How to Maintain Diesel Engines

Diesel engines are robust and reliable, making them the ideal fit for motor vehicles. They also produce fewer emissions and require less frequent maintenance than regular gas engines, improving their appeal.

While they are amazing, diesel engines also need periodic maintenance to ensure they continue giving their best performance. Typically a mechanic takes care of such work, so we tend not to notice; however, it is best to know the details. This blog will provide tips on how to maintain diesel engines so you have the necessary knowledge. 

How to Maintain Diesel Engines

Owning a diesel-fuelled car is exciting, so I am sure you are eager to learn more about it. You may already know that diesel engine maintenance requires several steps. I have listed some of them below for your convenience. 

1. Clean Your Engine

The first tip is relatively obvious. Cars or trucks generally get extensive dirt and pollutants when driving them to our destinations. While the dirt gathered in a single drive shouldn't raise concerns, impurities will accumulate over time, and you will need to clean your engine thoroughly.

Keeping it clean affects its total lifespan, so it is always better to perform the cleaning when needed instead of unnecessarily delaying it. Most people let car mechanics manage engine cleaning, but you can also do it at home with simple items like a toothbrush, sponge, and engine degreaser.

So long as you have these tools, your work is sorted.

2. Replace Fuel Filters When Needed

Diesel is a less refined fuel than petrol; hence, diesel engines are designed with two fuel filters to reduce impurities. However, these filters have limited cleaning capacity and eventually need to be replaced. 

A drop in horsepower typically indicates that the fuel filters are not functioning correctly. Get your fuel filters immediately checked and replaced if you notice such a problem. Needlessly postponing it can make the car stall or cause explosions, so it is better to keep things well maintained.

3. Check Air Filter

Having a dirty air filter is dangerous because it can cause your engine to increase fuel consumption to generate the required level of energy. The last thing you want is added fuel costs and related problems, so get your air filter checked and replaced every 12,000 miles.

4. Use High-Quality Fuel

The quality of fuel you use can affect how your engine fares. Low-quality fuel will deteriorate the materials after long-term usage, cutting the engine's lifespan significantly. Better quality fuel will ensure things continue running smoothly, and there is no need for concern.

5. Check Diesel Particulate Filter

Your diesel particulate filter works diligently to remove soot and similar impurities. Like all filters, the particulate filters also have a limited capacity, after which they do not work as efficiently or effectively.

You can check the state of the filter by using diesel particulate analysers. Diesel particulate filters were initially introduced to reduce harmful emissions into the environment; thus, the analysers check how many emissions the car is emitting. 

The tool provides the required reading, which helps determine if the filters need changing.

6. Ensure the Engine's Radiator is Working Properly

Your radiator mitigates the engine temperature, keeping it cool when the temperature outside becomes too hot. It uses a coolant to absorb the engine's heat, travels back and releases the heat, and then the freshly cooled coolant repeats the cycle similarly to maintain temperature.

If the radiator breaks down, the engine will lose its ability to maintain its temperature, which can cause the car to overheat. Overheating affects several parts of the car, and leaving it unattended can eventually cause engine failure. 

Hence, keep checking your radiator's performance and send it for inspections.

7. Change Engine Oil

Engine oil reduces the friction in the movement of pistons, preventing metal components from grinding against each other. Thus engine oil prevents the engine's deterioration, ensuring that its lifespan doesn't shorten. 

Since engine oil gets used up and becomes less effective over time, you need to change it after the car has covered a specified distance. It is best to change engine oil after every 5,000 miles travelled to get the ideal results.

8. Inspect Fluid Levels

Changing engine oil and coolant is necessary, but always keep an eye on their levels. The change process can sometimes affect their total volumes, and you must ensure they don't fall below their required levels.

Wrapping Up

I hope you found my tips on how to maintain diesel engines helpful and that they will come in handy when your next servicing becomes due. You should also check out our other blogs if you want to read more about similar topics.