A Guide on Diesel Truck Repairs
Diesel engines have high fuel efficiency for large trucks, reducing the cost of fueling the truck and minimizing refills as you run your errands. A diesel engine also has few internal components, and hence the repairs are cheap. You can maintain the high performance and fuel efficiency of the diesel truck through constant repair.
Diesel truck repair differs significantly from the repairs of any other truck you may have owned before. This article discusses a few areas of repairs you should consider.
1. Get Regular Oil Changes
One of the main areas that you should be keen on during repairs is the engine oil change. While the average gasoline engine only ages prematurely when you fail to change the oil regularly, the diesel engine breaks down completely. Irregular oil changes cause the oil to solidify and form a gel. This dirty oil is highly viscous and does not reach vital parts of your truck's engine, such as the bearings, crankshaft, camshaft, and other components in the valve train. The engine overheats, your parts wear out more frequently, you consume more gas, and you risk voiding your truck's warranty. Of course, the frequency of oil changes depends on your climate, terrain, type of oil, and vehicle use. If you drive at low speeds for short distances, the oil accumulates contaminants and gunk more quickly than when you drive further at higher speeds. These contaminants affect your engine more when you live in a cold place than when you drive in hotter weather.
2. Get Glow Plug Inspections
Glow plugs help heat up your engine's cylinders to help the fuel self-ignite. If you drive in the cold a lot, glow plugs are essential. Therefore, ensure your mechanic inspects the glow plug and the glow plug module of the truck to ensure it is in good shape. Excessive voltages and heat easily damage the plug. Therefore, a damaged glow plug could signify that your car has faulty wiring or a damaged module. Your mechanic should also check the glow plug if your engine shows any signs of misfiring and weak performance.
3. Change the Gaskets
Modern diesel engines have a myriad of activities co-occurring from the moment you ignite the engine. Pumps push liquids to and from various locations while wires carry electric signals in a harmonious process that reflects the brilliance of modern engineering. Your head gasket plays a massive role in ensuring that the liquids and gases stay where they should stay. Some of the common failures of the gasket include small cracks and bends, which have minimal impacts on the truck. If you neglect these minor issues, you risk complete system failures. Therefore, ensure that your mechanic inspects the head gasket and other necessary gaskets in the truck during regular service. If you notice your truck leaking coolant, overheating, forming a white coat on the oil cap, or if it increases fuel consumption, ensure you stop by the repair shop and change the gasket.
4. Check Your Coolant
The coolant in your truck's engine contains sulfates and an antifreeze. If the antifreeze and sulfates degrade, they form an acidic solution that corrodes the cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and liners. Other parts of the cooling system, such as the radiator, also wear out, resulting in expensive repairs. Therefore, ensure you change the coolant regularly and request your mechanic to check its acidity whenever you can.
A diesel truck repair appointment should focus on oil change, glow plug inspection, gasket change, and coolant change. To learn more, contact companies like Tagesen Trucking.
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