Diesel trucks are durable, reliable, and produce a ton of power. They are not prone to too many problems, especially if they are maintained. We are diesel experts, so whether you drive a diesel truck or car, you can rely on us for all of your automotive service and repair needs. There are a handful of diesel truck problems we fix all the time. Here is what they are and their causes.
You will have problems starting your diesel truck if the glow plugs are worn out. You will also have problems starting the truck if it is overdue for maintenance and has an underlying problem such as a clogged fuel filter or clogged fuel injectors. Your truck will crank a couple of times before it starts, but it should not crank continuously. If it is, head to our shop so we can inspect the diesel engine.
We mentioned above that a clogged fuel filter or clogged fuel injectors can make starting the diesel truck difficult. They can also reduce the amount of power the truck’s engine produces. If either of these parts is clogged, you won’t have enough energy-dense diesel fuel heading to the engine. Two other things that can reduce the truck’s power are excessive lubrication and a loose throttle linkage.
Diesel fuel is energy-dense, which means it is thick and produces more power per gallon than gasoline does. This makes driving a diesel truck economical. Unfortunately, the thickness of the fuel can also contribute to contamination. Diesel fuel can get contaminated by soot in the diesel engine or glycol. It can also be contaminated by water. This contaminated fuel can damage the diesel engine.
Your diesel truck may release a tiny bit of black exhaust occasionally, but it should not release a lot of black exhaust all the time. If it does, you may have too much fuel in the combustion chamber. This rich fuel mixture will reduce your fuel economy and produce black exhaust when the fuel gets burned. Things that can cause this include leaking fuel injectors, a clogged air filter, or a broken EGR valve.
Finally, you already know that diesel engines sound different from gasoline engines; they are a bit louder. This being said, your diesel engine should not make a ton of noise or strange noises. If it is, call us right away to schedule a service appointment for your diesel truck.
