Good morning MB brothers. I think I am going crazy. It feels like my TD got more power and runs smoother this past week when the temp got cooler here in Cali. Is this normal? I know in a gasoline engine, the cooler the intake temps the more power you get. I know in a diesel, the hotter the engine the more power it produces. Please educate me. Thanks in advance.

__________________
96 Legacy LSi wagon
92 Mitsu Expo
95 525iT
1983 300TD clackclackclack sold
1972 Toyota Corolla wagon TE28 sold
1991 Galant VR4 pshhhhh non-op
1989 Montero RS pop's ride

Colder air is more dense, thus contains more O2 by volume. That's why intercoolers are used.

Any other explanation? I already know that from my experiences with my VR4. What I heard is that to make more power you need more diesel but the temps rise and then you need air to cool down the combustion chambers. I didn't mess with the Alda so I am not getting more fuel in. Thanks for your reply.

__________________
96 Legacy LSi wagon
92 Mitsu Expo
95 525iT
1983 300TD clackclackclack sold
1972 Toyota Corolla wagon TE28 sold
1991 Galant VR4 pshhhhh non-op
1989 Montero RS pop's ride

Cooler, thicker air is feeding the beast... The turbo likes the cool air to boot (or boost!). You will also notice the turbo may be a little louder across the band, I know my 85 sounds like a police siren on cold, dark nights. (Not good for the nerves.)

Ok, just wanted to make sure as I was getting confused with how a diesel engine makes power from a gasoline engine. Any books you guys suggest I read up on? Thanks again.
Anyone here use water injection for a diesel engine? I have good results with my Aquamist set up for my VR4.

__________________
96 Legacy LSi wagon
92 Mitsu Expo
95 525iT
1983 300TD clackclackclack sold
1972 Toyota Corolla wagon TE28 sold
1991 Galant VR4 pshhhhh non-op
1989 Montero RS pop's ride

You will get even more power on cool, misty evenings -- the water vapor expands more than air when heated.

Don't know why you couldn't use water injection, so long as you don't add enough to eliminate all the compression space above the pistons. Less room in the MB diesel than a gasoline engine!

Diesel engines are Carnot cycle engines and gasoline engines are Otto cycle -- for the physics minded, diesels are much or adiabatic than gasoline engines, meaning that they are (under ideal conditions) constant temperature/constant pressure expansion engines. This is achieved (in theory) by continuously injecting fuel during the power stroke to keep pressure and temperature as close to maximum as possible. Only truely achieved on constant speed, constant load experimental engines, but close enough in practice. The result is lower peak pressure in the cylinder, compression igintion, much better thermal efficiency, and greater torque than gas engines.

Gas engines burn the fuel all at once, then allow the hot gasses to lose pressure and temperature as they expand. Much of the heat goes out the cooling system rather than being used to drive the piston down, and cooling the gases by allowing the temp to drop causes loss of thermal effciency. They have much lower compression, usually don't have direct fuel injection, much higher heat and peak pressure than diesels. More power per cubic inch, though.

Also, diesel power output in controlled by fuel delivery -- gas engine output is controlled by strangulation of air/fuel supply.

Peter

__________________
1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!