2025 8.3L Duramax

customboss · August 12, 2025

Here’s a very high quality read from AI on synthetic fuels.

Can Synthetic Fuels Reduce NOx?
Synthetic fuels—such as e-fuels and advanced biofuels—can sometimes reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions compared with traditional fossil fuels, but the results are mixed and depend on the fuel formulation, combustion process, and engine technology used.
Evidence Supporting NOx Reduction
   •   Certain synthetic fuels, when designed specifically for lower emissions, have demonstrated substantially reduced NOx and particulate matter levels. For example, Porsche’s motorsport division reported about a 50% reduction in NOx emissions using e-fuels compared to conventional fossil fuels.
   •   Studies indicate that advances in synthetic diesel production and the use of specialized compounds (like Oxymethylene Dimethyl ethers, OMEx) can further lower NOx and soot compared to standard diesel.
   •   New synthetic fuel formulations, such as hydroformylated Fischer-Tropsch fuel, are engineered to reduce both particulates and NOx emissions while allowing use in existing combustion engines.
Evidence Against Significant Reduction
   •   Multiple lab and road studies show no significant difference in NOx emissions between several tested synthetic fuels (including e-fuels) and today’s petrol or gasoline fuels. These fuels often produce similar NOx amounts when burned in typical internal combustion engines.
   •   The chemical properties of many synthetic fuels mean that—despite reductions in particulates—NOx, CO2, and other toxic gases are still released during combustion, making their emissions profile similar to conventional fuels unless the fuel composition is specifically optimized.
Key Points
   •   Optimized synthetic fuels can reduce NOx and other pollutants, but this requires targeted fuel engineering and often comes at higher production costs.
   •   Generic synthetic fuels, produced to mimic conventional gasoline or diesel, typically do not lower NOx emissions meaningfully unless engine modifications or catalytic treatments are also used.
   •   The main environmental benefit of synthetic fuels is their potential to be carbon neutral when CO₂ is captured from the atmosphere for their production, not necessarily their reduction of NOx.
Conclusion:
Synthetic fuels can reduce NOx emissions, but this depends on careful fuel design and engine compatibility. Not all synthetic fuels deliver meaningful NOx reductions, and generic types frequently emit similar NOx amounts as fossil fuels. Their chief advantage is supporting carbon neutrality rather than eliminating all regulated emissions.

Atlas · August 12, 2025

1 hour ago, customboss said:

Optimized synthetic fuels can reduce NOx and other pollutants, but this requires targeted fuel engineering and often comes at higher production costs.

I generally loathe reading AI pastes, but I scanned to look for this specifically, and I think it's a nonstarter. If traditional diesel is already mid-$3's to $5's depending on region, I don't think anyone has an appetite for even higher fuel prices which could contribute to overall inflation - or any issues around supply scarcity, in the event of a wholesale switch to synthetic fuels...

But it's good info.

The V8 being more cost effective versus inline makes sense too. I have doubts about it competing with others in the space though, specifically Cummins, Detroit.

customboss · August 12, 2025

20 minutes ago, Atlas said:

I generally loathe reading AI pastes, but I scanned to look for this specifically, and I think it's a nonstarter. If traditional diesel is already mid-$3's to $5's depending on region, I don't think anyone has an appetite for even higher fuel prices which could contribute to overall inflation - or any issues around supply scarcity, in the event of a wholesale switch to synthetic fuels...

But it's good info.

The V8 being more cost effective versus inline makes sense too. I have doubts about it competing with others in the space though, specifically Cummins, Detroit.

Yep No one mass produces synthetic fuels. Why Shell backed out of it.
Sadly good tech costs.
Oil makers could refine more but it’s cheaper add things to our crap diesel and gasolines.

Everything advanced but oil. Gee wonder why all the subsidies to oil don’t produce lower cost higher quality fuels???

Ugh.

hey, I was as a former Cummins engineer. Trust me the mid range GM products are not high enough quality to put in engines from Cummins and as far as Detroit Detroit doesn’t make small engines anymore, but they did sell a lot of their tech to GM since they were owned by GM at one time