As with any vehicle, light-duty diesel vehicles also have their fair share of issues. Many everyday problems are due to poor maintenance, though some are inherently due to how the engine is manufactured.
Here are four common diesel repair issues we encounter at Independent Auto and Diesel.
1. Oil Oxidation
Oil oxidizes when it comes into contact with air. This chemical reaction causes the oil to thicken, reducing its lubricating properties.
The engine will overheat without lubrication and will cause it to lock up eventually. Thus, it’s imperative for vehicle owners to have oil changes regularly or as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
2. Damaged Glow Plugs
As diesel fuel isn’t as volatile as gas fuel, it needs more heat than just a quick spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. If the diesel engine is very cold (like during winter), it could be hard to start.
Thanks to glow plugs, there will be enough heat to ignite the mixture so that the diesel engine will start easily. These glow plugs are needed more than ever during winter. However, if even one glow plug is damaged, it will be hard to start the engine or may not start at all.
3. Difficulty Starting
Worn or damaged glow plugs are just one of the reasons for hard-starting diesel engines. The problem could also be caused by little compression or a fuel issue. The engine may also have emissions problems.
4. Overheating Problems
Diesel engines often overheat—and they do so for many reasons, including:
- Clogged injectors. At Independent Auto and Diesel repair, we can keep your injectors clean with BG services fuel injector cleaner.
- Coolant leaks. We constantly check for coolant leaks when you bring your vehicle in for service.
- Malfunctioning thermostat. If the thermostat is stuck open, the water flows through the system too quickly and doesn’t have a chance to cool off. If stuck closed, the water cannot flow through the radiator to cool.
- Malfunctioning cooling ventilator. This is an electrical issue that prevents the cooling from coming on.
- Malfunctioning water pump. Our diesel repair specialists can easily spot this issue and fix it so you can get back on the road as quickly as possible.
Contact Independent Auto and Diesel Repair for Light-Duty Diesel Repair & Maintenance in Jamestown, TN
Don’t get overwhelmed by these diesel engine problems. Keeping up with maintenance can significantly reduce the number of disadvantages people experience with diesel engines. At Independent Auto and Diesel Repair, we are happy to help you with that.
Our diesel repair mechanics will check your truck or diesel vehicle every time you bring it for maintenance or repairs. We’ll let you know if an issue needs immediate fixing or can be repaired later. We do our best to get you back on the road in no time.
Call us at (931) 863-2888 for diesel maintenance or repair. Our shop is conveniently located at 4859 S. York Hwy, Jamestown, TN 38556.
