What is the black smoke that comes out of trucks?

[michaelblog]

When I see a dump truck or a tractor trailer and it has those "muffler smokestacks" that pump out black smoke, what is the result of that black smoke? What are those trucks burning that makes their exhaust heavier and more foul than car exhaust? I read that big trucks run on diesel - is that so? If the diesel was changed to biodiesel, would it change that black smoke coming out of the exhaust or would it still be the same?

[Firebird]

It's unburned carbon. Soot is the common term. Particulates. They're very inert, but they do get into your lungs.

[Ikki]

the difference between gasoline and diesel fuel is the amount of refining the oil goes through.

Gasoline goes through a lot of refining to get it to be usable in the spark plug enviroment of your car.

Diesel fuel goes through less refinement, meaning there are more things left in the fuel to burn. The interesting thing about diesel though is that the engines were originally designed to run off peanut oil. I think if we all used peanut oul (biodiesle) we would do less damage to the enviroment.

[sunshinesarahx3]

Polution!!!

[Matt]

deisel exhaust is much darker then gas

[Kwuakles]

The Plague

[Robob]

Their burning Diesel which creates a darker exhaust. Since it has more oil and sulfur content in it then gasoline.

[craigj]

Carbon Minoxide, which contributes to pollution too much!

[Chaosman]

They burn A LOT of diesel. Any vehicle that burned that much fuel at one go would emit smoke like that. Some do (ever seen a tractor pull?).

[Peach]

its the Diesel, and no Bio Diesel won't change a thing, you're still burning something.. jsut like the native americans and their campfires.. burning stuff makes smoke, and its natural, don't go hatin' on the big trucks, they move this country, and until we implement a more powerful alternative energy, we're going to keep using those big ol trucks. instead of forcing the big corporations to change their ways, do your own part, buy the new fuel Cell Chevy Equinox and show the world that that technology does hold promise as a clean, efficient, and viable means of transportation