As the owner of one or more fleet vehicles that run on a diesel engine, you know how important it is for your business that the trucks remain in service. A breakdown leads to expensive repairs and the possibility of missed deliveries for the clients who depend on you the most. The best way to prevent these costly disruptions in service is to take preventative measures to protect your vehicles. Here is a complete guide to diesel engine maintenance that will keep your trucks on the road.

Coolant Level

One fluid that is critical to the safe operation of the engine is the coolant. Over time, the coolant can start to become more acidic, which can corrode different parts under the hood that rely on the coolant. Be sure to monitor your coolant for acidity and continue to perform regular flushes of the system.

A Clean Engine

The build-up of dirt and grime from any engine is to be expected, but this problem becomes much bigger when a diesel engine is involved. Dirt build-up is one of the quickest ways to ruin your engine and reduce performance. Ideally, you want to keep everything as clean as possible under the hood and clean up as much grime as possible when performing other maintenance on the truck.

Fuel Filter

Fuel filters are important for keeping contaminants from infesting your engine, preventing a serious threat to the road-life of the vehicle. This is especially important for diesel vehicles, where it is recommended to change the fuel filter every ten to fifteen thousand miles. Some vehicles rely on both a primary and secondary fuel filter, and these should be replaced at the same time for optimum performance.

Air Filter

For any engine to run, it requires a very specific blend of fuel and air. Much like the fuel filter does with the gasoline, the air filter’s job is to filter out harmful debris before it can enter the system. Performing regular inspections and changing the air filter when necessary is crucial for diesel engines because they usually require much more air than their unleaded counterparts.

Oil Changes

The last item of discussion in our complete guide to diesel engine maintenance is to stay on top of oil changes for your truck. Much like modern cars, it is recommended to change the oil in your diesel vehicle every five thousand miles. Your engine may require more frequent oil changes if you run your vehicle particularly hard.

For help with servicing your diesel engine vehicles, contact us today at HFI Truck Center. Proudly specializing in Isuzu truck service and sales, we also service many other brands of commercial trucks.