Common European Diesel Repairs

While both diesel and gasoline engines operate using combustion, they work a bit differently. Therefore, their most common repairs differ, as well. One major problem for diesel drivers is fuel contamination. That’s because diesel fuel is more viscous than gas, allowing soot, glycol, water, and other diluents to more easily adversely impact the fuel source. Contamination can clog or ruin the injectors or even other components, so it’s important to clear your auto of bad fuel and clean it out as soon as the problem is detected. Another potential issue is dark exhaust smoke. This most often happens when the fuel-air balance is off. Specifically, there is too much diesel fuel and not enough air in the combustion chambers. Furthermore, some diesel engines fall victim to carbon build-up. One place that this creates a problem is in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves. Carbon makes them stick. If not cleaned, these components may permanently fail. Additionally, some owners of diesel powered cars complain about increased engine knocking. This is typically the result of an improper compression ratio. A gasoline engine usually has an average 8:1 compression ratio, but a diesel often has a 20:1. This means that a bad burn pattern is more likely to develop, causing excess knocking, among other problems that lead to the need for fuel injector repair.