Power without smoke???

[Bill Littlefield]

Gang,



I've read a lot of threads about how to increase power and torque. I'm ready to start bombing the truck but have one concern; I don't like smoke. For me, if she smokes, she sucks. Can I still get the improvements from a new plate, new injectors, new exhaust, etc. , without getting smoke? If so, how much will I be limiting the performance?



Don't hate me, just help me out with this.



Bill

 

[John_P]

Bill:



My experience has been that the more you go up on

H. P. (at least with the 12 valves) the more smoke

you are going to have.



When I first started "BOMBING" my 96' I had TST's

#6 plate with "mild" pump mods. Basically the pump

was set to the "higher side of stock settings. "

It is my understanding the "stock" settings for the

P7100 is around 170-180 cc's. At this point, I did

have more smoke than stock but I don't feel it was

excessive. Then I went to the #5 TST plate, installed

370 Diamond B Injectors, had the pump worked on

some more (gov. sprg kit, AFC sprg kit etc) fueling

increased and that is where the "real smoke" started!!

Joe Donnelly has experimented with the "Super Mental"

extrude honed injectors from Diesel Dynamaics and I

think he said there was less smoke with those. You

may want to e-mail him Bill.



I don't think the 24 valves have as much smoke as our

12 valves. With the "milder" fueling boxes they even

seem like they smoke less. But... ... . when you put

a "hot/competition" box on the 24 valve with HO

injectors they will smoke too!! You should have

seen Tom Meers' black 24 valve dually at the

Scheid Rally with the "hot" TST and Blue Chip boxes.

He definitely had smoke!!!



I'm sure some of the other members will be able

to "expound" on this further. The formula so

popular in the TDR of: Air+Fuel=Power is true.

But..... Air+Fuel=Power also means MORE SMOKE!



To summarize, for me the more power I have added

(in the way of plates, injectors, pump mods etc)

the more smoke there has been. BTW, the 370's

do add smoke!!



Hope this has helped you some.



---------

John_P

 

[Steve Roseman]

Bill, You can still make power without a smoke problem. Going step by step is the right way to go. Smoke might be more attributed by how you drive your truck than anything.

I can use my truck as an example. It puts out plenty of power for my needs, not even close to some of the other members.

If I lug it under load it smokes, if I run high rpms it will smoke. When running in the proper rpm range there is very little smoke, can't even see it in the mirror.

If you are getting the boost while giving the fuel it will be efficient without much smoke. The more power you go for, the more fuel you will be feeding. Thus more of a chance for unburned fuel and more smoke.

Go ahead with the plate and keep your afc backed off, then you should be able to keep smoke to a minimum.

 

[Deezul1]

My smoke level was higher than i liked and when I installed the "big honking air filter" (see thread by that name) my smoke disappeared except under hard acceleration. I believe the TST #11 plate gave me less smoke than the stock plate slid just a little forward and much better power.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

John_P. , Steve, Deezul 1,



Thanks for the replies. It's good to hear that I can probably make some power improvements and, if careful, limit the smoke some.



I will contact Mark at TST Products and see which plate he recommends for modest power improvement without too much smoke. I was leaning toward the #5 plate but maybe I should consider the #6 plate if I'm concerned about smoke.



I slid the stock plate forward a while back and it smoked so bad I had to slide it back.



I'm planning several other mods including injectors, air intake, exhaust. I'll have to keep the smoke issue in mind all along the way. As always, this site has been a great help. Glad to have you all out there to keep me strait.



I pull a white boat every weekend in the summer. I hate it when I show up at the lake and it's covered in black soot. I have to wash it before I can use it!



Bill

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Minimizing smoke at peak power is one thing, maximizing responsiveness while keeping smoke down is another. Carefully worked fueling curves, proper turbo sizing, etc are essential.



As one example, right now, one of the Diesel Dynamics 24 valve Rams is at 487 hp and very little smoke. Responsive too, with DD3s and with or without the electronic box on.



For another example, TST found that their PowerMax box could be set up to begin adding fuel with just a bit of boost and improve response significantly while keeping smoke down enough for CARB. However, as injector size increased, smoke tended to also if used in conjunction with the box.



Thus, be careful about mixing and matching if you want power without smoke. Talk to the vendors and listen carefully to their recommendations.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Thanks!

Joe D. ,



Great Reply! Thanks. I will follow your advice.



Bill

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

On your 95, you can install a TST Kit and probably be OK on smoke just as it goes in; epecially the 230 hp version. The TST AFC Spring Kit gives you more tools to reduce smoke while keeping responsiveness. Check with them, or e-mail me off-line if you need more details.

 

[SlyBones]

Like the others have said, it can be done, its all in how its setup and dialed in. You can have a truck that hauls a$$ and does not smoke with easy driving, and not bad under hard acceleration.



The trip from Bend to Abbotsford is about 8 hours. One trip around the block with Piers, and you will believe.