Diesel Trucks vs VW

[bigi]

I see 100s of big diesel rigs polluting like hell on daily basis. Sometimes it is hard to see behind their exhausts in congested highway traffic.

Now, what is the big deal about WV? It is nothing in comparison to those dump trucks and cargo trucks. Those don't even require emission testing, at least in IL.

Diesel powered vehicles, vehicles powered exclusively by electricity, and certain other vehicles are not required to test.

Apparently now, they got WV "cheating" on emissions tests, but those big loads will still pollute more and more.

Double standards apparently.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Emissions testing laws vary from state to state, yeah.

I'd also point out that it's not just how much fuel, but what you release. Most newer big rigs, farm equipment, etc, use the same urea system and whatnot to neutralize the nasty compounds in the diesel fuel, even though they burn more gas and release more net whatever.

Kinda like how you can't commit suicide by running your car in the garage anymore. Same amount of gas burned, but less CO produced vs. a '72 Chevelle.

 

[Jimzz]

Big rigs also have updated emissions but rigs usually last longer and drive a LOT more miles. Newer ones are cleaner but will take time for them to replace older ones.

 

[IronWing]

Double standards apparently.

Yes, the double standards are built into the law. That's why there are different "colors" of diesel now. VW knew the law and chose to break it.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Big rigs also have updated emissions but rigs usually last longer and drive a LOT more miles. Newer ones are cleaner but will take time for them to replace older ones.

True dat.

Nobody's rounding up Jetta TDI owners at gunpoint either, though. There's always an "installed base" of older cars to work around.

 

[mmntech]

I'd also point out that it's not just how much fuel, but what you release. Most newer big rigs, farm equipment, etc, use the same urea system and whatnot to neutralize the nasty compounds in the diesel fuel, even though they burn more gas and release more net whatever.

The rental company I worked for bought a couple PowerStroke F-450s when they first started mandating DEF. Bit of a pain in the arse since head office never supplied us with a regular stock of the stuff. Of course there was always the fear that some idiot customer, despite the huge warning sign, would mistake it for the fuel tank. So it was reserved strictly for corporate clients.

 

[WT]

Thought this thread would be about this -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k62gW3Se5e0

The V10 TDI Touareg, a Ford Ecoboost equivalent towing monster available almost 10 years before Ford even came up with the Ecoboost.

OK, thread may continue on its proper path.

 

[Gunbuster]

Even big rigs are a drop in the bucket compared to the crud that shoots out of all the mega sized transport ships in service...

 

[herm0016]

generally, commercial trucks have a different standard as well, based on gross vehicle weight. The pickups you see spewing black smoke are just idiots that think its "cool" to be an idiot. They have modified their exhaust and/or engine to spew black smoke.

 

[OutHouse]

Yes, the double standards are built into the law. That's why there are different "colors" of diesel now. VW knew the law and chose to break it.

Red is the only color i know of that diesel is dyed to indicate off road use so no road taxes are paid. it has noting to do with buring cleaner. If a trucker is caught with tax free fuel in his tanks he is in some big trouble. i live in farm country and many stations have special pumps for off road diesel for all the farms and their tractors. FYI heating oil mainly used on the east coast to heat your home is just red dyed diesel.

 

[IronWing]

Red is the only color i know of that diesel is dyed to indicate off road use so no road taxes are paid. it has noting to do with buring cleaner. If a trucker is caught with tax free fuel in his tanks he is in some big trouble. i live in farm country and many stations have special pumps for off road diesel for all the farms and their tractors. FYI heating oil mainly used on the east coast to heat your home is just red dyed diesel.

Oh, well I learned something today. I thought it was different.

 

[mmntech]

I was reading over on Car Throttle today that industrial diesel engines are terribly inefficient. They produce a lot of carbon soot but very little nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are the more harmful pollutants. While these engines are "dirty", the advantage is that they're less complicated. Most of them run at a low RPM anyway.

"Rolling coal" is achieved by simply removing the stock exhaust system and then running the engine rich (high fuel to air ratio). That thick, black, obnoxious smoke is mostly unburned fuel. While the hillbillies think it's a lark to gas Prius drivers, doing this actually ruins engine performance. Engines that are too rich produce less power and don't like to run at high RPMs.

Automotive "clean" diesels are the opposite. Their efficiency is achieved by running the engines lean. This results in more complete combustion. There's significantly less unburned fuel in the exhaust, and thus less soot. Running lean also improves power and fuel economy. However, these engines require a lot more air. (Why diesels often use turbochargers) The additional nitrogen and oxygen react in combustion to produce high levels of nitrogen dioxide. This is why diesel cars require sophisticated emissions systems. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (urea) is used to brake down NOx into Nitrogen and Water.