I enjoy power, have modified my share of internal combustion engines, including diesels from Caterpillar to Isuzu.
My goals are always more power, and/or more efficiency, and usually both.
I have gotten tired of seeing pickup trucks "rolling coal" with screaming turbos through megaphone straight pipes, big-trucks using EPA loopholes to run pre-2003 engines in new trucks (and the associated black smoke), and yes, the occasional tdi or M-B diesel "tuned" to the point of black smoke.
Is more fuel more power? To a point, yes. Will it sometimes smoke if tuned to produce the maximum power/cc of displacement? Sometimes.
However, this extra fuel isn't burning completely and thus not producing much (if any) additional power and is usually unnecessary.
I'm not your classic tree-hugger, but don't believe that this is necessary.
But I have a bigger problem with this.
I love my diesels. They are powerful and efficient, and to many around the world they are environmentally concious and an important part of our future.
But those who blow black smoke just for fun and to annoy PRetentIoUS drivers, or thumb their noses to the EPA with dirty trucks just fuel the fire for those diesel (and general car) haters out there.
Instead of the public opinion embracing diesel cars and the massive strides made to mke them cleaner, we have lawsuits and can't buy a new Mercedes or VW diesel, and we owners are being pursued by angry mobs with pitchforks and torches.
Thanks.
Is there anything really wrong with buyung a bluetec or tdi and leaving it stock? My 5,000lb SUV will kick a 300D's ass 0-60 and get 33mpg all day, the tdi will put a hurt on a healthy 300D (even with ALDA and EGR disabled LOL) and turn in 45mpg without trying.
So I'll continue to give thumbs up to a nice classic benz, continue to work on my OM603s, but I also know who I'll blame next time the EPA tampers with diesel fuel, increases restrictions on diesel engines, or when I can't find a new diesel car.