At a time when we have failed to control the rise of temperature within the desired two degrees Celsius and the leaders of the world are congregating in Paris to chalk out the roadmap to tackle climate change, there comes a pleasant development from the stable of Federal-Mogul. The company has developed a piston ring technology called eWAVE that can reduce carbon emissions in marine operations and can also reduce operating costs.

Federal-Mogul Holdings Corporation’s power train division in Germany has been conducting sea trials testing its new eWAVE rings that can reduce the amount of oil and lubricants needed in two stroke diesel engines. The rings will also reduce the loss of unused and used fuel, thus reducing the operating costs and cutting down on carbon emissions.

This is the first ring of its kind that allows the oil to be evenly distributed at its bore. In effect, the piston is more efficient. Conventional designs of rings don’t allow for even distribution of oil at the bore, which compels operators to pump in more lubricants and oil to ensure that the bores get enough to overcome the friction and can facilitate the smooth functioning of the piston. This excess oil that is pumped into the pistons is a massive waste. Up to 40% of the total oil pumped into the pistons is actually lost. The oil just seeps through and this leads to marine pollution, excessive loss of oil and adds to the carbon footprint of marine operations.

The patented surface topography that the new eWAVE® rings feature can disperse oil around the bore in a homogeneous layer. Thus, it can protect against local oil film breakdown, it would improve the sealing of combustion gases, the regular wearing out will be greatly reduced and there would be temperature uniformity inside the liners.

The technology solves the longstanding problem in two stroke diesel engines of the pistons being unable to have oil distributed circumferentially at the bores. According to an official press release, the new rings can save 30% of the total oil being used today that is completely wasted. The rings have been tested for over eight thousand hours and they have reduced wear resistance by 20%, which is again a saving in operating costs. The technology is compatible with various kinds of engine strokes and can function at different operating speeds.

Diesel is more affordable than gasoline or petrol. It is thus obvious why large scale commercial operations rely on diesel engines. Whether it is the commercial vehicles plying on the streets catering to citywide commutes or long distance trucks catering to moving goods, diesel powered vehicles are on the rise and the growth would continue.

The Diesel fuel injector is an integral part of any diesel engine and it is a tad more complicated than petrol or gasoline powered engines. There are two types of diesel fuel injectors: throttle body injection and individual port type fuel injector. A typical diesel fuel injector has a filter, core spring, guide ring, seat spring, pole piece, seat, solenoid coil and solenoid body, stop, core and a core ring, spray tip housing, spray tip and director. Diesel fuel injectors can come in myriad shapes or forms but they would invariably contain these parts. The fuel flow in a diesel fuel injector is controlled by ECM which functions by raising a ball off the seat. The fuel then flows through the seat and onto the fixed director plate. This plate has several holes through which the fuel flows and gets sprayed at around ten to fifteen degree angles.

Diesel fuel injectors spray fuel directly into the intake manifold of a diesel engine, which is right in front of the intake valve. Every diesel fuel injector has a high micron filter, hypodermic holes and the fuel sprayed through the top inlet and the filter leads to the atomizing of the fuel at the bottom. Other than catering to the primary function, diesel also ensures that the fuel injector remains well lubricated so all its parts can work optimally. The fuel injector valve operates at an rpm of around 1800, thus controlling the fuel intake. An rpm of 1800 typically means that the valve would open and close about 140,000 times in an hour. The diesel fuel injector is crucial to the functioning of the engine. A malfunctioning fuel injector would render the engine un-operational and one would have to replace the injector or have it cleansed and repaired.

A diesel fuel injector works frantically as long as the engine is running. The valve opening and closing to dispense the right amount of fuel happens so fast that it cannot be measured in seconds. Usually, a valve opens and closes and the injector facilitates the fuel dispensing in less than 5 milliseconds.

You may be waiting at a red light or you may have just started the engine and white smoke coming out of your tailpipe. Should you be alarmed? What should you do? You may want to ditch your truck for the day or you may want to ignore it. Neither is a wise approach. Get accustomed with the white smoke problem which is not normal but quite common with diesel engines.

Why the White Smoke?

There could be one or more reasons for your car exuding white smoke. The volume of white smoke will also vary. It could be insignificant or it could be voluminous. Let us get to the basics that can help you to understand the cause.

If coolant has entered the combustion chamber, then you will have white smoke emitting from the tailpipe. This could also happen if the engine has low compression. You can easily run a test to know for certain what the exact reason is. Pull the breather cap and look for smoke. If the engine is enduring excess blow-by then you would see white smoke emitting from the valve cover. You may need a technician to sort this out.

Worn out injectors can also cause white smoke. The injector may have a cracked tip, bad solenoid or harness. If the injector is damaged or worn out, then it may allow too much fuel in and that will affect the cylinder. If a cylinder goes down, then your diesel car or truck will emit white smoke.

Another common reason for white smoke is dropping coolant level. Some trucks have a perennial issue of dropping coolants. When coolants get into the engine, it can cause some severe damage over time. Don’t try to replenish the coolant and keep driving. Get your engine checked and fix the problem.

There are a few other causes of white smoke. The exact problem will depend on the vehicle and its specifications. In some models, the water and oil gets contaminated. Crankcases often get overwhelmed with water and radiators often have to endure excessive oil. You must try to steer clear from these issues. While these conditions are not entirely avertable, you must be quick to get them remedied. White smoke is just the symptom. You have to get to the root of the problem and fix it.

Diesel engines have been very popular in commercial vehicle but when people consider buying a personal car, the preference is inevitably the alternative. Diesel engines have become infamous over time but mostly because of certain myths that have remained firmly etched in our minds. It is necessary to debunk these myths. The focus on fuel economy and cost of running a car has ensured that people are getting interested in diesel engines. Time to shed light on a few facts and misconceptions.

• A popular myth is that diesel is a dirty fuel and that vehicles powered by diesel engines will emit toxic exhausts and particulate matter. It is quite interesting to observe such myths because the EPA emission restrictions are very stringent and they don’t make any exceptions for diesel engines. Diesel powered cars have to adhere to the EPA restrictions so any thought that diesel cars will pump out more harmful gases and particulate matter than gasoline cars is just a figment of imagination. Also, cars today don’t emit the visibly black, white and grey dense smoke unless something is wrong.
• There is another popular myth that diesel engines will go kaput when the mercury dips. This is a presumption that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There was a time when gasoline cars also didn’t start when it would be freezing outside. The trouble is not with the fuel. The problem is with the engine. Today, technology has ensured that diesel engines can have a cold start. It is true that gasoline is more flammable than diesel but vehicles don’t just start due to the fuel. The engine and the ignition technology play a role too.
• Diesel engines are feared to be very noisy, sluggish and that they would lack in performance. This perception has developed from the fact that diesel engines have been primarily used in commercial vehicles, aka trucks and buses. Those vehicles are tilted towards viability and not comfort or exuberance. The diesel engines used in cars don’t have the same issues. The focus is on comfort, speed, quietness and all the attributes that one wants in a personal car.
• Another myth is simply a misconception. That is that diesel fuel is hard to find. Nowadays most gas stations supply both gasoline and diesel.
• Many people feel that diesel is more expensive. Some diesels can be more expensive than gasoline but most are not.