What Problems Should You Watch for in a Diesel Engine?

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.

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.

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.

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 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.