Every buyer faces a question and has to deal with “Diesel car maintenance vs petrol”. Car manufacturers have a setup separately for customers who want to invest in diesel or a petrol car option.
In the end, after all, it is all about coming down to personal choices and driving with the economy. In the market, there is a fair share of both petrol and diesel vehicles. Petrolheads argue that diesel engine cars tend to die out early and need regular maintenance, thus increasing the diesel car maintenance cost. However, it is known by all how efficient diesel engines are.
Therefore, our love for diesel engines shall remain and elaborated in this article, as we speak of diesel engine maintenance tips and tricks.
Every car needs lavish pampering and love. However, a diesel engine is one of those spoilt kids who need more than just maintenance. It requires complete attention and care. Here are some diesel car maintenance tips and tricks that one can follow to ensure excellent engine health.
Diesel engines do not have spark plugs. This is the main difference between diesel and petrol engine. Therefore, in a diesel engine, ignition entirely relies on battery power. Hence it becomes essential to maintain the car's electrical health and to expose them to less stress. Observing the electrical components that are the blood of a car system is paramount to increase diesel engine efficiency.
For any engine to work in optimal condition, some initial heat is needed for the build. Most cars have their inbuilt and equipped preheating mechanisms. All that is required is to wait for the preheat indicator to go off before turning on the ignition. During winters, this preheating mechanism helps the engine to warm up for 5 minutes before gaining momentum.
Engaging the clutch during ignition helps lessen the load on the starter motor. Starter motors have the work of kick-starting the heavy diesel engine back in life. By assisting the motor to engage the clutch, it will ensure a long vehicle life and provide lower maintenance cost bills in the future. Ensure you do not exert too much pressure on the clutch and gradually get the starter motor started.
In the diesel engine maintenance checklist, the optimal rev range stands on a crucial podium. Higher rev above the 4000-5000 mark generates more sound. This degrades and degenerates the fuel economy, and it does not even generate equivalent power to low rev driving. Therefore, keeping the revs low around the 2000-3000 rpm mark is a good driving habit, and it keeps your engine in a healthy and happy condition.
Every once in a while, your car needs to juice up and needs an excellent servicing day. This is not restricted to an engine type but is a basic automobile necessity. Bi-annual or quarterly services are good enough for keeping any car in its efficient health. Such schedules ensure that the engine remains in its top condition and eventually reduces maintenance costs of diesel cars in India. Such servicing schedules should be followed up by engine top-ups, coolant checking, and servicing of air and oil filters. Particular attention should be given to gaskets during these services.
Tyre pressure predominantly impacts the performance of the overall vehicle. It is essential to maintain good tire health. Car owners should always pay attention to tire pressure warnings on the dashboard indicator. Tire indicators indicate inflation in every tire of a car.
This warning mainly lights up when the pressure in a tire is lower than the needed level. For this, regular attention should be given to the inflation of the tire. The tire pressure should always be optimal, and regular servicing to the tires should be provided.
In the diesel car maintenance checklist, we cannot forget the fuel check of the vehicle. The golden rule about maintaining diesel health is that never let your car run out of fuel. A dry engine can stall any time, and the fuel pump can stop functioning. During a diesel car service, the engine system should be taken into consideration. There is a risk associated with rusting with a dry engine, impacting the vehicle’s overall health.
Some modern engines now cut-off the supply below 2-3 litres of fuel as a safety mechanism. The fact that a dry engine or driving on low fuel indication is harmful should be neglected.
A diesel car service checklist is challenging to follow when you pay attention to every detail in your automobile. Regular diesel engine cleaning and its maintenance are essential to increase the longevity of the car. Once you understand the nerve of your vehicle, you will be able to maintain diesel car care and thus be able to enjoy long car rides!