If you’re experiencing problems with your common rail fuel injectors, you’ve probably noticed a difference in the way your diesel engine performs. And you’re probably eager to get the issue taken care of.
Continue reading An In-Depth Look at Diesel Engine Common Rail Fuel Injector ProblemsCategory: Diesel Tips and Diagnostics
Caterpillar C15 ACERT Diesel Engine Camshaft Problems
Is the camshaft in your CAT C15 ACERT diesel engine performing correctly? It’s essential that this component operates properly for your engine to function as it should. Each part of the camshaft must perform their functions at precise timing in relation to the motion of the piston. If they don’t, it could spell disaster for your diesel engine.
Continue reading Caterpillar C15 ACERT Diesel Engine Camshaft ProblemsThe Real Cost of Waiting Too Long to Fix a Small Diesel Engine Issue
In diesel engines, small diesel engine problems don’t stay small.
A slight drop in oil pressure. A little smoke at startup. A minor coolant leak. An injector that’s “just a little off.”
These are easy to ignore, especially when the truck is still running.
But in heavy-duty diesel engines, those early warning signs are not minor inconveniences.
They are the beginning of a much bigger failure.
Continue reading The Real Cost of Waiting Too Long to Fix a Small Diesel Engine IssueHow to Prepare Your Diesel Truck for Winter (Cold Weather Guide)
If you want to prepare your diesel truck for winter, it starts with understanding how cold temperatures affect your engine, fuel system, and overall performance.
Cold weather introduces challenges that diesel engines are particularly sensitive to, including fuel gelling, reduced battery performance, and increased wear during startup.
Preparing ahead of time helps prevent breakdowns, hard starts, and costly repairs.
Continue reading How to Prepare Your Diesel Truck for Winter (Cold Weather Guide)How to Diagnose Diesel Engine Belt Noise
Diesel engine belt noise is one of the most common drivability complaints on heavy-duty trucks and equipment.
The noise may sound like:
- A squeal
- A chirp
- A screech
- A grinding or growling sound
However, the belt itself is not always the actual problem. In many cases, the noise is caused by:
- Improper belt tension
- Pulley misalignment
- Worn bearings
- Oil contamination
- Failing accessory components
Accurately diagnosing diesel engine belt noise is important because replacing only the belt may not solve the root issue.
Continue reading How to Diagnose Diesel Engine Belt NoiseProblems That Require Cylinder Head Components for the CAT C15 ACERT Diesel Engine
You may not realize it, but there are a lot of components that make up the cylinder head of your C15 ACERT. If you have a failure in that part of your engine, you might be inclined to blame it on your cylinder head, but it’s possible that one of these other components could break. This would lead to problems with similar symptoms to that of a failing cylinder head.
Continue reading Problems That Require Cylinder Head Components for the CAT C15 ACERT Diesel EngineProblems with CAT C15 Diesel Engine Oil Pumps
Your oil pump. It’s probably not a part you’ve thought about a lot, but it serves an important role in your diesel engine.
Continue reading Problems with CAT C15 Diesel Engine Oil PumpsWhy Oil Starvation Destroys Diesel Turbochargers
A turbocharger failure can look like a bad part.
Loss of power. Smoke. Noise. Oil leaking. Shaft play.
But in many heavy-duty diesel engines, the turbocharger is not the real starting point of the failure. The damage often begins somewhere else in the lubrication system.
The number one issue that destroys turbochargers is oil starvation. When a turbo does not receive a steady supply of clean, pressurized oil, internal damage can happen fast: sometimes within seconds under load.
Continue reading Why Oil Starvation Destroys Diesel TurbochargersDiesel Prices Around the World in June 2026
If you run trucks, manage repairs, or budget for diesel work, fuel price changes matter fast.
As of June 01, 2026, the global average retail diesel price was $1.56 per liter, or $5.91 per gallon, according to GlobalPetrolPrices. Their dataset notes that some countries are updated weekly and others monthly, depending on how their fuel markets are regulated.
What stands out most is not just the average. It’s the spread.
On the low end, a few heavily subsidized or regulated markets were still posting diesel prices near zero in U.S. dollar terms. On the high end, some developed markets were above $2.50 per liter, with Hong Kong above $4.50 per liter.
Continue reading Diesel Prices Around the World in June 2026Connecting Rod Failure Analysis: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention
Connecting rods are among the strongest components inside a diesel engine. Built from forged steel or powdered metal, they are designed to withstand enormous combustion pressures and transfer thousands of pounds of force every second from the piston to the crankshaft.
Because they are so robust, connecting rods rarely fail on their own.
When a connecting rod bends, breaks, or suffers bearing damage, it is almost always the result of another underlying problem. Oil starvation, bearing failure, overheating, improper assembly, hydrolock, overspeed, or using outdated components during an engine overhaul can all lead to connecting rod damage.
That is why replacing a damaged connecting rod without identifying the original cause often leads to another expensive engine failure.
This failure analysis walks through one real-world example of connecting rod damage, explains why it happened, and highlights other common causes of connecting rod failure so you can diagnose the root cause—not just replace broken parts.
Quick Takeaway: Connecting rods rarely fail first. Most failures begin with another issue, such as bearing damage, low oil pressure, oil starvation, overheating, hydrolock, or an incomplete engine overhaul. Always determine why the connecting rod failed before replacing components.
Continue reading Connecting Rod Failure Analysis: Common Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention Why You Should Replace Your Crankshaft and Vibration Damper Together
When a diesel engine suffers a broken crankshaft, it’s easy to assume the crankshaft simply reached the end of its life.
In reality, that’s rarely the full story.
Heavy-duty diesel crankshafts are designed to withstand millions of combustion cycles under enormous loads. Yet even these incredibly strong components are constantly twisting and flexing as each cylinder fires. That twisting motion—known as torsional vibration—is completely normal, but it must be controlled.
That’s where the vibration damper comes in.
While the crankshaft converts combustion into rotational power, the vibration damper absorbs harmful torsional vibrations before they can damage the lower rotating assembly.
When the damper begins to wear out, the crankshaft absorbs more of those forces itself. Over time, the result can be accelerated fatigue, bearing wear, excessive vibration, and eventually a cracked or broken crankshaft.
Understanding how these two components work together can help prevent one of the most expensive diesel engine failures possible.
Quick Takeaway
A broken crankshaft is often the result of long-term torsional fatigue—not simply a defective crankshaft. Replacing both the crankshaft and vibration damper during a major lower-end repair helps restore the engine’s harmonic control system and reduces the risk of repeat failures.
Continue reading Why You Should Replace Your Crankshaft and Vibration Damper Together A broken crankshaft is often the result of long-term torsional fatigue—not simply a defective crankshaft. Replacing both the crankshaft and vibration damper during a major lower-end repair helps restore the engine’s harmonic control system and reduces the risk of repeat failures.
PACCAR MX-13 Common Engine Problems & Solutions
The PACCAR MX-13 is used in many Kenworth and Peterbilt heavy-duty trucks, especially in long-haul and fleet applications.
Like any modern diesel engine, it depends on several systems working together:
- Fuel System
- EGR System
- Turbocharger
- Cooling System
- Sensors and ECM
- Aftertreatment System
When one of these systems starts to fail, the symptom may show up as low power, derate, rough idle, hard starting, excessive regens, or poor fuel economy.
The key is not just replacing the part that triggered the fault code: it is identifying why the issue happened in the first place.
Continue reading PACCAR MX-13 Common Engine Problems & Solutions
