Written by: Emily Joswiak • October 13, 2021• Auto

How To Tell When Your Diesel Engine Is Worn Down

A worn-down diesel engine doesn’t give you what you paid for. Here are some clear signs that your diesel engine is a bit more worn down than you thought.

One of the biggest draws of buying a vehicle with a diesel engine is its longevity. Diesel engines have far longer lifespans than gasoline ones, but that doesn’t mean they’re immortal or invincible. It’s important that you still remain extra vigilant with your diesel engine, especially if you bought it used or had it for a long time. If you want to know how to tell when your diesel engine is worn down, this article should give you a good idea of the signs.

Rough Idling

Have you started to notice that red-light stops are increasingly annoying, thanks to how much shaking your vehicle undergoes? Idling shouldn’t make your truck bounce up and down violently. If it does, that’s a clear sign that your engine has become worn down. Several different issues can lead to a rough idling experience, but they all involve your engine’s aging parts not having the same durability that they once had.

Worsening Gas Mileage

While there are many ways to improve your diesel engine’s gas mileage, you want to be wary of any sign that your gas mileage is decreasing. This can often indicate that old fuel injectors or rings are causing an issue. When these wear down, they compensate for their performance by using up more fuel than is necessary. Take your truck in right away when you start to notice you can’t go quite as far without a fill-up.

Blue Smoke Emissions

Diesel engines can produce several colors of smoke, but you want to be on the lookout for any smoke with a blue hue. Worn components inside of a diesel engine can sometimes cause it to burn oil alongside the fuel. This burning oil produces a distinctive blue smoke that indicates that you need to service your vehicle right away.

Engine Starting Issues

A simple way to tell when your diesel engine is worn down is to note how hard it is to start up. Turning the key repeatedly while trying to get it to start isn’t just bad for the engine itself; it also means that you have a serious ignition problem. Don’t let this issue go too long without having it looked at professionally.

Weaker Engine Power

Diesel engines are popular due to their power and longevity. The increased power was likely a huge part of your reason for buying a diesel engine vehicle in the first place. That’s why it can be very frustrating when you aren’t getting the power you think you should. This issue can develop over a long time, so it’s good to check in every couple of months to ensure you still have the horsepower you need.

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Last modified: October 14, 2021