Detroit Diesel goes BlueTec

Okay before anyone chews me out for it, I buy both Diesel Power and Diesel World magazines.  I like the information from both since different folks will write about different happenings in our world of diesel.

I just read an article about Detroit Diesel and it's new BlueTec/SCR solution from the European diesel community that uses a "Diesel Exhaust Fluid" with an SCR catalyst that turns NOX into its base components of nitrogen and oxygen.

The system appears to be setup so that the exhaust is treated after exiting the engine (urea/water injection into the exhaust gases) which also means there is no DPF or regen cycles of burning the soot out of a DPF.

So here's the stupid question:

Why can't this be done to what we currently have in the light truck class (Duramax, Cummins, and PowerStroke)?

Better yet, would any of the big players in diesel (Banks, Bully Dog, Snow Performance, etc.) actually MAKE an aftermarket kit so we can LEGALLY do the DPF delete and use this kit instead?

Yeah I know I'm asking some hard questions, but we need better answers than the lousy DPF we have right now.




Kris  
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 5.9L - No Mods Yet
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 6.7L - Titan Fuel Tank Owner

Kris, funny you should ask. It WILL happen starting with the 2010 model year. Both the new 6.7L Ford "Scorpion" V8 as well as the 2010 Duramax will have an SCR system. The urea aftertreatment system is expected to be the industry standard for diesel emissions treatment for the next few years until more sophisticated means of controlling NOX within the combustion cycle is developed.

Actually, if you Google "GM HCCI Engine" you'll see that GM (as well as Daimler and some other companies) are developing a new kind of gas engine that uses a similar principle to diesel engines to generate "sparkless" combustion. One of the things developed in this process is more sophisticated in-cylinder sensors that help to more precisely control injection and valve timing. Engineers have said the technology could also be applicable to diesel engines to control NOX, and potentially eliminate the need for exhaust after-treatment, at least as far as urea injection is concerned.  

I ask this because I want to delete my DPF, but do so legally.  The county my vehicle is registered in has no emissions checks, but its the only county in the state that has an exemption so I don't want any problems from some bubble gum machine that "thinks" he knows what he's doing.


Kris  
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 5.9L - No Mods Yet
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 6.7L - Titan Fuel Tank Owner

Technically, I think it's against federal law to tamper with emissions control devices. But, enforcement varies by state and locality. As long as inspection and smog testing isn't a pre-requisite for vehicle registration in your state, you should be OK, but you're still technically breaking the law.  

Yeah I know, and knowing my dumb luck I'd be the one to get ticketed for it .... LMAO !!!

That's why I'm interested in a legal replacement for the DPF.  I understand why it's there and the idea is sound, but the practical application is horrible.  Why should I burn more fuel to clean the soot out?  Wasn't this push to help improve the environment?

Someone needs to smack the moron that came up with this idea.




Kris  
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC 5.9L - No Mods Yet
2008 Dodge Ram 3500 QC 6.7L - Titan Fuel Tank Owner

The Detroit Diesel engines with SCR still have a DPF and will still go through regen cycles for the DPF.  I work for Detroit Diesel and am currently working with this process.