E=MC2 and Diesel Injection Equals MM3
When diagnosing and repairing today’s modern diesel engines, you often trust your scan tool to give you answers. But what do you do when it gives you more questions? We decided to investigate a mystery that has always eluded us until now. As diesel engines have become more electronically controlled, I have been baffled
Understanding the Importance of Common Rail Injection to Today
It seems that there have been some improvements in diesel injection technology that have allowed some “clean-up” work on the diesel exhaust system, and I think we all can appreciate the change. Even though some may feel the need to complain about the increased use of electronics and how the government is cracking down by
Common Rail Injection: Understanding its Importance to Today
It seems that there have been some improvements in diesel injection technology that have allowed some “clean-up” work on the diesel exhaust system, and I think we all can appreciate the change. Even though some may feel the need to complain about the increased use of electronics and how the government is cracking down by
Understanding and Profiting From the Caterpillar C7
I believe society naturally directs the outcome of its environment: if someone manages a quality independent automotive repair shop, they will always be looking for ways to increase their education and specialty tools as technology changes. In order to take care of their customers when the warranty runs out and they no longer visit the
Common Rail Injection History: Less Conspiracy, More Efficiency
It seems as though when customers are at the shop, the question always arises as to what common-rail really means. Then after I explain the technology to them, the reply that I get is, “Why did they have to change everything and start using computers?” If you find yourself in a similar boat and have
Diesel Engines: Dino Fuel or Bio Fuel?
Though they lately seem to be going the other way, with rising fuel prices, consumers are constantly looking for inventive ways to cut fuel costs and consumption. That’s the American spirit: we love to look for ways to beat the system. There is nothing wrong with this attitude, because this is where inventive minds
Smoothing Out The Stress
We’ve all heard (and probably used) the term “harmonic balancer.” I always get a chuckle when I hear this term used so freely by educated gear heads. Because you see, there really is no such animal as a harmonic balancer on the internal combustion engine. The correct term is “harmonic damper.” The damper is often
Cummins Injector Leak Diagnosis Can Be Tricky
Certainly, there’s some common repairs needed on specific engines that are easy to do but doesn’t mean that it makes everything else easy to diagnose. Owners often think that because diesel engines are now electronic the technician should be able to hook up a scan tool and immediately see what is going on. The good
Diesel Engine Glow Plugs: Not Just For Starting Anymore
Since diesel engines ignite by using the heat of combustion, they usually need help when the climate changes to the cold of winter. Veteran owners of “old school” diesel engines understand what I’m talking about when I mention the “one-minute of silence.” This was the time every morning when you would turn the ignition switch
Understanding
The light turns green and the truck bellows out a plume of black smoke and in a flash all you see are the taillights. You’re struck that diesel trucks have really made an improvement over the past fifteen years. It’s amazing when you realize that a Corvette would have a hard time keeping up with
Understanding and Servicing 6.0L/7.3L DIT?Engine Injector Cups
They may have heard the term before but many diesel owners don’t often understand their function. Most make the assumption that it has something to do with the injectors, but they really don’t inquire to know exactly what it means. Some have never heard the term or even know that the injector cups exist. As
Trial and Error Can
Sometimes, owners with tuners or power enhancers have the capabilities to read trouble codes if something happens. But this may or may not point them in the right direction. A great example is one that came by the shop the other day. The owner had an ’03 6.0L Power Stroke that had lost power. When