“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” — Benjamin Franklin
It’s doubtful that Benjamin Franklin was thinking about a combustion engine when he coined that phase, but it does apply. Considering that a diesel engine could weigh several hundred or thousand pounds, that could add up to a fair amount of prevention. Preventive and proactive maintenance can save you money, extend the life of your equipment, and you can plan it in advance. Most likely everyone has heard the old comedy line, “Doc, it hurts when I do that” — but since engines can’t talk, they may be telling you something is wrong in a different manner.
With the variations in diesel engine designs running in equipment today, it is impossible to make a complete list of the symptoms and causes you may encounter. This article will provide you with a general list of possible causes related to some of the more common conditions you may encounter. Of course, indicators and causes will vary between engine models, applications and designs. As you review the list, you will most likely be able to add and delete information based from your own experiences.