Are blown engines really that bad? 🧨🛻

Lately I’ve totally been on a rant about how bad new pickup trucks are with their downsized, turbo-charged or super-charged engines. How the fucking EPA has ruined everything in America. Maybe it’s because I’ve gotten enthralled with big pickup trucks, I want an HD truck to replace my lifted Silverado half-ton. But also I agree with a lot of mechanics criticism of the downscaled turbo-charged engines, you’re putting a lot of stress on a small little block with all that boost for a vehicle that’s designed both to tow and provide reliable transportation for the next decade and a half. Naturally aspirated engines, especially big block, overbuilt engines, are much more reliable then blown small-block engines.

We were warned a decade ago that tightening fuel economy standards would require pickup truck manufacturers to go to these downscaled, blown engines. But maybe I had too much faith in technology and clever engines – and that blown engines wouldn’t be so bad. Yet, I fear they are as bad critics says they are. People said the 5.3L displacement on demand engine in my old Silverado would develop a lifter tick and a premature death but besides it’s on and off oil drinking problem, it was fine. And the problem with large displacement engines is they require a lot more gas, even under light demand, especially in city driving when the throttle is either closed or mostly closed, causing engine vacuum to increase, slowing the vehicle down more then desired in city driving. At highway speeds, this is far less of an issue because usually the throttle is at least partially open to overcome wind resistance.

It seems odd that as an environmentalist, I would be shitting on the EPA and fuel economy standards. But it’s obvious they’ve made life worse and more costly for Americans without getting us closer to electrification of transportation. Electricity is the ultimate of transportation fuel, especially as we get better at storing and managing it. You can generate it by virtually any fuel source, and most homeowners and rural residents can generate it on-site. It’s both the ultimate climate and air pollution solution – it’s a lot easier to clean up one big tailpipe then a million other ones. But instead, we are stuck with a lot of shitty EPA-mandated engine designs and air pollution equipment that only half works and is expensive and unreliable.

Don’t’ get me started on EPA and clean air people ruined diesel …