00:00 |
- One of the issues facing modern diesel engines is emissions compliance.
|
00:03 |
And particularly as modern emissions standards have become more and more stringent, diesel engines have seen more and more emissions devices added with the aim of meeting these standards.
|
00:12 |
It's now commonplace for modern diesel engines to be fitted with exhaust gas recirculation, diesel particulate filters and to use selective catalytic reduction to help reduce tailpipe emissions.
|
00:22 |
This is a hot topic in the diesel tuning world because these emissions devices often carry a negative connotation with regard to performance and reliability of the engine.
|
00:30 |
Diesel particulate filters or DPFs as they're commonly referred to are used to collect particulate matter from the exhaust and need to occasionally perform a regen cycle in order to burn off particulate matter and ready the DPF for the collection of further material.
|
00:43 |
One of the issues that face diesel owners is that for the regen cycle to occur, the engine needs to be operated for a reasonable period of time.
|
00:49 |
This isn't an issue normally for vehicles that perform consistent driving on long trips however on those that are only short tripped and not allowed to warm up to temperature, this can be a problem.
|
00:58 |
It may not provide sufficient opportunity for the regen cycle to complete.
|
01:02 |
Understanding the DPF collection and regeneration process is important because occasionally as tuners we take things a little bit too far, which may result in excessive soot collection or partial plugging of the DPF.
|
01:14 |
In many instances, a blocked DPF may be able to be recovered by a regen, however in some it may not and in rare situations might require replacement.
|
01:24 |
The exhaust gas recirculation valve is another device we'll find fitted to the modern diesel engine.
|
01:29 |
The aim of the EGR is to reintroduce cooled exhaust gas back into the cylinders where it displaces fresh air and creates a cooler combustion charge.
|
01:37 |
This has the effect of reducing NOx production which is a significant issue with diesel engines in particular.
|
01:42 |
The downside of EGR is that it tends to build up deposits on the intake manifold and on the valves over time which reduce the efficiency in the engine.
|
01:50 |
EGR coolers and valves can also become faulty which then causes a new set of potential issues.
|
01:55 |
Understanding what an EGR cooler failure looks like and knowing the importance of proper functioning EGR valves and maintenance of them, will keep the emissions system failures from snowballing out of control.
|
02:06 |
Given the downsides of these emissions devices, many enthusiasts want to delete then at the first available opportunity.
|
02:12 |
Even aside from the potential for reliability issues and maintenance with these emissions devices, there's also the belief that deleting the DPF will reduce exhaust gas restriction and free up more power.
|
02:22 |
I can tell you first hand that deleting the DPF often results in an almost insignificant effect on power.
|
02:28 |
Futhermore it's important that you not underestimate the value of a clean running smoke free, legal truck prior to making the decision or coaching your customer on the decision to delete.
|
02:37 |
Of course if you're planning to get wild with modifications or you're entering the world of competition motorsports then the decision's pretty straightforward.
|
02:43 |
The bigger issue here is that these emissions devices are fitted for a reason and depending on where in the world you live, deleting emissions devices can make your vehicle illegal so this needs to be approached with caution.
|
02:54 |
The APA for instance in the United States has been focusing their efforts on the aftermarket tuning industry.
|
03:00 |
We're now seeing many commercial tuning platforms remove the option to delete emissions devices through their software.
|
03:05 |
This will make it difficult or even impossible to remove the emissions devices on your truck without triggering diagnostic trouble codes that may cause more trouble than retaining the emissions devices in the first place.
|
03:15 |
Ultimately the decision and responsibility around emissions compliance is yours and your customer's.
|
03:21 |
This course aims to educate you on why these emissions systems are fitted and how to tune effectively with them or without them in place.
|
03:27 |
What the legal implications may be of removing them is your responsibility to understand and ensure that you're meeting the legal requirements of your region.
|