Big Diesel Engines for Big Mining Trucks

"It's dark as a dungeon way down in the mine..."
--Merle Travis

On June 22, International Mining posted a brief article about a massive Toro truck with a Volvo Penta diesel engine that has a 63 metric ton carrying capacity. The highlighted feature wasn't the size of payload it carries, but rather the reduced emissions and fuel economy benefits it provided.

The story's spotlight is on the team effort between Toro, Volvo Penta and Sandvick. The truck is a Toro™ TH663i, Toro's largest.

Sandvik is a global engineering group with 37,000 employees. What they have designed is a powerful, reliable fuel efficient 16-litre Stage V engine that delivers 585 kW output. It uses a Selective Catalytic Reduction system (SCR) instead of a diesel particulate filter. The SCR uses diesel exhaust fluid to reduce emissions of NOx without sacrificing the truck's performance or fuel efficiency. 

Stage V is a reference to EU emissions standards for vehicles or equipment used in non-road applications. Stage V set stricter standards for emissions and particulate matter.

When you think about trucks carrying heavy loads underground, several thoughts come to mind. First, you need equipment that is reliable. The last thing you want are breakdowns. Diesel is the workhorse in that department. Second, anything you can do to reduce emissions and particulates is a plus. 

The Stage V Penta Volvo diesel is a new engine option that requires ultra-low sulphur fuel and low-ash engine oil to operate. It can also be run on paraffinic diesel fuels that meet the EN 15940 standard. According to the article, renewable paraffinic diesel fuel significantly reduces the greenhouse gas footprint as well a emissions of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and diesel particulate matter in the engine exhaust. Because it can use use both fossil diesel and paraffinic fuel without limitations, it is a very versatile engine. It's both flexible and user friendly.

The article notes that Sandvik has made a number of improvements in the past few years for the Toro TH663i including a new transmission that has cost benefits and improves reliability. The engineering firm has also introduced what they call an autonomous system called  AutoMine® that enables miners to operate the equipment remotely.

The end result of these incremental improvements is an increase in both productivity and efficiency.

Related Links

Sandvik deploys Stage V Volvo Penta engine on 63 t underground Toro TH663 truck

Five benefits of Volvo Penta's Stage V off-road engines 

Champion Oil Embraces Online Sales Including Amazon and eBay

There are many manufacturers who do not sell direct, yet one can find their products online. Isn't this selling direct? Today, Champion Brands released a news story that explains why customers can purchase products online even when the company itself does not sell direct to consumer.

Champion Oil Embraces Online Sales Including Amazon and eBay

(Clinton, MO / 06.26.21) Champion Oil, a global leader in the manufacture of specialty lubricants, has recently explained its position regarding online sales, including Amazon and eBay, with Minimum Advertised Pricing (MAP) and safety purchasing procedures.

Champion Oil Products are being sold more and more online. Due to their increased popularity you can find nearly all their products online, including Diesel Oils, Racing Oils, Tractor Fluids, Euro Oils, Classic and Muscle Oils, Modern Muscle Oils, Brake Fluids, and Transmission Fluids, etc.

If a consumer wants to purchase Champion products online, where should they go?

Let’s first note Champion’s business sales policy- “Champion Oil doesn’t sell direct to consumers.” The sales and distribution model for Champion is through its Master Warehouse Distributors (MWDs) and they in turn sell to wholesalers, jobbers, engine builders, end-users, or smaller warehouse distributors. Some MWDs have their own online stores which are listed on the Champion web site. 

https://www. championbrands.com/online-retailers/

It’s in this mix of sellers that it might get confusing to a buyer, especially when one considers Amazon or eBay. Not all sellers are valid retailers. Who can you trust, then, for online purchasing of Champion products?

Amazon and eBay are enormous marketplaces made up of items offered by a variety of merchants, both companies and individuals. If you’re buying from an individual, the person likely doesn’t have the reputation that a large and established company does. You can look inside their seller profile and read their reviews. Click the seller’s rating percentage next to “Seller’s rating.”

Browse the seller’s profile. Once the seller’s profile appears, you can view their star rating, feedback other buyers left, shipping rates and return policies. Before you buy you can also contact the seller with any questions you might have. The same applies to other online sales web sites.

Pricing on Amazon and eBay sometimes looks confusing. Champion provides all its MWDs with MSRP and MAP pricing. MSRP is the “manufacturer’s suggested retail price.” It’s essentially a guidepost that lets consumers and sellers decide if this is a fair price for this product. 

Also known as the list price or “sticker price,” the MSRP doesn’t have to be followed by sellers. If they bundle your product or provide additional services, they may charge people more. If they charge more without providing more, however, they’ll be far less competitive.

An MSRP is also definitely not a minimum price. It’s not legally binding. It can be considered more like a benchmark for the consumer than a restriction for the seller. The only real restriction it provides is that it contributes to consumerism: your customers know the fair value of your product, so if a seller charges more, they’d better be offering more.

MAP stands for “minimum advertised price.” A MAP policy is a legal document that brands use to define the lowest possible price a product can legally be advertised for. It doesn’t just set the minimum, though. MAP policies also outline penalties for the seller violating the minimum advertised price and a process to follow if a seller is found in violation.

A MAP policy is intended to protect against price erosion, and what we call “race-to-the-bottom” pricing, where every seller must decrease their price to stay competitive until they’re essentially selling at-cost.

Another confusion that occurs on Amazon and eBay is that sometimes Champion products are listed in case lots or singles and the photos or descriptions don’t match up exactly. Plus, not all vendors on Amazon or eBay stock Champion inventory, nor have a relationship to procure it after you pay for it.

This may all sound like Champion is not supporting Amazon, eBay, or other types of online vendors, but that’s certainly not the case. There are many very good re-sellers on the web. Many of Champion’s MWDs sell on Amazon and eBay and some are doing the fulfillment for their wholesale partners on these sites. As mentioned earlier, some MWDs have their own online stores outside of Amazon and eBay.

Champion supports all merchants that are selling Champion Products at MAP pricing online. Many even have free freight programs. As mentioned earlier, Champion does not sell direct to consumers. Champion does not have a store on Amazon or eBay. It’s through Champion’s MWDs or partners that this all takes place.

Buyers using Amazon or any other online web site can contact Champion at any time with questions. https://www.championbrands.com/contacts/

Champion’s warranty statement can be found at https://www.championbrands.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Champion-Brands-Warranty.pdf

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is 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 about Champion products 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

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

Champion Launches API CK-4 Premium Heavy Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil

Champion Dot 5 Brake Fluid Is Purpose Built for Classic, Antique and Collector Diesel Vehicles
Champion Oil Announces 5-Minute Engine Flush

 

Champion Classic Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Available at America's Oldest Speed Shop

Champion Brands, LLC, a globally recognized industry manufacturer of chemicals, lubricants, motor oils and additives; announced this week that Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop®, offers the complete line of Champion products including Blue Flame Classic 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil. 

Speedway Motors founder Bill Smith was Born in Lincoln, Nebraska. Bill developed an early passion for performance. He first started racing motorcycles as a teenager in the late 1940s, then transitioned to cars in 1948. In 1952, as a young entrepreneur, Bill opened one of the Midwest’s first speed shops and named it Speedway Motors. The store grew in popularity, with a reputation for quality products, great service, and low prices.

Bill’s racing endeavors helped keep the Speedway Motors name out in front of racers. His purple 4x stock cars were familiar sights on dirt tracks throughout the Midwest and were regular winners. In 1956, Bill built one of the first Pontiacs in NASCAR. 

Drag racing also took off in the '50s, and Bill successfully campaigned cars powered by Ford Flatheads and newer Oldsmobile, Chevy, and Chrysler V8 engines. The future was clear. Bill and his Speedway Motors would remain involved as a pioneer of every type of racing with countless wins and awards. Bill and Speedway Motors have been inducted into numerous motorsports and hot-rodding Halls of Fame.

Today Speedway Motors has a 520,000 sq. ft., 46-acre facility in Lincoln, Nebraska plus other nationwide locations, and a technologically advanced call center and warehouse that provides the capacity to process and ship record numbers of orders without sacrificing delivery.

Bill’s legacy has continued to live on since his death in 2014. It remains a family business and they consider their customers as part of that family. Their large inventory has the parts to get the job done and their staff provides the knowledge you need. Whether you're under the hood or behind the wheel, Speedway Motors, America's Oldest Speed Shop®, is always right by your side.

“It is extremely important for Champion Oil to identify a partner that shares the same goals and has the ability to provide our customers with first class service, support and distribution,” said Karl Dedolph, Director of Racing and Performance. “Speedway Motors clearly fits the stringent criteria we identified to promote our 'Blue Flame' line and effectively will move our business forward in this key strategic market of diesel performance.

“Champion Blue Flame Classic 15W-40 Diesel Engine Oil (Part #4359) is a unique, purpose-built oil that combines workhorse high zinc performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic and conventional base fluids.

“In addition, Champion’s Classic Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils deliver unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, has the muscle to combat oil shear, maximizes and sustains cylinder compression, and is proven to increase engine horsepower and torque,” added Dedolph. 

About the company: Headquartered in Clinton, Missouri, just 75 miles southeast of Kansas City; Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in lubricants and has been for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 other products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and motor oils for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. 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 to http://www.championbrands.com

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/Champion-Racing-4359N-Blue-

Flame-Diesel-Engine-Oil-15W40-4-1-Gal,357850.html

Diesels In The Sky: The Marriage of Light Aircraft and Diesel Technology

Diesel engines are all around us. Some in places we don't ordinarily expect. For example, I recently watched some railroad workers perform an oil change on a railroad car. No, it wasn't a railroad engine. It was a passenger car who lights, kitchen appliances and other needs were diesel powered. I never knew that. 

A day later I received an email with a link to an article about diesel engines in aviation. This, too, had some interesting surprises. The intriguing article by Trevor Anderson appeared on the Engine Labs site in December 2015. 

Anderson began by noting all the familiar places we find diesel to be the engine of choice. Heavy equipment, tractors, earth movers and their ilk depend on compression ignition power for a range of good reasons. But what about the other end of the spectrum, he asks. That is, what about the light weight, more delicate forms found in the aviation community?

Many of us might be surprised when we learn of the inroads of diesel in small aircraft. This article explains part of the reason this has been happening.

A little history is in order here. It's been less than 120 years since the Wright brothers took flight at Kitty Hawk. Diesel power has only been used in aircraft for a little over 80 years. It's hard to image the Wright brothers getting off the ground with those first monstrous diesels, though the reason diesel engines have been second string power sources for planes has more to do with the fuel than the engine.

This latter issue is actually what has incentivized the choice of diesel engines in more light aircraft today, the two primary reasons being lower cost and more widespread availability.

Anderson notes how light aircraft have historically run on Avgas, which is a gasoline-based fuel specially designed for aviation. Avgas chemistry is akin to racing fuel. It's available at U.S airports, but for aviators flying into remote areas of South America or other places off the beaten path -- places where pilots fly humanitarian missions in the Third World or remote parts of Australia -- it is not always available.

Diesel, on the other hand, is really available nearly everywhere. When you fly, your topmost concern is reliability. It's not like driving a car where you can just pull over and see what that sound is that your engine is making.

What's more is the simplicity of a diesel engine's design. With half as many moving part in a two-stroke diesel, you have half as many things that can go wrong.

There are, however, a few drawbacks to diesel, the author reminds us. He's not trying to sell us. He's just her to inform us of our options and why diesel in aircraft has been growing.

Avgas is designed for "the specific needs of aviation," especially in high altitudes. One of its properties is the ability to avoid vapor lock. That is, it's designed to resist becoming vapor in the lines, cutting off the flow of fuel to the engine. Diesel is subject to gelling, icing and the problem of microbial growth in the fuel.

The Arctic regions and dense tropical rainforests will present problems for diesel planes that Avgas-powered engines will shrug off.

Naming Names

There is only one left. Diesel-powered Junkers 
took to the air during WWII

In the latter part of this article the author begins by taking us back to the first diesel-powered aircraft, the German-engineered Junkers JU-86. The plane was produced specifically for the Luftwaffe initially. It had a variety of looks and was the first to have diesel engines. It was a twin engine bomber and transport craft. 

A unique feature of these engines is that they had vertically opposed six-cylinder, 12-piston, liquid cooled, supercharged engines that generated 868 hp each. It could climb 900 feet per minutes and carry 11,000 pounds. Not too shabby.

Nowadays there are a number of aircraft builders who use diesel power in some of their planes including Diamond Aircraft Industries, which is discussed in detail. Diesel engine suppliers are also noted, including unique engines like Superior Gemini, DeltaHawk and Centurion. The big two engine builders, Lycoming and Continental, primarily make Avgas powered engines, but have also produced some diesel engines on a limited scale.

The article has lots of photo and goes into more depth on the diesel engine builders near the end. You can find the full story here at EngineLabs.

How Garrett Turbochargers Contribute to the Success of BMW B57 Diesel Engines

A car is the sum of its parts. The performance of each of these parts contributes to the performance of the whole.  Brakes, electrical systems, sensors, transmissions, injectors, spark plugs -- each component has been significantly fine tuned over the past many decades to produce more power and efficiency than ever before while reducing the car's environmental impact.

An Autoevolution article this week takes a deep dive into one specific innovation that has increased the power and efficiency of BMW's B57 diesel engine while lowering emissions. The focus is on the Garrett Turbocharger. The innovation is a variable nozzle turbine. The article is titled "The Tech Behind the Garrett Turbochargers That Keep BMW B57 Diesel Engines Alive."

Here's the story.

Diesel automobile sales in the U.S. dropped off after the Dieselgate scandal of 2015. This event did not, however, disrupt the popularity of diesel cars in Europe. BMW is one of the automakers that sells plenty of diesel-powered vehicles across the pond. The important thing is to satisfy the new Euro 6d emission standards. To do this the company has done a complete makeover of its most popular diesel engine, the 3.0 B57 six-cylinder.

It is now assisted by a mild hybrid system which includes a 48-volt starter generator that provides 11 hp (8 kW) of additional power, author Vlad Radu writes. "More importantly, it optimizes the engine's load range and reduces consumption."

The improvement in efficiency is achieved by means of two-stage variable nozzle/geometry turbochargers. The end result is better fuel consumption and performance.

BMWs 3.0-liter B57 inline-six diesel engine.

Several technical innovations are involved. One has to do with seven ports integrated on the exhaust manifold, six on the exhaust and one on the EGR. The ports address exhaust pressure variations with improvements on both the high and lower pressures of the VNT. We're talking about serious fine tuning here while the engine is in action.

There's some sophisticated electronics involved as well that works together with the two VNT actuators, improving engine responsiveness. "According to Garrett, throttle response and torque deliver are smoother and more powerful when compared to single turbo or conventional two-stage turbo systems," he writes.

Relying on information from Garrett, Radu shares additional benefits. The new system setup improves boost at low rpms. And the setup also reduces the production of harmful gases even before they go through the treatment devices.

Though the two-stage NOx exhaust gas treatment system was introduced in 2012, it has gone through extensive upgrades since that time. These are areas that companies can't sit back on their haunches about. Continuous improvement is the name of the game as they perpetually push the envelope. The BMW is the epitome of sophisticated engineering, inside and out.

The redesigned B57 3.0 liter, with assistance from a 48V hybrid system, produces 340 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, all this while becoming compliant with the EU's stringent emissions standards that have recently come into effect. 

What will they think of next?

Read the full story here: The New Tech Behind the Garret Turbchargers.

Photos on this page: BMW AG

Tips for Hunters On Buying a Used Truck Whether Diesel or Gas

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

So much of life is about making good decisions. Choosing where you want to live and who you want to live with are big ones. Choosing a career path is another biggie. 

For hunters -- North, South, East or West -- one of the decisions you'll be making is what kind of used truck you need and how to find it. I say used because it's doubtful that you want to be abusing a shiny new $70,000 pickup into the hardscrabble canyons or timber-strewn back woods to get your next buck. 

Last week, Outdoor Life published a useful article on this very topic titled "The Best Used Trucks For Hunters." The story by Scott Murdock carries an informative subhead that explains why this subject is important. "There is no hierarchy of brands in the truck market. Every auto manufacturer has made quality vehicles, clunkers, and everything in between." 

The problem emerges when you try to find a suitable, reliable vehicle in the used truck market. Whether pursuing a diesel or gas guzzler, Murdock believes the right truck for you is not impossible to find. First, however, you need to get a clear picture of what your looking for. 

PRIMARY CONSIDERATIONS

1. A truck that can go where other vehicles can't.
In response to this first point the author gets into a little breakdown of the difference between AWD and 4-wheel drive. The latter is stronger and more capable driving over obstacles.

2. Consider cargo room.
An SUV might be fine if you are hunting small game and have a dog or two. On the other hand, for deer or elk, a truck bed is pretty much a requirement. Easy to hose out afterwards, too.

3. Are you towing?
If you're bringing a boat, camper or trailer loaded with ATVs and gear, then you need to consider what you've got under the hood. Half-ton trucks will suffice in most situations, but for heavier loads you'll be best served by a heavy-duty truck with a diesel power plant.

* * *

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS

If you buy something small that doesn't work out, you can always use it as a doorstop. But if you buy a used truck that's a lemon, it's much more difficult to recycle. Here are some suggestions on how to find a good one, according to Outdoor Life.

1. Put brand loyalty aside.
Probably a hard one for some folks who might consider such a purchase to be almost like cheating. Murdock notes that every brand has both great vehicles and clunkers. Be open-minded, he suggests.

2. Only pay for features you want.
You're buying a hunting truck, not a Lexus. Four-wheel drive and towing capacity is all you really need. If you want more than that, upgrade your hunting shack.

3. Do your homework.
Avoid the temptation to buy on impulse. Make a list of wants and needs, then go looking. Murdock writes, "Your next step should be an online forum dedicated to the exact year, make, and model of the truck(s) that interest you." (NOTE: There is a list of diesel forums in the right hand column here at the Blue Flame Blog which can help you in your search.) Pay attention to the pros and cons from others' experiences.

4. Read the signs.
By this he means, look closely to see if the truck has been maintained. Ask for maintenance records as well, if available. If you find a truck that has been taken care of, it will probably take care of you, even if it has high mileage.

* * *
This is a superb article with a lot more useful information. The next section goes into the matter of how much you should expect to spend on a suitable used truck. The following section discusses mileage matters and why lower miles isn't always better. From there he makes a case for four-wheel drive. After this he gives his opinion regarding gas or diesel. He gives a strong thumbs up to diesel power if your towing because of the torque these engines generate.

The last section gets brand specific. The author says the best half ton to look for is a 1990-2006 Chevrolet 1500 or GMC 1500. And the best diesel, in his view is the 1994-1998 Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500. If you're going midsize, he likes the 2015 to present Chevrolet Colorado ZR2. In the SUV category he directs readers to the 1997-2001 Jeep Cherokee. For Best Bargain, he suggests the 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra. And for Best Sport Truck, yes, it's the 2010-2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor.

* * * 

The article is packed with details in every one of these sections. He makes a strong defense of his selections in the latter portion when naming names. It's a well constructed argument for buying used, and loaded with insights. We recommend you bookmark this page, even if you aren't a hunter:

Buying Used Trucks for Hunting

Was This the World's First Diesel Truck?

There's something about firsts that fascinates us. First president. First manned airplane flight. First solo flight across the Atlantic. First man to walk on the moon.

So I found it intriguing to see this article by Cristina Mircea at Autoevolution.com about the First Diesel Truck. 

The first diesel truck was built in 1923 by Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (DMG), a company founded in 1890 by German engineer Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach. Their big project at the time was the development of a small, high speed engine whose speed could be regulated to go faster or slower. Their first such engine was called Daimler's Dream. They sold their first automobile in 1892, which ran on liquid petroleum. It was another three decades before DMG dropped their first diesel engine into a truck.

That first truck was a behemoth, weighing five tons and powered by a four-cylinder diesel OB 2 engine. The engine produced 45 hp at 1000 rpm. It took automaker Benz & Cie a full year to build that truck engine. (Trivia Note: In 2012 Cummins annunced it had built its two millionth diesel engine for Ram trucks alone. Mr Daimler and Mr. Diesel would be astounded at these kinds of numbers.)

According to Mircea, that first Benz diesel truck made quite an impression with regards to fuel economy when compared to petrol engines. It reduced fuel usage by 25% without losing any power. The brown tar oil that fueled it was less expensive. 

In addition to taking a year to build the engine, it actually took 12 years to design a compact engine that could work. Keep in mind there was a brutal four year war in there  which no doubt interfered some.

So it was that DMG produced its first air-injected diesel truck in 1923. Mircea writes that it took the diesel truck 10 days to get from DMG's plant in Berlin to get to their Stuttgart plant and back to Berlin. This was considered an "enormous" distance at the time, which helped sell their trucks to the public. (Today it is easily less than a seven hour drive.)

According to a Daimler media release, their "first series built diesel truck finally debuted at the commercial vehicle show in Amsterdam in February 1924." Its prechamber diesel engine had an output of 37 kW (50 hp) at 1000 rpm.

For what it's worth, DMG merged with Benz & Cie three years later (1926) to become Daimlet-Benz. "Daimler AG is now the second largest German carmaker after Volkswagen," Mircea writes.

* * * 

Links

The Autoevolution feature

Daimler Media account