In many cases, people actually hamper their own diesel performance in Corpus Christi, TX by making some errors that can easily be avoided through responsible maintenance and engine usage. When you consider how much it costs to replace a diesel engine (almost the same as purchasing a new car from a dealership), it’s important to avoid these mistakes and keep that engine alive and in good condition for as long as you can.

Here are just a few of the most common mistakes made with diesel engines in Corpus Christi, TX that you should be sure to avoid:

  • Failure to change filters: Clogged up, dirty fuel filters can damage parts of the engine, including injectors and injection pumps. When you consider how much heat these injection systems create, a plugged up filter could make it extremely difficult to keep the pump and injectors cool, which can result in the injection system getting contaminated.
  • Failure to change air filters: A clogged air filter will significantly decrease your fuel economy, and can cause the turbo to spin much faster because it will try to work harder to supply the engine with air. If you have any dirt that gets past the air filter, you could experience severe damage to the turbo, valve or piston almost immediately. Therefore, make sure you change your air filters regularly to keep the system clean and to keep your engine in good condition for longer periods of time.
  • Failure to change or replenish fluids: You should regularly check your engine oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid and coolant, and change or top off those fluids as needed to keep the engine operating well.
  • Failure to keep your truck clean: Even if the mechanical components of your diesel truck are all in good shape, there’s still a chance they could start to wear down if you don’t keep the truck itself in good condition. While rust isn’t as big of an issue if you’re keeping your vehicle primarily down here in Texas, it’s going to be an issue if you routinely venture north or other places where cold weather, rain and snow are an issue, especially when municipalities use salt to clear the roads of ice.
  • Overheating an engine: If you make any modifications to your diesel engine, you must keep track of the engine temperatures, otherwise there’s a good chance you could overheat your engine. Even with stock vehicles, you can quickly overheat the engine if you aren’t keeping good track of your coolant, engine oil temperatures and exhaust gas temperatures.
  • Failure to change oil: Oil filters will remove contaminants found in the oil, but even a will-filtered oil system needs additional maintenance. We briefly touched on this point already, but it’s crucial that you stay on top of your oil changes to keep your system in good operational condition for years to come.

These are just a few examples of some of the most common mistakes made with diesel engines in Corpus Christi, TX. Contact Coastal Diesel Injection today to learn more about correcting them!