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Originally Posted On: https://www.tfgauto.com/blog

 

Are you interested in learning about diesel repair? If you need a few basic pointers, then check out this brief overview on the subject.

Globally around 41% of all diesel engines are in heavy and medium vehicles.

Whether you’re talking diesel car, diesel truck, or diesel pickup repair, there are a lot of aspects to consider. An unexpected breakdown is never a good thing, and at times can cause sizable issues. There are some things everyone should know to ensure they stay on the road and have no problems.

For 6 key things, you should know about diesel repair, keep reading.

Why Is Knowing About Diesel Repair Important?

In your day-to-day life having your vehicle breakdown can be a huge inconvenience, but this could be significantly worse if you’re doing anything important. Semi-trucks often have diesel engines, and if you’re driving one for work then any problems you face on the road can have a serious knock-on effect.

This is very important for delivery drivers, as they can often find themselves miles from the nearest town. Making sure your engine is in a good state and you have some essentials with you can be incredibly helpful.

1. Keep Things Clean

One of the best things you can do is take preventative measures to avoid the need for diesel truck repair. One simple thing to do is maintain a clean truck and a clean engine.

When your truck is being serviced having mess and dirt everywhere can make it harder for the technician to notice smaller issues. Things like oil leaks, coolant leaks, or broken hoses are much easier to see on a clean vehicle.

A lot of time on the open road often causes a large buildup of dirt and dust, so this is something you need to keep on top of.

2. Monitor Your Fluids

Having your fluids at the right level is essential. If you’re driving around without enough oil, for example, it can do serious damage to your engine. Oil is what lubricates the moving parts of an engine, and if it runs too much without this lubrication even the best diesel engine repair service won’t be able to save it.

Engine coolant also needs to be kept topped up and balanced with the necessary chemicals. Your coolant stops your engine from overheating, and the chemicals stop the coolant from freezing.

Long drives across the country will push your engine, so without the right amount of coolant, it could overheat quite fast. If your coolant isn’t balanced right it can also damage your cylinder liners creating further problems.

3. Change Filters Regularly

It’s important to keep your fluids clean, and the filters help with that. You need to make sure you replace them regularly as they get dirty with time. This dirt will stop fluids from flowing correctly and may even block them altogether.

Dirty fuel filters will reduce the amount of fuel flowing to your engine, reducing performance. If they’re completely blocked then your engine won’t start.

When oil isn’t filtered properly it can cause damage to your engine. You should change your oil filters every time you change your oil.

Air filters are something you need to keep more of an eye on depending on where you usually drive. If you travel through areas with a lot of dust and dirt in the air it will block your air filters quicker which will affect the air that travels to your engine, lowering its performance.

Any diesel repair shop will have replacement filters available.

4. Change Your Oil Regularly

As previously stated, you need to keep your oil topped up to ensure there’s enough to fully lubricate your engine. But just keeping it topped up isn’t enough to keep your diesel engine in good condition.

With time, oil degrades in quality. If you don’t change it regularly it will harm your engine. How often you need to change your oil depends on a range of factors such as:

• Engine idle time
• Number of cold starts
• Engine workload

Your engine manufacturer will have guidelines for how often you should change your oil, and staff at diesel repair shops should be able to give you a better idea. Make sure you’re using the right oil for your engine as detailed in the engine manual.

5. The Exhaust System

Modern exhaust systems can be quite complex, but they’re crucial to maintaining your vehicle. You need to make sure you stick to EPA emissions standards.

DPF (diesel particulate filter) regeneration occurs when particles in the filter heat up and combust, turning into ash and carbon dioxide. If this is happening frequently you should have your vehicle looked at by a professional diesel engine repair service so they can figure out the cause.

You also want to make sure you keep your DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) tank full to prevent fault codes. Running low will also reduce performance.

6. Check the Radiator

The radiator is one of the most important parts of a truck as it keeps the engine cool. Diesel engines generate a lot of heat so if your radiator isn’t functioning properly it could overheat very quickly. The damage caused by overheating may be irreparable.

Radiator cleaning along with coolant testing should be done regularly to prevent overheating issues. If your radiator needs replacing it’s best to do this sooner rather than later to prevent any major issues.

Professional Diesel Repair

You should always do what you can to take care of your engine but for larger jobs, it’s best to use professional diesel repair services.

TFG Automotive has over 15 years of automotive repair experience. If you need auto repair services in Murfreesboro, TFG has you covered. Click here to book an appointment today.