remanufacturing generates considerable savings and value. Global Reman Day underscores this aspect of diesel technology.

Interestingly, DTF member companies held events at various plants and locations around the country to celebrate all things diesel, and this remanufacturing aspect in particular.

The announcement stated that remanufacturing "is a standardized industrial process by which engine cores are returned to same-as-new, or better, condition and performance." To do this requires having established processes as well as testing standards.

It is useful to know what a remanufactured engine really is. It's obviously not a new engine fresh off the assembly line, but it is also not a rebuilt used engine. Reman means something different.

According to FoleyRig 360 when we talk about remanufactured engines, you are getting an engine that has been broken down into its various part which are individually restore to "like new" condition and re-assembled. At Foley all parts are tested by Cat certified technicians. 

If you have an unplanned breakdown, or you're planning an engine overhaul, there's a still cheaper option if you want to go there. Rather then dropping in a new engine or reman, you can rebuild the engine yourself. If you have the time, and the expertise, it's a consideration. 

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Read the Diesel Technology Forum announcement here.
Learn more about Remanufactured diesel engines here. 

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If you need help selecting the correct diesel oil for your remanufactured engine, or for any engine, click on the grey button in the right-hand column that says "Ask Jake." 

Fastest Diesel Passes of 2020

Front end of the Firepunk Diesel S10

2020 was an unusual year for many reasons, from the global pandemic to social turbulence in many cities. Hard to believe, but there was no SEMA Show, no PRI, no Diesel Power Challenge. Things were so bad that Diesel World labelled it The Year of Cancelled Events.

People were bored, anxious, overworked, and many were unemployed. Nevertheless, there were still many exciting moments for the highlight reels for 2020. As we look in the rearview mirror we see new records set and a lot worth talking about, which is what Diesel World has done for us in this article by Mike McGlothlin titled Fastest Passes of 2020.

McGlothlin begins by noting that 2020 was actually a huge year for drag racing because drivers and teams stayed focused. They didn't allow what was going on around us to distract them from their aims, which is probably good advice for all of us who have dreams and goals. As a result, there were numerous records broken in 2020 and promising prospects for 2021.

After a condensed summary of 2020 we get photos and details about the main stories, beginning with the Quickest Diesel Dragster in the World, Scheid Diesel's billet-block, compound turbo, P-pumped Cummins-powered Spitzer chassis rail. Track conditions were perfect at October's PDRA and the Scheid team was ready. Boom... Elapsed Time on the 1/8th mile run, 4.04 seconds.  New record. 184 mph. Driver: Jared Jones.

It's gratifying when it all comes together. The record Jones broke had been set only 7 months earlier by John Robinson, a 4.101 second pass that screeched to 181 mph. One can expect these two drivers will be very conscious of one another as they push the envelope in 2021. The goal for each will be to break into the 3s. No doubt they can almost taste it.

A new car on the scene in 2020 was Jeremy Wagler's Duramax dragster. This diesel, too, is quick, and made real progress in its first season. This will be another driver and car to pay attention to going into 2021.

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In the diesel truck category the big dog to watch these past several years has been Firepunk Diesel out of Ohio. The Pro Mod S10 has been setting records all along, and the sacrifices they've made have been rewarded with many trophies and achievements along the way. The Diesel World story shared the impressive numbers they produced in October, but failed to note their Cummins-powered breaktrhough into the 3s that later took place in Florida. You can read about that here. Engine builder Lavon Miller and driver Larson Miller will remain in the forefront of what's happening wherever they go in 2021.

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When you scroll through McGlothlin's article you'll find diesel-powered Corvettes, pickups, dragsters and pro street vehicles with Duramax, Cummins and Power Stroke engines. Racing is one of the ways engine manufacturers explore the cutting edge of what's possible in engineering technology. 

You's also find the drivers and teams to watch in 2021.

Here's the link to the Diesel World story by Mike McGlothlin:

https://www.dieselworldmag.com/events/fastest-passes-of-2020/

If you are a racer, learn more about our Champion Brands Contingency Programs for 2021. Here's how to get your piece of the action. You may also tap the orange button near the top of the right hand column.

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A Diesel Jeep Gladiator Just for Texans?

That we live in an age of personalization is well known. We've especially become accustomed to it in online advertising where Google and Facebook serve us ads based on our purported interests drawn from personal behavior on the web. Amazon suggests books we might like based on books we have looked at or purchased.

In recent years we've seen automakers follow suit, giving buyers an increasing variety of options to make our cars or trucks our own. We've come a long ways since Henry Ford said we could have a Model T in any color we wanted as long as it was black. 

This past week the news spread all across the web regarding a new kind of personalization. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator now has a special edition just for Texans called the Gladiator Texas Trail. I first read about it at Car and Driver, but it wasn't long before the news was turning up at other automotive sites like Mopar Insiders and Autoblog.

In addition to decals that say Texas Trail, this Gladiator features black 17-inch wheels on 32-inch mud-terrain tires. 

According to Car and Driver the Texas Trail isn't a Texan Jeep in name only. It has some additional features to reinforce it's connections to the Lone Star State. First, it incorporated the year 1836 into the badge, which is the year Texas became a state. Also, they provide you access to the Jeep Badge of Honor Program, designed specifically for off-roaders eager to get off the beaten path. Though the Badge of Honor app helps off-roaders find trails all over the country, 2021 Texas Trail Gladiator owners will find two new trails marked specifically for Texans.

As for engine options, you can choose the 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or the diesel 3.0-liter V6. Naturally we prefer the muscle-bound Ecodiesel. According to Car and Driver it's been built by VW Motori, an Italian subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler now in its third generation. Features include "a compacted-grpahite-iron block, aluminum cylinder heads, and a variable-geometry turbocharger that produces up to 31.9 pounds of boost."

In short, the whole package sounds fun. Texas, here I come.

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Do you have diesel news you want to share. Send it here so we can spread the word: blueflame1952@gmail.com

Diesel Powered Car of the Week: 1981 Drift Mercedes-Benz 300D

In 2019 Car Buzz posted a story by Ian Wright titled "Crazy Diesel Powered Cars". It's a pictorially rich overview of some really cool cars and the cats who drove them. As spring yields to summer, we'd like to follow suit and share stories about a few of our favorites.

The first car out of the chute is a fancy drift racer driven by Teemu Peltola of Finland. According to a 2010 story in Jalopnik, Peltola built this diesel-powered Mercedes station wagon in his second year of competition. It would have been easier to go with a Japanese car because of the availability of aftermarket parts. On the other hand, why be like everybody else?

When Peltola found this 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D Estate, he was in Seventh Heaven. His first decision was to drop in a 3.0-liter 24-valve diesel from a 1998 Mercedes E-class. A Garrett GT40 turbo from a heavy truck and Tremec TKO 600 tranny took care of the basics. But he didn't stop there. 

If this was going to be a drift racer, he needed a suspension that was up to snuff. This led him to take a modified rear suspension from a Mazda RX8. Next task to tackle getting an Aristo front axle installed, which took many hours over a period of 2 to 3 weeks.

When all was said and done, Peltola could take a measure of pride in knowing he'd produced something unique that was also competitive, usually finishing in the top half in serious competition. Though his Facebook page hasn't been active since 2018, he managed to attract more than 7000 followers there and has some pretty cool shots and vids if you take time to scroll down his wall.

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Here's a story from November 2012 at Speedhunters that shows you just how far you can go with a unique ride. The team name is Black Smoke Racing and there are oodles of sponsors adorning the body, hood and even the rearview windows. By this time he's become one of Scandinavia's hottest properties. Check out the story here: Diesel Fury: The Black Smoke  300td Wagon. The photos are many with details a-plenty. If you're a builder, you'll either get some new ideas or will be envious of what he's accomplished. Either way, check it out. Modifications galore!

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Special thanks to the Car Buzz site that turned us on to this unusual treat.
Car Buzz: Crazy Diesel Powered Cars

And to Jalopnik for its 2010 contribution.
Jalopnik: Building a Diesel-Powered Mercedes Station Wagon Drift Car 

Be sure to check out their 10 Awesome Drift Videos

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Our Friends at Engine Pro Offer New Diesel Products

The high-performance diesel market continues to grow in popularity as enthusiasts want more horsepower for their vehicles. Engine Pro has joined the diesel market with its technical engine knowledge to provide some impressive products. Now, Engine Pro can help anyone looking for high-performance diesel valvetrain products desiring to crank up the boost.

Engine Pro created an opportunity to use its Nitro-Black valve line technology in the mid-size diesel world. The company now offers numerous valves, drop-in valve springs, and heavy-wall steel seamless pushrods that can be ordered in custom sizes. You can also get the Viton valve stem seals you need to assemble your diesel cylinder head with these parts.

With all of the boost that a high-performance diesel engine sees, the valves really need to be durable to avoid any issues. The valves Engine Pro offers are made from Inconel® materials* and feature stellite faces like all Nitro-Black valves. The proprietary five-step liquid nitriding process Engine Pro uses improves the ductility, provides a smoother surface that reduces valve guide wear, plus it fights corrosion and deposits.

“You’ll need to control the valves and keep them seated at higher RPM and under boost. Our drop-in valve springs will do this without a bunch of machining to make them fit.,” stated Dave Sutton from Engine Pro. “Our pushrods are stiff and won’t flex so you don’t have to worry about them breaking while getting all that lift from the cam up to the rocker arms. Speaking of camshafts, performance diesel cams don’t work like naturally-aspirated gas engine cams, bigger is not better. It is critical to have the events of the camshaft timed correctly to build boost and to get turbos spooled up quickly.”

If you’re looking for additional horsepower for your diesel engine check out the Engine Pro website here. 

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* Inconel® is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation for a family of austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloys.