How to Keep Your Diesel Engines Healthy

Diesel engines - The rugged resource of powerful operations have been designed to perform consistently. With quality engineering and a durable design, it is ready to take up any operating challenge. But at the end of the day, when you look at it, diesel engines are also machines. To keep them ever ready for heavy-duty work, they need to be maintained. Unlike other fuel-based engines, diesel engines demand a very low level of maintenance. This distinctive feature allows operators and manufacturers to look after the health of their engines effectively. 

But before we learn how to enhance your skills for diesel engine maintenance, we need to understand what factors affect their performance in your day-to-day application. If you are a machine manufacturer incorporating diesel engines, an operator of diesel engines, or just an engine enthusiast, knowing about these problems will ease the process of solving them. So let’s power up your knowledge. 

Dirt and Dust 

Off-highway diesel engines are designed for seamless performance. But operating it under a climate fumed with dust and debris can raise a challenge for its performance. When tiny dust particles penetrate the engine and ingest into air-filtering components they pave their way to the combustion chamber and disturb the natural movement of the diesel engine. Too much dust inside the combustion chamber can also result in engine failure or complete choking of the pistons. 

Increased Temperature

Engineered for rugged performance, diesel engines are trusted for efficient and consistent power supply. The modern water cooling system ensures optimum temperature under challenging operations. However, after a certain limit, all the components start to overheat and make the cooling process ineffective. Such strain causes thermal stress and premature wear on the engines.

Heavy Loading 

When we stress more load on engines, they consume more fuel to perform, demand more power to engage, release more heat and exhaust before their standard time. It is very simple, more load causes more damage, ultimately resulting in a shorter lifespan. There are different engines for different types of operation, so make a wise choice by selecting the right one. 

Challenging Landscapes 

Rugged terrains cause unmatched vibrations adding more momentum to the natural vibrations of the diesel engine. These vibrations when delivered without a break can cause leakage, increased pressure on performance and sometimes even dismantling of components. This additional stress can lead to a blockage in the crankshaft, keeping your projects incomplete.

Absence of Maintenance

Keeping a periodic check on all the components of diesel engines is very crucial. An absence of regular maintenance raises the consequences of clogging the fuel injection system, potential breakdowns, and increased repair costs. 

Inefficient fuel 

Fuel is the blood that pumps power to diesel engines. If the ingested fuel is of low quality or is filled with dirt, it will impact its performance, naturally. Furthermore, the fuel flows through every component of the diesel engine and will carry damage with itself wherever it travels. 

Cold Starting Stress

Cold-starting diesel engines is effortless compared to other fuel engines. Under extremely cold weather they demand more time to ignite. When they perform this process repetitively under the same weather conditions, it lays additional stress on the other components of the engine too. This additional stress over a prolonged period of time affects the durability of the engine. 

Water Infiltration

When diesel engines perform under challenging conditions in the absence of maintenance, the components experience damage. This damage if not looked upon, allows water to ingress into the machine. The ingressed water makes a passage through the machine corroding every single component it touches. 

Constant Functioning 

If you operate your diesel engine at its highest potential every single time, it overheats the components. This overheating of components leads to the failure of the cooling system as discussed earlier and ultimately impairs the engine.

Up till now, we have introduced you to the most recurring and the most uncommon cause of problems for off-highway diesel engines. Now, let's dig into the methods that will help you increase the efficiency of your diesel engine and enhance its life. 

EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR DIESEL ENGINE MAINTENANCE

Regular Upkeep 

Every machine demands maintenance for longevity. It is essential to understand that just like we humans need a vacation to recharge ourselves, machines need maintenance. A periodic check on your machine and its important components such as air filters, fuel filters, coolant, radiator etc can eliminate the risk of damage. When conducting a periodic check also ensure that you replace or repair the parts that are worn out, it affects the ultimate performance of the diesel engine. 

Efficient Fuel

Due to its low sulphur chemical bond, diesel is prone to contamination. It is very crucial for operators to infuse only top-notch diesel. Quality fuel will ensure a clean and clog-free system alongside preventing the components from corrosion. It is recommended to also add additional lubricants suggested by the manufacturer for smooth, consistent and heavy-duty operations

A healthy cooling system

Diesel engines are compact but powerful. They can withstand a higher operation level compared to other fuel engines. But it also releases a lot of heat in this process, which is maintained at room temperature by an innovative cooling system. To maintain the health of your diesel engines you must regularly inspect your coolant and maintain a clean radiator to enhance the shield of protection. 

Adequate warm-up and cool down 

When your diesel engine is at rest, the fuel does not flow through the component, and when you restart the engine after rest, the fuel flows in an instant throughout the engine. Fuel flows through the engine gradually activating every component one after the other, allowing its full potential to be explored. In a standard format, when the diesel engine is not allowed to attain this warm-up it experiences a jerk which can leave a degrading impact on the engine. This is why warm-up and cooling of the diesel engine are essential. 

Prevent overloading

Specific diesel engines are designed for different operational needs. Engaging your off-highway diesel engine in a challenge above its prescribed loading capacity can severely damage its components. Additionally, more/unnecessary revving can also cause harm. 

Scheduled Maintenance

A regular inspection of your off-highway diesel engine can help you identify problems before they accelerate. Performing a vital inspection for vibrations, oil leakages, peculiar sound, air filters, coolants, and peculiar sound every time before you start operating will ensure operational safety and longer life of diesel engines. 

Safe deactivation and storage 

When off-highway diesel engines are not performing any operational activity, store them in a clean and dry space away from the impact of dirt and debris. Also, when your operational activity arrives at completion, shut down the diesel engines as described by the manufacturer.

Shutting down the diesel engine perfectly creates a shield of protection against fuel contamination, corrosion of clutch brakes and much more. 

These heavy-duty machines are the heart of every progressive operational activity; ensuring their maintenance helps you keep their performance consistent and uninterrupted from challenges. Regular maintenance also helps you explore the highest potential of your diesel engines under challenging conditions. Moreover, keeping regular maintenance helps you know your diesel engine component by component. This knowledge will power up solutions when you face an unforeseen obstacle while operating your diesel engine.

Choosing the right off-highway diesel engine is also a crucial process. Engines that understand your power needs and are reliable. MVDE off-highway diesel engines are trusted for their uninterrupted performance in construction, agriculture, marine and much more across the globe. Our diesel engines are trusted for progress that moves the world forward. Explore more about MVDE off-highway diesel engines and unleash growth