My 1986 Chev C30 with 225K miles on my 1984 6.2L N/A engine with 3 speed + granny manual trans., and 4.56 rear end was tested on the county dynomoter yesterday.

At 50 MPH the HP was 84 and with the HP load at 36 the torque was 279. The opacity reading was 0.6% and the WOT was 4.9%

We got 14.368 MPG on our trip of 6,707 miles last Fall with our heavy camper.

Just curious, but when they run these tests do they just pick a random speed to test hp and torque or do they pick the highest output of the engine. Since I think that this is just an emission test, I really don't think they are looking for best numbers for your outfit. At 50 mph you are probably at around 2400 rpms +- well below max hp output for your engine. Max hp should be around 3400 rpms and max torque should probably be about where you tested.:cool2: Turn that fuel up a little and you can probably make some more ponies):h As the sulfur from our diesel fuel keeps getting reduced, so is the btu's of the fuel. Takes more fuel to make same amount of power as old fuel.;)

They must just pick 50 MPH for the tests. All of the tests over the years has always been at 50 MPH. The test is performed inside a closed facility and from inside the waiting room it sounds as if the speed is higher than 50 MPH, but it isn't recorded on the test printout. In the past years the load has been 44 versus 36 this year which might be due to the age of the engine. They can put whatever load they want to on their machines since they test the big boy trucks too (18 wheeler type tractors).

Based on the data I know I could turn up the fuel a little more, but I don't know how much more power it would give me. I get pretty good mileage with the current pump setting. Our travel weight is usually about 9,800 lbs. or just under our 10,000 GVWR. Some of the western mountain grades drop me down to 50 MPH and I do put out smoke. I always downshift if I start dropping below 50 MPH to prevent lugging the engine. I had to downshift on about every steep grade until I had the balance pipe installed in the exhaust system.

As the sulfur from our diesel fuel keeps getting reduced, so is the btu's of the fuel. Takes more fuel to make same amount of power as old fuel.;)
Sulphur content in and of itself means nothing to fuel quality or cetane rating.
Its the processing that refineries have to put the fuel through that rob it of its natural lubricity, no change in performance, and minimum Cetane ratings are higher now than they used to be.

As the sulfur from our diesel fuel keeps getting reduced, so is the btu's of the fuel. Takes more fuel to make same amount of power as old fuel.

I read in the newspaper the other day that by mid 2006 Diesel will be the "ultra low sulfur" type. being this great state I live in, New Jersey will have only that same type by the end of this summer.

So with prices continuing to go up, I guess I have to pay more, for less power.

I read in the newspaper the other day that by mid 2006 Diesel will be the "ultra low sulfur" type...I guess I have to pay more, for less power.
See post above...
Ultra Low Sulphur fuel just means it will become increasingly critical to run fuel conditioner with every tank, not to restore power, to protect your fuel system from damage.