What’s More Impressive – Top Fuel or Semi
It has been said that a top fuel funny car can make around 11,000+hp and about 8,000 Ft.lbs of torque from an engine having only 500 cubic inches. I am not sure where they got the dyno to run the engine on but if true, it is impressive considering the size of a package that can make a quarter mile run in about 3.7 seconds at around 330 mph. While the funny car has its realm of high powered performance on a drag strip, an over the road semi while not comparing size and weight can produce around 19,000 Ft.lbs of torque to be divided among all of its drive tires from an engine with around 550 hp and 971 cubic inches. We call that very impressive as the semi is the vehicle of choice to get the funny car where it needs to be.
Diesel Technician Field
The field of diesel technician today is one of far more technology than most know. That being said, techs will need more training in areas of computers and electromotive forces since many new trucks are now equipped with components more technologically advanced than in years past. Today’s diesel engine emissions in a class 8 commercial vehicle are cleaner than ever before, contributed to the fact these new components are far more reliable and precise in controlling engine performance, power to weight ratios are better and fuel economy while no-where near as bad as the funny car at 15 gal. per ¼ mile, is steadily improving.
Technicians who have acquired training and skills to keep today’s diesel engines running at peak performance are among the best in the industry and usually hold top pay levels. Diesels aren’t going anywhere soon, though EV’s (electric vehicles) are fast making a much larger foot print diesels are still the backbone of hauling goods throughout the land. And there is no better time than now to get started on becoming one of the nation’s top technicians who knows how to keep these engines performing at their peak.
If becoming a diesel technician sounds like it might be right for you, check out Oklahoma Technical College’s Diesel Technology program. You could be on your way to a new career in as little as 8 months!
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