Spotlight on the 1000hp Turbo Diesel Audi Quattro

With our editors are on vacation, we're re-posting a few of our favorite stories from the previous year. This story appeared in February

The name Audi is synonymous with quality. And why not? Throughout its history the company has epitomized German engineering. 

This week, Grand Tour Nation published an article by Alex Harrington about an Audi Quattro that makes over a thousand horsepower from its turbo-diesel engine. The story is accompanied by video footage that makes your mouth water. 

The Audi Quattro emerged from the road rally era. It made its first appearance at the 1980 German Motor Show in March of that year with production continuing through 1991. Right from the start the Quattro began winning rallies and races around the world, establishing itself a major force at the time. One item that contributed to its success was a rules change that allowed the use of four-wheel drive in competition racing. In part it seems to be a matter of being in the right place at the right time. 

Harrington begins his account of the car with a tip of the hat to that history.

The Audi Quattro was, and still is, a hero of the Group B Rally era. It used one of the first AWD systems to be used in anything other than off-roading, and that made it one hell of a force to be reckoned with on the stages. The thing is, this means these Quattros are extremely expensive, so many fans have resorted to buying the lower specced variants and modding them. This restomod from LCE Performance found in Markdorf, Germany, is the perfect example of this, and it’s been done very, very well.

Harrington himself comes out of a racing background, hence his interest in a the Quattro seems only natural. The story includes video, more focused on the feeling of the vehicle than words about it. You hear the whirr as the machine rips past the camera, going through the paces.

Under the hood you'll find a network of aftermarket intakes, orchestrated "to improve the amount of air that can be sucked into the turbo-charged five-cylinder engine." 

Here's a pair of sentences that speak volumes:

With 49lbs of boost, it hit 1,081 horsepower. Thankfully, it features a Quattro AWD system to maintain traction when putting those horses to the tarmac.

The power plant is a 2.5-litre turbo diesel from an Audi A6. This vehicle has more than power, though. It's got style. 

Be sure to read the full story and watch the videos here:

This Audi Quattro Restomod Makes 1,000HP From A Turbo Diesel Engine

Making a Splash in the Marine Market: Diesel Outboards Catch Our Attention

This week our editors are on vacation, so we're posting our favorite stories worth repeating from the previous year. This is a story that got a surprising amount of traction when it ran in January.

Just because half the lakes in the country are covered with ice doesn't mean we can't think about the upcoming boating season. Eric Haun, editor of Marine News, wrote an interesting article last summer in Marine Link titled "Making the Case for Diesel Outboards." In it he shares insights about transitions taking place in the marine arena.

Haun begins by pointing out how more and more professionals are switching away from inboard motors to outboards on small military craft, workboats, patrol boats another others kinds of vessels that were historically inboard engine powered. This gives the boats several advantages including easier access to maintenance, quicker replacement and the extra space available inside the boat.

At this point the discussion turns to diesel outboards, which have advantages of their own, one of the foremost being fuel safety. The author writes, Compared to gasoline, diesel is a less flammable fuel and therefore much safer to work with in all working environments. In addition, with diesel engines the combustion of fuel takes place due to the heat generated by the compression of fuel and air inside the cylinder. Compression ignition is safer than petroleum being ignited by a spark plug, or any other spark.

One of Haun's sources was OXE Marine, a Sweden-based diesel outboard manufacturer. According to Myron Mahendra, CEO of OXE Marine, “Many vessels are hindered by regulations to carry petrol onboard if fire safe containment is not provided. The use of petrol is, therefore, a challenge for any vessel with tenders.”

He also spoke with U.K.-based Cox Powertrain, which makes diesel outboards as well. Cox noted that NATO has been pushing a single fuel idea, with the aim of maximizing equipment interoperability by using a single fuel option. This is one of the drivers behind the CXO300 diesel outboard Cox Powertrain has developed.

The end result here is that rescue vessels, naval and military vessels can refuel at the mother ship without being burdened with the hazard of highly volatile gasoline.

"Another benefit associated with diesel is efficiency," writes Haun. "Both Cox and OXE point to significant fuel savings compared to gas. Cox claims its 300-horsepower CXO300 offers roughly 30% fuel savings compared to its gasoline equivalent, while Mahendra says the 300-horsepower OXE 300, due to enter production shortly, uses up to 42% less fuel than a comparable gasoline outboard."

This fuel efficiency results in greater operational range so boats can stay out on the water longer.

Diesel outboards also have the usual advantages of diesel engines, including endurance, torque and flexibility. Though the price advantage goes to gas-powered outboards, one can make up the difference by comparing the life cycle costs of each and in most applications this would be fairly even.

The full article can be found here, with more photos as well.
https://www.marinelink.com/news/making-case-diesel-outboards-479456 

Stories We Liked -- Are You Still Hearing These Common Myths About Diesel?

This week our editors are on vacation, so we're posting our favorite stories worth repeating from the previous year.

One of the things every Internet junky knows is that there is a lot of information out there in cyberspace, as well as misinformation. On this blog our theme is always Diesel, and by that we don't mean Vin. On this topic there are new stories every day. There's also a massive backlog of archived stories that are still relevant. 

Here's a 2019 story from Hot Cars that caught my eye and is still totally relevant. The article by Goran Radanovic is titled 25 Myths About Diesel Engines That Simply Aren't True.

Radanovic begins with a little history of diesel engines and their development. The significant feature of this power plant design is the manner in which it generates combustion. Ignition is caused by the elevated temperature generated in the cylinder by mechanical compression, which results in the ignition of the fuel. It's a brilliantly simple concept based on an understanding of basic scientific principles. 

Despite their proven track record of more than a century of service, a number of myths have grown up regarding diesel power. The author actually cites 25 here. I'll note a few of them and then send you directly to the source at Hot Cars.

1. Myth: Diesels are the largest cause of air pollution.

When you see that black smoke billow you do have to wonder how this isn't true. But the reality is, there have been great strides taken to clean up diesel. The industry has come a long, long way. Remember how much black smoke steel mills spewed a century ago? You don't see any of that today, and these engines now a different from olden times.What I find interesting is that there is such as thing as being too quiet. I vaguely recall reading last year that the EV cars are so quiet they are dangerous for blind people who can't hear them coming. 

2. Myth: Diesels are loud.

That, too, has changed. "Common-rail technology made diesel engines almost as quiet as gas engines," he writes. 

3. Myth: Finding diesel fuel at the pump is impossible.

Not sure why anyone would buy this myth. The infrastructure for diesel is everywhere. I will tell you what IS true. You're not going to have as easy of a time finding charging stations for your Tesla. At leas t not yet.

4. Myth: Diesel engines are only good for towing.

Towing is just one of the advantages of diesel engine technology. Reliability and longevity are additional benefits.

5. Myth: You can't tune a diesel engine. 

This seems strange. If you've ever witnessed or been part of a dyno competition you can see that it's all about tuning for maximum power. According to Radanovic, "The truth is that diesel engines have withstood better tuning than gasoline engines." 

* * *  

The author lists 20 more common myths about diesels. It's actually quite surprising how much misinformation people take for granted. You can read the who story here:

25 Myths About Diesel That Simply Aren't True
https://www.hotcars.com/myths-about-diesel-engines-that-simply-arent-true/

1950s Bread Truck Transformed Into Diesel-Powered Low-Rider

Our editors are on vacation, so we're posting some of our favorite stories from the previous year which we thought worth repeating. This story first appeared in November.

Remember the good old days when a milk man delivered your milk, a bread truck delivered fresh bread and the ice cream man drove down your street with your favorite popsicles? Ever wonder what happened to those old ice cream trucks and other delivery vehicles?

One such truck was displayed last November at SEMA360, a 1950s bread truck that has been transformed from "just another vintage truck" into a diesel-powered lowrider. Brett Foote wrote the story for Ford Authority, an online site sharing Ford-related news. 

His opening line tells the story. "To us, there's nothing cooler than an old commercial truck repurposed as a hot rod." Even more cool is that it's a diesel. And cooler than that: it's a lowrider. "There’s just something undeniably awesome about former workhorses from another era being fitted with modern suspension components, big, powerful engines, and of course, awesome visual updates." 

The team that produced this tricked out 1950 Ford Bread Truck was Pot O' Gold Kustoms  out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. When you check out their site you'll be impressed by their versatility, doing all manner of swaps, diesel conversions and even sheetmetal work. 

The truck had been on display last week at the virtual SEMA360 show, SEMA's substitution for their usual weeklong Vegas Show. Foote describes the details of the project build, which includes a Mustang II suspension. (Lee Iacocca's Mustangs were introduced at the 1964 World's Fair, weren't they?) 

Mustangs were a 1960s innovation, but L.A.'s "Lowrider Culture" began as early as the 40's, so a lowrider bread truck might not be so out of place as you'd think. At least, in L.A.

Other features of the build include massive Detroit steel wheels "wrapped in equally large rubber," disc brakes, and that Cummins 4BT four-cylinder diesel engine. You can find the rest of the details here.

* 

For what it's worth, Ford Authority is looking for more staff. A writer, an editor and a curator. They pay well, if you've got the chops.   Go to the article link above and you'll see it listed.

In addition, since they love writing about Fords, the word is out that if you have a vehicle build and would like it featured on Ford Authority, they's like to hear about it. Details here.

Related Links
30 Vintage Photos of Bread Trucks
Photos of this tricked out Pot O' Gold Bread Truck

The Biggest Reason We Love Diesels: More Torque

This week our editors are on vacation, so we're posting our favorite stories worth repeating from the previous year.

Why do we see diesel pickups competing in sled pulls and we don't see Mustangs or Ferraris doing the tug of war? Well, it has to do with torque. Hot cars can master the horsepower game, but when it comes to raw power in a pulling competition, you need to bring in the big dogs for that.

A 2016 article in Car & Driver helps explain what torque is: "Torque is a rotating force produced by an engine's crankshaft. The more torque an engine produces, the greater its ability to perform work." 

You don't need to understand the science to recognize the difference. If you've ever been to a tractor pull, you can see it is a very different experience.

I mention all this because even though diesel engines are far cleaner and quieter than they were thirty years ago, they still get a lot of bad press. Diesel owners have a target on their backs. That's why it is important to remind folks once in a while why half the vehicles in Wyoming are pickup trucks and why diesels still have a function. 

The article that caught my eye is titled, 5 Reasons Why Diesel Engines Make More Torque Than Gasoline Engines. The 2018 Motor Authority story by Jeff Glucker begins, Horsepower is fun in its own way, but torque can be just as entertaining. If you want to rip stumps out of the ground, you'll want a whole lot of torque. That also means you'll likely prefer a diesel engine. Compared to their gasoline-swilling counterparts, diesel engines are the torque kings. Why is that?

Glucker then turns to Jason Fenske from Engineering Explained to get the answer.

According to Fenske these are five of the reasons diesels are Torque Monsters. 

1. The compression ratio

2. The speed of combustion

3. Bore and stroke size

4. Turbocharging

5. Diesel fuel packs more energy density

Fenske explains each of these five points in language that is relatively easy to grasp. For those unfamiliar with these things it is quite eye-opening. I strongly encourage following this link. It's a relatively short article and you will learn a lot.
https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1116200_5-reasons-why-diesel-engines-make-more-torque-than-gasoline-engines

For more, check out the article Torque vs. Horsepower: What's the Difference? (Car & Driver)

Five Questions to Help You Pick the Right Diesel Engine Oil

Our editors are on vacation, so we're posting some of our favorite stories from the previous year which we thought worth repeating.

Viscosity control? Shear stability? TBN retention? Confused? Best to start your search by understanding your application; tractor pulling, drag racing, stationary, street, off-road, etc. Let's take a look at these five simple questions.

What are your engine oil specifications? 

It’s important to follow what your original equipment manufacturer recommends. Reading your owner’s manual is the key to maximizing your equipment’s performance. Your manual contains vital API information about caring for your engine, including which oil grades are best suited for them. For example: SAE 15W-40, 10W-30, 5W-40 oil? Mineral, semi, or full synthetic base stock needs to be considered.

How important is fuel economy? 

If you’re keeping an eye on your miles per gallon, the right lubricant can help your equipment achieve its maximum fuel efficiency. By squeezing a few extra miles from each tank, you can see major savings over time. A semi or full-synthetic diesel engine oil is your best option to deliver maximum fuel efficiency without compromising engine performance, improving fuel economy by up to 2 percent under normal conditions and by up to 3 percent during cold starts.

Does your diesel engine run in a range of temperatures? 

Speaking of cold starts, temperature is another important consideration when choosing an engine oil. Extreme temperatures, whether hot or cold, can be brutal on moving parts in your equipment. Heat can quickly turn an engine into an oven, and the cold can thicken some oils until they’re practically jelly.

How old is your diesel engine? 

Most diesel owners want to stretch the life of their engine as long as possible. To perform their best, older diesel engines require attentive care, and a quality lubricant can go a long way toward maintaining them. For example, is your diesel running a DPF or no? Rebuilt for performance? Out of warranty?

Are you looking for more horse power or torque? 

Be sure to look at the oil’s data or spec sheet to see if it addresses increased performance, or is high in anti-wear protection, etc. Look for semi and full synthetic diesel engine oils that use shear stable synthetic base oils that are also high in film strength, have viscosity control, work with high compression, have a higher TBN retention, and if needed, designed to address demands of turbo or super-charged diesel engines.

We hope this has helped a little in your decision. Need a place to start? Take a look at these eight diesel engine oils: https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/

THIS STORY ORIGINALLY APPEARED IN SEPTEMBER 2020

The Silverado Trail Boss Steps Up to Diesel

Silverado Trail Boss now available in diesel.

Some people might be surprised at how long the Chevy Silverado half-ton went without a diesel engine. When you go to performance diesel competitions, the Big 3 are always well represented. But for a while the diesel option was absent in recent years. So it was that in 2020 that the Silverado stepped up its game with a turbo diesel inline six.

At the time, automotive columnist Len Ingrassia wrote last year, "The new turbo diesel inline six cylinder promotes high fuel economy, performance and a plethora of configurations to match your pocketbook and penchant for creature comforts." 

We find it interesting that GM is now adding a diesel option to the Chevy Silverado Trail Boss. As reported earlier this year, GM has its sights set on going all electric by the middle of this century. Needless to say, they obviously do not want to abandoned the diesel enthusiasts among us. Hence, GM Authority last week announced this new move for the 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 Limited LT Trail Boss.

According to a story by Caleb Jacobs in The Drive, the Trail Boss is currently considered the most off-road capable truck in Chevy's half-ton lineup. 

Jacobs notes that "the 3.0-liter Duramax diesel inline-six that hasn't been available on the Trail Boss to this point, and it'd be great to pair that 4x4 prowess with nearly 30 mpg on the road. Now, it seems like General Motors will make it happen."

The 3.0-liter Duramax produces 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. That's equal to GM's potent 6.2-liter gas V8. The V8 can't compete on fuel economy though. Off road in 4x4 mode, Duramax numbers are 25 mpg. Running down the highway you get 29 mpg.

We applaud the move, especially since Ford is discontinuing its half-ton diesel after this month. Ram will no doubt pick up the slack with its EcoDiesel V6-powered half-ton trucks, including the Rebel 1500.

Special thanks to the industry journalists who work at keeping us informed of all the latest developments in our industry as they happen.