Local crackdown on "rolling coal"

JJZ 109 · Sep 23, 2019

Seems there's a pocket of locals engaging in the behavior that's finally attracting the attention they deserve.
This article is from a local paper that just began requiring subscriptions. I think you can read one article before it requests that you buy the subscription.

Oswego County has ‘significant cluster’ of ‘rolling coal’ drivers | Oswego County | nny36.com

Oaktree · Sep 23, 2019

Curiously, what is gained by this practice? I can't imagine that emissions controls on modern diesel vehicles are as crude as those on gas vehicles were back in the 70s. Or is it more of a "the government can't tell me what to do" situation? I would imagine the equipment necessary to reprogram the ECU would cost many, many times more than any possible savings from slightly better gas mileage.
I've never owned (or had any need for) a diesel truck, so if this is a stupid question please enlighten me.

In any event, I would imagine that N.Y. state has an annual emissions inspection...no pass, no sticker, no drive.

JJZ 109 · Sep 23, 2019

Oaktree said:
Curiously, what is gained by this practice? I can't imagine that emissions controls on modern diesel vehicles are as crude as those on gas vehicles were back in the 70s. Or is it more of a "the government can't tell me what to do" situation? I would imagine the equipment necessary to reprogram the ECU would cost many, many times more than any possible savings from slightly better gas mileage.
I've never owned (or had any need for) a diesel truck, so if this is a stupid question please enlighten me.

In any event, I would imagine that N.Y. state has an annual emissions inspection...no pass, no sticker, no drive.

I concur, the "rolling coal" thing is something I've never agreed with. Just had an idiot last week think it'd be funny to give a blast of black smoke to a group of motorcycles approaching from the opposite lane.
On other forums I've read where delete kits are getting hard to come by as the feds are cracking down on the manufacturers and sellers.
It's true that in NYS any emissions equipment that was present on the vehicle at it's manufacture date is supposed to be in place at inspection time and vehicles are indeed plugged into the OBD port at inspection time. But there is an exemption I think if the vehicle is beyond a certain age, possibly 20 years old. I don't know if these guys are loading the factory tune back into the trucks before inspection or how they get around it. I'd think the factory tune is going to set off a check engine light if equipment is missing. A CEL is generally going to flunk inspection.
Any modifications done to the only diesel that I've ever owned (a Ford 7.3) made it a little more efficient and blow LESS black smoke if anything.

oosik · Sep 23, 2019

Couple years ago. Following a loaded logging truck down off a high mountain. He slowed and started belching clouds of black smoke. I don't think he was "rolling coal". Probably - his engine "hand grenaded". Whatever - he didn't go more than a quarter mile in that condition. I stopped and gave him a ride into the local small logging town - Chewelah, WA.

Racenut · Sep 23, 2019

Oaktree said:
Curiously, what is gained by this practice? I can't imagine that emissions controls on modern diesel vehicles are as crude as those on gas vehicles were back in the 70s. Or is it more of a "the government can't tell me what to do" situation? I would imagine the equipment necessary to reprogram the ECU would cost many, many times more than any possible savings from slightly better gas mileage.
I've never owned (or had any need for) a diesel truck, so if this is a stupid question please enlighten me.

In any event, I would imagine that N.Y. state has an annual emissions inspection...no pass, no sticker, no drive.

Nothing is gained, it's just dumping more fuel into the motor than it can burn. My truck blew the intercooler under load and caused the same effect lol. But for the kids "rolling coal" it's just how they say "LOOK AT ME". It seems they take particular pleasure rolling on import tuner cars that happen to have their windows down.

Note, this is not the same as a lil black or grey smoke when you romp on a truck that hasn't been worked hard enough for a while. This is a program they can select on the ECU or tuner specifically made to pour thick black clouds of smoke. More than an old school bus.

Kingsqueak · Sep 23, 2019

Yeah it's on purpose, as stated it's an ECU map they push a button to enable just to harrass people with the smoke clouds. They tend to do it to cyclists, people in electric vehicles, people in traffic with their windows down, pedestrians etc. It's the same type of thing as the guys who put compressor and tank systems on their cars to run locomotive air horns so they can scare people with them.

dodge man · Sep 23, 2019

Diesels are unique in the fact if over fuel them, it just comes out the exhaust as black smoke, you gain power up to a certain point and after that, its just wasted fuel. You over fuel a gas engine, it will run really bad.

Clint S · Sep 23, 2019

Kingsqueak said:
Yeah it's on purpose, as stated it's an ECU map they push a button to enable just to harrass people with the smoke clouds. They tend to do it to cyclists, people in electric vehicles, people in traffic with their windows down, pedestrians etc. It's the same type of thing as the guys who put compressor and tank systems on their cars to run locomotive air horns so they can scare people with them.

Or the same as Donercycles with loud exhaust which are illeagal and do little to nothing performance wise. It's the "Look at me I'm cool" factor.

bigtiller · Sep 23, 2019

We were tootling along on a farm-to-market pavement doing 55mph when a nice big Ram passed us. As soon as he got around he gave us a coal-roll show. It was an impressive cloud but the cross winds were strong enough that his intentions were foiled. We got a good laugh out of it.