What to Watch Out for When Driving a Diesel Car

Diesel cars are in greater demand because they are more economical than petrol cars. However, maintaining a diesel car is more costly and difficult than maintaining a petrol one.

Small mistakes with diesel engines can cause big damage, so it is very important to know how to maintain and use them.

If you want to use your car for a long time and keep it healthy, you should pay attention to a few things.

Who Are Diesel Cars Economical For?

First of all, diesel cars are economical on long journeys. If you drive no more than 20-30 thousand kilometres a year, you will not really save money. For drivers who use their car on short distances, petrol cars are more suitable.

What to Watch Out for When Driving a Diesel Car

Things to watch out for when driving a diesel car:

Before starting the engine, turn the key halfway and wait for the warning lights to go out. The engine is cold at the first start, so you could strain the car.

Do not use poor-quality fuel. Even a single tank of poor-quality fuel can cause serious engine problems.

Never start your car by pushing it. This is one of the biggest mistakes made with diesel engines. In new-generation diesels, oil pressure does not build up when the engine is not running, so if you push-start the car the diesel pump is overloaded and seriously damaged. Your owner's manual also says "do not push-start your car".

Take your car to service regularly. Periodic maintenance matters even more for diesel cars, because diesel fuel carries more particles than petrol. These particles collect in the fuel filter and cause the car to lose performance.

Tips for Turbo Diesel Cars

If your car is a turbo diesel, there are a few more important points to know.

When Starting a Turbo Engine

First, a turbo diesel should not be warmed up by revving. Letting the engine idle for at least 30 seconds is enough. Also, do not use high revs while the engine is cold. High revs on a cold engine create high pressure, which can damage the turbine. In other words, keep below 2500 rpm while the engine is cold.

When Switching Off a Turbo Engine

Switching off a turbo car matters as much as starting it. Just as the engine should be warmed up without revving at start-up, it should also idle for at least 30 seconds without revving before you switch it off. The reason is that the shaft connecting the turbine wheels is lubricated while the engine runs. When you turn off the ignition, the engine stops and so does the lubrication, but the turbo keeps spinning without oil for a while, which can cause serious damage. So let the engine idle for a while before switching off, so the turbine slows to its normal speed.

Maximum Torque Range

If you want to use your turbo diesel economically as well as healthily, watch the maximum torque range. Do not go beyond the rev range where the engine produces maximum torque. In turbo diesels maximum power is usually produced between 1750 and 3750 rpm. Anything above that is unnecessary and harmful. While driving you can also tell from the car's pull whether you have passed the maximum power range.

Pulling Away and Idling

The second important point is pulling away: never let the revs drop to idle (1000 rpm) when pulling away, as this can damage the diesel pump. Likewise, if you are driving at idle revs, do not suddenly press the accelerator, because the turbo will be under high pressure and may be damaged.