Troubleshooting Common Diesel Truck Issues

You have a diesel vehicle due to the power towing, load capability, and toughness. You are in love with your diesel, but just like every mechanical system, it can cause you problems occasionally. When winter is in Alberta, the engine could have some issues caused by the cold winter temperatures. We've listed a few of the most frequently encountered problems that could arise in your vehicle that could cause a decrease in the performance of diesel.

Diesel Trucks Having a Hard Start

If the temperature drops, there are a number of things that could occur to the diesel engine of your truck.

Oil: First thing to look at is your oil. If it's thick, you may not have the proper oil for the cold weather. Consider changing to a cold-weather fluid that's lighter, like the 5W-40 motor oil that is synthetic.

Battery: When your engine's diesel is not running at a sufficient rate, as per the specifications of your vehicle, check the battery's condition and charge along with all connections. If your battery is depleted or you've got a weak connection, you may experience difficulty getting your diesel truck started.

The glow plug: If crank speed isn't a problem, there could be something wrong with your glow plugs system. The system is there to assist with cold start-ups. If two or one of the glow plugs are burned out, your car may not be experiencing any issues until winter weather arrives. Make sure to check the glow plugs in your vehicle by testing their resistance or their continuity. If they're burned out, this means that they're coated with carbon or don't receive the voltage they require to begin, so your vehicle may have trouble getting started.

Issues with Diesel Fuel

The tank's fuel may be the reason for your diesel truck's problems. Here are some items to look for:

The tank is filled with summer fuel in the event of a drop in temperature: When the colder weather arrives, the summer-grade fuel in your vehicle can begin to form crystals of wax in the separator for fuel and water, which can cause an obstruction. If this occurs, take your vehicle to a garage that is warm and melt it. Once it is thawed, you could either put in an air conditioner to the tank or empty the tank completely and fill it up with winter-grade diesel fuel. Discover the difference between winter and summer diesel fuel.

Be aware that the presence of water in fuel (usually resulting from condensation) can cause problems too. When water enters the tank for fuel, the majority of it sinks into the tank's bottle and may get trapped in the fuel lines, the filter, or the separator for water and fuel. It can then become frozen. You'll need to defrost it and empty the tank to eliminate the obstruction.

Fuel isn't correctly getting to the engine: If you want your diesel to begin and run properly, the timing of the injector must be in order. The manual of your truck will explain the timing process and take one quick glance to see whether they're in line. Some newer models may require a diagnostic test to find the issue. So, please bring it to us so we can examine the issue for you.