Advocacy & Safety - Diesel tuners and smoke

There is an industry selling engine control computer chips to anti-social idiots who then set their diesel trucks up so they can generate a cloud of smoke any time they want. The epa is going to shut these guys down eventually, but I've decided I'm going to help. Any reports of smoke attack incidents will be appreciated.

the epa would have to fight a long hard battle to get tunners eliminated from the market. after all, using them on public highways is already outlawed in nearly every state (if not every state). emmisions tests can not currently detect them either as they can be turned off/removed in a manner of minutes. i guess its possible that truck manufactures could program trucks to be inoperative with one of these devices, but i would bet the software engineers creating these tuners would be able to work around it.

i completely agree that these devices should not be used to intentionally smoke somebody out, but i am a fan and supporter of aftermarket car and truck modifications.

The diesel tuner chips aren't the problem, I've dealt with these tuning kits, it's when the owner decides to install larger performance/marine injectors is when the smoke issue begins. Our state now has some of the strictest diesel smoke laws on the books, and with it comes some hefty fines for the violators. It's been a few years since I've been enveloped in a cloud of black smoke when sitting at a stop light and it turns green.

Does it require fiddly tuning to get an F-250 to huff a cloud?

Seems to me, all it takes is a case of arrested development, a bad attitude and a heavy boot on the pedal.

But then, I live in a state that does no emissions testing — in fact, it does no safety inspections of any kind. Been that way for about 15 to 20 years.

So maybe this place is heaven for anti-social diesel drivers, I dunno, and they've all been diddling with the squirt guns.

Does it require fiddly tuning to get an F-250 to huff a cloud? I see plenty of this.

Seems to me, all it takes is a case of arrested development, a bad attitude and a heavy boot on the pedal.

But then, I live in a state that does no emissions testing — in fact, it does no safety inspections of any kind. Been that way for about 15 to 20 years.

So maybe this place is heaven for anti-social diesel drivers, I dunno, and they've all been diddling with the squirt guns.

They're probably using heavy fuel oil also, saves money!

wow...i had no idea that was intentional!! i always thought they had a crappy fuel/air mix! wow!

I have a large diesel and it will lay down a cloud when you lay down on the accelerator. The only mods to mine are an updated turbo housing and a larger diameter exhaust. The only time I lay into it is if I need to pass, get off the line to get into a different lane (the cagers around here run nose to tail and won't let you into their lane). I do have a buddy of mine whose engine is much more modified...he runs 14's at the drag strip in a crew cab dually:eek::D

There will always be a few people that have to live on the edge...just to piss people off.:innocent:

Aaron:)

but i am a fan and supporter of aftermarket car and truck modifications.

One's that thwart EPA standards?

wow...i had no idea that was intentional!! i always thought they had a crappy fuel/air mix! wow!

Never underestimate the lengths a man will go, to shore up his inadequacies!

There is an industry selling engine control computer chips to anti-social idiots who then set their diesel trucks up so they can generate a cloud of smoke any time they want. The epa is going to shut these guys down eventually, but I've decided I'm going to help. Any reports of smoke attack incidents will be appreciated.

Is it really that big of a deal? I ride in a hilljack town with lots of diesel pushers and I've never been covered in a huge cloud of black smoke. Yeah a modified diesel will blow an insane amount of smoke but they don't do it often because its hard on their truck and stucks down fuel. My suggestion is to drive a diesel for one day and you will understand why people love them

Is it really that big of a deal? I ride in a hilljack town with lots of diesel pushers and I've never been covered in a huge cloud of black smoke. Yeah a modified diesel will blow an insane amount of smoke but they don't do it often because its hard on their truck and stucks down fuel. My suggestion is to drive a diesel for one day and you will understand why people love them

Admit it.
You like the deep low frequency vibrations.

Try Barry White to get your rocks off, and you won't have to kill the environment (or "stuck" down fuel).
Unless of course, you like to "stuck".

;)

There is an industry selling engine control computer chips to anti-social idiots who then set their diesel trucks up so they can generate a cloud of smoke any time they want. The epa is going to shut these guys down eventually, but I've decided I'm going to help. Any reports of smoke attack incidents will be appreciated.

Remember that any change made to a motor vehicle that draws attention to it, is because the owner is compensating for an inadequacy somewhere else. Usually it's either in their heads or their shorts. Probably the best solution to this is to note the licence number and report it to local police.

One's that thwart EPA standards?

ive owned several cars and motorcycles that would have failed several state inspections had our state required them, so yes...

ive owned several cars and motorcycles that would have failed several state inspections had our state required them, so yes...

Ya see.. this is where I have a problem.

And it's because if everyone decided to disregard our environmental protection laws (and already too many do - individually and corporately) we'd be living in a cesspool.

And just to be clear, I'm not your average treehugger type of conservationist.

Im sick of the stereotypical road biker and his damn prius. Didn't you hear that Al gore was finally proven to be a crook? Yes we need to conserve our environment but it doesn't start with our cars. Try thinking big picture! eventually yes we will run out of oil and need an alternative and yes I would like that sooner than later but you need to quit being so gay for Al Gore. Just out of curiosity do you own a car bikepacker67?

Is it really that big of a deal? I ride in a hilljack town with lots of diesel pushers and I've never been covered in a huge cloud of black smoke. Yeah a modified diesel will blow an insane amount of smoke but they don't do it often because its hard on their truck and stucks down fuel. My suggestion is to drive a diesel for one day and you will understand why people love them

I've been covered in a HUGE cloud of diesel smoke numerous times at stop lights, the owners of these diesel pickups were usually in their late teens or early twenties, and had money to burn on diesel fuel. I feel that those pickup owners, at that time, thoroughly enjoyed seeing me choke on their "over the top" exhaust fumes.

I read this thread and had to do a search to see if it was for real.

It is. There is apparently a market for a $200 device that you can buy in order to make your vehicle blow a big cloud of smoke on demand.

Words escape me.

There is apparently a market for a $200 device that you can buy in order to make your vehicle blow a big cloud of smoke on demand.You mean that's the only purpose of the device? :notamused: Reading this thread I thought of some kind of acceleration boost, smoke as a by-product. Geez.


Words escape me.I have a few words in mind, but unfortunately they're all in Finnish and so probably would not help me share my astonishment regarding the customers who install and use this piece of... engineering.

From what I know about auto mechanics (and I did once rebuild a 66 VW engine from the ground up, so I do know something), things that improve performance generally produce less visible smoke, not more.

Performance enhancing computer chips have been around almost as long as the first computerized cars. For people that know what they're doing with performance enhancement, the chip is only part of a system of upgrades. In fact depending on the application and installation, these products can cause the engine to run cleaner, with fewer emissions, by getting a more complete burn of the fuel. Visible exhaust, particularly in diesels, is no indicator of the presence of a performance chip.

My old 2 stroke Subaru could outsmoke any diesel, if it were a cold morning.

From what I know about auto mechanics (and I did once rebuild a 66 VW engine from the ground up, so I do know something), things that improve performance generally produce less visible smoke, not more.
Diesel engines do not work the same way as gasoline engines.

Didn't you hear that Al gore was finally proven to be a crook?


Ahhh jesuss... more maroons.



Yes we need to conserve our environment but it doesn't start with our cars. Try thinking big picture!


Have you ever seen a city in a haze of smog?
Wake the F Up.



Just out of curiosity do you own a car bikepacker67?

Nope.

Remember that any change made to a motor vehicle that draws attention to it, is because the owner is compensating for an inadequacy somewhere else. Usually it's either in their heads or their shorts. Probably the best solution to this is to note the licence number and report it to local police.

Tell the police to send them a swedish made ...

Diesel engines do not work the same way as gasoline engines.

Smoke = bad, coming from any IC engine because it's just unburned or partially burned fuel. Bad for fuel economy, bad for the air.

Im sick of the stereotypical road biker and his damn prius. Didn't you hear that Al gore was finally proven to be a crook? Yes we need to conserve our environment but it doesn't start with our cars. Try thinking big picture! eventually yes we will run out of oil and need an alternative and yes I would like that sooner than later but you need to quit being so gay for Al Gore. Just out of curiosity do you own a car bikepacker67?

I agree you are sick and suggest reaching out for help before your condition further deteriorates. It may seem hopeless, but you can be helped.

for anyone that has any question about this, the chips usually have a switch that goes to multiple tunings. The sociopaths have one that dumps smoke. We were riding on a nice wide shoulder far from the travel lane and a line of cars comes by. In the middle there is a diesel pickup. It was in good tune, no doubt about that. When he dumped smoke on us he didn't have any room to accelerate. You could hear the engine note change, but that doesn't seem surprising. I like diesels, I figure they are the future. In fact, when I bought my Prius I was wishing they had a diesel version.

I actually had a car I considered chipping at one time. The car chips don't generally have quite the same effect, for example they generally work fine with a catalytic converter. When diesels are required to have cats, this is going to be a big problem. They may require some sort of secure computing that is going to be difficult to fake. So there would be a challenge/response requirement for the on board diagnostics.

at the risk of pizzin folks off , there is something that is missing,,, Diesel vehicles have exhaust systems of various lengths.from the engine to the outlet,,, while driving around at low/normal speeds there is a buildup of "soot" in the exaust system piping. after a period of driving at low /normal power/rpm operation, it builds up in the pipes.... then when you "hammer" it ,it will issue forth with a short lived puff of soot. I operated a company for many years that tested Diesels for "smoke opacity for state required opacity tests. The requirements of the tests, included a short full power part of the test to clean out the system before the real "smoke"(opacity) level could be determined,(Measuredwith an opaciaty meter)...
I drive a Benz diesel and at full throttle It blows a 15% opacity( max allowed is 40%)...However after driving around for a few days at low level power outputs, and flooring it it, getting on the freeway, or whatever, will issue forth with a very brief (a couple seconds) 40+%"puff of opacity...(smoke)
Bud

go to any diesel tuner forum and you'll find questions about how to get more smoke. And you'll find diesel people saying you should go around covering people with smoke because it will cause the non-sociopaths trouble. It's a known problem, I'm not making it up.

You can tell the difference between the phenomenon you describe and a chip. A chip will lay down a nice uniform smoke screen. As I said, this guy didn't have the opportunity to accelerate. He did it twice and we were going slightly downhill. I had the opportunity to observe him drive into the distance, there was no more smoke even though there was a sharp transition to a climb.

Im sick of the stereotypical road biker and his damn prius. Didn't you hear that Al gore was finally proven to be a crook? Yes we need to conserve our environment but it doesn't start with our cars. Try thinking big picture! eventually yes we will run out of oil and need an alternative and yes I would like that sooner than later but you need to quit being so gay for Al Gore. Just out of curiosity do you own a car bikepacker67?

Here is the problem, the only solution to pollution is dilution, if you take an area the size of the earth, and you put 500 cars evenly spaced, then the small amount of pollution from each one is absorbed by the vast quantity of air, diluting it considerably. Now expand the number of cars to 500,000,000 and concentrate large amounts of them in relatively small areas, the air is no longer able to absorb that pollution, even if each one puts out a small amount, it adds up.

Diesel's around here used to put out massive amounts of soot, new pollution laws limited that, fuel prices also increased, diesels now are tuned a lot better, and smokers are much more rare then they used to be.