Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair services and repairs diesel engines for commercial and personal vehicles, including big rigs. We see the same problems over and over again and, as with gasoline engines, it’s not surprising. Mechanical engineering is a near-perfect science, but any piece of machinery, no matter what it is, can have trouble. Here are the five common diesel engine problems we come across regularly.
Oxidized Engine Oil
This is the number one problem that plagues diesel engines. Air can enter into oil storage or sumps and reside there. The longer the air remains in the storage or sump the better chances of air bubbles in motor oil. Air bubbles decrease motor oil lubrication, which, in turn, damages engine parts. If you believe your engine oil is oxidized, i.e. it has air in it, change it right away to prevent engine damage.
Starting Trouble
Problem number two is difficulty starting your diesel engine. The two common causes of an engine that refuses to start are problems with your fuel delivery system and low compression. Your engine may crank but refuse to ignite or it may even crank after it has started. Bring your truck into us at the first sign of starting difficulties so we can isolate and repair the problem before it becomes a bigger problem.
Slow Acceleration
Your fuel filter can prevent your diesel engine from starting and it can also reduce acceleration speeds. The problem might also lie in your catalytic converter. Does your diesel engine accelerate slowly and then overheat? That’s a sign there is something going on with the transmission. A diesel engine is designed to help increase acceleration speeds so there’s something wrong if it slows down instead.
Black Exhaust
All diesel engines release black exhaust but it shouldn’t be extensive. If you’ve noticed you have a ton of black exhaust exiting the exhaust pipes, your air/fuel mixture is off. Usually, air is the culprit; you either have too much air or not enough air in the air/fuel mixture. This being said, excessive black exhaust can also signal problems with your air filter, the EGR valve, the injector pump, or the turbocharger.
Compression Ratio
Both diesel and gasoline engines have compression ratios. A diesel engine’s compression ratio should be 20:1, and a gasoline engine’s compression ratio should be 8:1. This is why a diesel engine provides more power, especially for semi-trucks. It might seem as if the higher the compression ratio the better, but a compression ratio above 20:1 will produce a knocking engine and can damage fuel injectors.
If you suspect your diesel engine has any of the five common problems listed above, bring your rig into Midlane Truck & Trailer Repair. We’re located in Eugene, OR, and you can call us today.