The winter comes with a lot of undeniable fun. From kids having snowball fights to young lads enjoying the skating activities. There’s just something in the air that brings joy during the winter. Probably the Christmas vibe that comes along with it. Or maybe the Hanukkah. But in the midst of this fun and joyful energy, the winter can be a headache for diesel engine drivers.
Besides the slippery road or the worsened vision the snow brings, it also presents a lot of difficulties for diesel engine owners. You wouldn’t want to battle with your engine , or have your engine refusing to start-up in an embarrassing scenario. You can avoid all these hassles if you are abreast with tips on diesel engine maintenance during winter.
In this article, we will drive you around useful tips for keeping your diesel engines in good condition during the winter.
Let’s get started!
1. Keep the tank full
It will take a longer time for a cup filled with water to freeze up, than for a half-filled cup. Same instance to your fuel tank. To prevent the fuel from freezing or gelling, keep it as full as you can. Before you stop for the night, top off your tank. Never let it go below half.
2. Change your fuel filter regularly
Still keeping fuel size in context, your fuel filter allows a small amount of fuel to sit on it. This fuel, when compared to the amount of fuel in the tank, is so small. And it freezes overnight. We advise you to regularly change your fuel filter. And always have a spare with you just in-case.
3. Park your vehicle in a warm place
When your vehicle is in use, it normally generates enough heat to prevent freezing. But how about when it’s not in use? That is when it is susceptible to freezing. That’s why we advise you to provide your garage with extra heat. This would prevent you fighting with your vehicle when getting it started.
4. Consider heating options
Heating tools for your vehicle is a must have during the winter. They keep the fluid in your engine flowing, warm up lubricants, and ensure smooth run of your engine as though the temperature is normal. Some of these heating options are- heating block heaters, oil warmers, and battery warmers. Using heating block heaters during the winter is a precautionary measure to prevent your vehicle engine from damaging. But you should also have in mind that its only advisable to use when the temperature falls below -20°F.
Heating block heaters
Glow plugs
Glow plugs play vital roles in warming the vehicle’s cylinder during the winter. Glow plugs can typically last for about 100,000 miles. Your glow plug needs to be tested or changed if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:
Hard starting in cold
Engine misfire
Decrease in power and acceleration
Engine misfire
5. Add anti-gel to your fuel
Anti-gel additives help in lowering the freezing point of your diesel fuel. And a lowered freezing point means longer period before the fuel freezes. With the anti-gel additives, your fuel will flow fluently with no threat of thickening. We advise you to add the additives as soon as the winter draws by.
6. Change the oil
Fact is that diesel engines aren’t as complicated as gasoline engines. Diesel engines can withstand heavy duty tasks without easily wearing out. They are also made of fewer components than the gasoline engine. Thanks to its heavy duty potential, they run at higher temperatures. This means they would need heavy weight oil to operate. During the winter, we advise you to buy lighter oil, or synthetic oil. They are less viscous, so they won’t thicken quickly. Have you ever tried suckin
7. Keep your battery in check
Cold weather slows everything down, including the chemical reaction responsible for energy generation in your battery. In fact, at 32°F, a car’s battery loses about 35% of its strength. And at 0°F, it loses about 60% of its strength. But your engine requires nearly twice as much power to start. And if the battery is older than 5 years, it will have a harder time cracking up for a start.
However, a fully charged battery would only freeze at -76°F, while a fully discharged battery will freeze at -32F. So make sure you battery is fully charged for winter.
8. Keep your wiper in good condition
Let’s not neglect the little details here. A faulty wiper during the winter is like faulty eyes. Your wiper must be very much ready for the wet weather, because you are going to get a lot of it. You just can’t see much with a faulty wipe on a snowy day. You would be forced to park your car and wait for the snow to subside. If you keep hearing a screeching sound when its functioning, then it’s probably time for a new pair.
Key Takeaways
People treat their vehicles as their babies. Well, a lot of people do that. And that’s okay. Just like a baby, during the cold, they need warmth to stay alive. So is your vehicle- warmth, and a little more attention.
If you neglect your vehicle during the cold, it can lead to a knockdown. Let’s prevent that now.
If you still have any more puzzles unattended, contact us. Let’s show you how to get things right. We are your vehicle’s doctor. And let’s show you more tips in Diesel engine maintenance during the winter.
Your diesel engine-powered vehicle has the capability to serve you immensely through the frigid winter months. But only if you adapt your maintenance practices to the requirements of the ambient temperature. Now’s not the time to park your vehicle indoors and wait for the heat to come back. Work with us to make your vehicle your ally during this season.
We’ve worked with so many clients over the decades to get their diesel engines performing in top conditions in winter and 2022 is another year we’re signing up to help more clients with theirs. Will your vehicle be one of them?
