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7 Things That Every New Diesel Owner Should Know |
By:
Jason Lancaster |
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If you're new to diesel engines, there are quite a few things that may come as a surprise to you. First of all, diesel engines generate tremendous amounts of torque. This allows them to tow or haul thousands of pounds of materials or equipment, and they can often accelerate very quickly even when loaded down. Yet despite their incredible power, they are surprisingly fuel efficient. These qualities of efficiency and power may someday make diesel engines more common than gasoline engines, but for now it's important for any new diesel owner to know that diesel engines require more maintenance than gas engines. In fact, failure to perform these essential maintenance tasks could result in your diesel suffering major engine damage.
Nearly all new diesel engines come equipped with a turbo-charger. The turbo-charger is a lot like a jet engine - there are compressor blades inside the turbocharger that can spin at 20k or 30k rpm. As these blades spin, they force clean outside air into the engine, increasing engine efficiency and performance. But because the turbo-charger is so powerful, great care must be taken to make sure the air entering the turbo-charger is clean and clear of debris. If a small piece of debris were to enter the turbo as it was spinning at max speed, it's possible that one or more compressor blades would shatter (ruining the turbo). Therefore, it's incredibly important that the air filter on your diesel is clean and properly installed. Most manufacturers equip their vehicles with electronic sensors that will tell you to check or replace your air filter, but you can manually check the air-filter using the restriction gauge. The restriction gauge, found on near the filter, will tell you if your air filter has become too clogged to protect your turbo-charger. If the gauge indicates your filter is too clogged, you should replace it immediately. Unlike a gasoline engine, failure to change your diesel's air filter will lead to thousands of dollars in engine damage relatively quickly -- even in just a few hundred miles. In fact, it's a good idea to keep a spare air filter on hand at all times.
Even if you don't have a turbo, there are lots of other important diesel maintenance items. Like air filters, fuel filters are important for proper diesel performance and care. Diesel fuel, unlike gasoline, is typically very dirty. An average gallon of diesel contains quite a few impurities when compared to a gallon of gasoline. So, while a gasoline engine might require fuel filter replacement every 30k miles, diesel engine fuel filters can become clogged in as little as 10k miles. Make sure to check your owner's manual to find out how often your manufacturer suggests you change filters.
Diesel fuel, in addition to having a lot of impurities, also contains water! Even though small amounts of water will not hurt your diesel engine, water does reduce economy and performance. Therefore, most modern diesels are equipped with fuel-water separators. Depending upon your vehicle manufacturer, you may need to manually purge the water from your diesel's fuel system as often as once a month. Make sure to check your owner's manual for instructions. In some cases, if you don't purge the water from your diesel's fuel system you will experience poor performance and fuel economy. Luckily, many service facilities will perform this task for you at little or no charge. They'll also dispose of the contaminated fuel/water mixture.
Diesel engines are often referred to as "oil burners" because, unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines typically burn some of the engine's lubricating oil during normal operation. That's why it's especially important to check your diesel's oil level between oil changes. To check the oil, make sure the engine has cooled for at least 30 mins and that the vehicle is level. Your owner's manual will explain when you should add oil based on the engine's dipstick reading. If you don't check your diesel's oil level regularly, you could suffer engine damage.
Another diesel engine quirk is that they are especially sensitive to cold temperatures. Untreated diesel fuel can "gel" (turn from a liquid to a semi-solid) at temperatures below zero. At temperatures below freezing, diesel engines usually start harshly and warm-up slowly. At extremely low temps (below -10 F) most diesel engine oil will not protect the engine from friction because it will be too viscous. For all these reasons, it's important to use your diesel's block heater anytime outside temperatures dip below zero (F). If you can afford the electricity, my recommendation is to plug-in your block heater any time the outside temperature dips below freezing (32 F). This will protect your engine by keeping your fuel and oil warm, make for quick and easy start-ups by pre-heating your glow plugs, and help your engine warm-up quickly by pre-warming the engine coolant. To locate your block heater's plug-in, check your owners manual. Usually they're wire-tied to a harness behind the bumper. If you engine doesn't have a block heater, one can be installed for a small charge.
Finally, unlike most modern gasoline engines, new diesel engines often have a break-in period. During the first 500 or 1000 miles (check your manual to find out), it's important that you avoid driving at sustained speeds (i.e. long trips on the highway). Additionally, many manufacturers suggest you refrain from towing or hauling during this period as well. Once this initial break-in period is over, it's not uncommon for your diesel to continue to break-in for the first 20k or 30k miles. Unlike gas motors, which are truly broken-in after 3k to 5k miles, diesels need lots of time and use to reach their peak efficiency and performance. Most long-time diesel owners will tell you that their engine didn't really start to perform until a year or two after they bought it.
To summarize, it's very important that new or first-time diesel owners review their engine manual. In addition to normal vehicle maintenance, diesel owners should keep a close eye on their air filter restriction gauge, change the fuel filter often, always check engine oil between oil changes, purge water from the fuel system as required, and remember to plug-in the block heater any time outside temperatures drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. When you do all these extra tasks, your diesel engine will reward you with 200,000+ miles of good service.
Author Jason Lancaster operates TundraHeadquarters.com, a website for Toyota Tundra owners. For anyone looking to buy a diesel truck, TundraHeadquarters.com recently discovered evidence of a diesel Toyota Tundra in development. You can get a unique content version of this article.
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Article Source: http://www.statssheet.com/articles/article55898.html |
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