Diesel 101: What's the Difference Between Diesel and Gas

Vince Lombardi, the famed Green Bay Packers coach, began each year's training camp with the same opening line. "Gentlemen, this is a football."

The point he made was that you are never too old or experienced to be reminded of the fundamentals now and then. How to hold a football, how to run with it, how to recover a loose ball... it's all pretty basic, but Lombardi believed this annual ritual was essential for success.

That anecdote is what came to mind when I saw the Florida News Times story this past weekend, What Is the Difference Between Diesel and Gas? It's not a clickbait title, just a straight up presentation of basic but useful information. "Just the facts, ma'am."

The story has a great opening line: "Did you know that diesel can give you 12% more energy per gallon in comparison to gasoline?" 

There are probably a lot of people who don't know that, so it serves as a nice attention getter. The question suggests that if you read this article maybe there will be other things you didn't know. Here's an overview of this piece, along with a link at the end so you can read it in its entirety.

The first decision most people make is deciding what type of vehicle they want, whether a car, sedan or truck. The next question ought to be whether to go diesel or gas power. To make this decision it helps to know how internal combustion engines work, whether gasoline powered or diesel.

Air enters the engine and mixes with fuel where it is compressed in the combustion chamber (cylinders) and ignited. The explosion pushes the piston and crankshaft which turns the gearbox. When the piston returns to its starting position the spent gases get pushed out into the exhaust system.

The difference between an engine powered by gasoline and a diesel engine takes place at the point of ignition. In a gasoline engine a spark ignites the fuel. In a diesel engine there are no spark plugs. Rather, ignition occurs by means of compression of the air-fuel mixture. High compression produces heat which generates spontaneous ignition.

Because diesel fuel produces more energy per gallon, it is more cost efficient. For this reason the engine of choice for people who do a lot of highway travel is often diesel. They also have more torque, so they accelerate faster.

The article notes that not all diesel fuel is created equal, however. Black diesel, biodiesel and other diesel fuels may detract from performance.

Some people are unaware of the differences between the two kinds of engines. Diesel engines are more durable and last longer. They used to be quite a bit heavier, but new manufacturing techniques and materials have addressed this. Because they have fewer parts, diesel engines have fewer components that can fail, which translates into fewer repairs.

Two primary drawbacks for diesel engines used to be how noisy they were and the black smoke they belched. These issues have also been addressed and are no longer the issues they once were.

Fuel Efficiency
Diesel tend to offer better fuel efficiency. This is due, in part, to the manner in which diesel engines work. Gasoline engines have a lower compression ratio in order to avoid self-ignition. In diesels, compression stroke only compresses the air because there is no fuel injected during the intake stroke. The greater compression ratio enables greater fuel efficiency.

Because of the different systems for combustion, the fuels are different. Both originate as crude oil extracted from the ground. The difference is in the refining. Diesel fuel is heavier and has a higher energy density. It also takes longer to evaporate.

Biodiesel is different from the diesel fuel refined from crude. It's important to know that diesel and biodiesel are not interchangeable. If you plan to use biodiesel, there are some changes necessary. The author doesn't detail these, so you will have to consult your mechanic.

The author ends his story by repeating the earlier assertion that diesel engines are more reliable. He adds that when things do go wrong they are usually not as expensive to fix. The article ends with a question: Are you ready to make the shift?

Ironically, right after reading this article I saw another about a diesel owner named Carl who did make a mistake and it proved very expensive. The title of the story, which you can read here, is Anyone Can Make A Mistake.

And what was the mistake Carl made? On a camping vacation, after a long day's drive, he pulled into a filling station before heading to the campground. Whether from being tired, or just the habit of filling the tank without thinking about much, he absent-mindedly filled up with 87 octane gasoline instead of diesel fuel. Oops.

An expensive mistake indeed. According to the article the final tab to fix this fiasco was $22,000. Fortunately he had good insurance, which covered most of the cost. You can be sure that this was not the kind of drama he needed for his vacation.

You can read the Florida News Times story here.

Whiskey Powered Diesel Trucks Add a Twist to the Notion of Drinking and Driving

Photo: Colin Smith. Wikimedia Commons

Human creativity and ingenuity knows no bounds it seems. Over the weekend there appeared a story from Edinburgh that was certainly unusual.  The Glenfiddich Distillery in Northeast Scotland now uses its whiskey bi-products to power heavy duty diesel trucks. The title of the article was Drink and drive: Glenfiddich uses whiskey waste to power its trucks.

The production process involves combining soaked barley grains with "a yellow, beer-like liquid called pot ale" and mixing in an anaerobic digester to produce low-carbon biogas. The resultant gas is essentially methane, which is stored at a location where specially adapted trucks can refuel.

The distillery's biogas now powers the distillery's converted trucks that are used to transport the distillery's whiskey and other products. You might even say that the full-circle use of whiskey for energy makes for a good marketing story, powering sales for the distillery as well. In short, it's a renewable energy story that is ultra-low carbon.

A spokesperson for the distillery said that each truck using the new biofuel saves around 250 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere.

Evidently the concept of creating a biofuel from spent grains and liquid from stills had been announced in 2010 by researches at Edinburgh Napier University. Environmentalists hailed the idea, and now Glenfiddich Distillery has followed through on the concept.  

Another benefit of the technique is that alternative means of generating biofuels can cause damage to forests and wildlife habitats. The Glenfiddich success has many people believing that whiskey-powered cars would be quite feasible in Scotland's future, significantly reducing CO2 in Scotland's future.

At this moment in time only three of the distillery's trucks have been converted. Their aim is to convert all twenty of their trucks and then do a roll-out to the rest of the industry.

Glenfiddich's distillery director Stuart Watts notes that the lifecycle cost of buying and maintaining trucks running on biofuel is similar to straight diesel. The benefits are environmental. “This makes a compelling choice for companies such as ourselves to use the biogas truck rather than the traditional diesel truck," he said.

Whatever will they cook up next?

Looking West, across the Pacific, here's an answer to that question. The president of a transport firm in Southwestern Japan is now powering his trucks with biofuel partly made with ramen soup broth. The company, Nishida Shoun, mixes waste cooking oil with lard extracted from the broth. For what it's worth, the broth is made from pork bones.

The company is already using the biodiesel in some of its trucks and will have all 170 vehicles in its fleet converted by September.  

Both these stories are a good read. Maybe one of them will give you ideas on how to recycle your own waste bi-products while making the world a cleaner, safer place.

Links

Drink and drive: Glenfiddich uses whiskey waste to power its trucks

Japanese Transport Firm Makes Diesel Fuel Using Ramen Broth

Diesel Shop Supplies: Champion Wipe-R-Clean® Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes

Anyone who turns a wrench knows how important basic shop supplies are. Every little bit helps when running a shop or simply getting under the hood out back in the garage. Here's an announcement that came across the wire last week from Champion.

Champion Wipe-R-Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes  

Champion Oil, a global leader in specialty lubricants and products, recently has introduced Champion Wipe-R-Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes for machine shops, engine builders, etc.   This new product #4530H cleans and de-greases without adding water in one-easy step. 

Champion Wipe-R-Clean® Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes cut through the toughest tar, grease, wax, ink, paint, lubricants, and adhesive. They are extremely versatile, and can be used for nearly any job, from cleaning vehicle interiors, to wiping hands, to cleaning machinery, tools and other surfaces.

These wipes are industrial strength, yet gentle on skin – fortified with an emollient, they won’t crack or dry hands. The textured side of the fabric won’t scratch surfaces and is ideal for scrubbing tough soils, while the smooth side wipes surfaces clean. The formula won’t leave behind a residue, dries on its own, and leaves a pleasant citrus scent.

Champion Wipe-R-Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaning Wipes are available in 6 pack cases with 70 wipes per container. #4530H/6.  Contains Butyl 3-hydroxybutyrate and other components, citrus odor, 9.5” x 12”, pre-moistened. https://www.championbrands.com/Wipe-R-Clean-Cleaning-Wipes/

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/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

Is Toyota Preparing to Bring a Hybrid Diesel to America?

Yesterday we wrote about some of the new technology created to reduce or eliminate emissions on diesel trucks. In today's story we'll discuss another innovation that 50 years ago would probably never been imagined--a hybrid diesel truck.

The first story that caught my eye was this one at Gear Junkie titled, US Hilux? Toyota Poised to Launch Diesel Trucks in America. It's actually two stories rolled into one. The first story has to do with buzz generated by a new patent application that had been filed by the Japanese manufacturer, Patent No. US2020020860 for a new kind of internal combustion engine. (Did you know that the U.S. Patent Office considered closing at the turn of the last century? They believed so many inventions had been patented there couldn't possibly be anything new.)

The story doesn't end there. Rumor has it, according to Gear Junkie, that Toyota may be eliminating the Diesel Particulate Filter and Diesel Exhaust Fluid with an alternate to glow plugs and a re-designed injection nozzle.  

That's not all. The Toyota Tacoma has a cousin called the Hilux. Of the Hilux author Sam Anderson writes: "The 2022 Toyota Hilux has a 2.8L 1GD-FTV I-4 turbodiesel with 174 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque. The turbodiesel impresses in the crawl: Full torque is available as low as 1,200 RPM. Alternatively, a small-displacement 2.4L engine provides 148 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque."

In short, Toyota engineers have talent. But their marketers are equally sharp. Their response to the increasingly stringent environmental demands on cars and trucks is to deliver a hybrid truck. That's right. The hybrid Hilux will purportedly produce 200 hp and 350 pound-feet of torque.

Anderson admits some of this is rumor, but Toyota has been shifting gears for a while and it's not impossible to connect dots on where they are going. The company announced last year that they were phasing our their V8 engines.

Anderson examines various scenarios that might play out with regard to Toyota's various truck brands, the Tacoma, Tundra and Land Cruiser, though in the end he states that it is impossible from this vantage point to know what Toyota's coming truck lineup will look like.

More About Hybrids
Interestingly enough, two additional stories about hybrid diesels crossed the wire today. One has to do with the development of a hybrid tractor trailer in Canada. The other was published in at a popular investment site, The Motley Fool

Chelsey St.Pierre's article in The Suburban is titled "Scarpallegia announces investment in Pointe-Claire hybrid tractor-trailer project." Francis Scarpallegia is a member of Canada's Parliament who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Natural Resources announcing a $1.7 million investment in FPInnovations to develop and demonstrate a hybrid diesel-electric forestry truck.

There's a certain logic to all this. If you are entirely EV and get stuck in the North Woods with your power drained, what are your options? But if you have a hybrid, you will be far more self-sufficient and less worried about the low juice reading on your battery. 

The real driver, of course, is reduced emissions. Fuel savings are also significant if this project comes to fruition. You can read more about what FPInnovations is doing here.

The last story is titled, "Hyliion: We're On Track to Launch Next Year, No Additional Cash Needed." Hyliion is a truck drivetrain company that is preparing to ship a hybrid-semi system later this year. The Texas-based publicly traded company is getting ready to supply lower-emissions drivetrains that can be fitted onto heavy duty trucks by the six leading global truck manufacturers, familiar names to Blue Flame blog readers.

The MF article focuses on the company as an investment, but provides some keen insights as regards the EV revolution. This intermediary period of hybrid diesel-EV trucks is happening in nearly every truck category, from personal rides to heavy duty workhorses. Here's where you can find the rest of this story from the Motley Fool.

These are certainly interesting times. Stay current with diesel developments, by subscribing to our email feed. We'll do our best to keep you up-to-date on all things diesel as they happen.

Read the full Gear Junkie Toyota Story here.
https://gearjunkie.com/news/toyota-hilux-tacoma-diesel-hybrid-trucks-usa

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) -- What Is It and Why Is It Necessary?

In December we discussed DEF and its role in today's enviro-sensitive times. At the end of July a similar story by Kyle Hyatt was shared on a Road/Show podcast. It's an important subject and worth visiting again. In fact, the title suggests it's more important than ever.

Diesel has been on the receiving end of a lot of bitter barbs in the past, chiefly due to the black exhaust associated with older diesel trucks and buses. Things have changed significantly, however. As is well known, the black-smoke-belching smokestacks of Pittsburg stank the city a century ago are long gone and its beautiful, vibrant hills encircle it today. In the same way, diesel vehicles have been undergoing a image renovation, making diesel viable for years to come.

According to Hyatt, 2010 was a critical year for long-haul truckers and fleet managers when the EPA mandated the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) in diesel engines. The reason this development was unsettling is because what makes SCR work is a consumable called diesel exhaust fluid (DEF). This would not only add cost, but also add an added maintenance step. Not the end of the world, but t would be an additional inconvenience.

Things turned out better than expected, however. Instead of resisting change, engine manufactures embraced it and found they could continue to make reliable engines. Not only that, the new technology that was incorporated reduced emissions so much that topping off the DEF now and then wasn't such a hurdle after all.

In the next section of the article Hyatt explains how the SCR works and the role of DEF to make it happen.

He begins by noting that selective catalytic reduction isn't new. It's actually been around for half a century, initially used to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants. The primary pollutants were nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, which are also the problem with diesel combustion.

The author goes into detail on how SCR works. First, exhaust gas must be filtered to remove soot and ash. Then the exhaust gas flows past a nozzle that sprays DEF into the stream of gases. (DEF is primarily water and urea, which you can read more about here.)

The hot exhaust gas and DEF enter the catalytic converter where a chemical reaction takes place, magically converting the nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water. You may recall from your chemistry class in high school that the air we breathe is nearly 80% nitrogen. In short, it's gas that is harmless to our environment. 

The details are oversimplified here but will give you a sense of the chemistry and technology involved. It's a variation of what a car's catalytic converter does. Hyatt states that "Most modern diesel engines use SCR in combination with exhaust gas recirculation and a diesel particulate filter (DPF) to reduce emissions."

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is now used  in nearly all modern ICE engines as a means of eliminating unburnt fuel. But this process also has handicaps and engine manufacturers are striving to find the right balance between EGR and SCR. The target is the elimination of emissions in a manner that doesn't hamstring performance and fuel economy.

Are there any downsides to DEF? You might think the hassle factor and cost are downsides, but since you only need to refill the tank about as often as you change your oil, that's not much of an inconvenience. As for cost, it's not really expensive.

Because of the increased implementation of this technology it is helpful to understand why it has been adopted and how it works. Emissions systems are becoming increasingly critical. According to the WSJ today, the current stimulus package includes a section in which every public company in the U.S. might be required to report climate information such as emissions and greenhouse gases related to their products and their climate risks. 

Near the end of this story Hyatt states that the achievements in diesel will prod U.S. truck manufacturers to offer more diesel models in traditionally gasoline-dominant market segments. We've already reported on some of this.

The author sums up his story with this observation of note:

"Where DEF really becomes critical is in big diesel engines. We don't mean like your Cummins 6BT, we're talking Class 8 semi-trucks. These vehicles do millions of miles over their lifespans, and their massive diesel engines go through a lot of fuel in that time. These vehicles go through a lot of DEF as you might imagine, so at truck stops, DEF is sold at the pump."

You can read the full account here: 

What is diesel exhaust fluid and why is it more important than ever?

XDP Story Features Upgrades for the Diesel-Powered 2001-2004 GM 6.6L LB7 Duramax

It's well known that General Motors had a few stumbles with regards to early efforts to produce diesel vehicles. Fortunately they found their footing and for many, the Silverado is golden. 

In June XDP published an informative story on the 2001-2004 GM 6.6L LB7 Duramax. The article begins by noting how the heavy-duty truck scene was altered when Dodge teamed up with Cummins. A dozen years later, GM introduced a diesel engine that would make them a contender in the diesel market. Introduced in 2001, the superior Duramax replaced the Detroit Diesel 6.5L, incorporating state-of-the-art technology.

According to the XDP story, the design of this new engine was initiated four years earlier when GM and Isuzu linked arms to create a partnership called DMAX Ltd. Production of the LB7 commenced three years later. The 6.6L V8 had four valves per cylinder and delivered 300 hp along with 520 lb-ft of torque.

This was a revolutionary engine, with turbocharger, intercooler and direct injection (features that are commonplace today but were not at that time.) Its most significant feature was the use of common rail technology developed by Bosch, a first amongst the big three, two years before Dodge and seven before Ford. The engine was also lighter, with aluminum cylinder heads. Ford adopted lightweight aluminum cylinder heads a dozen years later in its 2011 Powerstroke.

The author places a spotlight on the real "star of the show" for many enthusiasts. The Allison 1000 was "arguably the first automatic transmission in its class worthy of being mated to a diesel." In short, it was a marriage made in heaven. 

If you preferred a manual, instead of the 5-speed Allison tranny, you could choose a ZF 6-speed manual. The Allison 1000, however, became the more popular choice.

The new LB7 Duramax was available in some of the other GM brands including the GMC Sierra 2500HD and 300HD, and the medium duty Chev Kodiak and GMC TopKick. In addition to the engine and drivetrain upgrades there were also some new body styles introduced. The author goes into detail on many of these features as well.

The article is actually a Buyer's Guide with XDP noting out the pros and cons of this iteration of the Silverado. The biggest problem had to do with the LB7 fuel injectors. The fuel injector problems were so common that they had a recall to replace them with an updated design. Warranties helped keep GM owners from bailing out completely. 

XDP cited the primary pros and cons as follows:

Pros
Allison Automatic Transmission
IFS For a Smooth/Comfortable Ride
Common Rail Fuel System with CP3 Pump
Different Exterior Styling Choices (’01-’02 Silverado, ’03-’04 Silverado, or GMC Sierra)

Cons
Body/Frame Rust
Weak Tie Rod Ends
Brake/Fuel Lines Prone to Rust
Factory Dowel Pin that Holds the Harmonic Balancer in place can Shear.

* * * 
The latter part of the article--Popular Aftermarket Upgrades--is really the meat of the story. Everything else is setup, laying the foundation for readers to make informed decisions.

If you have a 2001-2004 GM 6.6L LB7 Duramax, this is a highly informative Buyer's Guide piece that you may wish to read and bookmark. Check it out here: https://tinyurl.com/hz7k6ktc

Related Links
Duramax Diesel Vehicles
Shopping for a Used Diesel Truck? Here's the Best & the Worst
Blue Flame Diesel Oils & other Champion Products at XDP

New Diesel Engine Oil Technologies Lead To Improved Performance and Efficiency

Photo by Josiah Farrow on Unsplash

Since the mid-1970s the U.S. government has taken on the role of setting standards for fuel efficiency and reduction of emissions. In 1975 Congress implemented Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which has been a driver for much of the change that has occurred in engine design during the past five decades. The trigger at that time was the OPEC oil embargo that caused shortages and a spike in fuel prices, so the initial standards were more focused on fuel consumption.

Efforts to reduce emissions gradually increased in importance in subsequent decades. Along with engine design improvements it became apparent that more advanced lubricants were needed to achieve the goals being required by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Near the end of July Fleet Owner magazine published a story about emissions efficiency related to new diesel engine oil technologies. The aim of this story is to help fleet owners and managers understand the new formulations being introduced to satisfy global fuel economy targets. What follows are some highlights from this article.

An engine oil's main task is to reduce friction and ensure that moving parts are kept from coming in contact with one another. (This latter function is why film strength is increasingly important.) Oil is also necessary to transfer heat away from the engine and remove impurities and debris that might collect on critical parts.

With the technical advances taking place in diesel engine, driven by the need for greater efficiency, the lubricants are experiencing greater stress. Not only must they perform under harsher conditions for longer oil-drain intervals, they must do so in the presence of biofuels, without compromising protection.

In recent decades we've seen the introduction of significantly thinner oils for automobiles. It's been recognized that there are also gains to be made in the heavy duty truck market by means of lower-viscosity oils. How far can one go without compromising engine durability?

The rest of this article presents the results of field trials by Shell pertaining to fuel economy in Class 8 trucks. The data they have analyzed is drawn from 39 million miles of testing with CK-4 and FA-4 technologies. (See: Understanding CK-4 and FA-4) 

The first benefit is that lengthened oil drain intervals can result in major oil savings for fleets due to fewer oil changes. Using a higher quality oil, as opposed to one meeting minimum standards, drain intervals would nearly double and oil usage nearly cut in half.

A higher quality diesel engine oil is more impervious to oil breakdown, which makes longer oil drain intervals possible. The majority of these oils use synthetic or hybrid basestocks. The article details Shell's tiered offerings for the various engine types. You can find the Champion Brand diesel oils for your application here.

Related Links

Here's help to select the right diesel oil for your application:
www.DieselOilMatters.com

OEMs, Fleets Improve Performance and Efficiency with New Engine Oil Technologies