ROLLING COAL

[tx2sturgis]

After looking it up. The simple truth is that if you see black smoke the fuel is not being used and the engine is not running efficiently. Clogged air filters or stuck injection is usually the culprit on rigs that are not modified to do this. 

Modern EPA “crap” is part of a system that gets as much power from a gallon of fuel as possible. I can’t believe that blowing fuel out the pipe gives you more power.

The first assumption is kinda correct, but that's not the whole story. EGR (exhaust gas recirculation)  SCR (selective catalytic reduction)  and DPF (diesel particulate filter) systems (related to scrubbing diesel engine exhaust) cause a significant DROP in fuel efficiency. A DPF for instance, squirts raw fuel into the filter to 'catalyze' at very high temperature the pollutants into a less harmful 'ash' that is released over a longer period of time during cruise, or it can be initiated manually, this is called a 'regen' cycle and it burns precious fuel to do it. Not to mention the DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) that is used to help accomplish the 'clean-up'...and BTW there is now talk of a DEF shortage. Most modern diesel engines will go into 'limp' mode when the DEF tank runs out. You might get 5 mph, and sit on the side of the road or in a driveway until you can find more DEF. If you get lucky. DEF itself causes another 'hit' to the environment in the manufacture, transportation and storage of it. 

Plus it costs a LOT of money to maintain and repair these complex systems when they break. It can literally cost multiple thousands of dollars every few years to keep a diesel engine running after the warranty runs out on the emissions hardware, sometimes that happens after 50k or 100k miles. Then what is the owner supposed to do? And some of the sensors and chips needed are simply no longer available or you have to wait weeks or months to get your diesel truck back on the road because of one sensor or one computer board, with today's supply chain issues. A DPF filter can cost several thousand dollars...if you can find a new one. Refurbs can be found but they often have a very short warranty period. A 'deleted' diesel fixes nearly ALL of these problems, with MORE power produced and/or less overall fuel consumed, and no more DPF or DEF or SCR crap to worry about. And yes, you will see it 'rolling coal'...spitting soot all over you, me, and the environment. 

I dont like it either, so as I say, my answer (should I ever be put in charge of everything) is to put gasoline engines (or maybe electric motors) in every vehicle that is non-commercial.

(warning: rant follows!) And yes, I know this is bad for consumers who want to drive big rigs or SuperDuty pickups or diesel powered Jeeps, or whatever.  But the fact is we really need to reduce private use of diesel fuel so that more of it is available and cheaper for the commercial market..so we can get our milk and bread and meat and everything else we need at a reasonable price WITHOUT huge fuel surcharges added on to every damn thing we buy. (rant over) 

Your second assumption is also, not correct. EPA emissions control hardware is all about scrubbing diesel exhaust, not getting more miles per gallon, and it never has been. EVERY new round of emissions regulations has caused a reduction in fuel economy. Every single time. This is documented and one of the main reasons that 'glider kits' exist. A glider kit in the trucking industry is a brand new body and frame plus running gear, wrapped around an older rebuilt or remanufactured diesel engine, so that a driver can operate a brand new truck, all the new goodies, but the old rebuilt engine is legal to operate with little or no modern emissions controls because it's maybe 15 or 20 years old. 

Its a complicated issue and I know it might seem like it SHOULD be simple. But it aint.