Diesel cars remain popular in India despite tougher emissions norms and the removal of diesel products from automakers’ portfolios. Even when diesel engines have almost left the hatchback and sedan segment, they are still quite popular in SUVs. In this context, it is important to avoid common mistakes that are slowly destroying diesel car engines.
Updated May 24, 2023 | 09:40 IST
Tips and tricks: Don’t do this to your diesel car!
Car maintenance (Image for representation)
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As diesel remains a popular choice in the country, given the prevalence of diesel cars, we have identified 5 common mistakes that diesel car owners make that are slowly destroying your car’s engine.
Times Drive readers if you own a diesel car or plan to own a diesel car. We wrote: 5 Ways to Kill Your Diesel Car Slowly. In addition to avoiding these things, be sure to strictly adhere to the service schedule specified for your car.
start up
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Avoid wearing
You should avoid towing your diesel car at all costs. If you’re wondering what drag refers to? Run the engine at low revs in higher gears. This puts a lot of stress on your engine and can lead to premature wear and tear, negatively affecting the performance and longevity of your diesel car. To avoid this, make sure you are operating within the recommended RPM range for your specific vehicle. Downshift when necessary to maintain a smooth and efficient driving experience.
low fuel
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Don’t drive on low fuel
Running your diesel car on low fuel levels may seem harmless, but it can have detrimental effects on your engine. Diesel acts as a lubricant for certain components such as the fuel pump and injectors. When the fuel level drops, the fuel pump can draw air instead of diesel, increasing friction and potential damage. Avoid this by keeping the fuel tank at a reasonably adequate level, ensuring a constant supply of clean fuel to the engine. Also constantly keeping fuel levels at a quarter or lower also puts extra stress on the fuel pump.
high rpm
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Don’t let your engine overheat or run cold
Smoke from the exhaust of a car
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Ignoring the exhaust fumes
This is a no-brainer if your vehicle is emitting smoke then something is definitely wrong with your vehicle. In the case of diesel engines, caution is the best cure and catching exhaust smoke early and getting to the root cause and treating the problem can save you from expensive bills. It is common for a car to emit some smoke in winters when the engine is cold, it is essentially steam and not smoke to be exact. But if you notice smoke after your engine has warmed up, it can be an alarming sign that something is wrong and shouldn’t be ignored. Dark smoke indicates excessive fuel consumption, faulty injectors or engine-related problems, white smoke indicates a coolant leak, a damaged head gasket or even a failing turbocharger, while blue smoke indicates that the your car may be burning oil which could cause engine failure. You should take care of exhaust fumes as a top priority to avoid killing your engine.
DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter)
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Ignoring the DPF
Cleanliness is next to godliness and this is also true in the cases of cars. An oil, an oil filter, an air filter, etc. dirty can have quite harmful effects on your car. But modern diesel cars are now also equipped with a DPF (diesel particulate filter). The function of the DPF is to trap and reduce harmful emissions from entering the environment from your vehicle. If the DPF is not taken care of, it can become clogged with soot and particles. Therefore, adopt the cleanliness policy here as well. Because a clogged DPF can cause a potential loss of power and efficiency that can also slowly build up in your engine. Timely inspection and cleaning of the DPF will ensure that your modern diesel vehicle remains in top condition.
