Insights for Diesel Owners: the Pros and Cons of Turbochargers

Turbo cutaway

Last week we looked at a triple turbo diesel setup that was quite intriguing and incredibly powerful. In that article we looked at how turbochargers can improve horsepower and torque. But we never examined the downside of turbos. Are turbochargers always beneficial? Is there a downside to turbos that people can neglect to consider? 

Turbos have generally been add-ons that improve engine efficiency and performance. In recent years more and more vehicles have been fitted with turbochargers from the getgo.

The way a turbo works is like this: hot exhaust gasses spin the turbine that is connected to another turbine which sucks air in and compresses it into the engine. It is this compression that provides the engine with extra power. The more air you can get into the engine, the more fuel can be added for more power.

We're fairly well acquainted with the benefits of turbochargers. Extra power is primary. Unlike superchargers, there is no engine drain because the power comes from hot, expanding gases coming out of the engine already. In addition, turbos aren't affected by the thinner atmosphere of higher altitudes. Furthermore, turbos provide better fuel economy, so they are a win-win on several fronts.

What's the downside then?

The first is heat. Turbos are powered by hot exhaust gases and they get hot, hot hot. How hot? Hotter than molten lava! When pushed to its limits for a continuous amount of time the turbo can start glowing red. For this reason racers have vents to get air circulation flowing through the engine bay. 

The second is friction and heat in the turbine itself. Think about this for a second. Your engine revs at 2,000 rpm when cruising. Your turbo's turbine can reach speeds of more than 280,000 rpm. When I wrote, "Think about this for a second," it was to make you think about this: in one second that turbine will spin as many as 4,666 times. Try wrapping your head around that... more than 4500 times a second. That's a lot of friction there if the lubrication is insufficient.

This turbocharger bearing system is lubricated by the oil from the engine which is fed under pressure into the bearing housing. The oil is both lubricant and coolant. This is one more reason that the engine oil you select meets specifications.

Another disadvantage with turbochargers that doesn't get talked about much is "turbo lag." At times, when conditions are right (or wrong), there will be a delay between the moment you stomp on the pedal and the moment you actually feel power. This is turbo lag. 

At low speeds there aren't a lot of exhaust gases passing through the turbo, "so when you demand power from the engine, the turbocharger turbine needs time to start spinning at an optimal speed. The effects of this can be reduced by downshifting to a lower gear." Astute drivers will still notice the split delay at times.

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Because of their benefits, turbochargers have almost universally become stock equipment on diesel pickups and will be around for years to come. It's useful, however, to be aware of their shortcomings.

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Sources 

What Is a Turbocharger and How Does It Work

Eight Things About Turbochargers You (Probably) Never Knew

May Special: Motor State Distributing Offering 10% Discount on Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils to Wholesale Accounts.

“Founded in 1964 as a part-time venture in George Lane’s garage, Lane Automotive (Retail) and Motor State Distributing (Wholesale) has become a speed equipment industry phenomenon,” stated Karl Dedolph, Director of Performance and Racing at Champion Oil.

“Since the days when local racers lined up to buy racing parts at that tiny, one man shop, the company has grown and is comprised today of four separate divisions. One thing has remained the same throughout the years of growth - the desire to provide the best parts and the best service at competitive prices.”

 

Dedolph added, “Known the world over as a premier supplier of performance parts and accessories for racers, hot rodders, truck and off-road enthusiasts, Lane Automotive, Motor State Distributing, ALLSTAR Performance, and Lane Automotive Collectables serve customers around the world located in Watervliet, Michigan, at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Michigan 140. / 1-800-772-2678.    https://www.motorstate.com/

 

During the month of May, Motor State Distributing is offering a 10% discount on Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils to wholesale accounts.

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. https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/

Motor State Distributing also has a 10% off Wholesale Special in May for Champion Race Motor Oils, Classic & Muscle Motor Oils, Power Shield Engine Builder Products, Modern Muscle Motor Oils, and everything else Champion. https://www.motorstate.com/ 

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2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members

Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

Featured Diesel-Powered Vehicle of the Week: Wade Moody's Rail Dragster

Duramax Diesel to the Max

For the past several Mondays we've been featuring various head-turning diesels to start our week. So far we've been highlighting vehicles highlighted by CarBuzz in a 2019 article titled Cool and Crazy Diesel Powered cars. Today the spotlight is on Wade Moody's rail dragster. 

If you have an eye-popping or heart-stopping diesel truck you'd like to see featured here, tell us about it so we can share it. 

Wade Moody who has created a lot of buzz indeed. By the time he was 32 he had been racing half his life. For sure, diesel engines seem to be part of his DNA. According to Diesel World, Moody turned to diesel drag racers in 2006 with a 4WD Cummins-powered Dodge Ram, competing in the Pro Street class. After winning a few championships at that level, he acquired an S-10 drag truck and moved into the Pro Stock class.

The truck had a powerful Duramax engine, which he fine tuned into another top dog racing machine. This truck powered him to championships in 2011, 2012 and 2013. A crash in 2014 put an end to this truck's reign as fastest diesel drag truck.

Despite this setback, Moody was fortunate in that the engine and Turbo 400 tranny survived. Once transferred into a new frame, he had the fastest Duramax-powered dragster in the known world. 

It was a three month build but fitting the Duramax into the rails proved to be a worthy ambition. By the end of 2015 the machine was doing test passes and the new configuration being readied for war. Even before it had all been worked out they were making passes of 7.02 seconds or 195.48 mph. None of these passes were under full power as they wanted to ensure things were tight. The were anticipating good things in 2016 and indeed achieved them.

With more refinement they became the first common rail diesel dragster to get down into the 6's with a first place win at the Midwest Truck Nationals. Time: 6.997 seconds @ 192.8 mph.

In July 2016 Brian Wagner of DragZine wrote a story about this achievement with additional details about the engine and the dragster. Wagner describes the ways in which Moody and his team squeezed out more power based on things they learned. Moody gave credit to his tuners John Jordan and Kroy Willis, "and all of the awesome products from the rest of our supporters that make it possible to go faster each season."

Check out this YouTube video in which Wade Moody talks about
all the details that went into this build.

The target they were aiming for was "Fastest Diesel in the World," a title owned by Jared Jones. His record pass of 225 mph a couple years earlier.  

Here are some links to the sources for this story and a pass on Moody's Facebook page.

Diesel World Story: The Fastest Duramax-Powered Dragster

Dragzine: Wade Moody First to the 6 Second Zone with Duramax Power

Wade Moody's Dragster Makes a Fast Pass on Facebook

CarBuzz: Cool and Crazy Diesel Powered Cars

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If you are a racer, click on the Orange Button
in the upper right to apply for our 
Champion Blue Flame Contingency Program

 

Champion Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils Dominate Diesel Drag Racing and Pulling

Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry leader in racing and performance specialty lubricants for over 65 years, is proud of their winning success and podium finishes with Champion’s Full-Synthetic Gear Oils in diesel drag racing and pulling vehicles that need robust lubrication in severe environments to decreases friction and wear, oil film resistance at hot temperatures, and to allow smooth gear shifting at start-up and during lower temperatures.

“Hypoid differentials, gearboxes, transfer gearboxes, synchronized or non-synchronized gearboxes, gearbox/differential, or transfer gearboxes found in diesel and other vehicles require specialized lubrication that provide a high degree of gear protection”, stated Karl Dedolph at Champion. “Our Racing 75W-90 and 75W-140 Full Synthetic Racing Gear Oils ae designed to lubricate these components with extreme-pressure additives that are more viscous than other racing type gear oils in the market.”

 

“These additives have the ability to transfer a lot of power when the gear box runs very hot, work with heavy loads and low revolution speed or moderate loads and high revolution speed and have a good balance of extending replacement intervals.  This, choosing a high-quality diesel racing gear oil, like Champion’s, is very important for the life of your competition or high-performance vehicle.”

 

“While many of the racing gear oil competitors still use mineral gear oils, synthetic gear oils are becoming the norm in racing. Synthetic gear oils show better resistance to oxidation, better flow at start-up, and better retention of viscosity at elevated temperatures.  These characteristics are exceptionally important as race maintenance-intervals get stretched out, sumps get smaller, and airflow across the axle is reduced by ever changing body designs, wheel-wells, air ducts, skid plates, and track condition aerodynamics.”
 

“While mineral gear oils are usually thickened with heavy paraffinic base oils, synthetic gear oils are typically lighter and are thickened with polymers. Champion uses a premium grade polymer in a proprietary formulation which makes it less likely to quickly shear out of grade,” added Dedolph.

 

Champion 75W-90 and 75W-140 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils benefits include: Formulated to provide extreme pressure protection for competition racing, provide better lubricant oxidation stability, superior corrosion protection for less synchronizer wear, reduce differential and gearbox temperatures, improves shifting, reduce foaming at high speed, and long lasting.

Plus, Champion Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oils, part #4312 & #4371, have the highest film strength in the market, contains a limited-slip additive, suitable replacement for a differential calling for an 80W90 or SAE 90 gear oil, contains additional friction modifiers for suitability with clutch-type limited slip differentials, plus anti-oxidation, anti-corrosion and anti-foam additives.  

 

Champion SAE 75W-90 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oil specific properties: Amber color, 16.7 Viscosity @ 100°C cSt, GL-5, Viscosity Index 172, KRL Shear % Loss - 8.4, Flash Point 199°F, Composition Ingredients: Synthetic Oil, Alkyl Polysulfides, Long Chain Alkyl Amine, Alkyl Phosphate, Long-chain Alkenylamine. https://www.championbrands.com/full-synthetic-racing-gear-oil-75w-90-2/

 

Champion SAE 75W-140 Full-Synthetic Racing Gear Oil specific properties: Amber color, 27.4 Viscosity @ 100°C cSt, GL-5, Viscosity Index 190, KRL Shear % Loss - 8.5, Flash Point 199°F, Composition Ingredients: Synthetic Oil, Alkyl Polysulfides, Long Chain Alkyl Amine, Alkyl Phosphate, Long-chain Alkenylamine. https://www.championbrands.com/full-synthetic-racing-gear-oil-75w-140/

* * * 

2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members

Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

This Triple Turbo Diesel Setup Is Not for the Faint of Heart

Triple in-engine 6.4L Ford

A turbo -- shorthand for turbocharger -- is a turbine-driven, forced induction device that increases an internal combustion engine's power output by forcing compresses air into the combustion chamber. By forcing more air and more fuel into the combustion chamber, it produces more energy. 

This concept of forced induction was conceived as early as the late 19th century by Gottlieb Daimler who patented the technique of using a gear-driven pump to force air into an internal combustion engine. That was in 1885! He had the right idea, and in the 21st century more power is being produced by means of turbo-diesel technology than he could ever have imagined.

Yesterday I came across a 2017 Diesel World article by Jason Sands about a three-turbo 6.4L Ford that cranks out 1,221 hp and a mind-blowing 2,532 lb-ft of torque. Just reading about it makes you want to catch your breath. It had been re-published on the Power Driven Diesel website because they were the team that did the work.

Sands begins by noting how much flexibility there is today with regard to diesel setups. It used to be that you had a choice between a single turbo and a compound two-turbo setup. "Today," he writes, 'there are virtually endless choices, from ball-bearing turbos to large but quick-spooling singles, to compound turbo setups that will support a vast amount of horsepower."

COMPOUND TRIPLE TURBOCHARGERS
Twin turbos have been around awhile, but sled-pullers have been running triple turbos and even quads for years. "It was only a matter of time before pickups followed suit." Here's why triple turbos have an advantage over two. It's not just because there are more of them. First, twin turbos need to make such massive amounts of horsepower that they can be hard to spool, and they make a dent in your wallet. "Instead of a 95 to 106mm turbo, the same amount of airflow can be provided by smaller frame 66 to 69mm turbochargers." In short, sometimes bigger isn't always better. And ultimately, you will have a better driving setup.

Got pipes?

The article then zeroes in on the setup for Power Driven Diesel's triple 6.4L setup. The client didn't just want power, he wanted 1200 horsepower, plus he wanted it to be a truck that could tow. PDD's owners --Will Terry and Todd Welch -- said they were up for it.

The rationale for selecting the BorgWarner turbos that they chose gets detailed, followed by all the decisions as regards how to mount them and run the piping. All of this is illustrated with photos. It was a pretty "wild creation" but they did it in two weeks. Then they tested it on the dyno. They nicknamed their beast "The Hulk." And yes, it delivered the goods.

THE COST
There's no free lunch in this realm. If you want to go big, you can expect to spend something more than a few pennies, but it doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Will Terry of PDD says if you want to do a triple setup it will cost between $5,000 and $10,000. This was 2017, and since we haven't shopped around for what's available today, don't take that as Gospel. Nevertheless, it will give you something to compare against.

You can read the full story, along with numerous photos, here:
Triple Threat: Building a Triple Turbo Setup

Let's Stay the Course on Clean Diesel: Progress Is Being Made

A lot of Americans are unaware of how much progress has been made in terms of eliminating pollutants like nitrogen oxide (NOx) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Did you know that the new diesel trucks are so clean that it would take 60 of today's new generation diesels to equal the emissions from one truck sold in 1988? New technology diesel engines and the increased use of biobased diesel have contributed to noteworthy carbon reduction and clean air gains. 

All this has been documented, according to a recent Earth Day announcement from the Diesel Technology Forum. "Today, diesel remains the dominant technology in long-haul trucking, powering 97 percent of Class 8 big-rig trucks in the United States. A growing percentage of diesel-powered commercial trucks rely on the newest-generation diesel technologies, which deliver near-zero emissions performance while using less fuel."

The announcement begins by acknowledging the new emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling the climate challenge. To do this requires thinking through solutions and timetables that are customized to the realities of our time. Timetables have to correspond. But progress has already been extensive.

Today, more than 43 percent of commercial Class 3-8 vehicles utilize the newest generation technology (2011 and newer model years), up 6.8 percent over 2017. Since 2011, these nearly 5 million new-generation commercial diesel trucks "have already delivered reductions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO2)) in an amount equivalent to eliminating 26 million light-duty vehicles from the fleet or converting those to all electric vehicles." In other words, more than 18 million tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and 126 million tons of CO2 have been removed.  

In short, tremendous progress has been made, and there's more to come.

Furthermore, in addition to the reduction in greenhouse gases, the advances in diesel technology have produced significant gains in fuel economy. From 2014 to 2018 530 million barrels of oil were saved in Phase 1, according to the EPA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Phase 2 rules will save nearly 2 billion barrels of oil from now till 2027.

 As diesel technology evolves, the four trends are defining the direction advances will take. First, increasing energy efficiency. Second, achieving low emissions. Third, expanding the use of renewable biodiesel fuels. And fourth, hybridization. We live in a world which depends on the transportation of goods. To effectively do this while meeting tomorrow's climate and clean air challenges will require continued innovation and efforts in trucking, marine, agriculture, construction and freight rail applications.

The steady progress in carbon reduction and clean air gains has been somewhat remarkable. It has also been fairly unheralded. This is why the Diesel Technology Forum strives to get the word out and works hard to increase awareness of its mission. 

Read the full Earth Day announcement here:  
ACCELERATING TURNOVER TO NEW TECHNOLOGY DIESEL ENGINES, INCREASED USE OF BIOBASED DIESEL FUELS ENSURE STEADY PROGRESS ON CARBON REDUCTION, CLEAN AIR GAINS 

Ram EcoDiesel Cruises 1000 Miles On A Single Fuel Fill

Early on in Dave Goldberg's February HotCars story he makes the statement, "Imagine driving from New York City with a full fuel tank and only having to stop twice to refill your vehicle on a journey to Los Angeles." When I try to imagine it, I can't help but think of all the times we'll need to stop for bathroom breaks and a bite to eat.

Naturally, he's highlighting the major feature of the 2021 Ram EcoDiesel. Fuel economy is what this year's Ram has been touting, and when you consider the size and Iron Man power, it's actually quite an achievement. The numbers speak for themselves. 33 miles to the gallon.

The Ram 1500 Tradesman HFE EcoDiesel pickup isn't on the road yet. Ram Trucks unveiled what's coming in February so as to whet our appetites, much like a restaurant that allows its aromas to waft through the atmosphere to increase our hunger before a sumptuous meal.

The rating of 33 mpg is a pretty healthy stretch so that when its larger-than-passenger-car tanks are full, the range of 1,000 miles is easily attained. To sink home its message, the trucks will wear the HFE badge. 

For the record, 33 mpg is more than double what the Ram TRX supertruck can give you, which is rated at 14 mpg, which is still two miles per gallon better than a '72 Ford station wagon I used to own.

For what it's worth, the Tradesman HFE EcoDiesel has a rating of 23 mpg for city driving, which gives it a blended 26 mpg rating. Compared to its competitors the Ram is equal to Chev's 2021 Silverado 3.0L Duramax on the highway mpg and surpasses the Ford F150 Power Stroke 4x2 diesel by four mpg. Neither of these other two can provide the 1,000-mile range that Ram is touting.

The Tradesman is a rear wheel drive truck with a crew cab body. The bed is 5 foot 7 inches. The 20-inch aluminum rims contribute to the truck's effectiveness. Like the keys on most keyboards, your color options are limited to ebony and ivory, or as Ram puts it, Bright White Clear Coat or Diamond Black Crystal. Yes, there are more styling features you can get, but they will all be extra. Here's your MSRP: $42,240. Additional charges may apply depending on where it is being delivered.

We live in a time where energy efficiency is increasingly valued. You can see it in the efforts manufacturers are taking to continuously improve on the work that has been done these past three decades. 

Read the full story here:

Ram EcoDiesel Pickup Promises 1,000-Mile Range

Related Story:

Two Diesel Stories About Ram Fuel Efficiency