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In all likelihood your diesel has a turbo-charger. The turbo-charger, much like a jet engine, has compressor blades inside it that spin at 20k or 30k rpm. These blades force clean outside air into the engine, thereby increasing engine efficiency and performance. However, because the turbo-charger is like a jet engine, great care must be taken to make sure the air entering the turbo is clean and clear of debris. For instance, if a small piece of debris were to enter the turbo as it was spinning at max speed it's possible one of the compressor blades would shatter as it struck the debris. These shattered pieces would then strike other blades, shattering them, until the time when the entire turbo has been destroyed. That's why it's incredibly important that the air filter on your diesel engine is clean and properly installed. To help you, most vehicle manufacturers equip their vehicles with an electronic sensor that will tell you when to check your air filter. Additionally, nearly all turbo-diesels have air-filter restriction gauges. This restriction gauge will tell you if your air filter has become too clogged to protect your turbo. If the gauge indicates a new filter is needed, you should replace it immediately. For all these reasons, I suggest you keep a spare filter in your vehicle just in case. Even without the turbo-charger, diesel engines have lots of maintenance items that are especially important. Fuel filters are extremely important for proper performance because diesel fuel, unlike gasoline, contains a relatively large amount of impurities. For example, the typical gasoline fuel filter might only need replacement once every 30,000 miles. Yet many manufacturers suggest diesel fuel filters be replaced in as little as 10k miles (depending upon driving conditions). Make sure to check your owner's manual to find out what your manufacturer suggests. Also, use the same service station every time you refuel if possible. If you're favorite service station has bad fuel, you'll find out relatively quickly and you can save yourself money by finding a new fuel source. Diesel fuel, in addition to having a lot of impurities, also contains water! Even though small amounts of water will not hurt your diesel engine, water does reduce economy and performance. Therefore, most modern diesels are equipped with fuel-water separators. Depending upon your vehicle manufacturer, you may need to manually purge the water from your diesel's fuel system as often as once a month. Make sure to check your owner's manual for instructions. In some cases, if you don't purge the water from your diesel's fuel system you will experience poor performance and fuel economy. Luckily, many service facilities will perform this task for you at little or no charge. They'll also dispose of the contaminated fuel/water mixture. Diesel engines are often referred to as "oil burners" because, unlike gasoline engines, diesel engines typically burn some of the engine's lubricating oil during normal operation. That's why it's especially important to check your diesel's oil level between oil changes. To check the oil, make sure the engine has cooled for at least 30 mins and that the vehicle is level. Your owner's manual will explain when you should add oil based on the engine's dipstick reading. If you don't check your diesel's oil level regularly, you could suffer engine damage. Another diesel engine quirk is that they are especially sensitive to cold temperatures. Untreated diesel fuel can "gel" (turn from a liquid to a semi-solid) at temperatures below zero. At temperatures below freezing, diesel engines usually start harshly and warm-up slowly. At extremely low temps (below -10 F) most diesel engine oil will not protect the engine from friction because it will be too viscous. For all these reasons, it's important to use your diesel's block heater anytime outside temperatures dip below zero (F). If you can afford the electricity, my recommendation is to plug-in your block heater any time the outside temperature dips below freezing (32 F). This will protect your engine by keeping your fuel and oil warm, make for quick and easy start-ups by pre-heating your glow plugs, and help your engine warm-up quickly by pre-warming the engine coolant. To locate your block heater's plug-in, check your owners manual. Usually they're wire-tied to a harness behind the bumper. If you engine doesn't have a block heater, one can be installed for a small charge. Finally, unlike most modern gasoline engines, new diesel engines often have a break-in period. During the first 500 or 1000 miles (check your manual to find out), it's important that you avoid driving at sustained speeds (i.e. long trips on the highway). Additionally, many manufacturers suggest you refrain from towing or hauling during this period as well. Once this initial break-in period is over, it's not uncommon for your diesel to continue to break-in for the first 20k or 30k miles. Unlike gas motors, which are truly broken-in after 3k to 5k miles, diesels need lots of time and use to reach their peak efficiency and performance. Most long-time diesel owners will tell you that their engine didn't really start to perform until a year or two after they bought it. In summary, any new or first-time diesel owner should read their diesel's engine manual. They should also make sure to keep a close eye on the air filter restriction gauge, change the fuel filter often, always check engine oil between services, purge water from the diesel fuel system, and use the block heater anytime outside temperatures drop below zero degrees Fahrenheit. By taking the time and effort to do these extra tasks, your diesel engine should reward you with 200,000+ miles of service. Article Source: http://www.articlewheel.com
Author Jason Lancaster operates TundraHeadquarters.com, a resource for Toyota Tundra owners. For anyone interested in a diesel Tundra, TundraHeadquarters.com has recently discovered evidence of a diesel Toyota Tundra in development.
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