The Leader in Diesel Performance
Gale Banks delves into the chemistry of synthetic motor oil in the second episode of Speed School. The episode covers topics like base oil composition, additives, and viscosity ratings. The experts at AMSOIL explain the differences between synthetic and conventional oils and the factors that influence their performance. The series aims to educate viewers about the science behind motor oil and its impact on engine performance.
Banks Power has launched a new educational video series called Speed School. The first episode delves into the world of synthetic motor oil, exploring its production process, benefits, and additives. Gale Banks visits AMSOIL’s facility to gain insights from experts and share the knowledge with viewers. The series aims to educate and inform automotive enthusiasts about various aspects of engine technology and performance.
Learn about the iDash’s capabilities and our powerful suite of sensors. The iDash can display and log data from any sensor you plug into it, and it can combine those readings to display you calculated values no other gauge can.
Ford turned the pickup world on its side when it first installed the 3.5L EcoBoost V-6 in the ’11 F-150.
Discover the groundbreaking advancements in diesel technology with the L5P Duramax engine. Learn how this powerhouse outperforms its predecessor, the LML, with a visual breakdown of key components, including turbocharger, injectors, fuel pumps, cylinder heads, and more. Gain insights from an expert as they delve into the engineering behind this automotive marvel.
Gale Banks, renowned “Godfather of Turbocharging,” is sharing his decades of expertise at the SEMA Show. Learn how to build top-tier boosted engines and harness the power of Boost Air Density (BAD) in his exclusive course. This must-attend seminar on October 30th will equip you with the knowledge to create exceptional engines. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your automotive skills.
Unleash your engine’s full potential! Discover how round tube bends in your intake elbow can be robbing your vehicle of power. Join us for “The Great Intake Elbow Shootout” as we delve into airflow dynamics and explore innovative solutions for maximum performance. Learn how to optimize your intake system and boost your vehicle’s power output.
This article was reprinted from Popular Mechanics online edition. The author is Eric Tegler published on May 25, 2017
“It changes audibly with the rpm, even over the roar of the
Banks 866T turbodiesel engine (based on GM’s Duramax 6.6-liter V-8 diesel).”
Keep your hands loose on the wheel. I remind myself of this as we fly across a section of foot-deep ruts at 20 mph. You want to let the independent suspension do the work and give the steering wheel freedom to move. In almost any other vehicle, I’d have lost steering control, plowed the front end, and possibly rolled over.
As one of the first civilians allowed behind the wheel of the military’s new Joint Light Tactical Vehicle from Oshkosh Defense, I’m a little nervous. I’m driving a 14,000-pound armored truck that costs $399,000, and I’m doing it in front of the engineers who designed it.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/vdAldWFrKL4
The JLTV will slowly phase out AM General’s iconic Humvee in U.S. Army and Marine Corps vehicle fleets.When it debuted in 1985, the unarmored Humvee was designed for personnel and cargo transport behind the lines. That made it vulnerable in Iraq and Afghanistan where hastily added armor provided a flawed and temporary solution. The JLTV, however, is built for driving among the IEDs, rocket-propelled grenades, and small-arms fire of the modern battlefield. Oshkosh’s CORE1080 crew-protection system wraps the cabin in an armored shell. Underneath the floor, a convex hull deflects blasts and shields the cabin from IEDs.
The JLTV is essentially a light tank with 43-inch Michelin wheels. That’s clear when you try to open the driver’s door, whose weight, like many things on the JLTV, is classified. With inches-thick steel and a small ballistic-glass window, it feels close to 350 pounds. Once I strong-arm it ajar and climb into the driver’s seat, I feel like I’ve entered a vault. An unexpectedly comfortable one.
Where the Humvee’s seats are flat to the floor, the JLTV’s are raised to give your knees some room to bend. There’s more cushioning, and the seat backs feature cutouts to accommodate troops’ hydration packs. Big center and passenger-side dash displays look like they belong in an F/A-18 cockpit, offering critical vehicle data, tactical information, and an all-important backup camera. A standard HVAC control panel offers blessed air conditioning, and there are even USB ports.
Start it up, and you hear the JLTV’s big alternator producing massive amounts of electricity. It changes audibly with the rpm, even over the roar of the Banks 866T turbodiesel engine (based on GM’s Duramax 6.6-liter V-8 diesel). With 20 inches of suspension travel—up to seven more than Ford’s F-150 Raptor—the JLTV floats over the terrain like a Baja trophy truck. It inspires more confidence than the Humvee, which I drove on the same course for comparison. At half the speed of the JLTV, I could feel instability and steering kickback over the ruts through the Humvee’s thin-rimmed steering wheel. Over large moguls, I bottomed the suspension, momentarily losing steering control.
Speed, control, and off-road capability are just as beneficial to the JLTV as its armor. Because if you can be unpredictable—if you can maneuver away from roads and mines at 70 mph or more—the hope is that the armor won’t be necessary at all.
Steven Olsewski from Diesel Army visited Banks Power to witness dyno testing and learn about the company’s approach to engine development and testing. He gained insights into the testing process and the importance of data-driven decision-making in the automotive industry.
The Marine Corps is considering increasing its purchase of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs) to over 9,000, driven by the need to replace its aging Humvee fleet. This expansion would significantly impact the service’s transportation portfolio budget, requiring careful resource allocation. The JLTV program is a joint effort with the Army, with both services aiming to procure over 55,000 vehicles in total.