A diesel discussion thread

[sequoias]

Since I noticed members here often go off point and talk about diesel in some threads so I decided to create this thread for everyone to talk all about diesels, you can also compare it against gasoline engines too... it's really interesting subject to talk about.

[sequoias]

For instance, a tractor trailer truck with a 12.7 liter inline 6 diesel can only have around 400 hp at 2100 rpm and get oustanding 1,600 ft lb of torque at 1,200 rpm.....the horsepower is comparable to a gasoline powered big block V8 in some top of the line sports coupes.

[posts from hell]

Originally Posted by sequoias

For instance, a tractor trailer truck with a 12.7 liter inline 6 diesel can only have around 400 hp at 2100 rpm and get oustanding 1,600 ft lb of torque at 1,200 rpm.....the horsepower is comparable to a gasoline powered big block V8 in some top of the line sports coupes.

That's what I drive. 30 tons, no problem.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by posts from hell

That's what I drive. 30 tons, no problem.

You drive a dual axle semi truck in state only due to DOT rules?

[deafsmogtech]

Originally Posted by sequoias

For instance, a tractor trailer truck with a 12.7 liter inline 6 diesel can only have around 400 hp at 2100 rpm and get oustanding 1,600 ft lb of torque at 1,200 rpm.....the horsepower is comparable to a gasoline powered big block V8 in some top of the line sports coupes.

I read Glenn's post#226 that made my brain refresh. I know little about diesels but know about the mechanicals. I notice the bore sizes in the diesel blocks are smaller than the stroke (crankshaft). The highest stroke size in a Caterpillar inline-6 engine is 8 inches!!!! That's what I saw it in my old Michigan engine bearing catalog. The bore size is 5 3/4 inches. I don't know what's the engine use for. I feel that the typical stroke size for semi trucks is about 5 1/2 inches. The amount of the combustion chamber in the cylinder heads are little or zero and the top of the pistons are dished. That explains why the compression ratio always higher than the gasoline powered engines.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by deafsmogtech

I read Glenn's post#226 that made my brain refresh. I know little about diesels but know about the mechanicals. I notice the bore sizes in the diesel blocks are smaller than the stroke (crankshaft). The highest stroke size in a Caterpillar inline-6 engine is 8 inches!!!! That's what I saw it in my old Michigan engine bearing catalog. The bore size is 5 3/4 inches. I don't know what's the engine use for. I feel that the typical stroke size for semi trucks is about 5 1/2 inches. The amount of the combustion chamber in the cylinder heads are little or zero and the top of the pistons are dished. That explains why the compression ratio always higher than the gasoline powered engines.

It's possible that Caterpillar engine is from heavy duty industrial machinery or used as a generator for a major building complex. Lots of power demand with a longer stroke diesel engine to output more torque demands.

[Glenn]

Originally Posted by sequoias

Since I noticed members here often go off point and talk about diesel in some threads so I decided to create this thread for everyone to talk all about diesels, you can also compare it against gasoline engines too... it's really interesting subject to talk about.

I'll post off-topic in my own threads if I want to.

[diehardbiker]

I sure miss drivin '85 VW Jetta Diesel. One of best car I ever had. I could get 60 Miles to a gallon with this car! It just run and run and run as if it never ends. I can't really speeding on this car, it is slow poke like 18 wheelers. If had Diesel again in VW jetta, I would not mind buy it. I don't want TDI (Turbo Diesel).

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

I sure miss drivin '85 VW Jetta Diesel. One of best car I ever had. I could get 60 Miles to a gallon with this car! It just run and run and run as if it never ends. I can't really speeding on this car, it is slow poke like 18 wheelers. If had Diesel again in VW jetta, I would not mind buy it. I don't want TDI (Turbo Diesel).

Ahhh I see...what's wrong with turbo diesel? 60 mpg is pretty nice for sure. Do you remember how many miles it had?

[radioman]

My diesel tractor runs nearly all day on a single tank- wish my cars would run the same....

does anybody run on biodiesel ? get off road diesel? try running home heating oil in the tractors ?

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by radioman

My diesel tractor runs nearly all day on a single tank- wish my cars would run the same....

does anybody run on biodiesel ? get off road diesel? try running home heating oil in the tractors ?

None of all above that I do. I used to live in a home that runs on heating oil which is some kind of diesel as well.

[purplecatty]

Did I recalled there were arguments over Diesel engine couple years ago? I missed the chance to barge in



Catty

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by purplecatty

Did I recalled there were arguments over Diesel engine couple years ago? I missed the chance to barge in



Catty

Yes, that's correct. We sure did!

[jazzy]

I am not a man who interest in those heatly debate on diesel vs regular gas. We bought a ford truck with diesel engine and it has more power than we had old ford truck with regular gas. We notice diesel use better gas mileage than regular gas. One good thing about our truck it does not pollute as it does to old diesel truck and buses. It does not make any noise. We love it.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by jazzy

I am not a man who interest in those heatly debate on diesel vs regular gas. We bought a ford truck with diesel engine and it has more power than we had old ford truck with regular gas. We notice diesel use better gas mileage than regular gas. One good thing about our truck it does not pollute as it does to old diesel truck and buses. It does not make any noise. We love it.

Yep, newer diesel engines are much better than the old ones...they're quietier and less polluting and produces more power as well.

[diehardbiker]

240K miles something, and that is when too many things start to fall apart, and it requires replacement heater core which leaked meaning dashboard had to be taken out, AC core was in the way and need to be removed, need new tires, front end need replacement from accident. Not worth the repairs and headache.

The reason I like regular Diesel over Turbo is that turbo you get about 40MPG and no warm up required while regular Diesel you can easily hit 60 plus must wait 20 seconds for warm up (Glow plugs must be fully heated) before cold start. I don't mind wait 20 seconds to trade off with gas mileage.

Originally Posted by sequoias

Ahhh I see...what's wrong with turbo diesel? 60 mpg is pretty nice for sure. Do you remember how many miles it had?

[Chevy57]

Originally Posted by sequoias

Yep, newer diesel engines are much better than the old ones...they're quietier and less polluting and produces more power as well.

Biodiesel fuel is a clean burning alternative fuel?

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

240K miles something, and that is when too many things start to fall apart, and it requires replacement heater core which leaked meaning dashboard had to be taken out, AC was broken, need new tires, front end need replacement from accident. Not worth the repairs.

The reason I like regular Diesel over Turbo is that turbo you get about 40MPG and no warm up required while regular Diesel you can easily hit 60 plus must wait 20 seconds for warm up (Glow plugs must be fully heated) before cold start. I don't mind wait 20 seconds to trade off with gas mileage.

Ahhh, I see that sucks! I haven't seen a old VW Jetta diesel in a long time...they probably weren't well built to last.

Hmmm, you may be right about non turbo diesel gets better mileage than the ones with turbo. Most of the cars out there are turbo diesel anyway.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by Chevy57

Biodiesel fuel is a clean burning alternative fuel?

Yes, it is a better alternative fuel than the regular diesel. The more percentage in the biodiesel blend is better. Like for example B20 means 20 percent biodesel with regular low sulfur diesel. Most of the gas pumps I've seen are low sulfur diesel with 5 percent blend of biodiesel.

[diehardbiker]

Cleaner? Yes but power? Honesty, less power than regular Diesel so meaning less pulling power with Biodiesel.

Originally Posted by sequoias

Yes, it is a better alternative fuel than the regular diesel. The more percentage in the biodiesel blend is better. Like for example B20 means 20 percent biodesel with regular low sulfur diesel. Most of the gas pumps I've seen are low sulfur diesel with 5 percent blend of biodiesel.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

Cleaner? Yes but power? Honesty, less power than regular Diesel so meaning less pulling power with Biodiesel.

Any source on that knowledge on power differences with biodiesel vs fossil diesel?

[diehardbiker]

Same concept with alcohol, not all alcohol beverage has same potency, it is all about energy potency, Biodiesel has less energy potency than Fossil Diesel.

Beer has less alcohol in it than whiskey, right, so which one will burn hotter and faster? The answer is obviously.

Originally Posted by sequoias

Any source on that knowledge on power differences with biodiesel vs fossil diesel?

[sequoias]

Living With Biodiesel - Dyno - Diesel Power Magazine

Biodiesel produces more power or similar power ratings according to this link. It doesn't mean biodiesel produces less BTU than the #2 diesel.

[diehardbiker]

Im not saying your wrong. Just that I find it odd. If this holds true, then why didn't they make the change long time ago?

Also, with Ethanol and Gasoline, Ethanol actually offer less power than gasoline, and those who use Ethanol winded up use more gallon than the gasoline counterpart.

Originally Posted by sequoias

Living With Biodiesel - Dyno - Diesel Power Magazine

Biodiesel produces more power or similar power ratings according to this link. It doesn't mean biodiesel produces less BTU than the #2 diesel.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

Im not saying your wrong. Just that I find it odd. If this holds true, then why didn't they make the change long time ago?

Also, with Ethanol and Gasoline, Ethanol actually offer less power than gasoline, and those who use Ethanol winded up use more gallon than the gasoline counterpart.

I do find it odd also and didn't understand why they didn't do that long time ago. I guess technology on that kind of chemistry didn't happen that time.

[diehardbiker]

With same amount between regular Diesel and BioDiesel? That is the question we need to ask and find out. It would only make sense IF they used more BioDiesel to get same power as regular Diesel, so the efficency dropped considerable.

Originally Posted by sequoias

I do find it odd also and didn't understand why they didn't do that long time ago. I guess technology on that kind of chemistry didn't happen that time.

[sequoias]

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

With same amount between regular Diesel and BioDiesel? That is the question we need to ask and find out. It would only make sense IF they used more BioDiesel to get same power as regular Diesel, so the efficency dropped considerable.

He used B99 biodiesel to test it. B99 means basically 99 percent biodiesel with 1 percent blend of fossil diesel.

[diehardbiker]

That is not what I mean, I mean for same gallon?

Originally Posted by sequoias

He used B99 biodiesel to test it. B99 means basically 99 percent biodiesel with 1 percent blend of fossil diesel.

[Glenn]

Originally Posted by Chevy57

Biodiesel fuel is a clean burning alternative fuel?

Biodiesel is not as great an alternative as it once was seen. Mainly because it competes with food sources, which drives up the prices for food. So you have energy needs and food needs competing for the same thing and demand usually leads to increased prices, which hurts consumers.

There was a big biodiesel start up in Grays Harbor, Washington that isn't doing as well nowadays.

[diehardbiker]

That is what I thought, now if you wonder why corn prices, meat prices had skyrocket in the last few years? That is because demand for Ethanol had shot up, which result farmer not able to supply enough of em which in turn increase the prices. So, there isn't much to trade off.

Personally, I would invest in Hydrogen fuel cell. I see its huge potential. You may not realize, if I recall this correctly that Hydrogen is 2nd most abundence in the world and it happen to be recycleable easily without any carbon involved.

Originally Posted by Glenn

Biodiesel is not as great an alternative as it once was seen. Mainly because it competes with food sources, which drives up the prices for food. So you have energy needs and food needs competing for the same thing and demand usually leads to increased prices, which hurts consumers.

There was a big biodiesel start up in Grays Harbor, Washington that isn't doing as well nowadays.