Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Smoke vs no smoke..

[Hohn]

Well, this touched off quite a debate on another thread, so I think I'd like to address this again, maybe with more civility this time.



I don't object to smoke, per se. Most of us (I think) are actually pursuing HP, and smoke just kind of comes with it as we can't afford air upgrades and such at the moment. Or that big turbo takes a while to spool.



So how much smoke is too much? Personally, if I can't drive in such a way as to prevent making cloud that the guy behind me has to drive through, then I think that's too much. So, as long as the puff is dissipated before someone has to drive through it, then I think it's OK.



The other thing I measure against is other diesels on the road. Am I smokiing more than that schoolbus ahead of me? How about that semi or garbage truck? If so, then maybe I have too much.



And let's face it, even those of us who do NOT want smoke really like being able to generate it on purpose if we want to-- like when passing that guy that pulled out in front of you to go 10mph under the limit. Maybe it's the James Bond movies.





My objection then, is not to hp. It's when people seek smoke first! Like, they don't care if it makes hp, as long as it will smoke like George Burns. Smoke is not hp, people. No matter what you see at the track.



There's a guy in town here (I don't think he's a tdr member) who has a de-badged beige 2nd gen. When he takes off, the cloud lingers for about a full minute. It's like a 0 plate full forward or something-- just nuts. I've played with him a bit, and he wasn't any faster than me (maybe slower), and I'm rowing gears compared to his auto.



The difference is that my smoke is about 20% of his, when I TRY to make it.





So, I don't care if your rig can generate gobs of smoke, as long as you can control it in a way to where it's not where people might write letters or call someone. The key is CONTROLLABILITY.



If you are going around town just trying to see how much smoke you can make 24/7, then I ask that you re-evaluate your position. Do you mind being the person behind a super-smokey diesel? Maybe not, but how many people are like you???



Now some people will say that I'm a busybody for criticizing those who go around fogging everyone. Yes, I am. But I do this because I believe that if we police ourselves, then we won't have Big Brother stepping in and taking away the freedom we enjoy.



So bottom line is we can either police ourselves and embrace the wisdom of it, or we can smoke away until a diesel-hating tree hugger decides to play busybody, and next thing you know, the fun is gone.



Would you rather have a fellow CTD owners play busybody, or some Sierra Club wacko????



Submitted for your consideration.



Justin

 

[SRadke]

I concur.



-Scott

 

[SnoKing]

Justin:



This reply from the other thread is a doosey:

The Comp is a good start, and if you can aford it some nice stage 3 or bigger injectors (non EDM's if you want smoke) are a great source of the stuff. Those injectors can be had at some good prices used since most are running EDM's now. One thing you want to remember is that with that smoke is going to come some increase in EGT's so be prepared for that.



Lets see, "since most are running EDM's now"! Maybe that is because they create more HP, less smoke, better mileage and better running truck!



SNOKING

 

[SnoKing]

Here is another ME ME ME attitude from the other thread!



"screw her--she can walk on the other side of the street--"



SNOKING

 

[LOtero]

a little biased, but i guess if it was meant to be unbiased it would have been a poll. you do have some good points but i am one who enjoys being able to puff puff pass :-laf . i do agree it can get out of control and it will be noticed when it does, but no matter if you are racing shopping carts or 18 wheelers, you are always going to have the ones who are irresponible and mess it up for the majority. good on you for preaching responsibility, although i am sure you are going to rub some the wrong way.

 

[LOtero]

Here is another ME ME ME attitude from the other thread!



"screw her--she can walk on the other side of the street--"



SNOKING

to each their own, hopefully this doesnt turn into another finger pointing, you are wrong because i feel differently thread

 

[nps]

Here is another ME ME ME attitude from the other thread!



"screw her--she can walk on the other side of the street--"



SNOKING

SNOKING - you really took this one out of context. This is how the flames get fanned. The guy was idling, NO SMOKE, and OTRPU even stated he was in the no-smoke crowd (if I recall). So if the smell of an idling diesel causes her to pinch her nose and wave her hand, then I too say 'screw her'.



Now, for me, I posted this morning on another thread that my mission this weekend is to get rid of smoke out of my ETH (has smoked since stock and new, and with EZ on 3, looks like a freight train). I've been reported to the smoke police in Vegas once and got the 'fix it or else next time' letter in the mail. Don't know what the penalty for 'next time' is, or what the period is for the 'last time' to fall off.



Having stated that I am spending my time and $ to get rid of smoke, I can also say that there is a certain pleasure to be had from using said mechanical abnormality when another rectal-anal inverted motorist deserves it. But if my no-smoke quest is successful, I'll have to revert back to horns and the one fingered salute, and enjoy more smoke free power (and hopefully economy too).

 

[RJPotts]

I agree also Hohn, I started the thread that caused the little "spat" b/t smoke and non-smokers. I think my wording and people jumping to conclusions started a problem, but again, I agree.

I'm not after smoke, I'm after power, but I know that smoke will be a byproduct and that controlling it is the issue. I can make a pretty nice cloud right now with nothing but an EZ and I could do it all the time (and heres the difference) if I wanted to... but I don't. I guess the novelty wore off.

Bottom line is I'm in the gray area between smoke and no smoke. I would like to make it when I want and a little puff when I'm accelerating is fun/fine but other than that I want it to run clean so that I don't offend people with nothing better to do than influence their opinion on the people that can change laws.

I think those are the kids that people beat up and made fun of in school.

-R. J.

 

[mgoncalves]

I used to like laying down some fog every once in a while.



Around here, it seems like every diesel pickup is billowing smoke at every light. I hate being just another "Me Too", so I'm looking for that elusive, smokeless power.



I do plan to add a switch to my map sensor, so I can smoke at will. Nothing works better to get tailgaters off your bumper than a small, quick burst of smoke. Tailgaters are a real problem here, it's scary driving down the interstate with a car so close that you can't see it in any of your mirrors.



Matt

 

[robertyoke]

most of the time my truck with the powermax box on 7 hp and 6 torque it will smoke a good puff then clear to a haze, and it is making some good power. I try not to smoke at all if I can help it, but it does take some fuel to light that b2. some trucks around here are just wrong, they smoke like a coal fire and they don't go. that is just bad for diesels and will tighten up emissions checking and regulations.

I have put the box on 9/9 when someone deserves it, but then I think of the people who don't and I feel guilty for being a gross polluter.

-robert

 

[Hohn]

I used to like laying down some fog every once in a while.



Around here, it seems like every diesel pickup is billowing smoke at every light. I hate being just another "Me Too", so I'm looking for that elusive, smokeless power.



I do plan to add a switch to my map sensor, so I can smoke at will. Nothing works better to get tailgaters off your bumper than a small, quick burst of smoke. Tailgaters are a real problem here, it's scary driving down the interstate with a car so close that you can't see it in any of your mirrors.



Matt

Especially when cruising down College... .

 

[nps]

Especially when cruising down College... .

No pimpslapping here huh???

 

[dslmacdown]

I argee with Hohn here. I trying to build a solid street runner with little smoke, but when the tail gater disappears in the mirrors the magic smoke machine changes the scene and sends a nice little message.



Chris

 

[Kernel]

Smoke is cool, I like it, to diesel heads its like the rumble from dual exhaust or free flowing headers that get the gasser crowd to turn their heads. To a boy that comes from the country the first mod you did to the pickup you got was make it loud, for diesels it's make it smoke. I have been kind of turning the other direction now, the smoke that once was cool is now against me at higher elevations, EGT's don't allow me to cross a mountain pass at 60 mph that only peaks at 5,000 feet. What good is that? Hopefully the new turbo and exhaust manifold I have sitting next to me will change that and make my truck cruisable at varying elevations with an improvement in exhaust flow, air to fuel ratio, and power (can't have enough of that right?) at the expense of my beautiful smoke. It was a hard decision made: what looks cool (full smoke on flat ground at WOT and EGT's at 1300*+) vs. what is best for the engine.

 

[NPloysa]

Matt, won't the switch on the MAP sensor cause the truck to go into limp mode? Or am I missing something?



Nick

 

[ProMac1K]

:-laf



Us 12Vers can do something like that with a valet switch. Bad part is we don't get the performance all the time unless the valet switch is disabled, but it A) gives you a treat when you disable it, and B) cuts down on smoke when you don't want it. My valet switch is my foot, but it has it's disadvantages because you can't just get into the throttle like you could with the valet switch. Course you 24Vers have adjustable control boxes to control smoke, which you have more control with than even an adjustable valet switch. Also don't your VP44's wait for higher fueling until boost is up? Or is that just on stock trucks?



Guess you really can't say there are smokeless and diesel in the same sentence, as the diesels with the higher fueling use turbo's, and they aren't always spooling, hence pre-boost smoke. But this isn't relative to what this post and that other post are talking about. This is very minor compared to that.

 

[ThrottleJockey]

I AGREE with Hohn, and I KNOW you guys are right... .









But theres something about that Mitchell and Crowder smoke show! Tell me thats not part of the entertainment package! I LOVE it!





But yeah, it don't belong in the street. It was fun when I got my EZ and DD2s and I did the whole diesel hotrod bit but in traffic I was concerned what people would think of diesels in general.



I'm in search of an adjustable box to tone it all down a notch.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I too agree with Hohn and I am more impressed by clean power more than I am by absolute power. Especially the 12-valve guys who can lay down some decent numbers and still keep it clean.



I think many CTD enthusiasts have "grown up" of sorts and many are making strides toward clean power. But a optimally tuned Cummins with balanced air and fuel will make some smoke.



Most of us go through the "Smoke phase" when introduced to Cummins power. It's fun and it smells great, and you gotta show off But then the majority of us grow up from it and realize there's others we share the streets with and driving conscientiously and not feeding soot to the general population for no reason is the prudent thing to do.



Vaughn

 

[R-N-R]

Right now, the best way for me to control smoke on the street is with my right foot.



My smoke is controllable if I roll into the throttle. If I press or stomp the pedal the smoke can be "quite :-laf noticeable".

I expect a CaTCHer & Turbo upgrade will help clear it up.

 

[NIsaacs]

What I have noted over the years is, it kinda looks cool out of a nice set of twin stacks. I find myself watching my mirrors on my Ford when I up shift, looking for those twin puffs. However on my two Dodges with ground level smoke, I don't like it and drive acordingly.





"NICK"