9 Worst Things You Can Do to a Diesel Engine

[stucknutz]

Aside from how to operate things, correct break-in and early first oil changes can really help with longevity.

I tend to overkill, bringing new vehicles home on a trailer, then putting them on the lift to check fluid levels (which are rarely correct) and install magnetic level plugs wherever possible.

Next is the diff gear break-in, following gear manufacturers' guidelines. With those first painful 100 miles done, and the brakes properly bedded in, I switch to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended break-in.

Before that's over they get a first oil change at 500 or so miles, and new diff fluid. The latter has saved a couple of diffs from an early demise.

Well, you get the idea, I treat them all as forever-vehicles, which they never end up being. Heck, I've sold several with under 1,000 miles on them.

Let me know when you sell your next vehicle. Your the type of owner i wanna buy from!!

 

[OldPaint]

I run my truck to the fuel light every tank for the most part. I figure if you always suck all the fuel out then there won't be time for lots of sediment to build up.

I will also say that when I ran a big excavator too low I was changing muddy fuel filters at a very inopportune time....

Yeah, I’m kinda thinking that gravity feed systems where the tank has the fuel line in the lowest possible spot are going to remain fairly sludge free, unless you buy diesel that was nasty to begin with. Ag diesel may be a lot cheaper, but it also has a much lower quality control because it’s rarely inspected. Know and trust your supplier, or get a different supplier.

 

[workinonit]

Why do all of you think there is some magical difference in the dyed vs clear fuel. All of the fuel is EXACTLY the same. The dye is injected when the truck is loaded where I buy from. It's all the same stuff.

Ag diesel may be a lot cheaper, but it also has a much lower quality control because it’s rarely inspected. Know and trust your supplier, or get a different supplier.

 

[dodge man]

Around here the diesel pumps all say something like “may contain bio diesel between 5% and 20%”. No choice, they all say that. I’ve heard it’s usually B5.

 

[NYlumberman]

I run my truck to the fuel light every tank for the most part. I figure if you always suck all the fuel out then there won't be time for lots of sediment to build up.

I will also say that when I ran a big excavator too low I was changing muddy fuel filters at a very inopportune time....

Maybe I have it wrong, but isn’t the fuel pick up in the tank stationary? Most issues I ever had with crap in a tank were exposed right after filling the tank, when everything was “stirred up”. And it turned out that those issues were purchased at the pump.