Engine Maintenance

Engine Maintenance
Engine Maintenance

Keep Your Diesel Engine Running Strong with Expert Maintenance

Your diesel engine is arguably the single most important component of your truck; without it working in proper order, it’s impossible for you to go anywhere, and if it runs inefficiently, you may face a host of serious, avoidable problems. At RG Diesel, LLC, we provide all the expertise and specialized parts needed to keep your diesel engine running happily and at peak efficiency, preventing issues with components like the turbocharger, injectors, and emissions systems.

Engine Maintenance Services

Check Engine Light

No one likes to see their "Check Engine" light come on, as it could signal anything from a minor issue like a loose gas cap to a costly problem. At RG Diesel, LLC, we specialize in advanced diesel diagnostics; we can pull the code and accurately diagnose the complex electronic or mechanical problem specific to your truck.

Diesel

Although diesel engines tend to last longer than gasoline engines, they require specific and regular maintenance, not tune-ups. Typical maintenance tasks are critical for longevity and include changing the oil and filter, changing the air and fuel filters, bleeding the fuel system, draining the water separators, and refilling the urea injection system, all of which you can count on the experts at RG Diesel, LLC to perform.

Fuel Injection

Fuel injection is a crucial system for admitting fuel into your diesel engine, atomizing the fuel by forcibly pumping it through a high-pressure nozzle. Since failure of this high-pressure system means poor performance and can ultimately destroy the engine, it is vital to ensure your diesel vehicle's fuel injection system is properly maintained by specialists like those at RG Diesel, LLC.

Ignition

In a diesel engine, the ignition system primarily refers to the glow plug system, which heats the combustion chamber to ensure a proper start, especially in cold weather, and contributes significantly to high performance. For all your diesel ignition system maintenance and replacement needs, ensuring a properly starting engine, contact RG Diesel, LLC.

Ignition Wires & Cables

For the electric spark required to ignite the fuel-air mixture, ignition wires and cables transfer current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs in gasoline engines. While diesel engines use glow plugs instead of spark plugs for ignition, the diesel electrical system still relies on high-quality wiring and cables to deliver critical power to the starter, glow plugs, and injectors, and any weakening or breakdown can lead to poor performance or starting failure.

Oil, Lube, and Filter

To keep running smoothly, your diesel engine highly relies on quality oil, lube, and oil filters to lubricate, cool, and clean the internal components. Due to the higher heat and soot generation in diesel engines, the oil becomes contaminated faster; specialized diesel motor oil must be changed regularly, typically every three months or 3,000 to 10,000 miles depending on the oil type and vehicle manufacturer.

Spark Plugs

In a gasoline engine, a spark plug delivers an electric current to the combustion chamber from the ignition system, and neglecting them can cause ignition problems. For diesel engines, the equivalent component is the glow plug, which pre-heats the air for compression ignition; RG Diesel, LLC's automotive experts specialize in checking and replacing these critical glow plugs to ensure easy starting and high performance.
Check Engine Light FAQs

Is It Okay To Drive With The Check Engine Light On?

The short answer is emphatically, "No." The longer explanation is that in a diesel vehicle, the Check Engine light may indicate a serious failure, such as issues with the turbocharger, fuel injection system, or critical emissions components like the DPF or EGR. Continuing to drive your truck as if nothing is wrong could rapidly escalate the problem, resulting in extremely expensive repairs or catastrophic engine damage. The Check Engine light means you should stop driving and have your diesel vehicle looked at as soon as possible by a professional at RG Diesel LLC in Greeneville.

What Could Cause A Check Engine Light To Come On?

The reasons for a Check Engine light illuminating in a diesel vehicle can range widely, necessitating an expert diagnosis. It can signal something serious, such such as a faulty emissions component like the DPF or EGR system, a major problem with the turbocharger, or potential engine failure related to the fuel system. Conversely, it could be triggered by something simple, like the need for a routine manufacturer maintenance check at 50,000 or 100,000 miles. Come by RG Diesel LLC, and we can quickly diagnose the exact reason for the check engine light using specialized diagnostic equipment.

What Is The Most Common Problem With My Check Engine Light?

While a loose gas cap is often cited as the most common, simple cause for a Check Engine light in gasoline vehicles, in a diesel truck, the light is often triggered by issues related to the complex emissions control system, such as oxygen sensor failures or efficiency issues within the DPF or EGR system. Regardless of the general cause, the best and most accurate method to determine precisely why the Check Engine light is on is to have a professional at RG Diesel LLC read the diagnostic fault code in your truck's internal OBD computer.

What Does An Intermittent Flashing Check Engine Light Mean?

An intermittent or continuous flashing Check Engine light is a severe warning signal, indicating that the diesel engine is experiencing a major misfire or another critical problem that is actively causing damage, most often to the catalytic converter or DPF system due to unburned fuel entering the exhaust. This situation requires immediate attention; you should stop driving your vehicle as quickly and safely as possible and call a tow truck to take it to your preferred diesel auto repair shop like RG Diesel LLC.

What Does A Solid Check Engine Light Mean?

A solid (non-flashing) Check Engine light indicates a non-emergency issue that requires attention soon, but not immediately. In a diesel vehicle, this often means the computer has detected an efficiency issue with a sensor, an emission control component (like the EGR), or a minor fault that doesn't pose an immediate risk of catastrophic damage. Even though it is not an emergency, you should come by RG Diesel LLC soon so we can read the code and diagnose the underlying problem before it develops into a serious issue.

Serpentine Belt FAQs

How Do I Know If I Need To Replace My Diesel Serpentine Belt?

If your diesel serpentine belt is failing, you may notice several performance issues due to the belt driving critical accessories. The vehicle may frequently overheat if the water pump is not properly driven, or your air conditioning or power steering may fail to work or not work properly. Furthermore, you may notice your vehicle battery failing to recharge if the alternator is affected by a bad serpentine belt. If you start to notice any of these issues—or hear a high-pitched squealing—we encourage you to bring your diesel vehicle to RG Diesel LLC as soon as possible to avoid bigger problems and breakdown.

Spark Plug FAQs

What Else Should I Replace When Replacing Spark Plugs?

Since you are operating a diesel vehicle, you do not have traditional spark plugs, but rather glow plugs, which heat the combustion chamber. When replacing your glow plugs, it is highly advisable to also inspect and potentially replace the glow plug controller or relay, which is the component responsible for regulating the power and timing of the glow plugs. If the controller is failing, new glow plugs may quickly burn out or fail to heat properly, leading to continued starting issues and misfires.

How Do You Know When A Glow Plug Needs To Be Replaced?

Since your diesel engine uses glow plugs instead of spark plugs, the signs of failure relate primarily to starting and combustion. The most common sign that a glow plug needs replacing is the engine being difficult or impossible to start—especially in cold weather—because the combustion chamber is not heating sufficiently. Other signs may include misfiring at start-up, excessive white smoke during the first few minutes of operation, and a generally rough idle until the engine warms up, all of which indicate that the diesel is not igniting properly.

At RG Diesel, we fix it right the first time with expert service, dependable workmanship, and honest communication you can count on.

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Hours Mon - Fri: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Service Area Greeneville, Mosheim, Newport
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