Troubleshoot Diesel Engine Problems
Troubleshoot Diesel Engine Problems
Troubleshoot Diesel Engine Problems
Let'sgetsocial
++44(0)1939291155
NAVIGATION
Iamoftenaskedtodiagnosevehicleproblemsoverthephone,ifonlyitwas
thateasy.MainDealers,specialistsandgaragesequippedwithexpensive
andsophisticateddiagnosticequipmentstillseemtostruggle.Computer
generatedfaultcodesonlygoacertaindistancetopointinthedirectionof
theproblem.Afterthat,itisaprocessofelimination,unfortunatelyatyour
expense.
Theinnovationofthecomputergeneratedfaultdiagnosishasledtoagenerationof
mechanicsthathaveoftenlostsightofthebasicoperatingprinciplesofthediesel
engine.Unfortunatelythefaultcodesdon'talwayspinpointtheproblembutrather
bringupanarrayofcodesthatcouldbeeitherthisorthat.Beingtold:"wehavetried
thisandithasnothelped"orthebestone,"sorrytherearenofaultcodessowecan't
findanything",isextremelyfrustratingandcanbecostly.
Iamnotknockingthemodernmechanic,nowadaysdieselenginesareextremely
sophisticatedanddifficulttodiagnose.Ipersonallydonothaveanydiagnostic
equipmentandallmyknowledgecomesfromotherpeople'sexperiencesandyearsof
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 1/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
workinginthedieseltrade.Ihopethattheinformationbelowhelpsanddoesnotjust
confuseyoubutatleastitissomethingtostartwithandhasnotcostyouanything.
BelowisaTroubleshootingchartthatmighthelporjustconfuseyoumore,
Diesel Troubleshooting
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Low
compression X X X
Lowenginecompressionwillresultininsufficientheatbeinggeneratedtoignitethe
fuelandcausehardstarting.Thisismoreofaproblemwitholderorhighmileage
vehicles.Tofindoutthecompressionperformacoldenginecompressiontest.
Compressionshouldbebetween20to35barsor300to500PSI.Anythingbelow
thiswillcausestartingproblems.
Lowfuel
X X X X X X
pressure
Itisinthisareathatmostfuelsupplyproblemsoccur.Theproblemcouldeitherbe
poorfuelsupplytotherail/injectors/pumportherail/injectorsarenotholdingthe
fuelwithinthesystem.Thebestwaytodiagnosethisistostartfromthetankand
ensurethatsufficentfuelisavailabletothepump.Thenmakesurethatthepumpis
deliveringfuel.Losenthesupplypipefromthepumptotherail.Checkfueldelivery.
Thisisaimportantpartofthediagnosticssoifyouwanttoknowmorecontactme.If
youputyourfingeroverthepumpoutlet(totherail)canyoustopthedeliverywhilst
cranking?Thedeliverywillnotsquirtfarbutyoushouldnotbeabletostopthe
deliverywithyourfingerasthepressurebuildsup.
Lowcranking
speedflat X X
battery
Iftheengineturnsovertooslowly,thepumpcannotgenerateenoughfuelpressure
toactivatestartofinjectioncausinghardstartingproblems.Thisisusuallyseen
moreinthecoldermonthsespeciallyifthebatteryisrundown.
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 2/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Glowplugsor
X X X
relayfaulty
Theenginereliesontheglowplugstogenerateheattohelpwiththecombustion
cycle.Someenginesonlyusetheglowplugswhencoldbutotherswillallowtheglow
plugstoworkwhentheECU(vehicle'scomputer)needsthemtobeontohelpwith
combustion.Problemsinthisareawillcausedieselenginestartingproblems,uneven
runningandwhitesmokewhentheengineiscold.
Insufficient
X X X X X
fuelsupply
Thisspeaksforitself,notenoughfuelinthetankoraproblemwithsupplypipes
beingcrackedorbent.Thefueltankbreathercansometimesbeblockedcausinga
vacuuminthetankwhichinturndrawsthefuelbacktothetank.
Fuelquality&
contamination X X X X X X
Ihavebeeninvolvedwithdieselfuelinjectionallmyworkinglifeandstillfindthe
topicoffuelandsolutionscontroversial.Workingwithdieselinjectorsweseethe
resultofpoorfuelqualitydamageandconditionoftheinternalcomponents.Iknow
thatifagoodqualitydieselandansolutionisusedregularlyitwillprolongthelifeof
dieselinjectionequipment.
Poorfuelqualityandgeneralwearandteararenottheonlycauseofinjectorfailure,
thenewertypeofinjectorssometimesfailduetodesignproblems.
Iwouldestimatethatabout85%ofinjectorsfailduetofuelrelatedissuesandthe
balanceduetodesignproblems.
Airvacuum
infuelsupply X X X X
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 3/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Thisissimilarto"Insufficientfuelsupply"(above)butdirtyfuelfiltersorafaulty
filterheadassemblymayalsocausefuelsupplyissuesandhardstarting.
Blockedfuel
supply X X X X X
filters
Needinformation
Faultydiesel
X X X X X X X
injector(s)
Probablythebiggestresultofinjectorfailureisduetotheinjectorshavingexcessive
returnfloworbackleakage.Thisisduetowornpartswhichallowexcessivefuelto
gothroughthedieselinjectorandtoreturnbacktothetankorfuelsystem.This
causesadropinrailpressure(see"Lowfuelpressure")whichresultsinhardstarting
ornotstartingatall.
Anotherproblemresultingfromwornpartsisadelayinthestartofinjectionwhichin
turnresultsinroughrunningatlowRPMoryourdieselnotstarting.
WearealsoseeingproblemswiththelaterBoschPiezoinjectorsthatarecausing
whitesmokeatidle.Thevehiclebuildsupexcessivewhitesmokeatidlebutthen
tendstoclearon
acceleration.Wehavefoundthatthenozzlesdribbleresultinginunburntfuel.
Forpeaceofmindsendyourinjectorsinfortesting,askusforaquote.
Faultyhigh
pressure X X X X X
pump
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 4/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Ifthepumpisfaultytherewillbea"Lowfuelpressure"problem.Thisproblemarises
ifthepump"breaksup"internallycausingswarfandironfilingstogetintothefuel
system.Normallythiscausesdamagetothedieselinjectorsandunlessthecomplete
fuelsystemisattendedtotheproblemwillariseagain.Thisisanexpensivefailure
andnoshortcutscanbetaken.
Faulty
pressure
X X X X
regulator
sensor
Mostvehicleshaveapressureregulatorfittedonthehighpressurepumpanda
sensorfittedontherail.Ifeitherofthesearefaultytherewillberunningissueslike
hardstarting,uneventickoverandthevehiclecuttingoutwhentheRPMis
increased.
Faultylow
pressure
X X X X
supplypump
Notallvehicleshavealowpressuresupplypumpbutiftheydoitcanbefoundeither
inthetankoronthefuelpipenearthetank.Ifyourlowpressurepumpisfaulty,you
mayexperiencesymptomssimilartothoseofa"Faultyhighpressurepump".
Airintake
X X X
restriction
Thiswouldbeduetoadirtyaircleaner,blockedpipesorastuckbutterflyvalve
foundonsomevehicles.Inaddition,afaultyairflowsensorontheairintakewill
causeproblemsrunningandexcessivesmoke.
Turbo
problems
wastegate X X X X X
andVariable
vanes
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 5/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Weareseeingmoreturbosfailingwithnewervehicles,Iputitdowntoa
combinationofthings,highrevvingenginesdemandingmorepower,incorrectdriver
actions(notallowingtheenginetoidleawhilewhenstartedandbeforeswitching
off),poormaintenanceandnotreplacingoldoilwithagoodqualityoil.Aturbospins
atabout42000revolutionsperminute,theaveragewashingmachineat1000rpm.
Asvehiclesgetoldertheturbowastegatestickscausingthevehicletoeithershut
down,gointolimphomemodeorsmokeexcessively.
Ifavehiclehasavariablevaneturbo,problemscanariseifthevanscarbonup,the
symptomsarelackofpower,blacksmokeandhesitationonacceleration.Alsomake
surethatallthevacuumpipesandsensorsthatoperatetheturboareoperating
correctly.
Anotherproblemisiftheairpipestoandfromtheinlet,intercoolerandturboleak
duetodamageorlooseclamps,thevehiclecanexperiencesimilarproblems.
EGRproblems
nowincluding
watercooled
EGRvalves X X X X X X
leakingwater
intothe
engine.
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 6/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
IdonotknowwhyEGR(exhaustgasrecycling)valveswereeverputontodiesel
engines,theycausemoretroublethantheyareworth.Theideaisthatwhilstthe
engineisattickover,avalveopensandallowssomeoftheexhaustgasestopass
backintothenicecleanairintakemanifold.
Afterawhilethegasescontainingdirty,sootycarbonsstarttocoverandcoatthe
intakeareaandvalvescausingtheairtofuelratiotobecomeunbalancedthus
resultinginmoreblacksmokebeingemittedfromtheexhaust.Thisblacksmokeis
thendrawnbackintotheairintakeviatheEGRvalve.Aviciouscyclethenstarts
withtheengineproducingmoresmokeandsootiercarbonsbeingdrawnintothe
intake,amajorproblem.IwouldalwaysrecommendtheEGRvalvetobeblankedoff
butsomevehicleswillnotallowthis.
AnewproblemwithmodernEGRvalvesisthatsomeofthemarewatercooled,great
ideabutastheyagetheybecomeporisandstartleakingcoolantintotheengine
throughtheEGRvalve.Tocheckremovethevalve,blockofthecoolantoutlet
connection,connectcompressedairintothecollantinlet,dropintoabucketofwater
andseeifyouhaveantairleaks.
Injector
blowbyseat X X X X
leaking
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 7/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Injector"blowby"canbethecauseofsomeofthefollowingsymptoms.Hardor
difficultstarting/erraticoruneventickoveroridle/lumpyrunning/smokeontick
overoracceleration/blacktararoundtheinjectorsandachuffingsoundfromthe
enginewhenrunning.Injector"blowby"occurswhentheinjectordoesnotseal
againsttheinjectorseatinthecylinderhead.Oftenachuffingsoundisheardor
black"tar"canbeseenaroundtheinjectors.
Onsomeengineapplicationsifthiscontinuesseriousenginedamagecouldresultdue
tothefactthattheECUwillovercompensatethefuellingonthecylinderorcylinders
withtheseatingproblemcausingpistonwashingorcylinderoverfuelling.Evenifthe
injectorisremoved,cleaned,anewcopperwasherfittedandthenreplaceditwillnot
alwaysrectifytheproblem.Thereasonforthisisthattheseatinthecylinderhead
hasbeenerodedbytheescapingcombustiongasesresultingindamagetotheseat.
Theonlywaytorefacetheseatistouseaseatcuttingtoolandgentlyrefacethe
seatinthehead.MoreinfocanbefoundonourTipsandTroublespage.
Camcrank
X X X X X X
sensor
Checkthatthesensorsarenotloose,crackedordamagedastheyarenotvery
expensive.IfyouhaveanydoubtsIwouldrecommendreplacingthem.
Injector
wiring X X X X
harness
Moreofaproblemwithvehiclesthathavetheinjectorsundertherockercoverand
allowoiltocomeincontactwiththeelectricalconnections.Eventhoughsome
diagnosticmachineswillcondemntheinjector/s,manytimesthefaultlieswiththe
wiringharness.
Checkthattheelectricalconnectionsontheinjectorsaregoodandaremaking
contact.
Internal
engine X X X X X
problems
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 8/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Probable Runs
Hard Diesel
Cause Engine rough Lack
to knock Black White Blue
not at of
start / smoke smoke smoke
starting lower power
engine pinking
RPM
Thisisgenerallymechanicalfailuresuchasproblemswithbearings,pistons,oil
pressure,overheating,valvesandmore.Thelistisendless,itisbesttogetan
enginespecialisttodiagnosethefault.
Wecangenerallyunderstandwhatiswrongwithadieselenginebythecolourof
smokeemittedfromtheexhaust.Therearethreebasiccoloursblack,whiteand
blue.
Black Smoke
Thisisduetoaairtofuelratioimbalance,eitherthefuelsystemisdeliveringtoo
muchfuelintotheengineorthereisnotenoughcleanair(oxygen)afewthingsto
lookfor:
Faultyinjectors(injectorsneedattentionatabout100.000to120000miles)
Faultyinjectorpump
Dirtyaircleaner
Turbochargerorintercoolerfaulty
Problemswithincylinderhead,valvescloggedupduetofaultyEGR(exhaustgas
recyclingunit)
White Smoke
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 9/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
Normallymeansthatthefuelinjectedintothecylinderisnotburningcorrectly.The
smokewillburnyoureyes.
Engine/pumptimingout
Fuelstarvationtothepumpcausingthepumpstimingnottooperatecorrectly
Lowenginecompression
Water/petrolinthefuel
Blue Smoke
Theengineisburningengineoil
Worncylindersorpistonrings
Faultyvalvesorvalvestemseals
Engineoverfullwithengineoil
Faultyinjectorpump/liftpumpallowingengineoiltobemixedwiththediesel
Yourname*
Yourvehicleregistration*
Youremail*
Yourcontactnumber
Keepmeupdatedwithnews,informationandoffers(100%privacyguaranteedyourinformationwill
notbeshared)
PleaseContactMe
Featured Product
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 10/11
2/12/2017 TroubleshootDieselEngineProblems
PD+50%Dieselinjectors<280Bhp
912.00 (incl20%VAT)
AddtoBag View
DIESEL-SURE
2017UnitedDieselLtd
Websitebyslimjim
https://www.uniteddiesel.co.uk/dieselengineproblems 11/11