Fastest Diesel Passes of 2020

Front end of the Firepunk Diesel S10

2020 was an unusual year for many reasons, from the global pandemic to social turbulence in many cities. Hard to believe, but there was no SEMA Show, no PRI, no Diesel Power Challenge. Things were so bad that Diesel World labelled it The Year of Cancelled Events.

People were bored, anxious, overworked, and many were unemployed. Nevertheless, there were still many exciting moments for the highlight reels for 2020. As we look in the rearview mirror we see new records set and a lot worth talking about, which is what Diesel World has done for us in this article by Mike McGlothlin titled Fastest Passes of 2020.

McGlothlin begins by noting that 2020 was actually a huge year for drag racing because drivers and teams stayed focused. They didn't allow what was going on around us to distract them from their aims, which is probably good advice for all of us who have dreams and goals. As a result, there were numerous records broken in 2020 and promising prospects for 2021.

After a condensed summary of 2020 we get photos and details about the main stories, beginning with the Quickest Diesel Dragster in the World, Scheid Diesel's billet-block, compound turbo, P-pumped Cummins-powered Spitzer chassis rail. Track conditions were perfect at October's PDRA and the Scheid team was ready. Boom... Elapsed Time on the 1/8th mile run, 4.04 seconds.  New record. 184 mph. Driver: Jared Jones.

It's gratifying when it all comes together. The record Jones broke had been set only 7 months earlier by John Robinson, a 4.101 second pass that screeched to 181 mph. One can expect these two drivers will be very conscious of one another as they push the envelope in 2021. The goal for each will be to break into the 3s. No doubt they can almost taste it.

A new car on the scene in 2020 was Jeremy Wagler's Duramax dragster. This diesel, too, is quick, and made real progress in its first season. This will be another driver and car to pay attention to going into 2021.

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In the diesel truck category the big dog to watch these past several years has been Firepunk Diesel out of Ohio. The Pro Mod S10 has been setting records all along, and the sacrifices they've made have been rewarded with many trophies and achievements along the way. The Diesel World story shared the impressive numbers they produced in October, but failed to note their Cummins-powered breaktrhough into the 3s that later took place in Florida. You can read about that here. Engine builder Lavon Miller and driver Larson Miller will remain in the forefront of what's happening wherever they go in 2021.

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When you scroll through McGlothlin's article you'll find diesel-powered Corvettes, pickups, dragsters and pro street vehicles with Duramax, Cummins and Power Stroke engines. Racing is one of the ways engine manufacturers explore the cutting edge of what's possible in engineering technology. 

You's also find the drivers and teams to watch in 2021.

Here's the link to the Diesel World story by Mike McGlothlin:

https://www.dieselworldmag.com/events/fastest-passes-of-2020/

If you are a racer, learn more about our Champion Brands Contingency Programs for 2021. Here's how to get your piece of the action. You may also tap the orange button near the top of the right hand column.

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A Diesel Jeep Gladiator Just for Texans?

That we live in an age of personalization is well known. We've especially become accustomed to it in online advertising where Google and Facebook serve us ads based on our purported interests drawn from personal behavior on the web. Amazon suggests books we might like based on books we have looked at or purchased.

In recent years we've seen automakers follow suit, giving buyers an increasing variety of options to make our cars or trucks our own. We've come a long ways since Henry Ford said we could have a Model T in any color we wanted as long as it was black. 

This past week the news spread all across the web regarding a new kind of personalization. The 2021 Jeep Gladiator now has a special edition just for Texans called the Gladiator Texas Trail. I first read about it at Car and Driver, but it wasn't long before the news was turning up at other automotive sites like Mopar Insiders and Autoblog.

In addition to decals that say Texas Trail, this Gladiator features black 17-inch wheels on 32-inch mud-terrain tires. 

According to Car and Driver the Texas Trail isn't a Texan Jeep in name only. It has some additional features to reinforce it's connections to the Lone Star State. First, it incorporated the year 1836 into the badge, which is the year Texas became a state. Also, they provide you access to the Jeep Badge of Honor Program, designed specifically for off-roaders eager to get off the beaten path. Though the Badge of Honor app helps off-roaders find trails all over the country, 2021 Texas Trail Gladiator owners will find two new trails marked specifically for Texans.

As for engine options, you can choose the 285-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or the diesel 3.0-liter V6. Naturally we prefer the muscle-bound Ecodiesel. According to Car and Driver it's been built by VW Motori, an Italian subsidiary of Fiat Chrysler now in its third generation. Features include "a compacted-grpahite-iron block, aluminum cylinder heads, and a variable-geometry turbocharger that produces up to 31.9 pounds of boost."

In short, the whole package sounds fun. Texas, here I come.

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Do you have diesel news you want to share. Send it here so we can spread the word: blueflame1952@gmail.com

Diesel Powered Car of the Week: 1981 Drift Mercedes-Benz 300D

In 2019 Car Buzz posted a story by Ian Wright titled "Crazy Diesel Powered Cars". It's a pictorially rich overview of some really cool cars and the cats who drove them. As spring yields to summer, we'd like to follow suit and share stories about a few of our favorites.

The first car out of the chute is a fancy drift racer driven by Teemu Peltola of Finland. According to a 2010 story in Jalopnik, Peltola built this diesel-powered Mercedes station wagon in his second year of competition. It would have been easier to go with a Japanese car because of the availability of aftermarket parts. On the other hand, why be like everybody else?

When Peltola found this 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D Estate, he was in Seventh Heaven. His first decision was to drop in a 3.0-liter 24-valve diesel from a 1998 Mercedes E-class. A Garrett GT40 turbo from a heavy truck and Tremec TKO 600 tranny took care of the basics. But he didn't stop there. 

If this was going to be a drift racer, he needed a suspension that was up to snuff. This led him to take a modified rear suspension from a Mazda RX8. Next task to tackle getting an Aristo front axle installed, which took many hours over a period of 2 to 3 weeks.

When all was said and done, Peltola could take a measure of pride in knowing he'd produced something unique that was also competitive, usually finishing in the top half in serious competition. Though his Facebook page hasn't been active since 2018, he managed to attract more than 7000 followers there and has some pretty cool shots and vids if you take time to scroll down his wall.

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Here's a story from November 2012 at Speedhunters that shows you just how far you can go with a unique ride. The team name is Black Smoke Racing and there are oodles of sponsors adorning the body, hood and even the rearview windows. By this time he's become one of Scandinavia's hottest properties. Check out the story here: Diesel Fury: The Black Smoke  300td Wagon. The photos are many with details a-plenty. If you're a builder, you'll either get some new ideas or will be envious of what he's accomplished. Either way, check it out. Modifications galore!

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Special thanks to the Car Buzz site that turned us on to this unusual treat.
Car Buzz: Crazy Diesel Powered Cars

And to Jalopnik for its 2010 contribution.
Jalopnik: Building a Diesel-Powered Mercedes Station Wagon Drift Car 

Be sure to check out their 10 Awesome Drift Videos

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Our Friends at Engine Pro Offer New Diesel Products

The high-performance diesel market continues to grow in popularity as enthusiasts want more horsepower for their vehicles. Engine Pro has joined the diesel market with its technical engine knowledge to provide some impressive products. Now, Engine Pro can help anyone looking for high-performance diesel valvetrain products desiring to crank up the boost.

Engine Pro created an opportunity to use its Nitro-Black valve line technology in the mid-size diesel world. The company now offers numerous valves, drop-in valve springs, and heavy-wall steel seamless pushrods that can be ordered in custom sizes. You can also get the Viton valve stem seals you need to assemble your diesel cylinder head with these parts.

With all of the boost that a high-performance diesel engine sees, the valves really need to be durable to avoid any issues. The valves Engine Pro offers are made from Inconel® materials* and feature stellite faces like all Nitro-Black valves. The proprietary five-step liquid nitriding process Engine Pro uses improves the ductility, provides a smoother surface that reduces valve guide wear, plus it fights corrosion and deposits.

“You’ll need to control the valves and keep them seated at higher RPM and under boost. Our drop-in valve springs will do this without a bunch of machining to make them fit.,” stated Dave Sutton from Engine Pro. “Our pushrods are stiff and won’t flex so you don’t have to worry about them breaking while getting all that lift from the cam up to the rocker arms. Speaking of camshafts, performance diesel cams don’t work like naturally-aspirated gas engine cams, bigger is not better. It is critical to have the events of the camshaft timed correctly to build boost and to get turbos spooled up quickly.”

If you’re looking for additional horsepower for your diesel engine check out the Engine Pro website here. 

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* Inconel® is a registered trademark of Special Metals Corporation for a family of austenitic nickel-chromium-based superalloys.

What do Dimples Have in Common with Diesel Engine Oil?

This morning at 8:00 a.m. The Masters opened in Augusta, Georgia.  

 

Enthusiasts in the golf industry enjoy the impact between a golf club and a golf ball. With diesel engine oil, enthusiasts enjoy the impact of driving with increased horse-power and torque.  

Hence, Champion is offering 12 Titleist PRO V1 Golf Balls with any purchase of Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Oil of 12 gallons or more during the months of April and May. Send a copy of your purchase and shipping address to marketing@championbrands.com

Did you know? The impact on a golf ball typically lasts only 1/2000 of a second, but it establishes the ball's velocity, launch angle and spin rate. After this brief impact the ball's trajectory is controlled entirely by gravity and aerodynamics--no matter how much the golfer hopes or curses. As a result, aerodynamic optimization is achieved through a dimple pattern design. 

A smooth golf ball hit by a professional golfer would travel only about half as far as a golf ball with dimples does. Most golf balls have between 300 and 500 dimples, which have an average depth of about 0.010 inch. The lift and drag forces on a golf ball are very sensitive to dimple depth: a depth change of 0.001 inch can produce a radical change to the ball's trajectory and the overall distance it can fly.

Dimples on a golf ball create a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface. This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little further around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing drag.

Dimples also affect lift. A smooth ball with backspin creates lift by warping the airflow such that the ball acts like an airplane's wing. The spinning action makes the air pressure on the bottom of the ball higher than the air pressure on the top; this imbalance creates an upward force on the ball. Ball spin contributes about one half of a golf ball's lift. The other half is provided by the dimples, which allow for optimization of the lift force.

The impact of Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils is also measurable. These robust oils are formulated with workhorse high-zinc performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic fluids. 

In addition, Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils deliver unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, with the muscle to combat oil shear and maximize sustained cylinder compression. They also inhibit oxidation, corrosive acids, sludge and varnish build-up. 

 

These robust performance oils keep diesel engines going longer by reducing soot-induced engine wear, controlling abrasive soot contamination and preventing high temperature corrosion, even while allowing for improved fuel economy and lower total cost of ownership. They are proven to increase engine horsepower and torque. https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/

 

Enjoy the dimples and the oil this summer. Get 12 Titleist PRO V1 Golf Balls with any purchase of Champion Blue Flame Performance Diesel Oil.  Send a copy of your purchase in April or May with 12 gallons or more plus your shipping address to marketing@championbrands.com Limit one set of golf balls per household. Must be 18 years or more of age. Offer ends May 31^st.

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The Masters is one of four major championships in professional golf, annually scheduled for the first full week of April. (In 2020 the tournament was held in November due to the pandemic.) It is always held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. One of its most famous features is The Green Jacket which is awarded the winner of each tournament is the official attire of members of the Augusta National. The jacket designates Masters winners as honorary members of the country club.

Champion Markets Professional-Grade Honing Oil for Diesel Engine Builders

Champion Brands continues to boost its visibility with a number of new products, programs and product upgrades. Diesel engine builders can especially appreciate the broad spectrum of products developed with their needs in mind.

For over six decades Champion Brands, a globally recognized blender and packager of motor oils, gear lubes, brake fluids, and many other specialty lubricants, has recently introduced to diesel engine builders a Professional-Grade Honing Oil for machining metal parts to perfection.

Honing oils are a liquid-emulsion lubricant used to assist in the cutting, grinding, and the honing process. This product helps protect the abrasive tools in honing machines while also removing heat and debris (swarf) to ensure accuracy in producing a sharp edge. Honing oil has just the right consistency for sharpening stones. It will neither gum it up nor glaze it, and it will provide just enough lubrication to avoid wearing out the stone prematurely.

Champion Professional-Grade Honing Oil, part #4242, is a robust high-performance honing and finishing fluid utilizing a select blend of base fluids and additives. With added anti-oxidant protection and low-odor extreme-pressure additives, it provides excellent performance and corrosion protection for honing ferrous alloys, cast iron, low-medium alloyed steel, high-alloyed nickel, nickel-chromium alloys, titanium alloys and aluminum alloys. In addition it is safe for use with yellow-metals.

The product is a low viscosity chlorine-free neat oil containing a high level of ester lubricity additive to impart excellent surface finish on machining of hardened steels and nickel alloys. It can also be used in super finishing applications, utilizing stones rather than tapes.

Ingredients include: petroleum distillates, hydrotreated light naphthenic Pentene, 2,4,4-trimethyl-, and sulfurized. Specifications include: 

     Boiling point: >270°C (>518°F) 

     Flash point: >115.56°C (>240°F) 

     Auto ignition temp >260°C (>500°F) 

     Viscosity: Kinematic (40°C (104°F): ~0.05 cm2/s (5 cSt)

     Appearance: Clear amber color.

 

Champion Professional-Grade Honing Oil is recommended for honing of toughened steels, nickel alloys and to achieve particularly good finishes in short stroke, micro-finishing operations on tough materials like bearing steel. It is also applicable to fine machining of steel and non-ferrous metals as well as light drawing and stamping operations.

 

It's also suitable for honing non-ferrous metals with ceramic or bakelite bonded carborundum or silicon carbide stones as well as metal bond diamond stones. High lubricity ensures longer tool life, higher work speeds and better finish quality.

 

“Our low-odor solvent technology effectively flushes the work surface without the noxious smell of kerosene-based fluids. Suitable for a wide range of workshop applications for diesel engine builders, it offers excellent lubricity, high performance anti-foam agents, yellow-metal safe, excellent solvency, rapid flushing action of fine swarf, elimination of surface glaze-up on honing stones, compatible with Sulphur containing honing stones, can be used on honing and super finishing operations, approved by honing machine manufacturers, excellent cooling properties, and chlorine free,” stated Karl Dedolph of Champion Brands, LLC.

 

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion Brands produces and blends over 350 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the automotive, racing, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, and specialty markets. For more information about Champion Racing & Performance Lubricants contact your nearest Champion distributor, or call Champion at 660-890-06231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to  http://www.championbrands.com

 

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2021 Champion New Products and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

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

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

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

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

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

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

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members

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

XDP Now Offers Deep Billet Aluminum Lower Oil Pans for Diesel 6.7L Powerstroke

Give your 6.7L Powerstroke an additional two quarts of oil capacity and a custom race-inspired look with the Xtreme Diesel Performance (XDP) X-TRA Deep Billet Aluminum Lower Oil Pan XD454. The XD454 is designed as a direct-fit replacement for the factory plastic pan on the early models and a replacement for the steel oil pans on the late model trucks.

This Lower Oil Pan features a CNC-machined finned bottom for enhanced looks and added strength. Unlike cast pans on the market, this billet pan has a welded design that gives you a high-performance look with a deep sump design for added oil capacity. 
https://www.xtremediesel.com/xdp-x-tra-deep-billet-lower-oil-pan-xd454

Each pan has a machined groove for the built-in O-ring seal and a large magnetic drain plug for easy oil changes. Each pan comes ready to install and is backed by the XDP 1-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

Features:

• O-Ring Gasket
• Magnetic Drain Plug
• Welded Aluminum Construction
• Stainless Steel Mounting Hardware
• 2 Quarts Increased Capacity Over Stock
• CNC-Machined Finned Billet Aluminum Bottom

Products manufactured by XDP carry a 1-Year warranty against defects in materials and craftsmanship. The Warranty is Limited to one (1) year from the date of sale and limited solely to the parts contained within the product's kit.  

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Related Link

Looking For Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil? Now Available at Xtreme Diesel Performance