Diesel Engine Builders Will Appreciate Champion Oil's Professional Grade Penetrant

Earlier this year Champion Oil unveiled RX-454, a professional grade penetrating fluid for engine builders. The new Professional Grade Penetrating Oil assists engine builders with rusted and hard to free mechanical parts such as nuts and bolts.

Penetrating oil, also known as penetrating fluid, is a low-viscosity oil that helps loosen metal components because it can penetrate into the narrow space between the threads of two parts. It can also be used as a cleaner, though it should not be used as a general-purpose lubricant or a corrosion stopper.

“Champion’s RX-454 is an amazing liquid spray tool that penetrates, lightly lubricates, and stops rust,” stated Karl Dedolph at Champion Brands, LLC.  "It makes repair work easier whenever trouble is caused by corrosion, moisture, dirt or friction. It's great for drying wet ignition systems, silencing squeaks, and will not harm rubber, plastics or painted surfaces.”   

“Using penetrating fluids as general-purpose lubricants is not advisable, because such oils are relatively volatile. As a result, much of the penetrating oil will evaporate in a short amount of time, leaving little residual lubricant. Besides nuts and bolts, other uses include removing chewing gum and adhesive stickers, and lessening friction on metal-stringed musical instruments,” added Dedolph.

RX-454 Directions
TO START WET ENGINES: Remove distributor cap and spray complete electrical system sparingly.

TO LOOSEN FROZEN PARTS: Apply freely and allow to run off.

TO PROTECT METAL: Apply light, even film. 

Contains aliphatic hydrocarbons and petroleum distillates. Use in well ventilated areas. This product is compliant for sale in North America. 

• Part# 4244M 12/9 oz.
•  https://www.championbrands.com/rx-454-penetrant/

About Champion Brands, LLC

Champion, a PLZ Aeroscience Company,  is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion also produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the racing, automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information call Champion at 660-890-6231 Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO visit championbrands.com

About PLZ Aeroscience

PLZ Aeroscience is a leader in specialty aerosol and liquid product technologies. PLZ specializes in the development, manufacturing, packaging and distribution of a comprehensive line of contract fill, branded and private label products. PLZ has a robust and proprietary portfolio of products in household cleaning, personal care, food service, maintenance, specialty and industrial, and automotive. For more information, visit PLZAeroscience.com.

About Pritzker Private Capital

Pritzker Private Capital partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products, services and healthcare sectors. The firm’s differentiated, long-duration capital base allows for efficient decision-making, broad flexibility with transaction structure and investment horizon, and alignment with all stakeholders. Pritzker Private Capital builds businesses for the long term and is an ideal partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Pritzker Private Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). For more information, visit PPCPartners.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’s Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive Formulated for Diesel Pick-Ups

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

Going for Gold: Looking for the Perfect Diesel Engine for This Audi R8

Decisions, decisions. 

What happens when you take a supercar with a gasoline engine and attempt to swap it out for a diesel? This is what Darkside Developments, a shop in England, is attempting to do with an Audi R8.

The story by Brad Anderson appeared on Carscoops this week, accompanied by a video in which builder states, "This is a cry for help." The help he was seeking was not money to finish the build, but rather help in making some important decisions.

Creating a video like that is intriguing because the shop is utilizing a technique called "crowdsourcing." Crowdsourcing is a method for obtaining information by enlisting the services of a large number of people in order to get input regarding a project. 

The primary decision Darkside had been grappling with was whether to drop in a diesel V6 with a massive turbocharger, or to drop in a V8 diesel with two turbos hanging out from the back.

The current engine they intend to swap out.

The compounding issue on the V8 selection would be finding a suitable manual transmission that would mate well with an engine that powerful.

Anderson says that he doesn't believe Audi fans would be all that thrilled by this kind of build. Nevertheless, we think diesel enthusiasts may be paying attention.

"While it would certainly be cool to see a diesel-powered Audi R8 on the road," Anderson writes, "such a vehicle wouldn't be entirely without precedent. In fact, Audi famously unveiled the R8 Le Mans Concept back in 2008 with a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 engine producing 4923 hp at 4,000 rpm and a monstrous 738 lb-ft (1000 Nm) of torque between 1,750 and 3,000 rpm."

Audi purportedly gave serious consideration to putting it into production, but finally took a pass. 

UK-based Darkside Developments specializes in performance diesel tuning. They do fabrication, tuning, mods, off road, project cars, and racing. They ship all over the world and have a loyal following for their workmanship and high standards. According to Carscoops, their objective, with regard to this diesel swap, was to use the diesel R8 as a top speed car rather than one focused on track times, "something that the R8 is probably more suited for."

Related Links

Diesel Powered Car of the Week: Audi R15 TDI

The Original Story at Carscoops

Darkside Developments

Eliminating Performance Roadblocks on a '94 to '98 5.9L Cummins Diesel

While reading a Driving Line story about 5.9-second diesel drag trucks, another story caught my attention. It was an excellent tutorial on how to get more performance and power from a mid-90s Cummins diesel engine. We'll give a brief overview here of the highlights and then link to the story, which includes photos that illustrate exactly what is being described.

Don't you hate it when something is explained but you have no clue how to do it because you don't know exactly what you are looking for. This article shows and tells, and is worth bookmarking.

The article by Mike McGlothlin, published last summer, is titled Performance Roadblocks of the '94 to '98 5.9L Cummins. This particular Cummins hit the road in '94-'98 Dodge Ram three-quarter and one ton trucks. 

The article opens by noting how durable the Cummins engines of this period were. 500,000 miles is not unusual at all with a few performance modifications. The factory setup was somewhat conservative for this engine, however, so get get the most from it McGlothlin zeroes in on the various ways this superb engine could be improved.

Roadblock 1: The P-pump
This is a Bosch P7100 mechanical injection pump, a "little engine" on the engine. Because of its factory setup the P-pump is more of a limiter than contributor of power. Hence, the starting point for more power is to move this roadblock.

The goal is to modify the air-fuel ratio. To do this, adjust the AFC (air-fuel control) by adjusting the pre-boost screw. (The article includes photos so you know where to find it.)

The second adjustment is to tweak the star wheel that sits on top of the AFC housing. By gingerly rotating the star wheel toward the passenger side you will increase the engine's power. If you go too far you will have black smoke that you do not want, so tweak accordingly.

The third adjustment again focuses on the AFC. Bring the AFC forward as far as it will go. The author writes, "Combining a full-forward AFC with the aforementioned star wheel rotation, it’s not uncommon to see a 60hp and 200 lb-ft gain."

His fourth trick is to have you remove the P-pump's fuel plate. To do this you will have to remove the AFC housing. These four moves alone will make a difference and cost nothing to implement. He then turns to a couple of "cheap" maneuvers.

His "Cheapie Fueling Fix #1" is to pick up and install a $15 Mack rack plug. This alone will add up to 35 hp to your truck. His "Cheapie Fueling Fix #2" is a timing adjustment.  

Roadblock 2: RPM
The second Roadblock, McGlothlin explains, has to do with RPM, or lack thereof. "If you perform all (or even some) of the fueling mods listed above, your power band will remain limited until you address the factory governor springs." The solution he says is to get a 3,000 RPM governor spring kit.

Roadblock 3: Lack of Boost
The adjustments you have made so far should have added 100 hp and 250 ft-lb. of torque. But the with factory turbo untouched, you're missing out on the full potential this engine offers.

His first suggestion is to install a boost elbow. This is a $25 item that enables youto fine-tune boost. It comes with precautions, though. 

Roadblock 4: Factory Torque Converter or Clutch
Another weak link to consider addressing, especially after you have removed all the other roadblocks to performance.

If this kind of thing interests you, but you have a different kind of engine, be sure to check out the forums (listed in the right hand column of this blog) where a lot of smart and experienced people gather to share ideas and help their fellow diesel friends.

You will find the Driving Line article here. 

Winners and Photos from Last Weekend's East Coast Diesel Nationals Gives

All photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

For a lot of people, their first exposure to diesel competition took place at a county fair.  County fairs are a tradition as American as apple pie. In fact, your first apple pie might have even been at a pie eating contest at a county fair. Fairs give communities a chance to show off what is special in their communities. They are also lathered with nostalgic memories, becoming a gathering place for young and old alike. 

These thoughts came to mind when I read this headline from the Journal-News: County Fair Tractor And Truck Pulls Rescheduled (Again) For Aug. 22. It was that word "Again" that tipped us off to the biggest challenge all motorsports promoters face: the weather. 

EAST COAST DIESEL NATIONALS 2021

This past weekend in Numidia, Pa., the day opened with a bright sun scattering its arrows of light across the landscape. It seemed a good omen, since the East Coast had been receiving buckets of rain nearly daily for a week while a large swath of the country has been experiencing a drought.

Unfortunately the day's events were later cut short... by more rain. Despite the weather, racers persevered and we had winners in a number of categories so the the day was not a complete washout. The 2500+ attendees who came to Numidia saw 175 competitors in a limited event that included racing, pulling, dyno and Show-N-Shine.

Champion Blue Flame Oil is pleased announce the following winners for the East Coast Diesel Nationals last Saturday in Numidia, PA.

 

ET Bracket

Champion – Jake Allison

Heads -Up

Champion – Marlin Shirk

Sled Pulling

WorkStock

1 – Matthew Fessler – 339.19

 

Hot WorkStock

1 – Tom Hassler – 317.95

 

2.5/2.6 Class

1- Brenden Finck – 315.28

3.0 Class

1 – Jared Brown – 342.68

 

2WD 6200 LB Trucks

1 – Dale Forrester – 311.39

 

8500 LB Mod Tractors – (Single/Multiple engine)

1 – Vern Zerby – 315.81

 

7800 LB Tractors
1 – Amber Blizzard – 351.12

* * * 

Diesel Motorsports is the official sanctioning body for this event. In addition to tractor pulling and drag racing in multiple classes, there's a Show 'N Shine and a Dyno competition. The full range of events can be found here. 

Special thanks to Ron Knoch and the Diesel Motorsports team for doing all they can to make their motorsports events to be a rewarding experience for diesel enthusiasts and their fans. Here are a few additional photos from this past weekend.

Here is a list of upcoming Diesel Events.

If you know of an event you'd like us to add,

place it in the comments. See you at Rocky Top.

Ford Walks Back on Diesel F-150

This past week the news spread like a California wildfire. We read about it in several articles. This one by Joe Patel, from Cars Direct, has a pretty good summary of the report. 

Many observers noticed the absence of a diesel option in the 2021 F-150 last year, but then Ford seemed to have a change of plans and the Power Stroke V6 became available later. This year, Ford Authority announced that the diesel engine for F-150s is to be a thing of the past. This leaves five engine options for F-150 buyers: a 3.3-liter V6, turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, turbocharged 3.5-liter V6, hybrid turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 and a 5.0-liter V8. 

According to Car and Driver, it's the popularity of these other engines, such as the EcoBoost, that led to this decision. July 16 was the last day one could order a Power Stroke diesel option.

Cars Direct stated that this last Power Stroke V6 showed some real grit when one looks at the numbers it generated. 250 hp and 440 lbs-feet of torque is nothing to scoff at. But according to Patel, the availability of a hybrid overshadowed that power.

This is not the end of diesel engines at Ford. Diesel is still "available on the XL, XLT, Lariat, King Ranch and Platinum trims  with four-wheel drive." The extra cost varies from $3k to $5k. With a diesel engine the F-150 has a towing capacity up to 12,100 pounds or a payload capacity of 1,840, numbers that fall short of what Chevrolet and Ram offer. In fact, even the hybrid V6 has more oomph when it comes to torque (12,700) and the v8 as well (13,000), both of these being outdone by the turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 (14,000 pounds).  

The Cars Direct article concludes with a reiteration of Ford's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050. The all-electric F-150 Lightning and their Mustang Mach-E are the first signals indicative of their seriousness in this effort. "Offering a diesel powertrain doesn’t exactly help the automaker with these goals. Ford didn’t help the diesel engine’s case, though. As Ford Authority points out, the diesel engine wasn’t available with the 36-gallon extended range fuel tank or the automaker’s Pro Power Onboard system."

The departure of the F-150 diesel is not the end of the world, but it is the end of an era.

Read the full story here: F-150 Diesel Engine Discontinued

The East Coast Diesel Nationals and Thoughts on Why Motorsports Competition Matters

Photo courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Tomorrow the East Coast Diesel Nationals will be underway. As you read this, teams and enthusiasts are packing their gear or already on the road. Promoters are setting up to make everything is fan-friendly, or tying sponsor banners along fences and talking with the media. 

To give you an idea of the scope of the East Coast Diesel Nationals, here's a Diesel Army story about their 2017 event here. The Official Oil this year is Champion Blue Flame Diesel Oil, which you may have read about in The Shop Magazine.

Diesel Motorsports is the official sanctioning body for this event. In addition to tractor pulling and drag racing in multiple classes, there's a Show 'N Shine and a Dyno competition. The full range of events can be found here. 

THOUGHTS ON MOTORSPORTS RACING 

Some of us have been involved in racing nearly all our lives -- many as fans, and later some of us as drivers, and still others as sponsors. What's evident is that there is much more to racing than simply trying to see who is fastest. There are economic benefits, social benefits and many other benefits not immediately observed. 

In 2017 Automotive News published an insightful article on why racing matters. It begins with an anecdote about Henry Ford, who in 1901 beat the country's most famous racer in a 10-mile dash. One result of this victory was that it attracted investors into a fledgling company that has continued to this day.

The Automotive News editors were intrigued that whenever they had long discussions with auto industry leaders, somehow the conversation often drifted to racing. The AN editors came to realize that racing was itself a microcosm of the industry. 

In 1963 Roger Penske significantly observed that racing is not about individuals doing magnificent feats. "You're dealing with a team sport here, not just an athlete."

When you go to a diesel competition, you'll see how much these are truly team efforts. It would be fascinating to study how the character of leaders is such that their mechanics will stay up all night to get their vehicle ready for the next day's race.  

There's more to racing than what takes place on a weekend, though. All the top teams are gathering data that is used to for improving the vehicles in production for the masses. Whether it's dirt bikes, snowmobiles cars or diesel trucks, data is being gathered and innovations are being noticed in Detroit and elsewhere. 

* * * 

For those who love trucks simply for their beauty, the East Coast Diesel Nationals is the place to showcase your passion. Here are a couple Show 'N Shine stars from the past. Maybe your truck is the one that will shine tomorrow.

Photos courtesy Diesel Motorsports

Related Links

Why Sports Car Racing Still Matters (Motor Trend)

What Matters More in a Race: The Car or the Driver

Diesel Events: East Coast Nationals 2021 

Top Service Tips for Hard Working Diesel Engines For Operating at Peak Performance

Yesterday we wrote about three reasons diesel engines overheat. Upon seeing today's article about maintenance, it seemed like a good follow up and worth sharing. Rental is a publication for construction pros, but it's relevance is for everyone who owns a hard working diesel.

As we all know, there have been lots of changes in engine technology the past two decades, and this current decade we're seeing an increased transition for diesel to EV in many realms. In this article the author, Alexis Sheprak, reached out to three leading engine manufacturers to discuss some of the challenges this presents along with tips on how to improve the way we take  care of our equipment.

The three manufacturers she spoke with are Cummins, Perkins and Hatz. The question she asked was "What are your top five service tips for larger diesel engines to maintain peak performance year-round?" Here are the suggestions Rental's readers received. For the purpose of brevity, the suggestions are abbreviated and paraphrased. You will find a link to the full article at the end of this post.

Hatz
1. Follow the maintenance schedule as outlined in the owner's manual. If you're working in a harsh environment, however, make adjustments accordingly. (He uses the example of air filters plugging sooner than normal in extremely dusty environments.)

2. Because their is more electronics on engines these days, use more care when power washing.

3. Monitor your diesel particulate filter (DPF). Do not ignore warnings.

4. If you're running idle much of the day or low-load conditions, "make sure you run the engine at full load for at least 30 minutes at the end of a shift to ensure the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) is reaching the appropriate burn out temperatures."

5. Pay attention to engine codes, and have them diagnosed as early as possible.

Cummins
1. Use the correct parts.

2. Following recommended maintenance schedules is critical. "Preventive maintenance saves fuel costs, major repairs in the long-term, and maximizes the productivity and life of the engine."

3. Use the correct fuel, oil and DEF. (Also, regularly check tire air pressure and air filter cleanliness.)

4. Engine filters are becoming more technically advanced. Make sure you are using filters that meet standards.

5. If you have a Cummins, they direct you to their service website, quickserve.cummins.com.  Enter your serial number and you're good to go.

Perkins
1. "Engine oil sampling, change intervals and oil grades." Keeping your oil health is critical, especially heavy working engines under load.

2. "Coolant condition and system performance." Overheating does all kinds of damage as we noted here yesterday.

3. Pay attention to fuel cleanliness and filtration. Failure to pay attention to these will cost you money down the road as it impacts fuel pumps and injectors.

4. Be sure you adjust for the seasons. (Here are some winter maintenance tips from the Blue Flame team.)

5. DEF handling and cleanliness. Also, when storing DEF keep it out of direct sunlight in a cooler storage area. It should not be above 95 degrees F.

* * * 

Additional questions that these engine professionals answered were as follows:

Q: New advanced engines and cooling systems are changing cooling system maintenance requirements. What should rental houses pay attention to when it comes to cooling systems?

Q: What about proper fuel maintenance?

Q: What technologies are available to help monitor engine performance and manage service schedules?

Q: I know there’s been a big push lately for more sustainability. What are some of the latest advancements in fuel types? And what should rental equipment owners be aware of about them?

Q: What’s next for engine technology?

* * * 

This article is packed with valuable, authoritative information. You can find the full article here: Diesel Engine Maintenance Tips for Peak Performance