Diesel Engine Repair
Description of Diesel Engine Repair
Built with durability, reliability, and optimization in mind, diesel engine systems are designed to use their own compression to ignite fuel. In gasoline engines, the fuel is mixed with air, compressed by pistons, and ignited by a spark plug. The rate of compression in a diesel engine is more than three times that of a regular gasoline engine system. In a diesel engine system, the air is compressed at a high compression ratio, which introduces a great amount of heat. Following this compression, fuel is directly injected into the cylinder, where the fuel vapor is ignited. Diesel engines are built without spark plugs. Instead, diesel systems use glow plugs to start and run more efficiently in colder temperatures. Glow plugs have two heating elements that allow them to get very hot very quickly for fast starts. Turbochargers increase the compression ignition by quickly compressing the air flowing into the engine, allowing for more air to flow into the chamber. More air in the combustion chamber means more fuel can be added to the combustion process. Turbochargers provide diesel engine systems with improved efficiency, and ultimately, more miles per gallon of diesel fuel.
Benefits of Diesel Engine Repair
Your diesel engine plays a major role in your vehicle, so it is especially important that you be aware of problems and seek repairs immediately. Because diesel engines make a considerable amount of noise during normal, everyday operation, diagnosing diesel engine problems can be hard to do if you are listening in on the engine. However, there are a number of symptoms you can watch out for that indicate your diesel engine needs maintenance. A diesel engine running at lower RPMs or a hard-to-start engine are signs of low fuel pressure, but these signs may also be symptoms of an insufficient fuel supply or poor fuel quality. Allowing our staff to troubleshoot your diesel engine can help ensure that the proper repair procedures are followed to repair the engine. Every diesel engine manufacturer requires different preventive maintenance procedures, so referring to your owner’s manual will help in planning and scheduling routine maintenance services. Keeping all diesel engine components—glow plugs, fuel injectors, and turbochargers—in proper working order will increase the life of your diesel engine system while promoting overall vehicle maintenance.
- Approximate Service Time: Call for estimate
- Price Range: Get Quote for Price
The Basics Behind Excessive Noise Diagnostic Services at Total Roadside Services
By default, diesel engines produce a louder roar than their gas engine counterparts. However, not all loud noises are normal. Sometimes diesel engines will begin to make excessive, worrisome sounds. The engine may begin to clang, grind, or rattle. Many times, these sounds are indicative of a problem. However, there are many components and small systems that make up a diesel engine, so finding the exact cause of a noise can be challenging. As a result, many motorists rely upon an excessive noise diagnosis to help find the issue affecting their respective diesel engines. Possible causes of excessive noise include faulty rods, injectors, pistons, and valves. Loud noises may also result from low oil levels or if pressure in the engine is off. Repair techniques and costs will vary depending on the component needing repair, but an early diagnosis can ultimately prevent costlier repairs in the future.
- Approximate Service Time: Call for estimate
- Price Range: Get Quote for Price
The Basics Behind Excessive Smoke Diagnostic Services at Total Roadside Services
From worn cylinders and piston rings to faulty injectors and valves, there are many reasons a diesel engine may emit excessive smoke. Fortunately, the color of smoke can help a motorist diagnose the problem. Depending upon the issue, a diesel engine will emit black, blue, or white smoke. Black smoke usually indicates fuel combustion problems. This type of smoke can be caused by a low quality fuel, a dirty air filter, an overabundance of fuel amongst, or other, similar possibilities. Blue smoke is generally related to the vehicle’s oil. If there is oil in the combustion chamber, it can create blue smoke as it burns. In addition, blue smoke tends to appear when a driver first starts a diesel engine. Finally, white smoke often occurs when fuel is not being burned correctly. White smoke can be caused by worn injectors, damaged valves, and sticking piston rings.
- Approximate Service Time: Call for estimate
- Price Range: Get Quote for Price
The Basics Behind Glow Plug Replacement Services at Total Roadside Services
Glow plugs are pencil-shaped objects that help diesel engines start. In essence, they serve as the diesel equivalent to spark plugs found in gasoline engines. Unlike spark plugs, glow plugs use heat to get the engine going. In cold weather, glow plugs play an especially important role. This is because diesel engines often experience ignition troubles when temperatures are low. Diesel engines require the air to reach a certain temperature for fuel ignition to occur, but they tend to absorb heat when they are cold. Glow plugs help solve this problem by providing enough heat for the fuel to ignite. However, glow plugs usually require a small amount of time to warm up before they can perform. While they gather heat, glow plugs let off a small light or glow. As a result, this process is often referred to as “glowing.” After the glow plugs finish warming, drivers should be able to successfully start their diesel vehicles.
- Approximate Service Time: Call for estimate
- Price Range: Get Quote for Price
The Basics Behind Hard Starting and Drivability Diagnostic Services at Total Roadside Services
Diesel engines contain many components and small systems. Problems with systems and components can lead to hard starting and the need for a drivability diagnostic. When your diesel engine is hard to start, there are several things worth checking. First is the temperature. Diesel engines rely upon heat for the combustion process to occur. If the engine uses glow plugs, they may need to warm up before they can properly start the engine. Second is oil. The internal components of a diesel engine require a lubricant to perform at their best. Engine oil can prevent harmful friction from occurring and can remove dirt and other damaging debris. If a vehicle has a turbocharger, a dirty or low amount of lubrication may also harm the turbocharger and lead to drivability and hard starting issues. A bad battery, fuel supply, and fuel injectors may also lead to hard starting issues.
- Approximate Service Time: Call for estimate
- Price Range: Get Quote for Price
The Basics Behind Turbocharger Repair Services at Total Roadside Services
A turbocharger is a forced induction system, which is responsible for bringing air into the combustion chamber of an engine. Turbochargers are powered by a vehicle’s exhaust gas. The exhaust gas spins the turbine wheel, one of the components within the turbocharger system, and the turbine wheel spins a compressor wheel. While spinning, the compressor wheel sucks in a large amount of dense, outside air and compresses it. Because the air is high in temperature, it needs to pass through an air cooler. In the cooler, the air lowers in temperature and gains even greater density before it enters the engine. Once in the engine, the compressed air allows more fuel to be added into the cylinder, and the engine burns the fuel more efficiently. In addition to installing turbochargers because they are fuel efficient and produce less CO2, many drivers use these systems to help their vehicles reach higher speeds.
