How To Do Faulty Diesel Engine Diagnostics And Why It’s Important

The very first step to correcting an issue with a diesel engine is a thorough investigation into what the root cause of the problem is. It happens all too often that a misdiagnosis is made based on dealing with side effects instead of the actual cause, which can become a very costly and ineffective operation as you’ll have to replace parts and still struggle with returning problems in spite of these parts replacements.

A good diesel mechanic isn’t just good at replacing faulty parts and correcting mechanical issues; they should also have critical thinking and analytical skills which they use to narrow down and eventually pinpoint the leading cause of a diesel engine problem. Today, we will highlight the first steps to take when diagnosing a diesel engine.

Step 1: Check Engine Oil

Your first check should be removing the engine oil dipstick and checking if there is enough oil in the tank. Lack of engine oil can result in severe damage to the engine, and levels should be checked often. If you do not have enough oil in the tank, the injectors won’t have enough pressure to function correctly. If your oil levels seem to be overfilled, then oil building may be occurring. You should also determine the quality of the oil and determine whether the tank needs to be drained and refilled with fresh engine oil. Once you have refilled the oil tank, turn the engine on again and see if it resolves the problem. This is also an excellent time to check for engine oil leaks.

Step 2: Check Oil Injectors

Key indicators that your engine needs new oil injectors include the engine not starting at all, the RPM needle shuttering, the engine idling roughly, engine misfiring and your overall mileage per tank dropping drastically. If you are replacing the injectors, it’s wise to also replace oil, air and fuel filters at the same time.

Once you have checked these main areas, you’ll be able to move on to further diagnostic steps.

As always, only make use of the highest quality oils, diesel and lubricants to ensure that your engine works optimally. If you are unsure of what type of diesel or engine oil your engine needs, consult your owner’s manual, as the wrong viscosity and diesel quality will negatively impact your engine’s performance. Contact Diesel Bros to help with your fuel quality diagnostics. We will do it right! Email or call today!