Is This 3-Cylinder Diesel the World's Cleanest Combustion Engine?

Yesterday, Express Drives brought us a another story about the 10.6-liter, 3-cylinder diesel engine that Achates Power claims is the "World's cleanest combustion unit." The article begins by contrasting the huffing and puffing and smoke generated by an old school high-capacity diesel engine under a heavy load with the new Achates engine. This Achates diesel has all the right stuff. Less smoke, better fuel-efficiency and more power. What's not to like? On the dyno it produces 440 hp and 2372Nm of torque, with a potential for more. 

Engineering a new engine design isn't something that happens overnight. We recently mentioned a new diesel engine design that Ford is undertaking and how it would be three years before we see it in production. So it is that Achates Power initiated this project in 2018, which is just now coming to fruition.

The project has been funded by the petroleum and natural gas company Saudi Aramco. The concept for this engine drew inspiration from aviation designs, resulting in a two-stroke rather than a four-stroke diesel. The engine is currently being tested in a Peterbilt 579 as well as a Walmart delivery truck.

CALSTART, a non-profit dedicated to the adoption of clean energy, has given the 3-cylinder opposed-piston 2-stroke an outstanding emissions rating of 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour limit for ultra-low NOx. This statement about the engine was surprising to read. "The engine is designed to take on natural gas, gasoline, diesel as well as hydrogen fuel." There are no emissions coming out of the tailpipe, according to the company's technical officer.

Compared to a conventional engine of the same stroke running at identical rpm (thus same mean piston speed and same piston acceleration), the doubled stroke of an opposed piston engine gives a more compact combustion chamber that provides better thermodynamic efficiency and the highest power density in mass and volume.

It's not surprising to see oil companies pursuing clean energy and low carbon solutions for our future. Many clean energy advocates distrust the motives of oil companies. In reality, the internal combustion engine has a proven track record a a low cost and efficient source of power. If it can be turned into a clean source of power, there's still an abundant supply of this natural resource just below the earth's surface. 

The only natural resource more abundant is air, but hydrogen fuel cell vehicles may be expensive due to the technology. According to the company, internal combustion doesn't require the same level of purity and produces a minimal amount of NOx. There's some very real potential down this path for the future as well. 

The Walmart truck with this engine will be rolling out in July.

The source for this story can be found here at Express Drives.

Our first story about this engine can be found here.

Demand for Chev Tahoe and Suburban Diesels Is Growing

How many manufacturers of full-sized SUVs offer a diesel engine alternative? Toyota does not. Nor does Nissan. And neither does Ford. GM alone seems to own this space with a trio of large SUVs -- the Chevy Tahoe, Suburban and the GMC Yukon. GM has evidently identified an unmet need that its competitors have neglected, or simply or created a demand that consumer have been waking up to.

According to the article in GM Authority, when GM made a decision to insert its 3.0-liter I-6 LM2 turbo-diesel Duramax into their 2021 Chevy Tahoe and 2021 Chevy Suburban, both models saw an increase in orders for the diesel engine option. And that is the point this article strives to bring home.

Whereas gasoline-powered full-sized Tahoe and Suburban SUVs still garner more than 90 percent of sales, the story is about the significant growth taking place in the diesel category. Sales numbers reflect the highest take rates since the Duramax became an option.

What is it that is causing this increased interest in the full-sized diesel SUVs? Some surmise that the SUV body styling is preferred over the Chev Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500, which both offer the same engine. There is certainly a place for each in the lineup. Different strokes for different folks, as they say.

The article proceeds to outline the special characteristics of the 3.0-liter LM2 Duramax engine, which features a duel overhead cam (DOHC) configuration and direct injection, enabling it to produce 277 hp at 3,750 rpm with 460 pound-feet of torque at 1500 rpm. For it size the fuel economy looks good, too. Both are "significantly more efficient" than their gasoline-powered counterparts.

When it comes to towing, the Tahoe diesel is able to tow more than four tons or carry a max payload of 1717 pounds. The Suburban likewise can tow four tons and carry a payload of 1,625 lbs. These are essentially workhorses dressed in their Sunday best.

As you might expect these brands have been keeping pace with the stylish requirements of a futuristic contemporary vehicle. Check our this interior shot of the cockpit. It's NASA Mission Control for civilians. 

Without a doubt the bottom line in this story is that diesel engines are being embraced by a broader portion of the market. The benefits have been increasingly recognized, and sales numbers are confirming it.

The full story includes a few pricing details. And lots more photos. You can find it by clicking this link.

A Diesel Anecdote, Plus a Little Advice from Forrest Gump

No question about it, the film Forrest Gump was a major achievement for Hollywood as well as for its star Tom Hanks. It was one of the most original and memorable films of 1994. 

The story followed the life of Forrest Gump, a slow-witted but kind hearted man whose life intersected with many historical moments in U.S. history. Borrowing a technique employed by Woody Allen in his short feature Zelig, in a number of scenes we see Gump is inserted into real footage from history, interacting with U.S. presidents JFK, LBJ and others. 

Woven throughout the film are various pearls of wisdom delivered by its hero. You've likely heard, "My mama said 'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." 

Forrest Gump has a masterful and entertaining way of presenting valuable life lessons. Many of them are delivered as proverbial insights from Forrest's mother (Sally Field) whom he loves to quote. For example, several times in the film Forrest is asked if he were stupid. Gump replies, "My mama says that stupid is as stupid does." What she meant, and we need to learn, is that a person should be judged by his or her actions.

Stupid Is As Stupid Does

The Colonial Pipeline ransomware hack earlier this month hit the Southeast like a jackhammer. In parts of the Southeast 85% of the gas stations were out of gas. The Colonial Pipeline runs from Texas to New Jersey and supplies 45% of the fuel to this region. As of yesterday, two-thirds of all gas stations in Washington D.C. were empty.

Against this backdrop we came across a story that shows how dangerous it is to rely on advice you find on social media. The article appeared in USA Today's Fact Check column. It's titled, Fact Check: Watered-down diesel can't be used in a gas-powered engine.

This attention-grabbing headline implies that someone actually said you can do this. So I read further.

As you can imagine, people were panicking last week because of the fuel shortages. Some of these who looked online for solutions came across a post on Facebook that read, "Remember, if the station is out of gas you can put diesel in your car as long as you water it down."

What!!!?

To make matters worse, the post was shared 1800 times. Perhaps it was shared as a joke, but if someone actually attempted to implement this advice, they would be in a serious quandary. First, the USA Today piece explains, "diesel fuel is thicker than gasoline and can damage components in a gas-powered vehicle. Adding water doesn't help, though, and does its own harm."

No kidding. As the article goes on to note, just as water and oil don't mix, neither does water and diesel fuel. Inside the tank, the water will settle to the bottom and rust your fuel tank.

For the record, gasoline and diesel fuel don't mix either. That is why they have distinct dispensing nozzles and color schemes at the pump.

By the time you reach the end of the article they hardly have to spell it out, but they do. The claim that you can mix oil with diesel fuel is... False. 

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Related Links

USA Today--Watered-down diesel Fact Check

Washington Post Map of Gasoline Shortages

What Happens if You Put Diesel in a Gasoline Car?

Featured Diesel Vehicle of the Week: The Kamaz Master Team Rally Raid Truck

Support for sponsors is a global enterprise. 
Kamaz captain Edouard Kikolaev, Red Bull in hand.

For those familiar with it, the Dakar Rally is one of the most exhilarating events in motor sports. It's essentially an off-road endurance test. Because of the ruggedness of the terrain, the vehicles that compete are generally off-road vehicles of various types (four-wheelers, Quads, UTVs, cars, trucks and motorcycles.

The annual event used to be called the Paris-Dakar Rally, running from Paris to Dakar Senegal. Because of security issues (chiefly in Mauritania) the 2008 rally was cancelled and the following ten years the event took place in South America. The two most recent events were held in Saudi Arabia. The race maintains its name because of its symbolic stature which is equated with pushing the limits of endurance. 

Winters are a good reason to go south & race each year

It is within this context that we get to talk about the diesel-powered Kamaz Master Rally Team truck, which was cited in Ian Wright's CarBuzz story, Crazy Diesel-Powered Cars. The Team is a Russian based racing team that has entered the Dakar Rally 27 times, winning an impressive 15 Dakar events. 

Over the years they've used increasingly powerful diesel engines to with this year's turbodiesel entries producing over 1000 horsepower. The engineering is remarkable throughout. Wright points out how their 2019 "Kapotnik" has a 12.5-liter diesel engine that is "happy to do 100 mph across any surface while handling like Colin McRae's Impreza despite looking like it has the maneuverability of a mobile home." 

To a certain extent it looks like a cross between a motorhome, dump truck (in terms of ribbed ruggedness) and a military transport. The row of lights across the front provide max visibility. If you're racing after sundown you really must bring your own lights.

The Kamaz team won its first Dakar in 1996, five years after the fall of the Soviet Union. With this year's win in January, the Kamaz Master Rally Team has racked up its fifth win in a row. Who will step up next to challenge them in 2022?

Key Links
Russian Team Kamaz-Master’s driver Sotnikov wins Dakar-2021 rally raid in truck category
This Red Bull story also has some smokin' video.
Crazy Diesel-Powered Cars (Car Buzz)

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

Champion Brands has been celebrating 65 years in business this year by introducing new products and noteworthy specials. Yesterday they released a new API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil which has been designed to provide robust performance for the next generation of diesel engines. 

The new oil is a response to the new American Petroleum Institute (API) diesel specs that were launched a few years ago. The objective with these new specifications is to give extra protection for heavy duty engines while helping them meet environmental regulations. API CK-4 effectively replaces API CJ-4 and is backward compatible with most diesel applications where API CJ-4 has been previously recommended. The new oil spec requires better shear stability, oxidation resistance and aeration control than its predecessor.

Champion's cost-efficient petroleum-based diesel engine oil provides increased power density while reducing oil volume and extending drain intervals. It also controls oxidation by-products and deposits. Its high wear protection and viscosity stability helps maximize the performance life of today's advanced diesel engines.

Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil controls oxidation, aeration, corrosive acids, sludge and varnish precursors which allow for extended drains and minimized wear even under the most extreme conditions. It has higher resistance to permanent shear loss and exceptional wear protection, providing unmatched value for many diesel owners.

Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil (Part# 4154N) meets or exceeds the following specifications: API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, ACEA E7-16, E9-16, JASO DH-2, Volvo VDS-4.5, VDS-4, Cummins CES 20086, Detroit Diesel. DFS93K218,  Cummins CES 20081,Detroit Diesel DFS93K222, Ford WSS-M2C171-F1, Renault VI RLD-3, MCK EO-O Premium Plus, CAT ECF-3.

Specific Properties Include: Viscosity Index -6200 @-25C, HTHS @ 150C -3.5, Distillates (Petroleum), Hydrotreated Light and Heavy Paraffinic.
https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/ 

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the automotive, racing, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, commercial, and specialty markets. For more information about Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil (Part# 4154N) contact your nearest Champion distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to 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

Champion’s Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive Formulated for Diesel Pick-Ups

 

Five Questions To Help You Decide Which Diesel Oil To Use

If you're confused when it comes to choosing the right engine oil for your truck, don't be alarmed. You're not alone. 

Sometimes it seems like everything is more complicated than it used to be. When was the last time you looked at the toothpaste options at Walgreens. Seems like it's a half mile long with every kind of whitener, plaque remover, gum treatment, breath freshener, ad nauseam. 

In the lubrication world, the various terms may be different, but the level of confusion remains the same. Viscosity control? Shear stability? TBN retention? 

When all is said and done, the best place to begin your oil selection search is to consider your application. Are tractor pulling or drag racing? Is the application stationary, street, or off-road? Here are five basic questions to help direct you to the right solution.

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. It can improve 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 not running a DPF? Rebuilt for performance? Out of warranty?

Are 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, 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.

I 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/ And if you're still confused, Ask Jake.

A Partnership Made In Heaven: Cummins Diesel and RAM Trucks

Cummins 6.7L Turbo Diesel (2021)

When we think of "barnstorming" the image that comes to mind is that of airplane stunts by rural daredevils who would fly town to town back in the 1930s. There was something romantic about these aerobatic flyboys. 

Barnstorming didn't apply only to pilots however. The makers of Cummins engines also did some barnstorming themselves, in their own way. They orchestrated events to showcase their benefits and win fans.

While reading the 100-years-plus history of the Cummins engine I came across this account from 1931 in which a Cummins H-powered diesel truck drove 14,600 miles non-stop to show off its reliability over a long haul. For the sake of transparency, so that no hanky-panky could take place, the event was conducted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in front of witnesses. 

What's striking is that more than 80 years later, the feature that sets diesel engines apart is not just the power they generate but also their reliability.

In 2019 Cummins completed a 30-year relationship with RAM trucks that began with the Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel. This year's 2021 6.7L Turbo Diesel generates even more horsepower and torque while continuing its tradition of durability and efficiency.

HD RAM 3500 Dodge pickups produce 1,075 lb-ft of torque when equipped with the Aisin transmission. And it is no laggard in the horsepower department either, with 420 hp.

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One of the great advantages of living in the Internet age, especially at this point in time, is that if you are new to the Diesel Cummins-powered RAM family, there are communities of RAM enthusiasts out there that you can reach out to in time of need, or just to stay current on things. The same applies to whatever engine that moves you, whether Duramax or Power Stroke as well. 

Whenever engine designs change there can be quirks you need to be aware of. Just switching over from a gasoline-powered vehicle to the diesel family can be a learning curve. For this reason we've included a list of hot-linked forums for easy access here in the right hand column. 

The Cummins Forum not only has troubleshooting tips, but interactive starter questions designed to address various issues. It's a great way to stay current on what's happening.

Related Links

The History of the Cummins Engine

Motor Trend's 10 Best Diesel Trucks Ever