Regular maintenance is the most important key to ensure that your truck will live a long life. However, it is only normal to encounter several vehicle issues despite properly maintaining your truck. This is especially true if your diesel vehicle is performing various tasks such as pushing, pulling, or hauling.


Although diesel engines may seem to last longer without repairs as compared to gasoline engines, that does not mean you should not regularly check your diesel truck. Diesel engines still require continuous maintenance, mainly in the form of frequent oil and filter changes.


If you are worried about the money you will spend on maintenance, you can relax. Most diesel engines are designed in a way where you can perform regular maintenance without needing to go to a dealer or mechanic. This will help you save more time and money.




But remember when performing vehicle maintenance to always consult your owner's manual. However, if you do not have one, you can simply go over to your local diesel performance shop or dealer and ask them to see a copy of your vehicle’s service manual or look for it online.


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If you want your truck to last longer, here are some tips on diesel engine maintenance you can easily follow.


Replace the fuel filter and get oil changes


Diesel has a less-refined nature, and it tends to absorb more water from condensation in the tank. This is why, unlike gas vehicles, diesel engines have two fuel filters, one to filter the fuel, and the other to separate the water from the diesel.


If there are water particles in diesel, your truck will tend to lose power, stutter, or its fuel injectors could even explode in rare circumstances. Therefore, it is essential to replace both filters approximately every 10-15K miles. This interval can be sooner if you feel you may have purchased some bad fuel.


Additionally, changing your oil is equally important as replacing your diesel fuel filters. But unlike fuel filters, oil changes should be done more frequently. You should change the oil every 5k miles or so.


Monitor your coolant


There is one important component of your engine that needs maintenance and that is the coolant. Your truck’s coolant should be continually monitored as it can be acidic over time. And if you let it just be, it can rust and decay other parts of your truck’s cooling system.


The first sign that your coolant is in low levels should be the warning light in your vehicle’s dashboard or a rising temperature gauge. When this happens, make sure that you have it checked immediately. If you are in a colder climate, it is also highly recommended you check your coolant freeze point before the cold temperatures of winter.


Clean your engine


Cleaning the exterior part of your vehicle shows that you care for your truck. But aside from maintaining the cleanliness of your vehicle’s exterior body, you should also make sure that you clean its engine.


Diesel engines are built to have a longer lifespan than their gasoline counterparts which is why they will benefit from cleaning, primarily if you use your vehicle in a dusty or dirty area. Furthermore, the more you use your truck and the longer distances it navigates, the higher the chances of its engine collecting dirt and dust.


Collected dirt and dust staying on the components of your vehicle’s engine can shorten its lifespan as the typical result is rust and corrosion. Proper cleaning of your engine is one of the most overlooked things that you should do. You should remember that you must make sure that your engine is already cool enough before you start cleaning. You should also wear protective gear like goggles and gloves for your safety against chemicals.


Again, always refer to your vehicle’s manual, as some engine components may not be waterproof. It is also worth noting to stay away from corrosive degreasers and do not let products “soak in” for too long.


Check your air filter


If you are going to do your regular engine maintenance, make sure that you check your air filter. Typically, air filters are located under the hood inside a rectangular cold air collected box. You can find this near the front of the engine compartment in most vehicles. If your truck’s air filter is all filthy and clogged up it can starve your engine of air.


It is recommended that you should replace your air filter every 12,000 miles. Again, that service interval is dependent on the air quality in which the truck is operated. It is advised to check your air filter for each oil change. Also, make sure to have it checked and/or replaced if you experience a decrease in your engine power, weaker acceleration, or black smoke out of the tailpipe.


Take care of your engine’s radiator


An engine radiator is a heat exchanger that is used to cool internal combustion engines. It keeps your engine cool by transferring heat from the engine to the air. And since diesel engines tend to get worked more than gas engines, your diesel engine’s radiators are likely to be subject to higher temperatures. This can result in overheating, and obviously, this is not good news for your vehicle. It is recommended to have your radiator blown out with compressed air or washed out with water if it appears to be dirty. Overheating can lead to warping your engine’s components, such as cylinder heads and gaskets, or worse, to a complete engine failure.


It is crucial to have proper cooling system maintenance to help your engine prevent overheating. A lot of diesel engine service shops suggest getting coolant exchanges every 40K to 60k miles. However, it will be better to check it regularly to avoid any trouble.


If you notice orange or green-ish fluid leaks on the surface under your truck, a sweet smell coming from the engine, or steam coming under your hood, you must immediately have your cooling system checked.


Best diesel engine performance shop


Whether you use your truck for work or leisure, properly taking care of it is a necessity. After all, vehicles are big purchases, and you have probably spent a lot of your hard-earned money just to get one.


And that is the reason why we are here. At Pure Diesel Power, we aim to help you in keeping your vehicle in perfect shape. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with nothing but the best diesel part products and services. And if you want to know more about us and what we do, please check out https://puredieselpower.com/.


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