Why is it important to service your diesel car?
Servicing your diesel car is the best way to keep you safe on the road and keep your vehicle running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible.
A diesel car service is also one of the easiest ways to prevent costly repairs and dangerous accidents. A car service will help detect any problems with your vehicle and ensure that all the parts and components are performing as they should in order to keep you safe while driving.
What are the main differences between a petrol and diesel car?
You know that a petrol and a diesel car require different types of fuel to run. But there are also some other main differences. The most important difference is the type of engine they have.
Petrol vs Diesel Engines
Both of these types of engines are internal combustion engines, or ICE for short. Energy is produced to power the car when fuel is combined with an oxidiser in an enclosed space.
This combination creates a combustion. But how the fuel and oxidiser are combined differs.
With a petrol engine, the fuel and air are combined before being ignited by spark plugs. In a diesel engine, the air is compressed beforehand and then the fuel is injected.
Common Diesel Car Types
Diesel is a popular choice for utes, trucks, heavy cars and SUVs. This is because they’re better suited for pulling heavy loads. Diesel engines have more pulling power than petrol engines and petrol vehicles.
Diesel vehicles also tend to get better mileage, so they are a preferred car type for haulage or commercial vehicles.
How often should I service my diesel car?
Regular service appointments are the best and easiest way to look after your diesel car. If you can develop a regular service schedule for your diesel car it will last longer on the road, run safely for longer and hold its value for longer.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to servicing a diesel car, but a good rule of thumb is about every 5,000 kms or every 6 months.
There are, of course, exceptions to this, depending on your driving routine and conditions.
Feel free to get in touch with the experts at Mt Roskill Collision Centre to organise a regular car service schedule for your diesel car.
Signs that you need to service a diesel car
If you notice any unusual sounds or smells coming from your diesel car, it’s a good idea to contact your trusted mechanic to have your vehicle checked out. It may be time for a service.
Some of the signs that you need to service a diesel car include:
- smoke coming from the engine
- blue smoke coming out of the exhaust
- trouble starting the engine
- engine sputtering or stalling
- engine overheating
- excessive oil consumption or oil changes needed more frequently than usual
- strange noises coming from the engine
After how many kilometres should I service my diesel car?
We generally tell people that you should service your diesel car every 5,000 kms. If you’ve just purchased a used car privately, however, bring it in for an initial service regardless of how many kilometres you or the previous owner have driven it.
If you are what we’d call a “heavy user” of your vehicle, you may need to have your diesel car serviced more frequently.
This would be if you do a lot of offroad or suburban driving or if you do a lot of towing. These types of driving tend to put more wear and tear on the vehicle and the engine than urban driving.
Diesel car service checklist
The following checklist includes some of the common elements of a comprehensive diesel car service:
- Oil check, oil change
- Oil filter check/change
- Checking and topping up if needed – coolant/antifreeze fluid levels
- Checking and topping up if needed – power steering fluid levels
- Checking and topping up if needed – brake fluid levels
- Diagnostic test
- Checking engine performance and tuning
- Checking tyres, tread, wheel balancing, tyre rotation, wheel alignment
- Brake checks and replacements, brake pads, brake fluid
- Gears, clutch, transmission
- Checking hydraulic fluid and coolant levels
- Steering alignment and suspension checks, power steering fluid
- Checking lights, indicators, electrics
- Cooling system, radiator, pumps and hoses
- Air filtration
- Battery testing
If your diesel vehicle needs a service, trust the experienced team at Mt Roskill Collision Centre. We are experienced in servicing all makes and models.
Get in touch with the experts at Mt Roskill Collision Centre to book a car service appointment.
Call us on 0800 227 762 or email [email protected] for professional and friendly car servicing advice.