In our country, it is largely due to the stereotypes of Russian motorists who, according to old memory, consider diesel engines to be noisy and difficult to maintain. In addition, there is an opinion that diesel-powered cars are not adapted to the cold climate of Mother Russia and may not start in frost, because diesel fuel is prone to freezing. Automakers, in turn, say that even a short test drive on a modern diesel car can easily destroy these old myths. “With the current level of engine technology, diesel engines have practically no shortcomings. Even in the cold season, there is no difficulty in operating a diesel engine, ”says Maxim Vinogradov, Commercial Director of Volvo Car Russia.

However, the problem for the owners diesel carsthe quality of diesel fuel remains poor at Russian gas stations. Indeed, impurities in diesel fuel can disable expensive fuel equipment... In addition, there is a risk of refueling with summer diesel fuel during the demi-season period or during a sharp cold snap. However, these fears mostly concern the regions, while today it is not difficult to find filling stations with high-quality diesel fuel in large cities.

According to Ilya Nikonorov, head of the marketing and public relations department of MMS Rus, the situation with the quality diesel fuel changes for the better every year, as evidenced by a decrease in the number of warranty claims associated with low-quality fuel.

Traditionally, the indisputable advantages of diesel engines over gasoline ones include more torque at low revs, lower fuel consumption, and the ability to travel more distance on one tank. However, even despite the fact that the cost of diesel fuel today is on average 7% lower than that of gasoline, the benefits of purchasing a car running on heavy fuel are not obvious for most Russian motorists. After all, diesel cars themselves are usually more expensive than gasoline modifications, and savings from a more modest fuel consumption can compensate for the difference in prices when buying, at best by the end warranty period.

Overpayment or savings?

According to Vladimir Miroshnikov, Development Director of the Rolf Company, modern diesel engines are quite high-tech, and their production, as a rule, turns out to be more expensive than atmospheric gasoline engines of a similar working volume. “From a technical point of view, when designing cars with a diesel engine, additional parts and materials are used, which in turn affects the difference in price compared to the gasoline versions. For example, equipping a car with a special fuel pump and additional components to it, which allow distributing diesel fuel in more precise proportions, providing significant fuel savings, ”explains Ilya Nikonorov.

By the way, in Europe, where diesel cars are especially popular, automakers initially include in the price part of the benefits from tax breaks. The fact is that in European countries the amount of car tax is tied to the level of harmful emissions, which is traditionally lower for diesel versions... In Russia, the maintenance of such cars is often more expensive, including due to a shorter service interval, as well as more expensive diesel engine repairs.

According to Dmitry Baranov, leading expert of Finam Management, our country has not developed a system of incentives that would push consumers to purchase and operate diesel cars, because the question of the price of a car is decisive for the buyer.

In addition, in Europe, the cost of owning a diesel car is lower than a petrol one due to the more expensive fuel. And in Russia, the purchase of a diesel engine is not economically justified on all models. “In Europe, the average mileage is significantly higher than ours, car tourism is very developed, and for Europeans the benefits of using diesel engines are more obvious. In Russia, with its relatively small average annual mileage, the economic effect of using diesel engines is lost, ”says Vladimir Miroshnikov.

For heavy off-road vehicles - heavy fuel

Share of sales of diesel cars in Russia in 2006–2015 Data of the agency "Autostat".

Still share diesel cars on russian market at last years grew gradually - from 2% in 2006 to 7.6% in 2014. And last year, according to the agency "Autostat", it began to decline, amounting to 7.2%. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of models running on heavy fuel are imported into our country, and in the conditions of a weak ruble, their cost has become even less attractive compared to gasoline versions. At the same time, low demand for such cars in Russia makes automakers abandon their sales.

However, this does not apply to premium brands and the off-road segment, where diesel modifications are traditionally most in demand. The leader in terms of the share of diesel versions in the sales volume is Volvo - 82.1% at the end of 2015. Such a high rate is provided, first of all, by the crossovers of the brand - XC60 and. According to Maxim Vinogradov, buyers of such cars want to get from the car not only increased cross-country ability and a high level of comfort, but also great traction (for example, when accelerating or off-road).

In second place in terms of share diesel modifications in the sales volume is Land Rover with an indicator of 74.5%. For Range cars Rover evoque, Discovery and Discovery Sport more diesel engines are offered than gasoline engines, and they are also more affordable. As noted in the press service of Jaguar Land Rover, in addition to the greater power and efficiency of diesel engines, savings on transport tax are no less important for buyers. So, for example, for car range Rover sport the available starting diesel engine is a 3.0-liter 249-horsepower engine, while the most affordable petrol version is the version with a 3.0-liter 340-horsepower engine.

Often associated with heavy trucks, special equipment, buses and commercial vehicles... As for passenger cars, diesel on such cars is rather a rarity than the norm.

It is quite obvious that there are quite good reasons for this, which persuade prudent foreigners to buy a diesel car. In this article, we will consider the main pros and cons of a diesel engine, and also talk about in what cases this type of engine can or, on the contrary, cannot be considered the best choice.

As you know, at the initial stage, power units of this type could not adequately compete with gasoline counterparts. The fact is that the diesel engine remained a high-torque and economical engine for a long time, but it was slow-moving.

In practice, this means that such an internal combustion engine confidently pulled from the very bottom, but there was no talk of high revs and, accordingly, high speeds. At the same time, the main advantage was the low consumption and high at low revs. For commercial vehicles, this solution was optimal, but not suitable for light vehicles.

If we add noise and increased vibrations to this, then it becomes clear why diesel motors were not in demand for passenger cars. However, over the past 30 years, the situation has changed radically. With the decline in oil reserves, tightening environmental standards and the constant rise in fuel prices, fuel consumption has come to the fore.

Automakers began to actively implement the latest developments, the diesel engine received an upgraded fuel injection system, etc. As a result, it was possible to almost completely get rid of noise and vibration, as well as to bring the diesel engine closer to gasoline engines in a number of performance indicators.

The pros of a diesel engine

• So let's start with obvious advantages... Diesel fuel consumption is, as a rule, 30-35% less than that of gasoline engines.
• Also diesel engine has a high torque at low revs, which allows for excellent acceleration dynamics from a standstill and confident traction.
• The diesel unit is more environmentally friendly, since it burns the fuel charge more fully and efficiently. As a result, the toxicity of the exhaust of a modern diesel internal combustion engine is significantly reduced.
• more than gasoline engines. In practice, such a power unit, subject to competent maintenance, is able to travel about 350-400 thousand km, while a gasoline engine may need overhaul by 200 thousand km.
• The absence of a diesel engine in the design eliminates a number of problems that are inherent in gasoline power units (weak, breakdown, etc.). No need to change plugs, ignition coils, high voltage wires and other elements.
• The design features and the method of compression ignition of the fuel in the cylinders provide the diesel engine with a higher. In other words, burning fuel converts more energy into useful work. This means that the power of such an engine is greater.

Disadvantages of a diesel engine

It would seem that modern diesel is not only not inferior to gasoline, but also surpasses it in a number of important indicators. However, in practice, a diesel internal combustion engine also has several significant disadvantages. For this reason, especially in the CIS, many drivers still choose gasoline cars. Let's figure it out.

• First of all, you need to start with cost. A diesel car, on average, initially costs 25-35% more expensive than its counterparts on gasoline (depending on the type and class of car).

It is also worth understanding that when selling a used diesel car older than 5-7 years, the price for secondary market drops significantly. In other words, it is quite difficult to sell a used diesel engine in a few years for the same 25-30% more expensive than a similar model on gasoline.

• Even taking into account the fact that diesel internal combustion engines have become more resourceful, cars with such an engine are still slower. It should also be added that a diesel engine is heavier than a gasoline engine, which affects the weight distribution of the car, its dynamic characteristics and handling.

On diesels with "mechanics" you need to change gears more often. If a diesel car is equipped with an automatic or robotic gearbox, the resource of the box may be less than on the exact same gasoline model. The reason - the gearbox needs to withstand a significant torque.

... The reason is that the efficiency of the diesel is higher, that is, less energy from the combustion of diesel fuel is spent on heat. As a result, the motor is more efficient, but less heat generation also means that such a unit is "cold" at the same time.

In practice, it manifests itself in a way that is useless. This motor needs to be warmed up in motion, that is, under load. It turns out that if a car with such an internal combustion engine is operated for short trips around the city, the engine simply will not have time to get off. As a result, the resource of the unit is reduced.

As for comfort, many owners of diesel cars without special additional heating of the interior note a slow heating of the interior space in winter period.

• The problem of difficult operation in the winter period largely concerns diesel engines. First of all, diesel fuel tends to freeze and paraffinize in the cold. To prevent this from happening, with the onset of cold weather, special additives are separately added to the fuel. In other words, .

The owner must take this feature into account and fill in diesel fuel suitable for the season. Given that the quality of fuel at gas stations in the CIS is not the highest, the risks are obvious. Also in regions where temperatures drop significantly, diesel car must be equipped with separate systems preheating... We add that the owners of diesel cars need to monitor the condition and regularly change the glow plugs that warm up the combustion chamber before starting the internal combustion engine.

• A diesel engine is more expensive to maintain and repair. These motors usually require more oil and need to change lubricants and filters more often. As a rule, taking into account the quality of LPG fuel and a number of other operating features, service interval for a diesel engine is reduced by 40-50%.

Even taking into account the fact that a diesel engine has a longer service life before overhaul, the repair itself is much more expensive compared to gasoline units.

• All modern diesels , and are also equipped with sophisticated high-tech fuel injection systems. For this reason, increased requirements are imposed on the quality of lubricant and fuel, as well as on the general condition of the internal combustion engine. It is important to understand that the expensive fuel is of poor quality or the wrong type of fuel.

For the sake of fairness, we note that for residents of large cities, the issue of fuel is not so acute. However, the same cannot be said for those motorists who live in rural areas or regularly refuel a diesel car at small gas stations along the highways while traveling. The problem of finding high-quality diesel fuel in this case remains quite relevant.

• The reliability of the diesel turbine and individual elements the power supply system (for example, or the pump injector) is far from the same as that of the motor itself. Repair or replacement of these parts is a rather expensive undertaking.

It should also be added that diagnostics and repair of modern diesel engines requires expensive equipment and specialized specialists. As a rule, not every service station has qualified diesel masters, and the very cost of any manipulations with such a motor and its systems will definitely be higher.

• Increased noise, as well as a higher level of vibration, can still be noted even on the most modern diesel engine when compared with gasoline counterparts. Although the difference is not so critical, it is still present.

Let's sum up

As you can see, the advantages of a diesel engine on passenger car under the conditions of practical operation on domestic roads, they can largely overlap with the disadvantages listed above.

It is important to understand that the purchase of a car with a diesel internal combustion engine saves on fuel, however, the benefit can be partially or completely offset by higher maintenance and repair costs of this type of unit. In other words, before buying, you need to consider not only the advantages, but also the disadvantages of a diesel engine.

Finally, I would like to add that if a commercial diesel car is purchased new, then such a decision is fully justified. If the owner plans to purchase a car with a diesel engine, especially a used one, then you need to be prepared for higher costs, expensive breakdowns and stringent requirements regarding the operation of such a vehicle.

Read also

The list of the most reliable gasoline and diesel engines: 4-cylinder power units, in-line 6-cylinder internal combustion engines and V-shaped power plants. Rating.

Experts expect diesel engines to disappear from under the hoods of most European cars by the end of this decade, Reuters reported. Skepticism gripped engineers after it was calculated how much the company would have to spend on bringing its motors in line with the stricter emission standards set after the scandal with, as well as undergoing a new testing procedure, which will start working in 2019.

Both Renault and its rival Peugeot, which were heavily invested in diesel technology, initially rushed to defend their investment. Recently, however, Director of Competitiveness "" Thierry Bollore said that the prospects for heavy fuel engines are far from bright: "Tightening regulations and testing methods will increase the cost of technological developments to such a level that diesels will be pushed out of the market. " Pavan Potluri, an analyst at the renowned consulting firm IHS Automotive, echoes him: "Everyone is abandoning diesels, because after 2017-18 they will become more and more expensive."

Undoubtedly, diesel engines are more efficient than gasoline engines - who can argue with that? But at the same time they are more expensive. Therefore, units of this type have not been installed on the smallest renault cars, like - long before the diesel gate, by the way. Additional costs for their purchase simply do not pay off by saving on fuel. But by 2020, tightening Euro 6 emissions standards will lead to the fact that diesel engines will have to be abandoned for cars of size classes B and C - that is, Clio, Megane and Fluence.

This does not concern us in Russia, but sales of mini, supermini and golf class models in Europe amounted to 1.6 million units, and more than 60% of them were diesel. It is expected that the share of cars with engines running on diesel fuel will reach 9% by 2030 from the current 52%. And here is a serious blow to income received car manufacturers there, already one hundred percent will backfire on our compatriots here in the form of another price increase and deterioration in service.

Who benefits from an incipient hysteria? Lobbyists, no doubt. They in every way intimidate both the governments of their countries and ordinary consumers. They say that "in everyday life" diesels emit five times more harmful substances into the atmosphere than during test tests, that exhaust gases contribute to the formation of acid rain, which causes respiratory diseases caused by them annually lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide.

At the same time, defenders at someone else's expense - as a rule, non-specialists and demagogues - are in a state of deathly silence regarding the environmental hazards of electric vehicles, starting with energy production at far from environmentally friendly stations and ending with the problem of mass disposal of batteries.

At the same time, people directly associated with the traditional auto industry are much less inclined to harsh populist statements in line with the current hypocritical mainstream. Thus, the director of technical development dr Stefan Knirsch insists: "I am still convinced that diesels have enormous technical potential."

Actually, it was not even in my thoughts to deny the right to life vehicle on electric traction. Let them develop - but only in fair, open competition with cars armed with engines internal combustion, without massive defamation of the latter. It will be more useful for everyone. In the meantime, it seems that in an open struggle

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04.12.2017, 22:49 93590 1 Assembly of Motorists

One of the most discussed topics among motorists is necessity. This question is relevant for power plants with turbine and "aspirated" equally. Almost all drivers are divided into two camps - those who warm up the car, and those who consider it a waste of fuel and time.

To the question whether it is necessary to warm up the diesel engine in winter manufacturers today give an unambiguous answer - "heating the internal combustion engine is not required." It is worth understanding what this statement is based on. Why earlier the same manufacturers advised to warm up the motors, but now they have dramatically changed their point of view.

Many manufacturers car engines claim that their products are so perfect that they work flawlessly even without heating. They begin to explain that earlier both engines were primitive and mineral oil, that scientific and technological progress does not stand still. Well, they don't say about the water that it was wetter.

Where is the dog actually buried? First: it is not profitable for manufacturers that the engine runs longer than the warranty period. Than faster car becomes unusable, the faster the owner will buy new car... Parts sales and repairs are additional sources of income for corporations. Why miss this profit? Therefore, it is profitable for manufacturers to tell fables that "ultra-reliable" modern diesel engines do not require warming up.

The second reason why specialists from large companies do not recommend warming up engines is environmental concerns. During the time while the diesel is warming up, it is emitted into the atmosphere a large number of exhaust gases... In cities, it is not uncommon for the owner to warm up the car for 30 minutes to drive 10 minutes to work. In Europe, issues of environmental safety are ahead of economic feasibility. We have the opposite. We are not saying this is good or bad, we are just giving facts.

Interestingly, the same experts confirm that the main wear of engine parts (about 75%) occurs during a cold start. That is, they know that it is not useful for the motor to work while it is cold, but they do not advise to heat it either. Wonderful and incomprehensible.

The theory of warming up a diesel engine in winter

Engines are made of metal. Pistons are usually made of light aluminum alloys, cylinders are made of steel or cast iron. When heated and cooled, these parts expand or contract, respectively. All engine components are precision-crafted to maintain a minimum piston-to-cylinder clearance. This is the key to efficient use of fuel energy.

When the engine is cold, the clearances between the pistons and cylinders do not match the design parameters. Until the temperature rises to the operating level, the motor does not operate in the mode intended by the manufacturer. If full load is applied, wear on parts will increase, resulting in shorter working life or an accident.

In addition to the thermal expansion factor, there is another problem. Oil viscosity. This parameter greatly affects the operation of the engine. If the grease thickens in the cold, it cannot fully lubricate the parts, which leads to an increase in the friction force in all pairs. Wear increases dramatically if the engine is running under load.

Obviously, driving with a cold diesel engine is not a good idea. Another question arises:. Is it possible to do this on idle? What is the optimal duration? Let's figure it out together.

How long does a diesel engine need to warm up in winter

There is no consensus among "diesel breeders" on this score. In this camp, they argue about how much to warm up a diesel engine in winter as well as among the owners of cars with gasoline engines.

Warm up to victory

Some car owners are sure that diesel engine necessary warm up at idle speed until the coolant temperature rises to 70 ° C. Another option is until the rpm drops to idle. The feasibility of this approach seems questionable. Let's figure it out.

because of design features a diesel engine heats up less at idle than a gasoline engine, and the whole car warms up worse. To achieve a noticeable rise in temperature in winter have to do diesel engine warming up within 30 - 40 minutes. During this time, a noticeable amount of fuel is consumed. For example: a three-liter diesel engine will “burn” about 200 ml of fuel in 20 minutes of warming up at idle speed.

Noticeable rise in temperature power plant occurs in the first two minutes after launch. Further progress is quite insignificant. Should you waste fuel and time for a small improvement in performance? Doubtful.

Warm up, but without fanaticism

Other drivers to the question “ how to warm up a diesel engine in winter”, Answer briefly and clearly:“ wisely ”. In their opinion, it is enough to let the engine run for a couple of minutes to warm up the oil in the crankcase, and then start moving. The main thing is not to give the engine full load until its temperature rises to the optimum level. This indicator can be monitored by the coolant sensor.

Supporters of this method warming up the diesel engine in winter believe that in motion the engine warms up faster. Also, when the car is moving, the transmission heats up more actively and chassis... Everything looks reasonable.

Objectively: how to properly warm up a diesel engine in winter

From a technical point of view, warming up the diesel engine in winter vital. Considering technical features and the mechanics of the car's systems, you can figure out how to warm up diesel engines.

The engine should be started at low temperatures with full fuel supply. The clutch is depressed. The started engine warms up for two to three minutes. The crankshaft speed rises gradually to average. When the device shows that the coolant has heated up to 40 ° C, it means that the motor is ready for loads.

To make starting the diesel engine easier, you need to turn on the glow plugs several times. These devices are built into the design of modern diesel power units... They help heat up the air entering the combustion chamber. In a diesel engine, ignition occurs as a result of heating a fuel-air mixture that is highly compressed in the cylinder. Heated air will make starting easier.

What do we get when performing such an algorithm for warming up a diesel engine? In the first two minutes after starting the engine, the oil in the crankcase heats up enough to fully lubricate the cylinder-piston group. Smooth start of movement helps to warm up the transmission lubricant, "develop" the suspension. The diesel warms up faster on the move. Fuel consumption is reduced. After 5 minutes of movement, you can turn on the cabin heater, which will accelerate the heating of the engine.

From the point of view of engine operation, "hodovka" and other car systems, this method is the most logical. Practical observations show the effectiveness of this method. The Gentle Start Mode helps protect the diesel engine from damage in freezing weather.

How to warm up a diesel engine with a turbine in winter

Recommendations for turbocharged diesels are no different from those for atmospheric counterparts. In the same way, start the engine, warm it up for a few minutes, and start driving with low revs in first gear. Warm-up time on the move - about 5 minutes, during this time, use no higher than third gear. Control the diesel engine warming up by the coolant temperature.

The use of special pre-heaters gives a good result. Also, it will not be superfluous to make life easier for your engine by using special additives - antigels. They prevent diesel fuel from thickening in the cold. Many car owners have difficulties starting diesel engines precisely because of the thickened fuel. It is especially difficult in winter if the car is filled with summer diesel fuel.

We have tried to give a complete answer to the questions why and how to warm up a diesel engine in winter... We hope you can draw the right conclusions to protect the "heart" of your car from breakdowns on frosty days.

Fuel consumption is a characteristic that is often at the forefront when choosing a car. Diesel fuel today is cheaper than 92 gasoline, and despite this, very soon after buying a car with a diesel engine, many car owners are disappointed. The reason is that most drivers are not accustomed to diesel engines, they prefer gasoline cars. At the same time, in some European countries, for example, France, Spain, cars with diesel engines are very popular, which is confirmed by the sales volumes - sometimes diesel modifications are bought more than gasoline ones. We have a number of factors explaining the "cool" attitude towards this type of motors. And yet, those who decide to purchase a diesel engine should be aware of some of the intricacies of its purchase, operation and maintenance.

Efficiency is a well-known advantage of diesel engines, which is the main "bait" for buyers. But they also have "disadvantages", which many, especially fans of comfort and sporty driving style, soon turn out to be not to their taste.

The first thing that gets boring very quickly is the characteristic heightened "tractor" sound of the engine running. Although the noise insulation of the passenger compartment in foreign cars is not bad, the automakers have not yet been able to completely protect those sitting in the passenger compartment from diesel "music". Then, although not in all machines, increased vibrations begin to annoy. And lovers of "crap" obviously will not like the weak acceleration dynamics, especially when accelerating at high speeds is necessary.

It is interesting that buyers have time to familiarize themselves with all these shortcomings even when inspecting a car offered for purchase. But those “programmed” for efficiency, many do not pay attention to these “nuances”. Only after some time has passed, newly made car owners begin to join the ranks of those dissatisfied with diesel cars.

The picture is complemented by the fact that a diesel engine is a specific type of engine with an individual character that determines the features of its operation and requires compliance with certain rules of operation and management. Usually they are not known, and if they do, they are not observed. As a result, the diesel engine, instead of the required 500-600 thousand kilometers, takes care of two or even three times less before overhaul. So before you buy a diesel, make sure it suits your temperament and driving style and that you can “meet” its operating and maintenance needs.

Although the car market offers much less diesel foreign cars than gasoline ones, if you really want to, you can still find the right option. Inspection of diesel cars in many respects does not differ from gasoline ones - checking the body, chassis, transmission, electrical equipment, etc. The difference lies in engine testing. Two points are important here - check at a "cold start" and the nature of work "hot". It should be noted, however, that summer is not the best time to buy a diesel engine. Therefore, if after this article someone has a desire to become the owner of a diesel car, it is better to wait for the onset of a cooler season. The ideal period for a diesel test is winter, when it is freezing outside of 10-20 degrees. Under these conditions, the "disease" of this type of engine is much easier to identify. The main indicator characterizing the serviceability of a diesel engine is “cold start”. It is carried out in the following sequence: to increase the fuel supply, the manual "gas" button is pulled out (if the thermal pump is not installed); by turning the "ignition" key, the glow plugs are turned on, which is indicated by the glow plug operation indicator on the instrument panel - a yellow lamp with a spiral symbol; when the candles have warmed up (this takes about 20-30 seconds), the lamp goes out - this is a signal that allows the engine to start. If, after doing these operations, the engine starts on the first try and without prolonged rotation with the starter, then everything is normal.

The diesel engine does not start in the cold, mainly for several reasons: the battery has "sat down", the glow plugs are faulty, fuel system summer fuel is used, low compression in the cylinders. The procedure for replacing the battery, glow plugs does not require particularly large costs (2000 - 3000 rubles). But as for the low compression in the cylinders, there is a need for an expensive overhaul of the engine (30,000 - 50,000 rubles). Fuel frozen to a gelatinous state is not able to pass through the filter, which means that it can be removed from the power system only during warming up in a warm garage, followed by replacement with winter diesel fuel or the addition of anti-gel additives.

While a diesel engine is cold, its operation is usually accompanied by increased noise and black exhaust. For this type of engine, this is a common occurrence, since the fuel in cold cylinders evaporates poorly, and therefore does not completely burn out. As a working diesel engine warms up, the noise level decreases, and the black exhaust disappears. If the nature of the work does not change and smoke continues to "pour" from the chimney, then something is faulty. Blue smoke - a sign of wear of parts of the cylinder-piston group (piston rings, liners, pistons), which requires a major overhaul of the engine. When the exhaust is black, it means that the fuel in the cylinders is not completely combusted. This happens in the following cases: poor quality fuel atomization by faulty nozzles or their atomizers; supplying an excess amount of fuel with a misaligned fuel pump; lack of air in the cylinders with a clogged air filter.

As practice shows, the resource light diesel engines in our operating conditions is from 200 to 600 thousand km. Such a significant spread is due to the large dependence of the diesel engine resource on operating conditions, systematicity and quality of maintenance.

The ability to operate a diesel engine is, perhaps, the main factor that most affects its resource. This type of engine does not forgive the mistakes of the driver, who, for example, is used to spinning high-speed gasoline engines to the maximum and makes the diesel engine work in the same mode. Owners of such cars should remember one important rule - a diesel engine does not like high revs, since this significantly increases the load on the parts of the cylinder-piston group, fuel equipment, and the process of mixture formation and combustion does not follow the required "scenario". Therefore, you need to drive at medium speeds or below average, and switch to higher gears much earlier than in the case of gasoline engine... This has long been proven in practice. It is not for nothing that at many motor transport enterprises, before "putting" a driver on a diesel engine, he undergoes an internship. If this is not done, the resource of engines in the hands of untrained drivers is reduced by 3-5 times, and sometimes even more.

To reduce the effect of mechanical impurities and water contained in our diesel fuel on very sensitive diesel fuel equipment, it is advisable to equip the power system with a filter-separator, preferably heated. This will extend the service life of expensive fuel pumps and injectors and protect yourself from winter problems caused by high viscosity of the fuel. If it is not possible to install additional filters, it is better to first let the fuel settle in some sort of settling tank. It can be poured into the tank, by the way, without stirring in the sump, only after two or three days.
You should also know that it is undesirable to start a diesel engine from a pusher or in tow, since due to the high compression in the cylinders there is a high probability of breaking the timing belt (if the drive is belt drive). We have already written about the consequences of this.

An important aspect that affects the service life of a diesel engine is the timeliness of maintenance and the quality of materials and spare parts used in this case. Under no circumstances should the first available oil be poured into imported diesel engines, including the KAMAZ M10 / G2K popular in Soviet times. You need to pour only what the manufacturer recommends or the best in quality, for example, instead of oil of the CC and even CE quality category according to API, CD class oil, which is intended for highly accelerated high-pressure supercharged diesel engines operating in difficult conditions on high-sulfur fuel.

Turbodiesels are especially demanding on the quality of oil. At high temperatures and the speed of rotation of the turbocharger shaft, only high-quality special oils for turbo diesel engines are able to maintain lubricating properties. Ignoring this requirement leads to the fact that in such harsh conditions the oil film on rubbing surfaces, obtained when using low-grade oil, is very quickly destroyed. This causes dry friction and, accordingly, increased wear of the shaft, turbine bearings and a quick breakdown of the turbine as a whole.

For the same reasons, maintenance of a diesel engine must be carried out on time. Although when using our diesel fuel with a high sulfur content, which promotes accelerated engine oil oxidation, it is better to reduce the oil change interval by 20-30%. For example, if, according to the operating manual for a particular car, the replacement frequency is 10 thousand km, this should be done after 7-8 thousand km.

An important factor for the "health" of a diesel engine is oil filters... The filter element of diesel filters has very small cells that retain particles that the filter gasoline engine passes into the lubrication system without problems. Therefore, oil filters for diesel engines need to be bought only of high quality - original or well-known companies (Bosch, Champion, Delphi, etc.). For fakes and products of unknown origin, filter paper from a gasoline filter can be used.

If "mineral water" or "semisynthetics" is poured into the engine, it is advisable to flush the lubrication system every 20 - 40 thousand km (depending on the quality of the oil - domestic or foreign). In the case of "synthetics" with its excellent detergent properties, you can flush the lubrication system less often.

Maintenance costs for diesel vehicles are less than for gasoline vehicles. Savings are achieved due to the absence of spark plugs, which are changed more often than glow plugs, in addition, there is no complex electronics that controls the operation of the power system (we are talking about diesel engines manufactured before the mid-90s). So think, YOU need it.