Our Cars

    This page will discuss the performance and reliability things we have done to our cars.  That way if you are thinking of getting the same car or truck with the same engines we have, you can use this information to lessen the "learning curve".. :)

These are the things we have done to our vehicles to make them go fast!! These modifications are not because we use biodiesel in them, it is just cool to drive a diesel with some pep to it.

Hot-rodding diesels is vastly different from a gasser.  A diesel is basically an air pump.  The more air you can put though it, the more fuel you can inject.  If you inject too much fuel without increasing the air, you get too much smoke. If you pump more are in without increasing fuel, you don't increase power.  Increasing air reduces smoke when fuel remains constant.  You can't lean out a diesel, so too much air won't hurt anything (unless it is too hot or too much boost pressure.) 

To increase fuel on newer computer controlled diesels there are two things that can be done.  Increase flow though your injectors and/or reprogram your computer (also known as a ECU) to inject more fuel.

To increase air you will need to increase the boost that is created by the turbocharger so it will ram more air into your engine.  This can be done by reprogramming the ECU or taking the control of the wastegate out of the hands of the ECU.

How much air and fuel that can be injected is largely dictated by how high of compression you have, if you have indirect or direct injection, Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) and how much your willing to push the factory components. (especially your transmission). 

Transmissions care about how much torque there is though them. Most automatics have a torque rating but not necessarily a horsepower rating.  If you exceed that you can damage the internal workings of your automatic by slipping clutches and breaking shafts.  Manual transmissions have a torque rating as well, but are usually limited by how much clamping force the clutch has. 

High EGTs can cause things to melt within your engine, namely pistons.  High EGTs can be caused by too much fuel and/or too much boost.  It is important that if you want to "bomb" your diesel, one of the first things you should do is install an EGT gauge.  Nothing kills a diesel faster than melting pistons, and it isn't hard to get your exhaust 1400 degrees plus if things are pushed too far.

Biodiesel Powered Dragster Baby, yeah..