r1chb
19.06.2021 11:24:11
News Sources: Jalopnik, Car Care
See full version: How to prime a diesel engine
News Sources: Jalopnik, Car Care
Long story short: do everything you can to avoid putting diesel in your vehicle. But, if you do, with the help of a skilled mechanic, there’s a chance you could save your engine.
Sometimes it’s right next to the other gas selections like regular, mid-grade, and premium. Other gas stations have a separate gas pump just for diesel, so the only gas selection display you should see should look like this gasoline-only pump.
Other times, the diesel button is located off to the side all by itself, like this one.
Exactly what type of havoc does diesel wreak on the average vehicle engine? Diesel fuel usually damages the piston or cylinder head. It can also create deposit build-up around valve closings. Both conditions result in a loss of compression. In the worst case scenario, you might have to replace your car’s entire engine which will set you back anywhere from $2,000 to $4,000. [links]
Quite a helpful design to minimize the chance that a person accidentally puts diesel fuel in their car’s gasoline-only engine.
Photo: carlie b
The glow plugs are still used in this starting method, so you need to wait for them to warm up before the vehicle can start properly.
One way to start a diesel engine is using air intake heaters, which sit within the intake manifold and heat the air as it is drawn into the engine cylinders. Receiving its power directly from the vehicle's battery, an intake heater is a great way to get the air temperature in the combustion chamber where it needs to be quickly, allowing you to start the diesel engine when you need to, with the added benefit of doing away with white, gray, or black smoke often produced by a cold engine startup.
Some models have a port that you can thread the plug through; otherwise, place it through the front grille. Using an extension cord, plug the vehicle into an available outlet. [links]
There really isn't "a lot" of detail to give you in this report. For the most part, the long-existing information and procedures on handling a fuel-starved diesel engine are still plenty viable. And thanks to advancements in diesel technology from roughly 2000 to present, many of the physical procedures that were in place for restarting a dry oil-burner—like manually priming the fuel system—are handled by the trucks themselves today.
However, this doesn't mean knowing what to do when your diesel pickup runs out of fuel isn't important. You should always be mindful of how much fuel is in the truck's tank by keeping an eye on the gauge. As long as sending units, pumps and other elements of the fuel system are functioning properly, the fuel-level gauge is the best bet for knowing your approximate mileage range.
So, if (or maybe when) your rig does run out of fuel, what do you do? Well, what you should not do is try and start the engine without fuel, as injectors and other parts could be damaged due to lack of lubrication. Let's start with older setups: trucks like old-body-style Fords with 6.9L IDI diesel engines, first-gen Dodge Rams and such, that require physical input to get their engines re-fired. As you know, diesel engines operate under extremely high fuel pressure. When fuel runs dry, air gets sucked into the system, and it must be vented (bled) out. Adding fuel is the first step, and bleeding the lines and injectors immediately follows. Although the job is somewhat akin to bleeding a brake system and can be messy depending on where in the engine bay the fuel-bleed bolt is positioned, it's typically accomplished with a wrench (sizes vary), a bottle or other receptacle to collect the primed-diesel "blood," and a few rags to clean up the mess with. [links]
Priming involves delivering high-pressure fuel directly into the fuel system. This ensures that the entire system is pressurized, lubricated, and all air pockets are “bled” from the system.
With a powered DD approved fuel priming device like the ESOC 455, you can prime a DD13 or DD15 fuel system in minutes, successfully start the engine every time, and eliminate the mess and hassle that comes with using a hand pump.
If you’re running a fleet maintenance or repair shop that performs multiple maintenances on diesel engines, a hand priming pump is not recommended. Achieving reliable pressure levels throughout the engine prime is difficult with a hand pump. Additionally, using human power to pressurize the canister for every prime is neither practical or economical. more
There are several options for achieving the kind of fuel pressure needed to properly prime a diesel engine.