The Natural Philosopher wrote:
Rod wrote:
Cerberus . wrote:
On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:23:08 +0100, wrote:

On 19 Sep, Kevin wrote:

the diesel engine was perfected 1897,
I doubt if it has yet been perfected, judging by the black smoke
emitted by
some modern vehicles, mainly taxis.

Don't forget buses. Many a time I've been stuck in traffic behind one
on my
motorbike listening to the tuneful sound of my engine 'pinking' whilst
coughing my head off!

Don.

My recent experience has been that some of the heaviest diesel
vehicles (artics and other heavy lorries) have been far, far less
smokey than many cars and vans, etc. (Buses I find to be quite
variable in the good to medium range.)

It is usually some poxy little car that makes me switch over to air
recirculation.

Perhaps at the top of the ranges the panoply of control devices has
actually achieved the apparent cleanliness we want? Or maybe the
excess cost of the fuel wasted (when not burned as well as possible)
is starting to make maintenance worthwhile? Or is it the London
Low-Emission Zone regulations having an effect?

(And of petrol vehicles, it has to be lawn mowers and tiny, buzzy
bikes that are worst.)


Turbos help a lot. The problem is the diesel likes a lean mix. And to
make it go faster you throw in fuel, not air. Turbos throw in extra air
as well.


Absolutely - I was completely convinced of the benefits of turbocharging
diesels long before I accepted they could make sense for petrol engines
as well.

(Would a turbo help a 2-stroke lawnmower as well? :-) )

--
Rod

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Although common it frequently goes undiagnosed.
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