Diesel Engine Maintenance

Essential Diesel Engine Maintenance Tips

Regular driving and diesel engine maintenance can ensure your vehicle's reliable performance and longevity and costly repairs prevention. Watch for signs of trouble in your engine, and use trusted maintenance and repair service Brakes Tires & More to keep your engine and vehicle in top shape.

Warning Signs in a Diesel Engine

Several signs indicate it's time to take your diesel-powered vehicle in for maintenance. Acting quickly can help prevent much more costly problems down the road and help promote diesel engine longevity.

Decrease in Horsepower

When your vehicle is struggling to get up to speed, you may be experiencing turbocharge failure or compression problems. Black smoke from the exhaust is a warning sign of turbocharger failure.

A service professional from Brakes Tires & More can inspect your turbocharger for damage and run diagnostics to determine if you have a compression problem.

Overheating

Overheating is a common problem in gas and diesel engines. Diesel engine overheating, can be due to damaged hoses or gaskets, radiator and radiator fan problems, clogged diesel injectors, a faulty thermostat, or other problems.

Our diesel engine maintenance and repair experts at Brakes Tires & More will check the coolant levels, look for wear or leaks on the hoses and belts, inspect your radiator and fuel injectors, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations for flushing and replacing the coolant.

Engine Oil in the Cooling System

Slick brown sludge in your coolant reservoir or at the top of your radiator can be a sign of a blown head gasket that allows oil to leak into your vehicle’s cooling system. 

There may also be a problem with your oil cooler. Your service professional from Brakes Tires & More will run a compression test to check your head gasket, replace it if necessary, flush your cooling system to remove any oil, and do any other necessary cooling system maintenance.

Blue Smoke From the Engine

Blue smoke is a sign that your engine is burning oil. Worn piston rings or valve seals can cause oil to stay on the cylinder and burn, and Brakes Tires & More can replace those components to fix the problem.

Stalling

Stalling could be a sign that your fuel pump is failing and no fuel is reaching the cylinders. It may also indicate that there is a leak or a blockage in the fuel line, stopping the engine from getting enough fuel to continue running, or problems with your diesel engine’s two fuel filters.

Our technicians at Brakes Tires & More can run diagnostics on your fuel system to determine where the problem lies and do any necessary fuel system maintenance. 

Unusual Engine Sounds

Unusual knocking or pinging can be signs of diesel engine trouble. These noises could have several causes, such as problems with the pistons or fuel injectors.

Your service professional at Brakes Tires & More will inspect and clean your fuel injectors if they are the source of the problem. They can also diagnose and fix any problems related to your pistons that are leading to unusual sounds.

Engine Not Starting

Bad batteries, faulty glow plugs, a lack of compression, bad cylinder heads, or dirty air filters can cause ignition problems.

Take your vehicle for professional service at Brakes Tires & More for battery maintenance, such as cleaning corrosion, checking the connections, and testing voltage and charge levels. We also do glow plug maintenance if they are not heating enough to raise the air temperature and ignite the fuel.

Decrease in Miles Per Gallon

Air filters in diesel engines prevent dirt, dust, and debris from entering the combustion chamber. Buildup on the filter can restrict airflow, affecting fuel efficiency and potentially leading to engine damage. Your service professional at Brakes Tires & More will follow your manufacturer’s recommendations for air filter replacement.

Having Brakes Tires & More do regular oil changes is also crucial. Diesel engines operate at higher temperatures and compression ratios than gas engines. The higher compression rate improves efficiency. 

To help with diesel engine performance improvement and vehicle lifespan extension, ask your service professional at Brakes Tires & More about scheduling regular inspections and preventive maintenance. Our experienced diesel engine professionals check for leaks and damage to hoses and belts, loose connections, excessive exhaust smoke, and other issues.

Contact Brakes Tires & More for Diesel Engine Maintenance and Repair

Brakes Tires & More has been in business since 2009, proudly offering quality, reliable service to our neighbors in the Yuba City, CA area. Our service professionals use the latest tools and equipment to keep your diesel engine running smoothly and help you avoid expensive repairs.

Contact us at (530) 673-2000, fill out our online request for an appointment, or visit our experienced team at 1492 Bridge Street Yuba City, CA 95993. We offer clear communication, quality maintenance and repair work, and fair pricing.