6 Common Diesel Engine Problems to Watch For

Diesel engines are the best, but there can still be some issues that need to be addressed before they cause catastrophic problems. MDP Diesel & Auto wants you to watch out for these potential problems so that you can get your diesel to the shop in time. Rough Starts It takes a lot to get your diesel engine going. As a result, you might experience harder starts with a diesel than with any other type of vehicle. But those starts shouldn’t feel impossible. If you’re noticing that your diesel is starting a lot rougher than usual, there’s probably something else going on that needs to be corrected. This is usually more of a problem for diesels during cold weather, but you can have trouble any time of year. Exhaust Problems All engines release some exhaust, but ideally it’s as little as possible. Diesel engines that are kicking out a lot of exhaust smoke are likely experiencing trouble with the fuel to air mixture. That balance of fuel to air is crucial, because it allows the engine to run properly. Too much exhaust or it’s really dark exhaust? That likely means that your engine has too much fuel running through it and that can damage the engine and the environment. Humidity Very few things do well in humidity and your diesel engine is no exception. Humidity is a measurement of how much water is in the air and high humidity levels means that there’s excessive moisture in the air. That moisture is bad news for things like engine oil and other vital engine fluids because it breaks them down. Oxidation Oxidation happens when oil sits for a while without circulating through an engine. Air is everywhere, and it’s no friend to engine oil. When air comes into contact with engine oil for a long period of time and the oil is simply sitting, those air bubbles build up in the oil. If you turn your diesel on again and get it running, that oxidized oil is now running through the engine, potentially causing some damage you don’t expect. Want to make sure your diesel is in tip-top shape? Give us a call at MDP Diesel & Auto in Jackson, MI . We’ll be happy to inspect everything and let you know exactly what’s going on with your diesel engine. If there is a problem, we’ll give you the information you need to make an educated decision.

The most obvious sign that your diesel truck has possible brake issues is that the brake light starts shining on your dashboard. MDP Diesel & Auto wants you to know what else to look for in terms of brake problems, too. There’s a Brake Fluid Leak It’s a good idea to periodically check the area around where your diesel truck is parked to see if you notice any fluids at all. Brake fluid is most likely to leak around your wheels, but you might spot it under the truck, too, if there’s an issue elsewhere in the brake lines. Brake fluid is usually brown or red in color and it’s extremely oily. Your Diesel’s Brakes Are Noisy You probably already know that your diesel’s brakes don’t make too much noise when they’re operating as expected. So, if you’re hearing lots of squealing, grinding, or other unusual sounds when you apply the brakes, there’s something happening that you need to take a closer look at. The Truck Pulls to One Side When Braking When you hit the brake pedal, your diesel truck should keep following the same path it was following. If that’s not happening, you may very well have a brake problem. Often the issue is that there’s something wrong with the caliper on one set of brakes or the rotor isn’t connecting properly with the brake pad. The Brakes Smell Hot Hot brake fluid has a distinctive smell, and that is not a good sign. Overheating brakes aren’t able to stop as well and you might even be burning off brake fluid, which means stopping is going to be even more difficult. If you’ve never smelled burnt brake fluid, it’s a very chemical smell. You might also see steam coming off your wheels, especially in cooler weather. The Brake Pedal Doesn’t Feel Right Pay attention to how your brake pedal feels, too. If it feels too soft or depresses lower than usual without giving you much braking power, there’s something going wrong. If the pedal sinks all the way to the floor, you’ve got a really big problem that might require using the emergency brake. Believe that you’ve got brake issues? You might well be right. Let us help at MDP Diesel & Auto in Jackson, MI inspect your brake system for you. We can diagnose the trouble and get you repaired again as soon as possible so that your diesel truck gets back to working hard for you. The post Five Signs Your Diesel Truck Has Brake Issues appeared first on MDP Diesel.