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If you had a serious heart condition, your physician would refer you to a cardiologist who specializes in that category. Likewise, when repairing a diesel engine, you should take it to a diesel specialist. Diesel engines have common problems that a specialist will be familiar with. These are not common problems found in gas-powered cars. The parts are different, as is the maintenance that may be needed.

Diesel is actually only one form called petrodiesel. It comes from petroleum and is an unrefined fuel. Diesel engines enjoy a very high compression ratio and low fuel consumption per horsepower when compared to gas-powered engines. They also have better torque ratios. They do not have spark plugs for ignition and can ignite themselves. While these may be pros for looking into a diesel-powered engine, when repairs are needed, a regular repair shop may not be able to complete the job with as much knowledge as a trained diesel specialist.

There are many differences between gasoline engines and diesel engines. The average driver, who has been driving a gasoline-powered vehicle, cannot simply jump into a diesel truck and assume that he or she can continue with business as usual. Further, this driver cannot expect the vehicle’s maintenance practices to be the same. According to one maintenance site, diesel engines need to be warmed up, and a specialist may be more inclined to explain this to a driver. They are warmed by using oxygen for oxygenation, and they need an air tank attached to constantly supply oxygen to the engine. It also needs an oil tank. This is a crucial element for the engine to work properly and will need to be changed regularly.

Also, a specialist comprehends that a diesel engine has an intercooler which will reduce the temperature when the heat is too high for the engine. Air filters and fuel filters will also need to be changed regularly, as they are used a lot to interfere with the high emissions from this type of engine. A specialist will know what and when to change these. In colder temperatures, diesel changes into an immobile gel and will have a harder time starting. Another diesel specific problem is microbial growth within the engine. Most gasoline engine repairmen would not know to look for this. Diesel spurs the growth of microbes, like bacteria, fungus, yeast, and mold. This gets stuck within the fuel filters, plugging them up and creating many problems. This could be costly if a specialist wasn’t aware of what the root of the problem actually was. And the longer it takes for someone to diagnose your engine problem, the more you are responsible for paying in labor costs. Bringing your vehicle to a diesel specialist could potentially lower labor costs for quicker diagnosis of common, but different engine issues.

There are major differences between diesel engines and gas-powered engines, which is one of the reasons many auto repair facilities specialize with one repairman of each type. A lot of schooling and experience goes into learning the ins and outs of each kind of engine. According to one engine website, in a gasoline engine, the mixture of fuel and air is pulled into a cylinder, which is closed off. The piston thrust upward to create compression and a spark ignites the mixture, creating combustion and thrusting the piston back down to create mechanical energy. A diesel engine works along those same lines, but the high compression ratio in a diesel engine allows the air to heat up in the cylinder enough to ignite the fuel without a spark. Diesel also needs to be water-cooled because of their high operational temperature. Second, structure and speed are major differences between those types of engines. Gas-powered engines are lighter than diesel, and speed is controlled by increasing or decreasing the amount of air admitted into the cylinder. Diesel engines are considerably heavier and noisier, and they control speed based on how much fuel is in the cylinder.

So why is it so important for you to take your diesel engine to a diesel specialist? The differences and common problems listed above are the major supporting reason for one to take their vehicle to a specialist. The powerful diesel engines are becoming more common in regular pickup trucks. Many diesel specialists repair and maintain the diesel engines that power transportation equipment, construction equipment, and trains. The need for diesel mechanics who work on smaller vehicles, like Sprinters, pickup trucks, and vans has become more prevalent. Diesel maintenance is becoming increasingly complex, as more electronic components are used to control the operation of an engine. Diesel service technicians use a variety of tools in their work and also used a variety of diesel-specific computerized testing to diagnose common issues in diesel engines.

Everyone wants to keep their vehicle healthy, no matter what type of engine they have, but bringing yours to a diesel specialist will save you time and money in the long run.

Suncoast Auto & Truck Repair offer’s a full range of services including wheel alignment, we are locally owned and operated. We are servicing the Bradenton, Parrish, and Ellenton area in Florida.