There are a lot of people saying the era of the "smokeless diesel" is upon us. Whether you're talking about heavy trucks, pickups, or cars, the newer diesels from the factory produce little to no visible smoke.

What are the defining characteristics of a diesel to you? Is it more about the torque, pulling power, sound, or is it all about the smoke?  

I am a diesel fanatic, and i've always loved smoke. But with the climate change and all these damn hippie people out there, i think us diesel lovers need to keep our diesel reputation clean, and do our part for the big picture. A diesel to me is all that you listed bro, with torque being my number one favorite! (especially with my 12,000lb trailer on the back). Sound is music to my ears, and i actually like the older diesels better because of the noise. If i cant hear the motor, it doesn't seem like a diesel, and my cummins and 7.3 powerstroke are my favorite songs when i'm throwing smoke out of that straight pipe. Don't get me wrong about smoke though, my trucks can smoke like trains if i want them to, i just don't feel that constant smoke is neccassary. With both my trucks, its just how you drive them that determines smoke output, but i do love to make people kring when they have to drive around a huge cloud of smoke to see the road every once in a while.
anyways, theres my 2 cents
keep it diesel---  

Well, I think a big misconception among a lot of diesel rookies is that more smoke = more power. Not necessarily true. Lots of smoke is just wasted fuel and high EGTs. Sure, it looks cool and puts on a neat show, but in theory, a well-tuned modern diesel should smoke very little, even under load.  

The writing is on the wall if we don't get cleaned up we'll get shut down.

So there are two choices live it up for the next couple months/years or plan for the future.

Here's my plan:

Solar panels and a Waste heat generator to make electricity for an electrolysis unit. Run biodiesel made from algae that I grew myself. Refine it myself. Add CNG. Add propane. Add hydrogen. Then do a big burnout and smile.    

yeah blowing some smoke is cool but in reality its just no good for anything all that unburnt fuel you know isn't doing any good to our air quality, and of high egts are great either so really i think diesel is more about hearing them motor rattle and crack like an angry something  and smoking the rear tires with the never ending supply of tourque!!  

Yeah, I don't think a little black "poof" on take-off is a big deal, but just pourin' it out is only good for pissing off Prius drivers. Well...maybe it is good for something after all.    

Smoke is power.  The heat from the SMOKE causes your EGTs to rise but as a side effect it spools your turbo quicker. Heat cause the exhaust gas molecules expand. Making them flow through the turbo faster. Thats why people say thier turbo lite quicker when they chipped it. SO how do you make all that heat more usable? Simply buy some heat wrap and a turbo wrap or you can get every thing coated with ceramic. The more HEAT you can keep in the more quick the exhaust will flow.