Local crackdown on "rolling coal"

[JJZ 109]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[Kingsqueak]

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]

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]

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]

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.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Didnt know this was on purpose, i just figured their engines really sucked.

 

[Tomtint]

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.

Rest assured that if one of these jackholes did it to the group of bikes we ride with... he would soon be sucking on his own tail pipe ..

 

[WilliamBos]

Rolling coal is over fuelling, it痴 power that you can see but can稚 use. I dont agree with it, thats why the EPA ruined diesels.

 

[ruffdog]

About as much maturity as leaving all the squiggly rubber burning lines on the roads. :muttering:

 

[QRTRHRS]

NY state has had a roadside diesel exhaust check regulation on the books since 1999. Not sure how their regulation is written concerning pickups with diesels vs big trucks? They sure can fine you for running red fuel in a pickup!

 

[Redlands Okie]

The smoke is annoying. But those motorcycles and vehicles with loud exhaust annoy me way more. When their combined its really annoying

 

[Tomtint]

The smoke is annoying. But those motorcycles and vehicles with loud exhaust annoy me way more. When their combined its really annoying

I have a couple of Harley's, They are both fairly loud when above 2k rpm. I'm always aware of my environment and keep the noise at low as possible. But on the highway.. IMO.., it can't be loud enough. We just did a 400 mile ride this weekend and without exaggeration .. 3 or 4 cars drifted into my lane without signaling ..or probably even looking...I assume they were messing it's a phone.. It's plain scary..

 

[wheelbuilder]

I have a couple of Harley's, They are both fairly loud when above 2k rpm. I'm always aware of my environment and keep the noise at low as possible. But on the highway.. IMO.., it can't be loud enough. We just did a 400 mile ride this weekend and without exaggeration .. 3 or 4 cars drifted into my lane without signaling ..or probably even looking...I assume they were messing it's a phone.. It's plain scary..

I don't think that anything short of an accident reaches some drivers. I've had plenty drift over the white line towards me walking during the day. If you aren't a car, you're particularly invisible.
I get the principal behind the noise, I just don't like it in my house.

 

[Topzide]

What these guys don't know is that "Rollin' Coal" can get there truck impounded! They're defeating the Federal Emissions controls and when caught face fines and have to have the truck restored to factory conditions which can get costly! I believe that even after 20 years, they still wouldn't be able to roll coal in an on road truck. The crack down is happening all over on both the "coal" and the loud exhaust on both cars and bikes!

 

[aczlan]

I have a couple of Harley's, They are both fairly loud when above 2k rpm. I'm always aware of my environment and keep the noise at low as possible. But on the highway.. IMO.., it can't be loud enough. We just did a 400 mile ride this weekend and without exaggeration .. 3 or 4 cars drifted into my lane without signaling ..or probably even looking...I assume they were messing it's a phone.. It's plain scary..

LOL, it doesn't matter if you are on a bike, in a car, or in a semi truck, they are going to drift into your lane, loud pipes won't keep them away, they will just annoy the rest of us.

Aaron Z