4x4 Diesel: Who doesn't want one of these under their hood?
It’s Monday morning, 8:14am. You walk outside and start your truck, glance in the rear-view mirror, and see your neighbor standing on the sidewalk, plugging her nose, and pointing at your exhaust pipe. On the drive to work you stop off to grab a coffee and notice someone has stuck a “I’m changing the climate, ask me how” sticker on your rear bumper. That night at dinner, your daughter asks you not to drive her to school anymore, “The kids in class call your truck ‘old smoky’” she explains, “it’s kinda embarrassing.”
It’s no surprise. Diesel drivers are used to a little extra attention. After all, diesel has been a dirty word in the US for decades: who hasn’t been stuck behind a diesel bus in summer, had their fillings rattled loose by an ancient dump-truck in the next lane, or been enveloped in a cloud of black-brown diesel exhaust at least once? Add to that a few domestic diesel duds – such as the infamous Oldsmobile V8 diesel experiment – and the optional “big and noisy” diesel engines fitted in several heavy-duty pick-ups, and the traditional American aversion to diesel is easy to understand.
How the times have changed. Thanks to advances in diesel engine technology, cleaner burning fuels, and effective emissions-controls “clean diesel” has arrived and the streets, trails, and showrooms of America will never be the same. Already several manufacturers have added or announced plans to add diesel powered models to their lineups, and consumer interest in “clean
diesel” keeps growing. Even many forward-thinking environmentalists are on board, citing reduced diesel emissions and the benefits of bio-fuels for diesel engines.
Many truck, 4×4, and SUV enthusiasts want to know: just how clean is clean diesel? In independent tests clean diesel engines have been shown to produce 90-95% less emissions than those built only a few years ago while providing 30-40% better fuel economy than comparable gasoline engines. And with clean-burning low-sulfur diesel coming to service stations across America, the air we breathe and the diesels we drive will get even cleaner.
A study by Schmidt’s Automotive Industry Data predicts that by 2010 one-third of all new SUVs sold in the U.S. will be diesel powered, and a study by J.D. Power and Associates found that roughly 30% of Americans would consider purchasing a vehicle powered by a clean diesel engine. The same study also found that increasing the number of diesel vehicles on U.S. roads
from the current 1-2% to 40% (about the same as Europe) would drastically cut air pollution and result in annual oil consumption savings of over $9 billion.
That’s good news for everyone, especially those in the market for a new diesel powered truck, 4×4, or SUV. But where does this leave drivers of older diesel-powered vehicles who want to run a little cleaner? Older diesel engines – even those made a few years ago – often have little or no pollution controls, but thanks to the inherent versatility of Dr. Rudolf Diesel’s engine and new retrofit “clean diesel” technology, even older diesel engines can be made to run a little cleaner.
Here’s how to keep the neighbours off your back (well some of them at least), keep your daughter happy (maybe for a moment), and your diesel powered truck, 4×4, or SUV in top running shape by running a little cleaner.
1. Maintain that lump of an engine
Nothing takes the place of regular maintenance and although diesels usually need fewer repairs than gasoline engines, they can require more frequent oil changes and tend to show neglect sooner. That neglect takes the form of increased emissions, reduced fuel economy, more engine noise, and a higher chance of breakdowns. Check your owners manual, pick up a maintenance manual, or ask a mechanic you trust and at the very least cover the basics: inspect, clean or replace the injectors, change the engine oil and filter, install new air and fuel filters, make sure the ERG is working properly, check and adjust the valves, and have the emissions measured at an authorized testing centre.
2. Fill up with ultra-low sulfur diesel (you have to anyway)
In 1990 Europe introduced stringent emission regulations and mandated the use of low-sulfur diesel fuel which produces fewer sulfates and enables the use of advanced emissions-controls. Sixteen years later the EPA mandated the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) in America, so starting September 2006 all diesel fuel sold in the U.S. will have a sulfur count of 15ppm, downfrom the current 500ppm. Since ULSD requires more refining, it’s expected to increase the price of diesel fuel but it will also enable the use of additional emissions-controls on all diesel engines, old and new.
3. Pour in a fuel additive
Diesel fuel additives can help remove engine deposits, reduce emissions, improve the lubricity of diesel fuel, and also increase engine performance. Additives can also provide faster ignition, reduce detonation, reduce smoke, and improve engine efficiency, and they’re one of the simplest and least expensive ways to quickly clean up an older diesel. Several companies are developingfuel borne catalysts which can be added to the tank or installed in a replacement fuel filter, which can greatly reduce emissions and increase fuel economy.
4. Fill up with bio-diesel (you have a 1 in 10 chance)
Bio-diesel is a diesel fuel alternative made from vegetable oils or animals fats. The most commonly available bio-diesel is B5 (5% bio-diesel, 95% regular diesel) which is available at about 1 in 10 service stations in the U.S. But like any alternative fuel, bio-diesel has advantages and disadvantages: while it can reduce emissions and improve lubricity, in high concentrations it’s been shown to affect seals in some older engines so check with your engine manufacturer tofind out which ‘blend’ is safe for your engine.
5. Install a diesel oxidation catalyst (if you can find one)
When used in conjunction with ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, a diesel oxidation catalyst is one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions from diesel engines. Diesel oxidation catalysts scrub the exhaust gases as they pass and require no maintenance and can last the life of the engine. Today most diesel oxidation catalysts are only available for commercial diesel vehicles in the U.S. and cost between $1000-$2000 and would require custom installation, but they work with any diesel engine.
6. Install a Particulate filter
Particulate matter – otherwise known as soot – is what makes diesel exhaust smoky. Luckily it can be trapped, but while most new passenger vehicles in Europe come equipped with PM filters, they aren’t readily available as retrofit options as they are often integrated into the engine’s pollution control systems. Particulate filters can also decrease engine efficiency and reduce fuel
economy, and many require regular maintenance and soot removal. Like diesel oxidation catalysts, particulate filters are primarily found on commercial diesels.
7. Rebuild or replace
One of the most effective ways to reduce emissions from an older diesel engine is to rebuild or replace. Several manufacturers provide retrofit engines which can be installed to increase performance, reduce emissions, and extend the life of your favorite rig. Rebuilds and replacements aren’t inexpensive, but newer diesel engines produce far less emissions than those built just a few years ago, so it’s an option worth considering for those who are serious about running clean.
8. Convert the fuel system
Diesel engines can run on many different types of compression-ignition fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG), both of which reduce emissions and increase engine performance. Several companies offer straight vegetable oil (SVO) conversion kits, as well as conversion kits for running diesel engines on both Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) and regular diesel (called bi-fuel). Conversion systems aren’t cheap however but they improving fuel economy and greatly reduce emissions over the life an engine.
With more torque and pulling power, legendary reliability, a tolerance for water, and better mileage which means fewer stops for fuel and greater range on the trail, diesels have long been popular with four wheelers the world over. While the advantages of diesel power are hard to ignore, the advantages clean diesel are impossible to ignore, and thanks to the versatility of the diesel engine even older diesels can run cleaner.
The next time someone pays a little too much attention to your diesel powered vehicle, take a moment to introduce them to the future. Ask if they’re aware of the advantages of diesel engines, the benefits of clean diesel technology, and the promise of alternative fuels. You’ll know the answers, but they probably won’t.
