Let’s face it – a malfunctioning diesel engine is not only a waste of time, it can be expensive to repair and have impacts on your financial bottom line. When your diesel equipment breaks down, you lose valuable time on the job. And diesel repairs can be complicated and costly.
Diesel engines are not like other engines. For example, they require special care in intense weather conditions. Although diesel engines can last longer than gasoline engines, their fuel pumps are intricate and expensive. Engines that are powered by gasoline, which is detergent-like, need care more often since the gasoline washes away oil from engine components, but engines powered by the light oil in diesel continually lubricates important parts. Power Service diesel fuel additive can help.
Diesel engines have some real advantages in many industries, including increased power. There are many reasons why a diesel engine could have potential problems, but we are going to focus on issues in relation to fuel since 80 percent of diesel engine issues are caused by fuel problems.
Obviously, there are some pretty apparent signs that your diesel engine isn’t behaving, such as knocking and other noise, smoke and trouble starting. Other signs that can possibly be attributed to poor performance include engine power problems and a larger than normal fuel bill.
The Causes of Fuel-Related Failures in Diesel Engines
Changes to fuel production due to oil supply and environmental concerns have been linked to a shortened shelf life of diesel fuel, as well as a likelier chance of fuel deterioration. Other things to keep in mind that can negatively affect diesel fuel include being exposed to water and contamination. Another issue is that batches of fuel are generally slightly different from each other. As you can see, diesel fuel can come with many issues that you should be aware of and take steps to combat. Finding a reputable dealer is always a good first step.
Some of the issues that can arise with diesel fuel include:
- Contamination – Contamination can happen during transport and storage and can consist of particulates such as dirt and sand.
- Source – Making sure you buy your diesel fuel from a reputable source is very important.
- Temperature – As diesel engines move fuel through, it becomes hot. When it flows through the engine and back into the tank, the tank can become the perfect temperature to encourage growth of bacteria and other contaminants.
How to Avoid Fuel-Related Failures
The best course of action to keep your diesel engines running longer and healthier is to take steps to make sure you are avoiding contaminated fuel in the first place. One tip is to buy your diesel fuel from a company that has a high turnover of fuel. You’ll be getting fresher fuel from someone who deals in larger volumes. Some other tips for decreasing your chances of degraded or contaminated fuel include:
- Using a diesel fuel additive – You can use a good Power Service diesel fuel additive in both your engine and in the tank you store fuel in to increase the Cetane rating, disperse water and add lubricity to your fuel and engine.
- Maintain tanks – Changing the filters on the tank pump on a regular basis and cleaning the tanks will go a long way to helping maintain your tanks.
In the long run, you can avoid costly repairs to your diesel engines, as well as downtime and decreased production, by exercising some good preventative maintenance, adding a Power Service additive and using a high capacity and reputable fuel dealer, like Bear Oil Company. Contact us to find out more about keeping your diesel engine in good shape.