Is there soot? And why that's not so good.

We've all seen (and some of us even own) cars that spew out the same amount of ash and soot as a small thermal power plant when you start them. While some of these cars are real runners, spewing soot is a sign of inefficient power delivery.

Let's get one thing clear.

This article was not written by environmentalists who want rabbits in the forest to breathe fresh air and not have asthma, but by true fans of cars and motor sports who know that racing cars can be both diesel and gasoline powered.

How does a diesel engine work?

Diesel engines regulate their power through fuel, not air like gasoline engines do. So the more fuel you put into a diesel, the more horsepower and torque the engine will generate, up to a certain point.

Diesel Smoke: Causes and Consequences

The biggest misconception about modern turbodiesels is related to diesel smoke. The black, sooty smoke is the result of incomplete combustion in diesel engines. It's simple: by adding more fuel, the diesel will generate more power. However, if you don't also add more air to provide enough oxygen for the combustion process, a lot of the incompletely burned diesel fuel (and power) will come out the exhaust as smoke.

A lot of smoke contaminates engine oil much faster than normal. Modern motor oils usually contain a chemical called zinc dithiophosphate, which gives the oil extreme pressure capability. You might call it an "anti-wear agent." When there is a lot of smoke, the soot inevitably passes through the piston rings and into the oil, where it binds with the zinc dithiophosphate and deactivates it. When the oil loses its anti-wear agent, the internal parts of the engine begin to wear out faster.

Problems at higher exhaust temperatures

More fuel leads to higher exhaust gas temperatures (EGT). This means that when you rev your car and the EGT goes up, you may not get the extra power. In cases where there is no temperature limit, revving the car hard can cause a sharp increase in EGT, which can lead to melted pistons.

How to properly increase diesel power?

It's all about not only having more fuel, but also having a good enough air flow system. When a diesel car is properly designed for more power, the horsepower and torque are achieved without clouds of black smoke and with exhaust temperatures that don't rise to dangerous levels.

As proof, we will share with you a video of a 7-liter diesel dragster from the American company Banks Power , which has held the record for the highest speed for a diesel pickup truck for 33 years.