Why is it difficult to start a diesel engine? What should I do if a diesel engine is difficult to start at low temperatures?

Diesel and gasoline vehicles are the two most commonly used types. Agricultural machinery such as tractors use diesel. If a diesel engine is difficult to start or slow to start, what could be the cause?

Why is it difficult to start a diesel engine?

Circuit failure.

The main reason is that the copper sleeves or bearings of the starter are worn, the rotor and stator are rubbed, and the starting force is insufficient. This situation is reflected in the engine speed not keeping up when starting, and it takes multiple compressions, or even more than ten seconds to start the car.

The battery power is less than 10.8V (single battery), which is obviously lack of power. There are also heating of the grounding wire and oxidation of the battery terminal, which are all reflected in the failure of the starting speed to meet the requirements.

There is air in the fuel supply.

Generally, it reflects that the fuel system pressure is insufficient. After the starter works, the fuel pressure is normal and the car can start. In this case, there should be a leak in the system. It may also be that the fuel tank outlet pipe is blocked. This kind of fault is very troublesome and difficult to eliminate.

Insufficient cylinder pressure.

The main reasons are that the valve is not closed tightly, the cylinder liner, piston and ring are worn. The cylinder pressure is low (less than 12 pressures), and the starter needs more compression to start the car. There is also a slight leak in the cylinder gasket, which also causes the engine to start slowly.

Fuel supply time.

This is probably an old car. The timing gear, sprocket and crankshaft teeth are worn, causing the fuel supply time to be delayed and difficult to start.

There are many fault points for diesel engine start delay, such as crankshaft position sensor failure, common rail pressure failure, etc., which will cause slow start. Analyze the specific situation. Without seeing the actual vehicle, we can only analyze the main reasons.

Generally, there should be other phenomena when the engine starts slowly, such as black or blue smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, or the engine making noises, etc.

What to do if a diesel vehicle is difficult to start at low temperatures

As we all know, diesel engines rely on compression ignition and have a high ignition point. Especially in winter, diesel is more likely to condense. Pipes, filters, oil pumps, and fuel tanks are more likely to freeze as long as the temperature is below 0°C. How can the engine start if diesel cannot enter the cylinder?

First, ensure that the battery has normal capacity and the starter is working properly.

Secondly, if conditions permit, you can park the car in a garage. Park the car outdoors in a sheltered place. After starting the car and running it for a while, the oil return pipe will return oil to the fuel tank to preheat the fuel tank oil. This prevents the fuel tank from freezing while driving.

Third, add diesel fuel with a high negative number. If you don't have it, you can add diesel anti-condensation agent (available at gas stations). Or add 3% gasoline (only for emergency use, not recommended for long-term use).

Fourth, the engine oil should have a lower viscosity and better fluidity to prevent the oil resistance from increasing. 5W-30 can be used in the south, and 0W-20 can be used in the north.

Fifth, add genuine antifreeze.

Many people use fire to heat the fuel tank when it is frozen. Don't do this, it is easy to catch fire. You can install a fuel tank and oil line heating system to prevent diesel from waxing!

How many years can a diesel car last?

Diesel engines have a different working structure from gasoline engines, so the cylinder and piston are tougher. The average life span of a diesel engine is 500,000 to 1,000,000 kilometers, while the average life span of a gasoline engine is between 200,000 and 500,000 kilometers.

Domestic cars started relatively late and are now entering a period of increasing mileage in large numbers. With the collection of this batch of data since 2008, domestic gasoline engines will officially enter industrial maturity.