Diesel Engines, Altitude and Seasons

[TheJackRabbit]

Has anybody else noticed a decrease in fuel combustion and an increase in black smoke emissions from winter to warm weather? This has perplexed me since 1999 when I brought home a Ford PSD. We live at 7,800 feet. In the winter, when the air is cold and more dense with oxygen the truck hardly smokes on acceleration. Come the warm weather and the slightest tap on the trotle produces a cloud of sooting smoke. I am guessin that since the warmer air is less dense and contains less oxygen, there is less fuel combustion and more emissions.

I am no expert on diesel power. So, I am curious if others have the same thing happening or if there is another explanation. I do watch my tailpipe emissions in the side mirror regularly. There is not much traffic in these parts so watching a mirror is safe enough.

 

[agomez]

winter blend fuel for some reason does not burn as efficiently as summer....I do see a drop in mileage come winter time as compared to warm weather. You may need to do some tuning for altitude in order to keep from seeing black exhaust. Check your turbo it could be on its way out. Go to the dieselstop.com to get more info I hang out in the 94-97 forumns. Black smoke in a diesel is unburnt fuel...hope this helps....

 

[TheJackRabbit]

Senor Gomez, Como Esta? Mucho Gusto.

The unburnt fuel is indeed a little worisome. It is like watching dollar bills fluttering out the window ($3.19 per gallon in Northern New Mexico!).

For some reason it seems to be in the warmer weather that smoke is emitted in quantity. That is what lead me tothink about air density and oxygen. It could be the engine requires high altitude adjustment that was not made by the dealer. Or, maybe the turbo is pooped. Only 87,000 miles on the engine.

Thanks for the referral to "deiselstop.com". I will check it out.

Here in Northern NM the folks say goodbye with "Bueno" rather than "Adios". so, Bueno.