Diesel engines at altitude - 1HZ

[Bmonck]

Hi
I spent a lot of time last year above 8,000 feet and a fair amount above 10,000:feet. My truck has the naturally aspirated 1HZ engine. It really struggled. Obviously less oxygen at altitude and partial combustion produces much less power, black smoke and a very noisy and unhappy sounding engine. I think a rule of Thumb is that you lose about 3% of power from every 1,000 feet above sea level. So for 10,000:feet that’s 30%!!

So the question is what can you do about it. And especially anything you can do while you are on the road. Are there timing or fuel delivery/mix adjustments that can be made?

I know fitting a turbo would help a bit but don’t want to go that route.
Any suggestions or ideas welcome.
Thanks

 

[Shayne]

I would expect an inter cooler to help

 

[Ben Stratford]

My 105 has the optional altitude compensation device fitted to the fuel pump. Not exactly genned up in it yet but perhaps it may be worth looking into?

 

[Bmonck]

I would expect an inter cooler to help

Forgive my ignorance but how does that help? Is this just cooler air is more dense?
Air at altitude is pretty cool anyway, certainly compared to the lowlands, so not sure an inter cooler makes a big difference does it!
Thanks

 

[Bmonck]

My 105 has the optional altitude compensation device fitted to the fuel pump. Not exactly genned up in it yet but perhaps it may be worth looking into?

Did you fit or was it a post factory mod?
Where can you get them?
Thanks

 

[Shayne]

My thinking is simply that your filter housing and pipe work will all be warm from engine heat so a bonnet scoop and top mount might just make the most of what little oxygen there is .

Pointless at lower altitudes im sure . Just a theory .