Diesel vehicles tend to go around 20%-35% further with a gallon of fuel than vehicles with gasoline engines. However, while diesel trucks have their benefits, you’ll want to make sure that you maintain them well.
While your diesel truck might offer amazing strength and performance, you need to be sure that you give it the care it deserves. Without knowing the essentials and having a clear engine maintenance plan, your truck could experience big problems, sooner rather than later.
Here are 7 important things that you should know about diesel truck fuel system maintenance.
1. Use the Right Fuel Type
An essential first step to maintaining your diesel truck’s fuel is to ensure that you’re always using the right type of fuel. You should make sure that the fuel you’re using is high-quality and isn’t dirty. Be sure to change it if it has been in the engine for a long time.
Additionally, if you fill up your diesel engine with gasoline, you could cause dangerous issues and could depress the diesel’s flashpoint. Gas could cause damage to your fuel system and will have an impact on fuel injectors, the fuel pump, and the fuel filter.
Even a little bit of gas or low-quality fuel can cause problems for a diesel truck, so be sure to keep this in mind.
2. Change Your Fuel Filter
One of the essential things to do to maintain your fuel system is to make sure that you’re changing all filters regularly. The fuel filter will need to get changed and replaced from time to time so that your engine will keep running strong and your diesel truck will keep functioning as it should.
You’ll need to make sure that you’re changing your fuel filter at regular intervals. You should plan to change your truck’s fuel filter when it has between 10,000 and 15,000 miles on it.
3. Maintain Fuel Pump and Injectors
Some of the most important parts to pay attention to in your vehicle are the fuel pump and the fuel injectors.
Your fuel injection system is essential for feeding fuel to the engine and regulating it, so it needs to work well. If there’s a problem, it can cause some big issues to your system and can lead to misfiring, rough idling, poor gas mileage, and more.
Be sure to take preventive measures on your fuel pump and injectors. Take note if you start noticing any issues.
4. Prioritize Cleanliness
Keeping your engine clean is also vitally important for improving fuel system maintenance and ensuring that your vehicle keeps working smoothly. When a lot of dirt collects on your engine and its components, it could lead to a decreased lifespan and could have an impact on fuel efficiency as well.
You’ll want to be sure that you keep an eye on the cleanliness of your engine. Ensure that you take care of it and give it some proper attention when needed. Consider scrubbing it using a sponge and an old toothbrush to get to all of the little cracks and hard-to-reach spots of your engine.
When working to keep your engine clean, also be sure that all fluids are kept clean. You should be sure that the fuel is kept clean and changed if needed.
5. Avoid Water
If you have a diesel truck, you need to be well aware of the problem that water can cause to a diesel fuel system. If water gets into a fuel injection system it can cause issues with components and can lead to common failures.
Water that gets into the injection system can quickly oxidize steel components. Some failures that water in the fuel system can lead to include the seizure of injection components, metering components in the fuel pump and injector becoming sticky, and more.
6. Take Note of Strange Noises
As the owner of a diesel truck, you need to listen and pay close attention to any strange noises that you hear. Strange noises can tell you a lot about the condition of your vehicle, so if you notice anything that seems problematic, you could be in trouble if you don’t get it checked out quickly.
A rattling sound, for example, could indicate that you’re using the wrong fuel type in your diesel engine. Similarly, knocking and clicking noises could indicate that your truck’s fuel injections haven’t been lubricated adequately.
Be sure that you remain aware of this and pay attention if you hear any odd noises coming from your engine.
7. Get Your Vehicle Tested
To maintain your diesel truck, make sure that you get diagnostic tests from time to time. Getting your system checked out by professionals can be well worth it and can help you ensure that everything has been addressed that needs to be.
You’ll want to be sure you have a professional check out the components of your truck and look for problems with filters and other important parts of your fuel system. Getting your truck checked out from time to time will help keep it functioning smoothly and can help you find out if there are any necessary repairs you need to get before they become bigger problems.
Maintaining Your Fuel System With These Tips
If you own a diesel truck, make sure that you understand how to maintain its fuel system correctly. Your fuel system is an essential part of your vehicle, so you need to take steps to maintain it well.
Looking for a diesel truck specialist in Rocklin, CA? Contact us today to learn more about how we can help.
