To squeeze the very most out of your diesel, you might have to roll up your sleeves occasionally. Devoting a few minutes every now-and-then to the maintenance of your car will prolong its life, reduce money spent at garages, improve the reliability and performance of your car, and give you something to do on Sunday too. Nu-Car here presents a short guide to the simplest maintenance procedures for extending the life of your diesel engine.
The Handbook
To perform some of the maintenance procedures we're going to talk about, you might have to refer to your car's handbook. Each car model is built differently from every other model, so we can't give you a definitive solution for each one. We can only tell you what needs to be done; it's up to you to find out how! Your car's handbook was written by the people who built the car; listen to what it says. Modern handbooks and manuals will tell you everything about your engine and how to keep it working well. Many of them are very well written and very readable too.
Driving Precautions
You can avoid most of the problems which effect diesels simply by treating the engine right. This doesn't mean you have to drive like a driving instructor though. Unless you are one, in which case you probably should. Five minutes before you get in your car in the morning, go out and turn the engine on. Let it idle on the driveway, warming itself through. This will heat the hydraulic oils. At colder temperatures, the oils in your diesel's engine become thicker - they have a higher viscosity. Thicker oils cause delays in the oil circulation and create unusually low hydraulic pressures. These characteristics won't cause immediate problems, but over time and with the cumulative repetition of cold starts, the damage will become more and more pronounced.
Glow Plugs
Let's talk about cold starts for a moment in a little more detail. Diesel engines use compression to ignite the fuel. There's no need for spark plugs, so that's eliminated one small component which needs maintenance. However, since the cylinder block and cylinder head in a diesel are so much more massive than those of a petrol engine, the heat caused by the compression of air is absorbed by the metal instead of igniting in the air. So it can be difficult to ignite straight away by compression alone. To combat this, modern diesel engines use 'glow-plugs', electric filaments inside the cylinder which can ignite the fuel when the engine is too cold for compression to work on its own. They do a great job and they save a lot of hassle in cold weather, trying to start the engine.
Glow plugs do have a limited lifespan however. In parts of the world which have cold winter season - places like the UK - glow plugs should be replaced every 60,000 miles. They're cheap, and in most modern diesels constructed with the user in mind, they're a snip to replace.
Oil Changes
Regular oil change intervals are critical for the good maintenance of your diesel engine. You should consult your handbook for information about how and when to change the oil, since this information varies between models. We'll stick our necks out however and say that you should consider changing your oil at least every 12,500 miles (6000 for trucks or heavy duty vans). That will definitely make your diesel engine live longer.
You can change your engine oil yourself, it's not particularly difficult. You do need a few specialist tools though, like car jack stands and a chain wrench if you're going to change the oil filter at the same time (which you should). However, it won't break the bank if you get this work done at a garage.
Low, thin or old oil will eventually cause closely working engine components to rub. This friction will eventually destroy your engine. To make sure you have sufficient oil in your engine, use the dipstick (consult the handbook to find exactly where yours is). Usually, it's a piece of thin, curving metal covered with brightly coloured plastic. It will often have two V-shaped grooves which designate the minimum and maximum required oil levels. If your oil levels exceed either of these extremes, you need to change your oil. Similarly, if the oil on the dipstick is particularly thick and black, it's time for an oil change.
Clean Diesel
The use of good quality diesel from a reputable fuel supplier will extend the life of your car. Diesel is the lifeblood of your car's engine. Just as blood poisoning can be fatal if left untreated in us, inferior diesel will cause the death of your car. If you discover water in your diesel, it will need to be flushed out immediately. If water is being trapped in the fuel filter then you'll need to check the fuel tank for further traces of water. This will probably have to be done professionally.
If water was found, then bacteria may begin to grow in your fuel system even after the water has been removed. Bacteria will begin to coat internal pumps and fuel injectors, strangling the power as it uses the diesel for sustenance. Bacteria can be treated by adding biocide fuel treatments to the diesel, and filtering the fuel.
Other Fluids & Maintenance Ideas
Coolant helps to cool your engine, and anti freeze stops it from freezing. Make sure that your diesel engine's coolant and anti-freeze levels are adequate. It's a good idea to change these fluids more often than you would for a comparable petrol engine, since the temperature changes in a diesel engine are more extreme than those of a petrol.
Check the tension of all belts and guards in your diesel engine. If they're a little slack, adjust them or replace them as necessary. Regularly check the radiator matrix for nicks and breaks, and clear away any debris to reduce overheating problems.
To recap, here are a few recommendations for simple diesel engine maintenance:
- Drive responsibly, according to the manufacturer's handbook
- Don't push a cold engine too hard
- Wait for the engine to warm up before beginning your trip
- Change your oil regularly
- Only use diesel from reputable dealers
- Replace your glow plugs every couple of years
- Keep your car and engine clean
- Replace fluids regularly
Following this common-sense suggestions should ensure longer years of pleasurable diesel motoring!