If you plan to get out into the great outdoors, diesel-powered vehicles can get you there and keep you safe in various conditions. Diesel engines offer reliability, efficiency, and durability. Regardless, they might experience issues that impede performance and interfere with your fun. Don’t worry! With a little troubleshooting, ensuring your engine continues to deliver peak performance is easy. Here are common diesel engine issues and how to fix them. You’ll save time and money, which means more fun on and off the road!
Hard Starts
You can’t get anywhere if the engine doesn’t start. Experiencing hard starts is a very common issue with diesel engines. When the temperature drops, your engine might protest with a rough start or no start at all. Luckily, fixing this doesn’t require too much effort and expense.
There’s likely a problem with the glow plugs. Check and replace them as needed. Next, inspect the battery and ensure it has a full charge. Diesel engines need more juice than gasoline-powered engines to get started. Lastly, investigate the fuel system. Leaks and clogs cause hard starts, so ask your mechanic to look for air bubbles or blockage.
Black Smoke
Some truck drivers like their vehicles to belch out black smoke when exhibiting their rides. That doesn’t fly in the great outdoors! If your truck is blasting out black smoke, it could be an issue of incomplete combustion. Most likely, it’s the air filters. Replace or clean out the air filters to support unrestricted airflow. Inspect the fuel injector, and clean it if necessary. Dirty injectors provide improper levels of fuel in the combustion chamber. Your turbocharger may also be due for an upgrade. Damaged turbochargers can fail and produce black smoke, which is never a good look when you’re exploring nature.
Power Loss
This is a pretty big issue. A drop in power results from several diesel engine issues. If the problem is with the turbocharger, you can use several methods for getting rid of diesel engine turbo lag. Upgrading is always a good idea. Replacing the fuel filter ensures a clean fuel supply to your engine and prevents that dispiriting drop in power. Furthermore, you should examine the exhaust system for a blockage that might restrict airflow or cause the exhaust to back up into the engine. This lets your engine “breathe” more easily, delivering better performance and power.
Overheating
When you’re tooling around the backwoods or other off-road spaces, especially during hot weather, overheating can hinder your vehicle greatly. If left to overheat for too long, your engine might break down and fail—not a good situation when you’re miles away from a garage! Measure and mind the engine coolant levels, and look for radiator leaks. Subject the thermostat to regular testing to ensure accurate readings. Also, inspect the water pump for good measure, and replace the unit before it peters out.
Those are just a few common diesel engine issues and how to fix them. It’s best to schedule regular maintenance sessions for your truck well before any trip. Your truck will reward you with big fun and great service!
