7 Things That Every New Diesel Owner Should Know

If you're new to owning a diesel, there are a lot of maintenance items you should be aware of. Diesel engines, while extremely powerful, are also somewhat fragile if not maintained properly. In fact, failing to complete any one of these basic maintenance tasks could result in your diesel breaking down. But if you properly care for your diesel, you'll have an engine that generates tons of torque, accelerates any big load, and offers you the kind of fuel efficiency that you would expect from a much smaller motor. Diesel's many benefits even have some people predicting that one day in the future all people will own diesel engine vehicles instead of gasoline -- so these maintenance tips might be very important to you down the road.

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 if you don't have a turbo, there are lots of other maintenance items that are especially important on diesel engines. Fuel filters are critical to proper diesel performance because diesel fuel, unlike gasoline, contains quite a few impurities. While a gasoline engine fuel filter might require replacement once every 30k miles (mostly as a precaution), diesel fuel filters can become clogged in as little as 10k miles. Make sure to check your owner's manual to find out what your manufacturer suggests. If at all possible, use the same service station every time you refuel. That way your chances of buying a bad tank of diesel are reduced.

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).

Diesel engines are often referred to as "oil burners" because, unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines typically burn some of the engine's lubricating oil during normal operation. That's why it's especially important to check your diesel's oil level between oil changes. To check the oil, make sure the engine has cooled for at least 30 mins and that the vehicle is level. Your owner's manual will explain when you should add oil based on the engine's dipstick reading. If you don't check your diesel's oil level regularly, you could suffer engine damage.

Diesel engines don't like cold temperatures. At temperatures below zero, diesel fuel may "gel" (turn from a liquid to a semi-solid). Below freezing, diesel engines tend to start harshly and warm-up very slowly. At extremely low temperatures (below -10 F) normal diesel engine oil does not protect the engine from friction. Therefore, it's very important to remember to use your diesel's block heater if outside temps ever dip below zero. If you can afford the electricity, I recommend you plug-in your block heater any time the outside temperature dips below freezing. This will protect your engine, keep your fuel warm and gel free, make for quick and smooth start-ups, and it will help your engine warm-up quickly. Check your owners manual, but usually your block heater plug-in is wire-tied to a harness behind and underneath the bumper.

Finally, unlike most modern gasoline engines, new diesel engines often have a break-in period. During the first 500 or 1000 miles (check your manual to find out), it's important that you avoid driving at sustained speeds (i.e. long trips on the highway). Additionally, many manufacturers suggest you refrain from towing or hauling during this period as well. Once this initial break-in period is over, it's not uncommon for your diesel to continue to break-in for the first 20k or 30k miles. Unlike gas motors, 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 engine didn't really start to perform until a year or two after they bought it.

In summary, any new or first-time diesel owner should review their diesel engine manual. Make sure to keep a close eye on the air filter restriction gauge, change fuel filters often, check engine oil between oil changes, purge water from your fuel system on a monthly basis, and remember to use your block heater any time the outside temperature drops below zero degrees Fahrenheit. If you take the time to do these extra tasks, your diesel engine will reward you with 200k+ miles of service.

By: Jason Lancaster.

Author Jason Lancaster runs TundraHeadquarters.com, a website for Toyota Tundra owners. For anyone looking to buy a diesel Tundra, TundraHeadquarters.com has recently discovered evidence of a diesel Toyota Tundra in development.

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