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Bill's Quality Auto Care has the expertise to service
your Diesel vehicle right. We also provide you
with the advise to help keep your vehicle out of trouble
with proper maintenance. |
Although diesel engines can last 200,000 or even 300,000
miles while providing excellent fuel economy, they must
be properly maintained to optimize their efficiency and
service life. Here we present two issues that are
extremely relevant to today's diesel engines. Please do
not hesitate to call us for preventive maintenance and
repair advice on your specific diesel vehicle.
Cylinder Wall Cavitation
Cavitation is the development of cavities in the cylinder
walls or liners of your engine, which eventually allows
coolant into the oil when the engine is off, and oil into
the coolant when the engine is running. This can happen in
as little as 500 hours of operation when using water alone
as a coolant.
Diesel engines have much higher compression ratios than
gasoline engines. Higher compression ratios produce
substantially more violent explosions inside the engine,
creating the unique engine noise that we associate with
diesels. Those explosions produce extreme pressures,
creating tiny air bubbles in the engine's coolant, which can
implode and create pits that grow with time in a diesel
engine's piston cylinder walls or liners. This is known as
cavitation. Replacement of major parts, or even of the
entire engine, is often the only solution.
Prevention of this ever-increasing problem is simple and
inexpensive, and consists of the regular application of a
supplemental coolant additive, or SCA, to your diesel
engine's cooling system at the appropriate intervals. A
supplemental coolant additive adds a protective layer to the
cylinder wall. Cavitation then attacks the additive layer
instead of the cylinder wall.
Most vehicles need a SCA additive at 15,000 miles and a
complete coolant flush every 30,000 miles. Diesel engines
also require prompt attention to any other problem with
their cooling systems.
Cetane Ratings and Sulfur Content
Recent changes in the composition of diesel fuel mean that
today's diesel engine components are simply wearing out
faster. This can cause expensive repairs and reduce the
effective life of your vehicle.
One hallmark of a quality diesel fuel blend is a high
"cetane number." Engine designers like to see a cetane
number of at least 50. However, the cetane level of
US-market diesel fuel can vary, and is almost always well
below optimum levels. At Bill's Quality Auto Care, we have
the equipment to measure our customers' diesel fuel cetane
levels right here in the shop. Readings as low as 34 to 42
are not uncommon. Performance will be reduced, and fuel
consumption increased, in vehicles that use such fuels.
Another problem is the amount of sulfur that is found in
diesel fuel. Although sulfur can be a serious pollutant, it
is also a lubricant. Refineries must now produce a type of
diesel fuel called Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel, or ULSD.
That's good for our air, but bad for our engines. Less
sulfur in diesel fuel means less lubrication, which in turn
reduces engine life.
This is why all of us at Bill's Quality Auto Care feel that
it is important to use diesel fuel additives each time you
fill up, and why we've taken the time to seek out and stock
the best additives available. Using them will increase your
diesel engine's performance and fuel economy while reducing
repairs.
What Does This Mean to Me?
Today's diesel engines are vastly improved over the old "oil
burners" of the past. They can offer excellent fuel economy
and lower maintenance costs. However, diesels are not
maintenance-free, and they have their own unique service
needs. Regular attention to diesel engines will help to
realize the long service life for which they are known.
Please come back to this page soon.
We will continue to add information to help you care for
your diesel vehicles better. |
