The Anatomy of a Diesel Engine
The diesel engine in your truck is very different than the engines found in passenger cars.
The engine is what keeps your truck moving. Without it, your vehicle, and for that matter, your entire fleet, wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. You might have some firsthand experience of replacing the battery in your ordinary passenger car, but dealing with the engine of a long-haul eighteen-wheeler or semi-truck can be much more complicated. How often do you stop to think about it? Let’s be honest – probably not much because you’ve got many more important matters on your mind.
The Ignition: Fire It Up
The ignition is one of the most important parts of the diesel engine powering your truck. Put the key into the ignition slot and then turn it. This activates the engine. It’s much the same as starting up the car you take to go get groceries or run errands around town. Fuel is stored in the gas tank and is transferred into the cylinders. Depending on how hot or cold it is outside, the fuel inside your truck will behave differently. Don’t overturn the key – this can add stress damage to the engine setup. Plus, more sophisticated technology has enabled the startup sequence to become more efficient and require less effort.
The Fuel Pump: Start Your Engines
The next part of the diesel engine you need to learn about is the fuel pump. Without the pumps, diesel fuel wouldn’t be distributed to the engine. There are filters attached to the engine to clean the fuel so that sluggish clogs won’t develop. Don’t forget to clean out the fuel filters before you hit the road again. It’s a necessary step of the pre-tip inspection that you shouldn’t ignore or put off until you feel you have the time to do it.
The Delivery Tubes: Let’s Get Moving
The diesel engine also depends on well-designed tubes and rails. These components ensure consistent pressure levels that make fuel injection more effective. Diesel is distributed in a spray pattern, and it needs to reach higher pressure levels in order to move; 23, 500 pounds of pressure, or PSI, to be exact.
Injections, Cylinders, Combustion: Start the Show
Now we can really get moving. Fuel injectors and air cylinders make more of a difference than you might be able to tell from their names alone. If you don’t have them, then you don’t benefit from internal combustion to power the engine. You’ll miss your deadline and fall behind on your route!
MIDDLETON & MEADS IS YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR ALL OF YOUR VEHICLE’S NEEDS.
Need to repair your truck or bus? Contact Middleton & Meads today! Middleton & Meads provides quality truck and bus repair, service, and fleet management for the Baltimore, MD area. We have over 90 years of experience in the trucking industry and will provide you with customer service like you have never experienced before! If you are interested in seeing how we can help your business, give us a call at (410) 752-5588 or visit us online today! For more articles and trucking tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and LinkedIn.