All engines are designed to last as long as possible. However, this does not always happen. That said, whether it’s due to a random problem or some bad habits on the part of users, a diesel engine can start to display unusual and worrying characteristics when it’s close to failing. These characteristics can range from the usual concerns of any engine to problems completely unique to the diesel engine structure. So if your diesel car does some of the things mentioned below, the engine is in trouble!
Careful! If your diesel car does this, the engine has a problem!
Large oil consumption
On average, diesel engines are larger and run at higher temperatures than their conventional counterparts. After all, a diesel engine shines on long journeys, so it needs more muscle and lubrication to maintain its speed and performance. That being said, even a diesel engine only needs a certain amount of oil on a regular basis. If your diesel engine is consuming oil by the bucketload, it is a sign that something is wrong.
As with conventional engines, excessive oil consumption in a diesel engine is usually caused by a leak somewhere in the casing or components, allowing oil to escape from the engine and into places where it is not supposed to be. Not only can it be expensive to constantly top up the oil, it can also be a sign of failure or wear at various points.
Noticeable vaporization
Do you know how an engine’s pistons use an air-fuel mixture to spark and push downwards? Sometimes, due to the lack of an airtight seal in the cylinder, some of this air-fuel mixture can pass through the piston and escape into the crankcase. This can result in a characteristic gurgling sound coming from the engine.
However, if the cylinders, piston rings or crankcase are all wearing out at the same time, there will be a lot of smoke coming out of the engine at the same time, which is not safe or healthy for anyone nearby.
Colored smoke
You never want to see any kind of smoke coming out of your diesel engine. Even in the movies, a stream of smoke coming out from under the hood of a vehicle is a sure indicator that something bad is about to happen. It would be bad enough if the smoke was white or black, indicating a problem with fuel processing or combustion, respectively, but the big warning sign to be concerned about is if the smoke has a distinct blue color.
If your diesel engine is smoking blue, this is a sign that it is burning its oil supply in addition to diesel fuel, probably due to oil residue building up on the cylinder walls. This may be the result of an overabundance of oil in the engine, as well as deformations of the piston rings, valves or cylinders.
Loss of power
One of the great attractions of diesel engines is the fact that their power is generally greater than that of a conventional engine. However, over time, this potency may begin to slowly decrease. This is a common characteristic of an old, outdated diesel engine. Although the problem can also manifest itself in newer engines under the right circumstances (or rather, the wrong circumstances).
The key to the characteristic power of a diesel engine is the quality of its fuel. Diesel fuel can contain various impurities and debris, more than regular gasoline, which can inhibit regular engine functions. Normally, these impurities are filtered by the fuel filter, but if the filter is clogged or damaged, all this loose dirt ends up entering the engine and unbalancing the entire process.
