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If you're a first-time diesel owner, chances are you're very excited. Diesel engines are extremely powerful -- they're capable of pulling and hauling 1000's of pounds of equipment and materials. They generate lots of torque, and they can accelerate a big load very quickly. Yet in spite of their power and size, diesel engines are also surprisingly fuel efficient. In fact, many predict that the combination of power and efficiency will someday make diesel engines more common than gasoline engines. However, it's important for any new diesel owner to know there are some special responsibilities and additional maintenance that come with having a diesel engine. Failure to complete any one of these tasks could result in your diesel breaking down. Most likely, your diesel came equipped with a turbo-charger. The turbo-charger is similar to a jet engine - there are compressor blades inside the turbocharger that can spin at 20k or 30k rpm. As these blades spin, they force clean outside air into the engine, increasing engine efficiency and performance. Because the turbo-charger is so powerful, great care must be taken to make sure the air entering the turbo is clean and clear of debris. If, for instance, a small particle or piece of debris were to enter the turbo as it was spinning at max speed, it's possible this particle could cause one or more compressor blades to shatter. Therefore, it's incredibly important that the air filter on your diesel is clean and properly installed. Most manufacturers have equipped their vehicles with sensors that will tell you to check your air filter, and nearly all diesels have air-filter restriction gauges. The restriction gauge will tell you if your air filter has become too clogged to protect your turbo-charger, and you should immediately replace the air filter if the restriction gauge indicates to do so. Unlike a gasoline engine, failure to change your diesel's air filter will lead to thousands of dollars in engine damage relatively quickly. For this reason I suggest you keep a spare filter in your vehicle just in case. Even without the turbo-charger, diesel engines have lots of maintenance items that are especially important. Fuel filters are extremely important for proper performance because diesel fuel, unlike gasoline, contains a relatively large amount of impurities. For example, the typical gasoline fuel filter might only need replacement once every 30,000 miles. Yet many manufacturers suggest diesel fuel filters be replaced in as little as 10k miles (depending upon driving conditions). Make sure to check your owner's manual to find out what your manufacturer suggests. Also, use the same service station every time you refuel if possible. If you're favorite service station has bad fuel, you'll find out relatively quickly and you can save yourself money by finding a new fuel source. Here's some shocking news for new diesel owners -- in addition to being less pure than gasoline, diesel fuel also contains water. Even though small amounts of water will not hurt your diesel engine, nearly all modern diesels are equipped with water separators. Depending upon your vehicle, you may need to purge the water from your diesel's fuel system manually. Check your owner's manual for instructions on how to do this and to find out how often it should be done. If you fail to purge the water from your diesel's fuel system, you could experience poor performance and/or fuel economy. The good news is that many service facilities will perform this task for you at little or no charge (as well as the dispose of the water/fuel mixture in an environmentally friendly way). Colloquially, diesels are sometimes called "oil burners". That's because diesels, unlike gasoline engines, typically burn some of the engine's lubricating oil during normal use. Obviously, if your engine is burning oil on a regular basis it's extremely important to check the oil level between oil changes. When checking the oil, make sure the engine has cooled for at least 30 minutes and that the vehicle is level -- that way, you know all the oil has had time to drain out of the top of the engine. Once you've pulled the dipstick, your owner's manual will explain when you should add oil based on the dipstick reading. Remember - if you don't check the engine's oil levels between changes, you could permanently damage your motor. Another diesel engine quirk is that they are especially sensitive to cold temperatures. Untreated diesel fuel can "gel" (turn from a liquid to a semi-solid) at temperatures below zero. At temperatures below freezing, diesel engines usually start harshly and warm-up slowly. At extremely low temps (below -10 F) most diesel engine oil will not protect the engine from friction because it will be too viscous. For all these reasons, it's important to use your diesel's block heater anytime outside temperatures dip below zero (F). If you can afford the electricity, my recommendation is to plug-in your block heater any time the outside temperature dips below freezing (32 F). This will protect your engine by keeping your fuel and oil warm, make for quick and easy start-ups by pre-heating your glow plugs, and help your engine warm-up quickly by pre-warming the engine coolant. To locate your block heater's plug-in, check your owners manual. Usually they're wire-tied to a harness behind the bumper. If you engine doesn't have a block heater, one can be installed for a small charge. Unlike most modern gasoline engines, new diesel engines often have a manufacturer specified break-in period. During this period (usually the first 500 or 1000 miles) your owner's manual will tell you to avoid driving at sustained speeds and to refrain from towing or hauling. In other words, it's best to avoid any long highway trips or any heavy use for the first few days or weeks. Once this initial break-in period is over, it's not uncommon for your diesel to continue to break-in for the first 20,000 or 30,000 miles. Unlike gasoline engines, which are truly broken-in after 3k to 5k miles, diesels need lots of time and use to reach their peak efficiency and performance. Most long-time diesel owners will tell you that their diesel didn't really start to perform until the engine had a year or two of use. To summarize, it's very important that new or first-time diesel owners review their engine manual. In addition to normal vehicle maintenance, diesel owners should keep a close eye on their air filter restriction gauge, change the fuel filter often, always check engine oil between oil changes, purge water from the fuel system as required, and remember to plug-in the block heater any time outside temperatures drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. When you do all these extra tasks, your diesel engine will reward you with 200,000+ miles of good service.
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About the Article Author
Author Jason Lancaster operates TundraHeadquarters.com, a website for Toyota Tundra owners. For anyone interested in a diesel Tundra, TundraHeadquarters.com has recently uncovered evidence of a diesel Toyota Tundra in development.
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