Why Is Your Car's Diesel Engine Losing Power?

The diesel versus petrol car debate has raged on for many decades and doesn't seem like it'll come to an end any time soon. Each auto engine version has its advantages and drawbacks, which every prospective car buyer must carefully weigh up before making a final purchase decision.

If you drive a diesel car, your vehicle uses less fuel to travel the same amount of distance as its petrol-powered equivalents. Plus, its rugged design lets you go a longer distance than a petrol car can before needing auto repairs.

That said, diesel cars can develop problems, just like their petrol-powered cousins. When this happens, diesel repairs will have to be undertaken.

One of the common things that can go wrong with your diesel car is experiencing a lack of power. This can happen due to a variety of reasons. Continue reading to find out some of the typical culprits behind declining engine performance.

Dirty engine oil

Engine oil is your diesel engine's lifeblood. Without it, the engine will lack the lubricating agent required to keep its moving parts running smoothly and efficiently. Over time, the oil in your diesel engine will become dirty from all the dirt and metallic particles it collects during normal car operation. When this happens, the old oil will have to be removed and replaced with fresh oil. 

If engine oil changes are not undertaken in a timely manner, the engine won't remain well-oiled. This may result in engine overheating, accelerated wear of engine parts, and an overall decline in engine performance.

Clogged engine oil filter

Your diesel engine has an oil filter whose job is to remove solid contaminants from your engine oil. Given the nature of its job, the engine oil filter is bound to get blocked over time.

If the filter isn't changed in good time, it can restrict the proper flow of oil through your engine. When your engine is deprived of the oil it needs to stay lubricated, it may not run at its peak, resulting in a noticeable plummet in engine power.

The good news is that engine oil filters are relatively easy to clean or replace. The decision on whether to clean or replace a clogged engine oil filter depends on the type of filter you have. Some versions are reusable while others are not.

Poor compression of the fuel-air mixture

Unlike petrol-powered engines, which rely on spark plugs to initiate the ignition process, diesels use their own compression to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the internal combustion chamber. Inadequate compression of both the fuel and air can result in reduced engine performance.

The problem is usually due to an insufficient supply of fuel and/or air to the engine, resulting in an incorrect fuel-to-air ratio. Correcting this problem requires finding problems that exist within your engine's fuel and air delivery systems.

Diesel engine performance issues can occur due to many other reasons other than the ones discussed above. For accurate diagnosis and repair of the problems, contact the specialists at your local diesel service centre.