Identifying Auto Service

Diesel engines are different from gasoline engines in many ways, so when your diesel-powered vehicle needs service or repair, you may want to take it to a specialized diesel repair shop. The shop does not need to be diesel exclusive, but they need to have experience with diesel engines and systems to make the repairs you need.

Fuel System Repair

When you are having an issue with your diesel engine running correctly, one of the most suspect systems on a diesel engine is the fuel system. Several fuel filters in the system and an injector pump, injectors, and computer control the fuel flow to the cylinders. 

A diesel repair shop can get the flow of fuel and change the filters on the system for you. If the injector pump or any of the injectors needs repair or replacement, the technician working on the system needs to understand how it works to diagnose and replace any parts or the entire assembly if required. 

The repair shop you choose needs to have the proper diagnostic tools for the job as well, so be sure to ask if they work on diesel engines when you call to schedule the repair or service for your vehicle. 

Ignition System Repair

Like the fuel system, the ignition system on a diesel engine is slightly different from a gas one. The diesel does not use spark plugs but instead depends on a set of glow plugs that heat up inside the cylinders to ignite the fuel mix when starting the engine. After the initial start-up, the glow plugs are no longer needed, and compression inside the engine causes the fuel and air mixture to ignite during the compression stroke.

Hard starting diesel engines can result from bad glow plugs, and the diesel repair shop can test them to see if they are working. If the glow plugs are not functioning correctly, the tech will replace them. The tech must use the correct glow plugs in your engine because some are longer than others, and if the wrong one is used, it could cause damage to the pistons or valve inside the engine. 

Regular Service

Diesel engines require service like all internal combustion engines, but the service interval on a diesel engine is typically not the same as a gasoline one. Diesel engines use specific oil and filters that are required because of the way the engine works. 

Additional lubrication and cooling are needed, and the oil helps with both. The diesel repair shop will replace the oil filter, or in some cases, the two filters, replace the oil, and perform other services as needed. Refer to the owner's manual that came in your vehicle to determine how often you should service your vehicle.

For more information, contact a diesel repair shop near you.